Photos of university / #chalmers.university
Everything wants to be connected. Enter the Computer Systems and Networks programme and shape the new boundaries in computing.
Today, computer science and engineering is going through a fundamental shift. It is a challenging task to understand and analyse the behaviour of existing computer systems, even for
well-trained experts.
The Computer Systems and Networks Master's Programme aims to develop a solid grasp of computer systems and networks by introducing a broad, yet rigorous, training in this important field of engineering and research.
Theoretical knowledge and engineering skills are acquired in:
- Computer Systems
- Communication Networks
- Distributed Systems
- Secrurity and Dependability
Who should apply
The program trains professionals in the field of Computer Science and Engineering. We welcome applications from graduates of Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Engineering or Electrical Engineering.
The new Computer Systems and Networks Masters Programme is the result of two older programmes being merged Networks and Distributed Systems and Secure and Dependable Computer Systems. These programs attracted many domestic and international students.
The new programme is especially suitable for students who have graduated from computer science and engineering programmes and who have excelled at their studies.
Why apply
One of the programme's teaching philosophies is that a solid grasp of computer systems and networks can be developed by studying the different methodologies used to construct computer systems and networks such as system engineering, computer architecture, programming and distributed computing. Consequently, coursework requires students to solve problems from the area of system and network design that involve the abovementioned aspects and techniques.
For example, we learn how to:
- Design a system based on new and existing components (System Engineering),
- Understand the low-level hardware/software interaction (Computer Architecture)
- Develop systems and applications (Programming)
- Analyze the performance and limitations of the designed system (Distributed Computing).
The programme's holistic philosophy equips its graduates with a wide range of industry-related engineering skills. Rather than concentrating on a single aspect of computer systems and networks, the courses provide the practical and up-to-date experience required by the major IT companies that develop computer systems and networks.
Research connections
The world-class faculty behind the programme has a long-term, established track record in industrial and scientific research communities.
Career opportunities
The programme has great industrial relevance. Engineers with a deep, solid understanding of communicating systems are attractive on the job market. There are many institutions within government, administration and healthcare as well as within e-commerce, aerospace and the automotive industries that depend highly on reliable communication.
The programme gives students the opportunity to combine academic training with engineering work experience. This combination opens up a wide range of career opportunities, such as:
- Chief Technology Officer: Takes responsibility for the company's technological development plan and influences its competitiveness in the market.
- Systems Architect and Designer: Builds computer systems and designs networked applications and protocols.
- Project Manager: Takes responsibility for carrying out technology-related projects.
- Software Engineer: Creates the software that drives the hardware and makes computer systems work.
- Security and Network Specialist: Oversees company computer networks and ensures that a company's sensitive data and services are only accessible to authorized users.
- Doctoral Students/Scientists: Investigates computer systems and carries out research on computer networks to obtain a Ph.D. degree in computer science and engineering.
Course plan
The Advanced Introductory Courses - provide the necessary background
Computer Networks (7.5 credit units)
How does the Internet work? How are new computer networks designed? What are the methods for making sure that our networks function correctly and are efficient? How do we program applications that communicate? This course teaches fundamental issues in network technologies, builds the knowledge on the TCP/IP suite and emerging network technologies.
Dependable Computer Systems (7.5 credit units)
What is dependability? How can we guarantee reliability? When can we say that our system design is safe? This advanced level introductory course considers four major system properties: security, reliability, timeliness and functionality.
Advanced Topics in Computer Systems and Networks (7.5 credit units)
How do you find an interesting Master thesis project? What are the exciting topics in the field of Computer Systems and Networks? How can we learn from the professional literature about these topics? This course covers a broad range of topics and is intended for students planning to carry out a thesis project in the area of Computer Systems and Networks.
Operating Systems (7.5 credit units)
Operating systems exist everywhere where computer systems exist, not just in workstations but also in vehicles, phones and embedded industrial systems. The course provides an introduction to the design and implementation of operating systems. Students who have taken this course in the Bachelor studies can take an elective course instead.
The Topic-Related Course Sequences - serve as the backbone of the Master's programme. At least two sequences out of three are required
Distributed Systems (7.5+7.5 credit units)
How can we build reliable, communicating distributed systems? The overall aim of the course is to provide an understanding of the challenges you are confronted with when developing such systems as well as the benefits gained from such systems.
