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Computer Science - Leiden University

Foundations of Computing (MSc)

In the Foundations of Computing specialisation you learn about the core concepts of computing, their applications in AI, quantum computing, parallel computing, and in verification and testing to ensure correctness of digital systems. Choosing for the Foundations specialisation will prepare you for any future development in computer science.

What does this master’s programme entail?

By focusing on core concepts that transcend the boundaries of various Computer Science fields, the Foundations specialisation prepares you for an inter-disciplinary future. In particular, you will learn to model complex software systems and apply automated proof techniques to verify their correctness, thereby increasing trust in digital systems. Using the power of symbolic computation, the specialisation teaches you how to tackle hard computational problems, as well as to realise reasoning for artificial intelligence. It also equips you with the detailed knowledge of concurrency required to analyse parallel systems, but also with knowledge about non-deterministic and probabilistic computational models. Finally, you will learn to harness the power of quantum computers, for solving problems more efficiently than with classical computers.

Read more about our Foundations of Computing programme.

Discover why our students choose the Computer Science master's programme

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Why study Foundations of Computing at Leiden University?

  • The Foundations of Computing specialisation in Leiden offers a unique blend of state-of-the-art topics in Computer Science

  • LIACS hosts leading experts in quantum computing, as part of the faculty-broad Applied Quantum Algorithms collaboration.

  • The strength of the programme is the individual possibility for each student  of studying other future-oriented topics in Advanced Computing Systems, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science.

  • The programme provides you with a thorough computer science background that will allow you to pursue careers in research or industrial environments, and will give you the ability to handle future technologies and to work across disciplines.

Find more reasons to study Foundations of Computing at Leiden University.

Foundations of Computing: the right master’s programme for you?

Are you interested in solving challenging problems? Do you have an affinity with the formal rigor of logic to model, explain and reason about systems? Are you inclined to ask deeper questions about the concepts behind computation in general? Then the master’s specialisation in Foundations of Computing is the right choice.

Read more about the entry requirements for Foundations of Computing.