Master in de
ingenieurs-wetenschappen:
werktuigkunde
Opties:
• manufacturing en management
• mechatronica en robotica
• thermotechnische wetenschappen
• luchtvaart- en ruimtevaarttechnologie
• voertuigtechnieken
Master of Science
in Engineering:
Computer Science
Master of Science in Engineering:
Computer Science
The world has become digital. Computers and software have obtained a central role in society: in companies, in education and research and in our daily lives. Year after year, our daily activities become more connected with the digital dimension. In this context, the Department of Computer Science at KU Leuven steers the most novel evolutions and develops the technology required for the next generation of applications. Today’s software systems are some of the most complex systems known to mankind. Building these systems requires mastering the complex process of designing, implementing and maintaining reliable software systems. These systems are expanding the digital frontier and target new applications in health care, finance and the broader social-cultural world, among others.
This is an initial, two-year Master’s programme consisting of 120 ECTS.
Why study computer science?
After completion of this programme, you will be an expert in the development and professional use of the most advanced and pervasive computer systems.
You will be trained to specify, design, realise, test, maintain and manage complex software systems, often as part of a team. You will learn to be able to deal with complexity and to take into account diverse requirements, such as functionality, reliability, user-friendliness, security, intelligence, adaptability, efficiency and cost.
You will be empowered to take on state-of-the-art research questions, formulate your own research goals, and develop plans to successfully execute them. You will be trained in communication skills and stimulated to acquire a broad societal view on the relevance of computer science and technology today.
Discover KU Leuven
Situated in the heart of Western Europe, KU Leuven has been a centre of learning for nearly six centuries. Today, it is Belgium's largest and highest-ranking university. Founded in 1425, it is one of the oldest and most renowned universities in Europe.
As a leading European research university and co-founder of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), KU Leuven offers a wide variety of programmes in English, all supported by high-quality, innovative, interdisciplinary research.
The university caters to more than 40,000 students, of which 15.5% are international students from more than 140 countries. KU Leuven's doctoral schools organise internationally oriented PhD programmes for over 4,000 doctoral students.
The university is located in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. Leuven is a modern, bustling and safe student city with a long and rich history. Cultural and recreational opportunities abound. KU Leuven's central location offers a truly international experience. Major European capitals such as Brussels, Paris, London and Amsterdam are only a (very) short train journey away.
Student accomodations
Monthly rent (including electricity and gas) for a student room (in Dutch, a ‘kot’) ranges from € 200-300. Flats run from € 400-500. The monthly cost of living, excluding housing, for a single person is € 250-400. Personal computers can be rented cheaply from the university and access to the Internet is widely available in student housing.
Admission
Admission is based on the evaluation of a complete application file by the Programme Advisory Committee of the Master of Science in Engineering: Computer Science. Holders of a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Informatics submit a full application file via KU Leuven’s online application system. Admission criteria include the quality of the candidate’s Bachelor’s programme, the student's past academic performance as attested in official transcripts, the student's statement of motivation and the student’s English proficiency.
Application
The online application can be found at: www.kuleuven.be/admissions/forms
Deadline for application
1 March 2014
Tuition fee
€610. This programme is funded by the Flemish Government.
Profile
ApplicantsSuccessful applicants have completed an academic Bachelor’s programme in computer science or informatics. They are very familiar with programming, including object-oriented programming, and are knowledgeable about computer architecture, networks and databases. They have received thorough training in mathematics, including analysis, linear algebra, numerical mathematics, statistics and preferably discrete mathematics. Experience with working in teams is also preferred.
Graduates
Upon completion of the Master’s programme, you will possess:
• a thorough knowledge of techniques and methods in software development (networks, databases, compilers, operating systems)
• basic knowledge of a number of application areas
• skills in the analysis and synthesis of very complex systems
• a broad experience with different programming languages, operating systems and software packages
• the skills to independently acquire new knowledge and insights, and to apply techniques and methodologies in novel, possibly research related problems in computer science
• deep insight in and experience with techniques, methods and tools from your specialisation area (Secure Software or Artificial Intelligence)
• research experience – on the level of a starting researcher – in your specialisation area
• communication skills and experience with team work
Programme
The core programme (44 ECTS) consists of courses in Distributed Systems, Comparative Study of Programming Languages, Modelling of Complex Systems and Software Architecture, in addition to a bridging programme (18 ECTS) tailored to the entering student's background.
