Education

What can you find on this webpage?

Our (future) students can find the official study programme and other useful info here.

You can find information about admission requirements, further studies and more practical info such as ECTS sheets, or a weekly timetable of the current academic year.

Are you a future student?

Be sure to first take a look at the page about the Master of Engineering: Computer Science.

There you can find more info on:

- What’s the programme about?

- Starting profile

- Admission and application

- Future possibilities

- Why KU Leuven

- Contact

- ...

Objectives

1.  Competent in one or more scientific disciplines

- Has advanced knowledge and insight in the following areas of computer science:

• Software engineering: principles and techniques of modelling, design, and development of software; principles and realization of software architectures;
• A wide range of different types of programming languages and algorithms;
• Systems software (operating systems and distributed systems);
• Principles and techniques of Machine Learning;
• Theoretical and mathematical foundations of computer science.

- And possesses specialized knowledge in at least one of the following disciplines of computer science:

• Artificial intelligence
• Secure software

- Is able to apply, expand, deepen and integrate knowledge from different fields of computer science.


2.  Competent in conducting research

- Can gather all the scientific information relating to a complex problem, assess its relevance and process the valuable aspects.

- Can formulate specific research questions.

- Can independently plan and execute different phases of the research process.

- Can critically evaluate research results.

- Engages other disciplines in the research, where needed.


3.  Competent in designing

- Has acquired specific expertise relating to all stages of the software development process: drafting requirements, analysis, design, implementation, testing and maintenance .

- Can use different paradigms and tools to develop software systems.

- Can make an informed decision about whether to reuse an existing software solution based on the quality of the design and implementation.

- Can create software solutions for multidisciplinary problems with an open end of which the solution space is very large.


4.  A scientific approach

- Can critically examine existing theories, models or interpretations in the field of computer science.

- Can develop, use and validate new models at different levels of abstraction.

- Observes the limitations and boundaries of solution methods.

- Demonstrates academic integrity in thought and action.

- Is able to independently keep up with developments in the field.


5.  Basic intellectual skills

- Can form an opinion based on objective evidence.

- Can rationally cope with incomplete or irrelevant data.

- Can independently reflect critically and constructively on their own thinking, decision-making and actions.

- Has a critical and constructive approach to developments in the field.

- Is capable of abstract and structural thinking.


6.  Competent in co-operating and communicating

- Can orally and in writing communicate about and report on his or her research and solutions in Dutch and/or English with laymen, specialists and other stakeholders.

- Can efficiently work in groups on a project basis, carry team roles, and deal with social dynamics.

- Can handle deadlines through an independently drawn work schedule.


7.  Takes account of the temporal and social context

- Takes into account the social and economic constraints and the different aspects of the sectors he/she will be part of (e.g. industry, banking and insurance, healthcare, government and education)

- Is aware of their social and ethical responsibility and acts accordingly.

- Has insight into the broader context of computer science in society (legal, economic, sociological, cultural, political and technical-industrial context).

The graduated master:

• During the practice of the engineering profession, is guided by his or her scientific and technical knowledge.
• Has an engineering attitude that enables him or her to formulate solutions to complex problems, taking into account relevant constraints of an economic, legal, social, ... nature.
• Is aware of his or her social and ethical responsibility and can act accordingly.
• Has a willingness for open communication and cooperation, both with engineers within and outside the discipline, and with other actors in the professional field.
• Has insight into the broader role that engineers play in society.
• Shows willingness to keep abreast of new scientific and technical evolutions, and to approach them with a critical mind.

Educational quality of the study programme

Here you can find an overview of the results of the COBRA internal quality assurance method.

Educational quality at study programme level

Blueprint
Blueprint_MA_Computer Science.pdf

COBRA 2019-2023
COBRA-fiche_MA_computersciences.pdf
COBRA-fiche_MA_computerwetenschappen.pdf

COBRA 2015-2019
COBRA-report_MA_Computer Science.pdf

Educational quality at university level

• Consult the documents on educational quality available at university level.

More information?

• More information on the educational quality at KU Leuven
• More information on the available documents