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Education Bachelor's degree programmes Computing Science
Header image Computing Science

Computing Science

How do you develop safe apps for mobile phones? How do you produce 3D images of an MRI scan? How do you program a computer system to find the quickest travel route?

We are becoming increasingly dependent on computers, but they cannot work without us either! After all, someone has to tell them what to do. That requires people who enjoy devising ever-smarter solutions and innovations.

Computing scientists design, improve and implement the software and computer systems that businesses and our social life cannot do without.

Use your skills as you learn

Computing Science is the discipline that involves the study and development of computer systems. This can involve either new or existing systems. The stimulating aspect of this degree programme is that you can put the knowledge and skills you acquire to practical use straightaway, for example by writing a useful computer programme.

More than just programming

If you choose to study Computing Science at Groningen, you will learn high level programming in several languages. But programming accounts for only a quarter of the degree. You will also be producing documentation, carrying out analyses, working on your math knowledge and skills, collaborating with others, giving presentations and writing.

Computing science is a good subject to study if you have wide-ranging interests; it can be easily combined with another subject area.

Please note: CS has a numerus fixus (fixed quota), for which a selection procedure takes place. You can find more information on the numerus fixus programmes, the admission procedure and the selection procedure on the numerus fixus page .

Facts & Figures
Degree
BSc in Computing Science
Course type
Bachelor
Duration
36 months (180 ECTS)
Croho code
56978
Language of instruction
English
Start
September
Faculty
Science and Engineering
Studie in Cijfers
Why study this programme in Groningen?
  • Projects and practicals you work on offer a lot of freedom to make it your own
  • Relatively small-scale, you will get to know your fellow students and professors quickly
  • World-class facilities for high-performance computing and visualization
  • Students can easily participate in one of many research collaborations with other fields, such as bioinformatics, medicine and astronomy
  • Can be easily combined with another subject area, for example in the Minor
Programme
Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Introduction to Computing Science (5 EC)
Introduction to Logic (5 EC)
Programming Fundamentals (10 EC)
Computer Architecture (5 EC)
Discrete Structures (5 EC)
Algorithms and Data Structures in C (for CS) (5 EC)
Calculus for Computing Science (5 EC)
Introduction to Information Systems (5 EC)
Computer Networks (5 EC)
Linear Algebra (5 EC)
Object-Oriented Programming (for CS) (5 EC)

Curriculum

The courses above are an example of the first-year programme.

Credits per year: 60 ECTS; most courses are 5 ECTS.

More information about the courses can be found here: https://ocasys.rug.nl/current/catalog/programme/56978

Please be advised that Faculty of Science and Engineering students are expected to adhere to our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy, ensuring seamless integration of personal electronic devices for academic purposes. For more detailed information on our BYOD policy, please visit our webpage.


Study abroad

  • Study abroad is optional
  • Maximum of 30 EC

Exchange: All our science and engineering programmes offer study abroad possibilities at a number of partner institutions. Our partners include top-100 universities in Europe (for example in Germany, UK, and Sweden) and in the USA, China, South-East Asia, and South America. Our exchange programmes have a typical duration of one semester and count toward your final degree.

Internship: This programme offers you the opportunity to carry out a research project of a variable number of months at a company in the Netherlands or abroad, as part of your thesis. Our choice of industry partners ranges from large multinationals (such as Shell, Philips, Unilever) to dynamic small and medium enterprises in the Groningen area.

Entry requirements

Admissible Dutch diploma profiles

  • VWO Natuur & Techniek
  • VWO Natuur & Gezondheid

    wiskunde B

  • VWO Economie & Maatschappij

    wiskunde B

  • VWO Cultuur & Maatschappij

    wiskunde B

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
language test

Language proficiency certificate for English (except for applicants with a Dutch pre-university education (VWO) as well as the exemptions listed on the language exemptions webpage). More information: https://www.rug.nl/fse/programme/admissions/bsc/language

other admission requirements

Before you apply!

When you cannot fulfil the vwo requirement, due to deficient profile or if you want to be admitted on the basis of a successfully passed first year of HBO or colloquium doctum, you need to submit an additional admission request via the Admission Board Bachelor programmes. Please go to this website for more information.

Please note! The admissions procedure is independent of the numerus fixus procedure. Information about the selection procedure can be found here

Numerus Fixus

This programme has a numerus fixus with a maximum of 200 attendees a year.

This means that prospective students will have to successfully complete a selection procedure before they can be admitted. Candidates are selected based on their suitability and motivation for our programme: the 200 highest ranked candidates will be admitted. Prospective students must apply before 15 January.

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students15 January 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students15 January 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students15 January 202501 September 2025

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

Secondary education equivalent to Dutch pre-university (vwo) is required.

