Programme structure

The specialisation comprises 120 ECTS over two years, including: 

• At least 4 core specialisation-specific courses and a set of restricted electives 

• Elective courses from across the Computer Science programme 

• Research Methods in Computer Science and a Master’s thesis 

Courses are taught by UvA and VU staff and may take place at either campus. 

Core courses (choose at least 4): 

• Programming Large-scale Parallel Systems 

• Distributed Systems 

• Parallel programming practical 

• Reliable Computing 

• Multi-core Processor Systems 

• Accelerator-Centric Computing Ecosystem 

• Energy-efficient Edge computing 

These courses provide advanced knowledge in low-level systems programming, performance optimisation, and scalable infrastructure design. 

Electives and flexibility 

You can choose from a broad range of electives across related areas such as cybersecurity, networking, distributed computing, or AI systems. This enables you to tailor the programme to your personal interests and career goals. 

Research project and thesis 

In the second year, you will carry out a research project (30 ECTS), typically within a research group at UvA or VU. You may also collaborate with external partners from industry or public-sector institutions. 

Learning environment

The programme combines theoretical lectures with lab-based exercises, group work and practical assignments. All courses are taught in English. For a full overview of course options and detailed programme structure, visit the study guide or consult the joint Master’s Computer Science page.