Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science

The theory of computation arose from concerns about the foundations of mathematics, and was developed in the work of Gödel, Church, Turing, Kleene and others. The actual building of computing machinery later was strongly influenced by this theoretical work. Computer science quickly grew into an independent field of study, but the relations with mathematics are still strong. Connections range from the use of mathematics to model the foundations all the way to the use of computers to help solve mathematical problems with a discrete component. The Master's specialisation places itself squarely in this exciting interdisciplinary area of deep theoretical developments. For this reason, the mathematics courses in this curriculum concentrate on algebra, general topology, logic, number theory and combinatorics. The computer science courses concentrate on formal methods, type theory, category theory, coalgebra and theorem proving. Not only is this Master's an excellent stepping-stone for students with ambitions in research, many of our graduates also work as systems builders, ICT specialists or ICT managers in the private sector or within government.

Key courses: Type Theory and Coq; Computer Algebra; Research seminar; Semantics and Domain Theory; Complexity Theory.

A completed Bachelor's degree in Computing Science or related area

In order to get admission to this Master’s you'll need a completed Bachelor's in Mathematics or in Computing Science with a strong mathematical background and theoretical interests. We'll select students based on their motivation and their background. Mathematical maturity is essential and basic knowledge of logic and discrete mathematics is expected.

A proficiency in English

In order to take part in the programme, you need to have fluency in English, both written and spoken. Non-native speakers of English* without a Dutch Bachelor's degree or VWO diploma need one of the following:

• TOEFL score of ≥575 (paper based) or ≥90 (internet based)
• IELTS score of ≥6.5
• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE), with a mark of C or higher

* Applicants are considered to be a native speaker of English if they are from Australia, Canada (with exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, UK, USA or South Africa.

There are various scholarships available for studying at Radboud University. Some of the opportunities are described below. A full list, including detailed information, can be found on our scholarships and grants page at our website. 

Radboud Scholarship Programme

Open to a select number of excellent international students. Instead of the institutional tuition fees, non-EEA students pay the legal tuition fees (€2,083 in 2019/2020). Visa and residence permit costs, liability insurance and health insurance are also covered.

Orange Tulip Scholarship

Open to students from Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Indonesia, South-Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and China. Instead of the institutional tuition fees, non-EEA students pay the legal tuition fees (€2,083 in 2019/2020). Visa and residence permit costs, liability insurance and health insurance are also covered.

Fulbright-Radboud Scholarships

Open to excellent American students. The grant will be paid in 12 monthly instalments of 1,050 euros. International travel and the cost of the residence permit will be covered, and an extra allowance of €1150 will be paid on arrival.

Sino-Dutch Bilateral Exchange Scholarship

Open to excellent students from China. Consists of a contribution of € 16,113 towards the total costs of one year of study or research in the Netherlands.

DIKTI-Neso Scholarships

Aimed at lecturers at higher education institutions in Indonesia who wish to pursue a PhD or Master's at a university in the Netherlands. A DIKTI scholarship includes allowances for living expenses, insurance, travel costs, tuition fees and more.

Indonesian Education Scholarship (LPDP)

Open to excellent Indonesian students under the age of 35. Involves a full scholarship.

Holland Scholarship Programme

Open to excellent students from Canada, America, India and Turkey. Scholarship consists of 5,000 euros payed at the start of study.

Dutch Student Finance

EU/EEA students and Swiss students under 30 years of age are eligible if they are working at least 56 hours per month in the Netherlands, or have been living in the Netherlands for five years or more. Dutch student finance consists of four components: a basic grant, a supplementary grant (depending on the parental income), a student travel product, and a loan.