A list of qualifications that are considered equivalent to pre-university education in the Netherlands can be found here: https://www.rug.nl/education/application-enrolment-tuition-fees/admission/procedures/non-dutch-qualification/

If you have any questions concerning admission to the programme, please contact our Admissions Office: https://www.rug.nl/education/application-enrolment-tuition-fees/contact/

additional subject

Sufficient background knowledge in Mathematics is required.

The Admissions Board will determine whether your background knowledge in this subject is sufficient to start the Bachelor's degree programme of your choice.

language test

You will need to submit proof of English proficiency in accordance with the requirements of the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Please find our English language requirements (exemptions, IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge and more) on this page: https://www.rug.nl/fse/programme/admissions/bsc/language

other admission requirements

Please note! The admissions procedure is independent of the numerus fixus procedure. Information about the selection procedure can be found here .

Numerus Fixus

This programme has a numerus fixus with a maximum of 200 attendees a year.

This means that prospective students will have to successfully complete a selection procedure before they can be admitted. Candidates are selected based on their suitability and motivation for our programme: the 200 highest ranked candidates will be admitted. Prospective students must apply before 15 January.

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students15 January 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students15 January 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students15 January 202501 September 2025
Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2024-2025€ 2530full-time
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 19300full-time

Practical information for:

After your studies

Job prospects

Many students in Computing Science are offered a job before they have even graduated! They work in a wide variety of occupations in the Netherlands or abroad. There are plenty of career opportunities for you as a creative problem-solver!

Finding work when you graduate

After completing their Master's degree, many graduates find work with IT firms, large companies, public-sector organizations, hospitals or educational institutions, where they design software components or lead projects that involve merging various components or even systems.

Other career prospects

If you have knowledge of computing, the ability to think at an academic level and a problem-solving approach, many companies will welcome you, in management positions too. Education and science journalism are other possible areas.

Or will you study for a PhD?

Some graduates choose a PhD programme involving four years of research. The research concludes with a thesis, which will earn you the title of Doctor of Computing Science. Everyone who does this finds an interesting job, either within the university or outside, for example at a hospital or at an independent firm.

Job examples

  • Systems engineering
  • Robotics
  • Networking
  • Roles in:
  • Database management
  • Game development
  • Programming
  • Consultancy
  • Computer security
Research

Our Bachelor's degree programme in computing science is connected to the Bernoulli Institute.

The mission of the Bernoulli Institute is to perform outstanding academic research and teaching in Mathematics, Computer Science, and Artificial Intelligence, and to maintain international leadership herein; to foster these disciplines as a living body of knowledge, and to make it relevant to society in its broadest sense. The symbiosis between pure and applied science, and between mono- and multidisciplinary research and teaching, is a distinguishing characteristic of our institute. As an important part of this mission we aim to transfer our results to other areas of science and technology, and initiate and expand inter- and multi-disciplinary research collaborations.

The following research groups within the institute focus on computing science:



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Contact

  • Ask Our Students! (Like to discuss the programme and student life with someone currently studing CS?)
    Email: csstudents rug.nl
  • Academic Advisors FSE (For questions regarding the programme)
  • studyscience@rug.nl Study Science (For general questions for all prospective students)
    Email: studyscience rug.nl

Study associations

Cover

Cover is the study association for all students of AI, CS, and CCS here at the UG. We offer fun activities, a room to hang out, and support for you to pass all your upcoming courses.
A study association is an organisation run by a team of students from the respective bachelor’s and master’s degree programme(s). We organise many activities for students, including introductory camps and monthly “borrels” (informal social gatherings with drinks). Our activities follow our 3 main pillars: education, social, and career. Hence, we organise course support lectures, symposia, educational talks, parties, informal gatherings, career day, company visits, company talks, and many more.If you decide to study AI, CS, or CCS, be sure to sign up for Cover at www.svcover.nl/join, so you can attend all our awesome activities even after the Kick-off Week! And, about the Kick-Off Week, we always organise a treasure hunt, a barbecue, a borrel, and an introduction camp that spans an entire weekend for the first years.
https://www.svcover.nl/
Read more
(Binding) study advice
  • A minimum of 45 EC in the first 12 months (binding)

You will be issued a study advice at the end of the first year of study. You can expect a positive study advice if you have earned at least 45 ECTS credit points (out of a total of 60 ECTS; most course units are 5 ECTS). If you have earned fewer than 45 ECTS and are issued a negative study advice, you will not be allowed to continue your degree programme.

You will receive a preliminary study advice in December to make sure that you know where you are. Please contact your study advisor as soon as possible if you have any questions about the BSA system.

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