Security (7.5+7.5 credit units)
What is security? Can you really make computer systems and networks secure? Is it really necessary that there are so many attacks and intrusions over the Internet? And so much spam? These are a few relevant questions that are addressed in the Computer Security course. We scrutinize the reasons for such security problems and suggest methods and mechanisms for protection. We also provide some modeling, metrication and evaluation approaches that facilitate understanding of the fundamental issues in the area.
Real-Time Systems (7.5+7.5 credit units)
These course addresses the software design process for embedded systems with special non-functional requirements on reliability and timeliness. The course first describes preferable design options for software architecture, programming language, and run-time system mechanisms. The second course addresses performance aspects in the design of single- and multiprocessor systems with special requirements on reliability and timeliness.
Elective courses (30 credit units)
Broader perspective elective courses can be chosen freely. These courses could be selected from the above list of course sequences and/or theme-related elective courses, such as Fault-tolerant Computer Systems, Cryptography and Programming Language Based Security.
Thesis (30 credit units)
The thesis can be performed in an industrial context as well as in the context of a research group at Chalmers.
Some students aiming for a research oriented thesis may be given the possibility to apply for a 15 credit research project or extended their research thesis work to 60 credit units.
Important: Applications for scholarships should be made along with the application for Master's studies. Students should not wait until they receive an admission to do so.
The Avancez Scholarships are 75% tuition fee waivers awarded by Chalmers University of Technology and are funded by the Chalmers Foundation. These scholarships are available to all students who are liable to pay tuition fees i.e., students with non-EU/EEA nationality.
The IPOET (International Programme Office for Education and Training) Scholarships are 75% tuition fee waivers funded by the Government of Sweden. They are awarded by Chalmers University of Technology and available to nearly all fee-paying students, with the exception of 12 countries.
The Mölnlycke Health Care Scholarships are 100% fee tuition waivers with possibilities for summer internships and a final master's thesis project.
The Sievert Larsson Scholarship Fund (within Friends of Chalmers) offers a 100% tuition fee waiver and living expenses to students of Thai nationality who aim to study on a Masters programme at Chalmers University of Technology.
The US Friends of Chalmers Scholarship is a scholarship comprising USD 35 000 (i.e. a reduction of the tuition fee by USD 8750 per semester) and is awarded to one student with US citizenship.
The Volvo Car Corporation Scholarships are 100% tuition fee waivers awarded to 2 Chinese students with the guarantee of participation in the VESC (Volvo Engineering Student Concept) programme which includes a summer job, master thesis project, mentorship and possible employment at Volvo Car Corporation.
The Volvo Group Scholarship Programme is a 100% fee tuition fee waiver awarded to students of Indian nationality and Chinese nationality. The Scholarship includes possibilities for internships during the summer, a final Master thesis project and mentorship.
Scholarships that will not be offered in 2014
The Chalmers MasterCard Scholarship (will be offered again in 2015) Available biennialy for a Master's student from Central America, South America or Mexico. The scholarship comprises a 280 000 SEK reduction of the tuition fee (70 000 SEK reduction/ semester).
The FlexLink Scholarship (not available in 2014) for a Master's Student from China is a 100% tuition fee waiver along with possibilities for internship and a final master thesis project.
Note: Being granted alternative funding from external patrons does not affect the possibility of obtaining scholarships from Chalmers as an applicants financial status is not taken into account during the nomination process.
Scholarships for current students
Adlerbert 60th Anniversary Scholarships - Will be offered for the first time during 2014 to fee paying Master's Programme students who were admitted Autumn 2013, including scholarship holders whose scholarships do not include costs of living coverage. This means that, for instance, holders of Swedish Institute scholarships and Sievert Larsson, version 2 scholarships will not be eligible to apply. In order to be eligible the applicant must have passed at least 60 credits during the first year of studies. The scholarships, which amount to 60 000 SEK each, will be awarded based on the applicants' cumulative grade point average . Around 10 to 20 scholarships will be offered in 2014. More information about how to apply, etc., will be published soon.
Adlerbert Foreign Student Hospitality Fund - Only open for international students who have been admitted to, and enrolled on, a Master's Programme at Chalmers. Thus, prospective students cannot apply. Students can be awarded the scholarship a maximum of two times. The application period opens in late January and closes in late February. Consequently, it is only possible to apply during this period of a student's first and second year.
Scholarships administered by the Swedish Institute
The Swedish Institute, a government agency, administers over 500 scholarships each year for students and researchers coming to Sweden to pursue their objectives at a Swedish university. Use their online guide in order to find out if any of the Swedish Institute scholarships are available for citizens of your country at your intended level of study.
Currency
EUR
GBP
KZT
INR
RUB