Program Overview

Artificial Intelligence Programme

The Artificial Intelligence programme at VU Amsterdam brings together technology and people by combining programming, mathematics, computer science, and the study of human interaction, recognition, and behaviour. This field is dynamic and fascinating, with AI having shown its ability to beat world champions at complex games such as Go, and its real impact going far beyond that. From revolutionising healthcare and transforming the car industry to detecting mental health risks through social media, AI is changing the world.

Programme Overview

The programme gives students a solid foundation and the freedom to shape their studies. With the path system, students can move between paths and explore what excites them most. All students follow core courses like Machine Learning, ensuring they develop essential skills. From there, they can choose courses from two complementary paths:

• Socially Aware Computing: focusing on the social side of AI, where students study how technology interacts with people. Courses include Robot Interaction, psychology, ethics, law, and human–AI interaction.
• Intelligent Systems: focusing on the scientific and technical side of AI, where students dive deeper into algorithms, data, and computer science.

Mathematics Requirements

For most of the courses, students will need to understand maths to be able to understand the models, but they do not always need to implement the maths themselves. There are dedicated maths courses:

• Logic & Sets in year 1
• Probability & Statistics, Linear Algebra & Calculus in year 2 Mathematics A in Dutch secondary school prepares students for the programme because it provides knowledge on statistics, which is taught in the second year and used to analyse data. Mathematics B prepares students for the programme because it consists of calculus, which forms an important base for more technical AI-related courses.

Programme Structure

The programme is structured over three years, with the following subjects and courses:

First Year

In the first year, students from both tracks take the same courses, making it easy to switch tracks if they change their mind later. The first semester introduces intelligent systems and foundational courses in programming, computational thinking, and psychology. The second semester focuses on interaction: building a computer program that understands how to interact and collaborate with humans.

• English Language Test
  • Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
  • Introduction to Psychology and its Methods
  • Introduction to Python Programming
  • Computational Thinking
  • Intelligent Systems
  • Project Intelligent Systems
  • Modelling Human Behaviour
  • Logic and Sets for AI
  • Academic Writing (BETA)
  • History of Science
  • Human-Computer Interaction for AI
  • Information Management
  • Applied Programming Project

Second Year

In the second year, 40% of the courses are common to both tracks, including statistics, linear algebra, and Machine Learning. In the Socially Aware Computing track, students also learn about AI’s applications in the context of health and law.

• Knowledge and Data
• Multi-Agent Systems
• Probability and Statistics
• Linear Algebra and Calculus
• Machine Learning
• Robot Interaction
• Project Socially Aware Computing
• AI and Law
• AI in Health
• The Law on Artificial Intelligence
• Text Mining for AI

Third Year

In the third year, students can take a minor of their choice, either broadening or deepening their area of interest. Many students choose to go abroad to do their minor, studying things like computer science, data science, programming, or other related disciplines at other universities. In the second semester, students take core courses in Cognitive Psychology, Ethical AI, and Research Design, in parallel with writing their Bachelor’s thesis.

• Bachelor Project Artificial Intelligence
• Ethical AI
• Research Design
• Cognitive Psychology for AI

Career Prospects

After the bachelor’s programme, students can specialise by following a master’s programme. As a specialist in Artificial Intelligence, they could work as a data scientist, computer scientist, consultant, or analyst in industries from healthcare to software. The programme prepares students for a wide range of career opportunities, with the skills and knowledge to make a significant impact in their chosen field.