Foundations of Computer Science

This semester is recommened for students who want to study fundamental and abstract computer science subjects. This semester is preparing students who are especially interested in a pre-master from the Computer Science Graduate Programme at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). It is the Fontys ICT version of what TU/e refers to as the HBO-TOP minor.

It is possible to do Foundations of Computer Science in the Free Study Area of either semester 4 or 7. The semester does not count as a minor, so it can be combined with a minor or, of course, a pre-master. The logical route is to complete Foundations of Computer Science in semester 4 and one of the four pre-master’s from the Computer Science Graduate Programme (CSE, ES, IST) at the TU/e in semester 7.

This semester is a preparation for academia, thus, assessment has been tailored to fit the academic standards. There are weekly courses which may include written assignments in the form of quizzes, exercises or projects for each course. There are also oral or written examinations at the end of the courses. The student should realise that this semester (and the accompanying pre-master) might have a higher study load and abstraction level than some regular bachelor of IT routes.

CSE = Computer Science and Engineering
ES = Embedded Systems
IST = Information Security Technology

To participate in a TU/e pre-master please contact the pre-master coordinator in an early stage.

This semester develops fundamental theoretical knowledge in computer science that underlies software engineering. In practice, the semester prepares students who are interested in advancing to a theoretical education within the Computer Science Graduate Programme at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e).

It is possible to complete the Foundations of Computer Science in a Free Study Area semester. Foundations of Computer Science does not count as a Minor and can therefore be combined with a Minor, when done as a first Free Study Area semester. It also doesn't count as an Advanced semester, so you can't combine Foundations of Computer Science with a Minor for semesters 6 and 7.

NOTE: this is not a pre-master. You can choose to follow Foundations of Computer Science as a first Free Study Area semester, and pre-master education within the Computer Science Graduate Programme at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) as a second Free Study Area semester.

You show understanding of foundational computer science theory through a series of 8 teacher-guided subjects of 9 weeks:

• Logic & Set Theory
• Automata & Formal Languages
• Data Structures & Algorithms 1
• Data Structures & Algorithms 2
• Probability & Statistics
• Linear Algebra & Applications
• Functional Programming
• Synchronization

This understanding is demonstrated through a series of formative assessment moments: 1) knowledge tests (oral/digital/written) and 2) projects (individual/group).

Assessment in this semester is holistic and longitudinal. Holistic means that everything you do as a student count toward the final grade: the amount of work, the quality of the work, your professionalism, and the demonstrated competencies. The learning outcomes describe the desired level. Longitudinal means that throughout the entire semester, the assessors monitor your progress.

You do not need to resit knowledge tests (oral/digital/written) and projects (individual/group). A knowledge test (oral/digital/written) or project (individual/group) is a snapshot of your current growth toward a learning outcome. You have at least four consecutive formative assessment moments per learning outcome in a semester to showcase growth toward a learning outcome.

In response to the demands of an increasingly knowledge-intensive scientific world, this semester is organized according to a research-based learning approach. The semester follows a structured and predictable learning pathway in which the learning outcomes and assessment criteria are defined by the study program. Depending on the specific course topics, additional pathways for deeper exploration and broader research engagement are offered, enabling students to further develop specialized knowledge.

Note: previously this semester was known as Academic Preparation. The name Foundations of Computer Science applies from September 2026 onwards.

As there is a lot of programming in this semester, we advise students from to validate that they have sufficient software skills.