Applied Computer Science

Are you interested in creating systems such as a robotic lawnmower, an intelligent assistant for people with disabilities, a smart water management controller that prevents floods in a big city or virtual-reality glasses for crime-scene investigators? As a student of the Applied Computer Science programme you’ll be working with the newest software and embedded hardware technologies that make such systems possible.

You’ll learn to work with a broad range of tools and techniques, spanning from system programming in C and C++, through electronics, embedded systems and networking, to building interactive, cross-platform applications in C#. Following your interests, you’ll be able to broaden your knowledge in embedded systems, digital signal processing or computer vision. Ultimately, after graduating, you’ll be prepared to tackle the many challenges the modern high-tech industry faces.

In the first year you lay a solid foundation in programming, design, mathematics, and electronics. You will put this knowledge to good use as you work on various projects. Among other things, you will make a safe with an electronic code lock and a self-driving, energy-efficient robotic racing car. All the projects are controlled with C on an Arduino microcontroller. A microcontroller is the brain behind the device you are working with. Besides there is a lot of attention for your personal development.

Applied Computer Science has two themes:

• Software engineering. This theme encompasses more than just programming, it involves thinking about the entire design process. You will also learn how to ensure that software is reliable, thoroughly tested, and maintainable.
• Embedded systems. Working together with ‘electro’ students you will learn how to design, make, program, and test embedded systems – actually, any device that contains both hardware and software but doesn't look like a personal computer, such as a smart TV, robot, or mobile phone.