Students select a specialisation module (18 ECTS) in either Software Security or in Artificial Intelligence. They select a broadening module (18 ECTS) from a range of offered courses. In addition, they select general interest courses (12 ECTS) and a free elective course (6 ECTS). The central part of the programme is the Master’s thesis (24 ECTS) in which students conduct their own research within their specialisation area.
Core programme 44 ECTS
Disributed systems 6 ECTS
Comparative study of programming languages 6 ECTS
Modelling of complex systems 6 ECTS
Software architecture 6 ECTS
Bridging program 18 ECTS
Specialisation part 18 ECTS
Broadening part 18 ECTS
Master’s thesis 24 ECTS
General interest courses 12 ECTS
The Specialisations
Secure SoftwareThe staggering growth of the Internet has had a significant impact on our society. Social networks, e-commerce, e-government and e-health have impacted both our personal as well as our professional lives in ways we could not have imagined two decades ago. While there are obviously many positive aspects to these technological innovations, there is also a dark side. The increased network connectivity of computing devices leads to an increased risk of cybercrime, identity theft, and privacy breaches. The US National Academy of Engineering has identified the development of a more secure cyberspace as one of the grand engineering challenges of this century. A critical aspect of that challenge is engineering more secure software. The Secure Software specialisation is an excellent preparation for students dedicated to meeting this challenge.
Artificial Intelligence
One of the most fascinating research issues today is the investigation of the true nature of ‘intelligence’: the study of cognitive processes and models, of natural language and perception, of human knowledge representation and reasoning.
Related to these issues, perhaps the ultimate research objective in science is the development of an intelligent artefact: a robot that can perceive and communicate, through natural language as well as through vision, sensors and movement, can represent its own knowledge and reason on the basis of that knowledge, can plan and act, can assimilate new knowledge from experience and interaction with its environment, and, in general, can perform any task that we tend to consider typical of intelligent living beings.
In the Artificial Intelligence specialisation, we study the enabling technology for these long term goals: advanced programming languages for AI, diverse problem solving and machine learning techniques, data mining, computer vision, natural language processing, robotics and many others.
From my own study in Master in Computer Science, I mostly recall how
we were challenged to make creative efforts. Sure, just as many other
higher university programs, Computer Science also requires the assimilation
of much knowledge, but the really important skills that we learned were
about achieving deep insights. We learned how to independently analyze
and structure very large and complex systems.
The field is constantly evolving, which creates a slightly chaotic dynamism
in Computer Science. As a student, one feels part of an atmosphere with
continuously renewing and challenging events. The education provided
a very sound basis and all required technical skills. Of course, the real
practice and the way to deal with the people is more something you learn
on the job.
Learn more
www.cs.kuleuven.be/MCS
General information
Application: www.kuleuven.be/application
International programmes: www.kuleuven.be/internationalprogrammes International Office: www.kuleuven.be/english
Publications
www.masterskuleuven.be/publications
Faculty of Engineering Science
Department of Computer Science Celestijnenlaan 200A
3001 HEVERLEE tel. + 32 16 32 76 67
Programme director: Prof. Philip Dutré
KU LEUVEN
Oude Markt 13 box 5005 3000 LEUVEN, Belgium onderwijscommunicatie@kuleuven.be www.kuleuven.be
This brochure provides the most complete and accurate information available for this Master's programme offered by KU Leuven. However, amendments to the composition of this programme may be approved at any time. Consequently, KU Leuven is in no way legally bound by the information provided in this brochure. The most recent information on all our academic programmes can be consulted at www.kuleuven.be/coursecatalogue.
Last updated: October 2013 v.u.: Isabelle V
