🔀Specialisations (Phasing Out)
The Intelligent Systems and Socially Aware Computing specialisations, and the rules for still getting one on your diploma.
The specialisations are being phased out. From 2027-2028 they no longer exist. 2026-2027 is the last year in which you can start one, and diplomas with a specialisation name are only issued until 31 August 2030. The curriculum now works with mandatory plus constrained-choice courses instead (see Program Structure). Everything below is for students who still want to finish a specialisation.
Still want the specialisation on your diploma?
These are the rules, from the TER 2026-2027 and the July 2026 Canvas announcement:
- You had to register your specialisation in the registration module before 1 September 2026, with the academic year filter set to 2025-2026. No registration means no specialisation on your diploma. Missed the deadline, or starting in 2026-2027? Contact the programme coordinator and the examination board.
- Started before 2025-2026: complete 5 courses (30 EC) from one specialisation list.
- Started in 2025-2026 or later: complete 4 courses (24 EC) from one list, plus the now-mandatory Project Socially Aware Computing (XB_0042).
- No mixing. Take courses from both lists and you can still graduate, but you get no specialisation name on your diploma, even if you registered.
- Graduate before 1 September 2030. After that date no diplomas with a specialisation are issued at all.
Which courses count
Careful: the lists differ per cohort.
Started before 2025-2026 (pick 5 from one column):
| Intelligent Systems | Socially Aware Computing |
|---|---|
| Data Structures and Algorithms for AI (XB_0043) | Robot Interaction (XB_0040) |
| Conversational Agents (XB_0182) or Project Conversational Agents (XB_0101) | Project Socially Aware Computing (XB_0042) |
| Databases (X_401008), only if you started in 2023-2024 | AI and Law (XB_0070) |
| The Law of AI (XB_0084) | The Law of AI (XB_0084) |
| Computational Intelligence (XB_0025) | AI in Health (XB_0020) |
| Automata and Complexity (X_401049) | Cognitive Psychology for AI (XB_0072) |
| Project Collective Intelligence (XB_0026) |
Started in 2025-2026 or later (pick 4 from one column, plus XB_0042):
| Intelligent Systems | Socially Aware Computing |
|---|---|
| Data Structures and Algorithms for AI (XB_0043) | Robot Interaction (XB_0040) |
| Conversational Agents (XB_0182) or Project Conversational Agents (XB_0101) | AI in Health (XB_0020) |
| Databases (X_401008) | AI and Law (XB_0070) |
| Project Collective Intelligence (XB_0026) | The Law of AI (XB_0084) |
| Automata and Complexity (X_401049) | Cognitive Psychology for AI (XB_0072) |
Questions about your own situation? Ask the academic advisors: academicadvice.cs.beta@vu.nl.
Technical or social: which direction fits you?
The formal tracks are going, but the choice they represented is still there. The constrained-choice pool splits roughly along the same line, and the advisors describe it as informal "study paths" with technical and socially oriented courses.
Intelligent Systems (IS) was the technical, systems-focused side: algorithms, databases, dialogue systems, optimisation, formal languages. Leaning this way gives you a stronger CS foundation, better preparation for software engineering roles, and it covers data structures and algorithms, which technical interviews love.
Socially Aware Computing (SAC) was the human-centred, interdisciplinary side: robotics, law, health, psychology. These courses suit UX/HCI, policy, healthcare AI, and ethics-focused careers, and most CS programmes do not offer them. The trade-off is fewer core CS courses, so a technical master's may want bridging courses from you.
Tip: picking mostly technical courses keeps more doors open for technical master's programmes. Drawn to human-centred AI, psychology, or ethics? The socially oriented courses are genuinely unique, and you can plug any CS gaps with your year 3 minor.