Program Overview

Operating Systems Course

The goal of the course is to introduce students to modern operating systems design. Both practical and theoretical aspects of operating systems will be studied. The course will cover 5 main topics, namely,

• Topic 1: Introduction
  This module will provide a top-level description of modern operating systems.
• Topic 2: kernels and processes
  Introduces students to the design and implementation of different operating system kernels in some detail.
• Topic 3: concurrency, synchronization, and scheduling
  The module covers threads and the semantics of concurrency, synchronization of multi-threaded programs, deadlocks, race conditions, processor scheduling, and other related topics.
• Topic 4: memory management
  The fourth module covers topics related to memory such as hardware and software address translation mechanisms, caching, and virtual memory.
• Topic 5: I/O and File Systems
  This module introduces the File system abstraction, different storage devices, and filesystems.

Course Details

• Starts: 19 January 2026
• Ends: 23 March 2026
• Number of credits: 7.5 credits
• Type of studies: On site
• Study pace: 50%
• Teaching hours: Daytime
• Study location: Umeå
• Language: English
• Application code: UMU-57325

Eligibility

To be admitted, you must have 60 ECTS-credits in Computing Science or 2 years of completed studies, in both cases including good knowledge and experience of the programming language C, including working with threads. You should also have knowledge and experiences of programming directly with/to an operating system. These requirements are fulfilled by the course C-programming and Unix or equivalent.

Selection

• Academic credits
• Application

Application and Tuition Fees

• Application fee: SEK 900
• Tuition fee, first instalment: SEK 19,038
• Total fee: SEK 19,038

About Umeå University

Join a vibrant academic community where high-quality education meets groundbreaking research in science, technology, humanities, and the arts. At Umeå University, you will learn from passionate, expert teachers and benefit from a close connection between research, education, collaboration, and innovation.

Research Areas

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Additional Information

• World's most satisfied international students: #1 globally in the main categories of Living, Support, and Overall Satisfaction.
• A university with health at its core: Umeå University is certified as a Healthy Campus, with many initiatives that promote health and well-being.