Make the world your workplace by becoming an all-rounder in IT.
As a prospective IT professional, you are open to new developments and can accurately assess clients' wishes and needs. If you are interested in programming, app design, cybersecurity, data and/or artificial intelligence, this programme is for you.
The four-year Information Technology degree combines theory with practice. You will collaborate in years 3 & 4 with IT companies and work on real business assignments during your minors. Discover more about the Information Technology courses, minors, internships and the programme structure below.
The Information Technology programme features a wide range of courses, taught by lecturers with various areas of expertise such as software development, interaction design, cloud, security, data & AI as well as communication and research skills. We aim to ensure that our education ties in closely with professional practice, allowing you to build a solid foundation for multiple roles in the IT sector.
As we prioritise personal attention and individual supervision, it is not surprising that students regard the involvement and helpfulness of the lecturers as one of the best aspects of the degree programme.
Phases
The programme is divided into three phases: the first-year phase, the core phase and the graduation phase. During the first year, you will lay the foundations for your development as a software developer and IT specialist. In the core phase (second year and first half of the third year), you will be faced with complex tasks. You will conclude the core phase with a professional orientation work placement in the third year. In the second half of the third and first half of the fourth year, you will choose from various elective modules. In consultation with your student coach, it is also possible to take a multidisciplinary minor for one of the periods within Inholland, at another study programme, at another university of applied sciences, at a university or abroad. To conclude your studies, you will carry out an individual graduation project at a company in which you conduct practice-oriented research and develop an IT product.
Terms
A year is divided into four terms in which education is structured according to themes from professional IT practices. The lessons and educational activities in a particular term relate to a specific theme, e.g. web design or programming. The theme usually involves an assignment that has to be resolved using Agile / Scrum.
Teaching methods
Still have doubts?
Do you like technology and the way it is implemented but are you not quite sure whether Information Technology is the best programme for you? Then it would be a good idea to look at related courses with a different focus, such as:
The first year is divided into four terms, which are organised around central themes, such as web creation or application building. In this way, you become acquainted with the broad IT field of software development. You take Information Technology-related courses, but also mathematics and English to strengthen your basic skills. You will immediately put what you've learned to practical use.
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In the second year, we dive deeper into the subject matter, and you learn how to program for the Web and in JAVA. The projects focus on NoSQL, web applications and API programming, and you complete a project that integrates both front-end and back-end. In addition to technical subjects, communication skills, English, social-ethical, privacy aspects and desk research also come into play.
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During your third year of Information Technology, you do an internship at a company or organisation of your choice. This internship will enable you to become familiar with the day-to-day work and opportunities of an IT professional. If you wish, you can also do the internship abroad.
After your work placement, you enter the graduation phase in which you begin to specialise. In the second half of the third year and the first half of the fourth year, you can choose between various minors. For a maximum of six months, you may take a minor at a different university of applied sciences in the Netherlands or a university of applied sciences or university abroad.
The following options are available:
Cybersecurity (February to June)
The digital landscape is changing at lightning speed. Every day we are confronted with reports on cybersecurity. New technologies are constantly creating new attack opportunities for cybercriminals, increasing the demand for a new generation of cybersecurity specialists.
A study by ISC2 estimated the global shortage of security professionals at four million by 2023. This minor is designed to provide students with the crucial knowledge and skills needed in the field and prepare them for the challenges they will face in it.
This minor not only provides technical cybersecurity knowledge but also focuses on bridging the gap between technical experts and management. A wide range of topics are covered to achieve this goal.
Most courses are assessed using real cases provided by partner companies. Students have to combine their research with the knowledge from the lectures to define practical solutions to these problems.
These activities promote the acquisition of experience, knowledge and skills across the broad spectrum of cybersecurity. Moreover, you are encouraged to gain high-level in-depth expertise in your final project. In doing so, you will have the opportunity to excel and grow in an expertise that best suits your interests.
Data & AI (February to June)
The demand for data scientists has grown exponentially in recent years. While there are many minors in the field of (Big) Data and Data Science, this minor stands out for its unique focus on the interaction between Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, with a software-oriented approach to solving complex 'wicked (data) problems'.
The centre of this minor is a group project for an external client, in which you will have the opportunity to work on realistic challenges. As a result, you will gain valuable practical experience and develop the skills needed to create innovative solutions in a dynamic environment.
In the fourth year, you will first take a minor for six months. The choices in the Information Technology programme are Mobile Development and Cloud Computing. The minors are followed by the individual graduation phase which almost always involves an independent research and development process commissioned by a company. For example, you might develop a proof-of-concept for a mobile application. During your graduation thesis, you will report on the project.
Mobile Development (September – January)
The vast adoption of mobile devices such as mobile phones and tablets has rapidly changed the landscape of stand-alone application development for consumer applications. Mobile devices provide various application design challenges, due to their modest screen sizes, and provide innovative application opportunities. This minor focuses on teaching you how to design and develop native applications for iOS and Android, with an authentic platform-specific look and feel.
Designing a mobile application is covered in Mobile UX workshops. Hands-on development experience with iOS and Android is obtained in workshops covering these platforms. Preparation for using the applicable programming languages (Swift and Kotlin) is provided in separate workshops. A course consisting of classes and workshops provides you with insights into security and communication best practices. You also get to experience a glimpse of the development of server-side software through a crash course workshop on Azure.
The core of the minor consists of a group project for an external client (not-for-profit), which provides you with the opportunity to see your mobile application being applied in practice.
Cloud Computing (September - January)
The rapid adoption of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets has drastically changed the landscape of application development. Mobile devices present many design challenges due to their limited screen size. This minor focuses on learning how to develop applications for iOS and Android. During workshops, you will gain hands-on experience developing for these platforms.
You will receive thorough preparation in the programming languages Swift and Kotlin, and learn to work with Microsoft Azure. We also pay attention to the best methods for security and communication within mobile applications.
The heart of this minor is a group project for an external client (often a non-profit organisation), which gives you the chance to see how your application is really used!
Cloud Computing (September to January)
Over the past decade, Cloud services have developed rapidly and the availability of platforms has increased enormously.
In this minor, you will learn to develop applications in a practical way without using a server. The minor consists of several workshops on Microsoft Azure, Cloud database models, REST API design and testing, Continuous Integration/ Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) and DevOps.
This minor is your stepping stone to a successful career in modern software development and cloud, where you will learn to apply the latest technologies and best approaches in practice.
Bachelor of Science
Once you have successfully completed the Information Technology programme, you have earned a Bachelor of Science degree!
It is important that you quickly feel at home at Inholland University of Applied Sciences. That you know how your programme is set up and how you can study effectively. Our Study Coaches are here to get you off to a good start and will introduce you to your study group. Should you have specific study-related problems, your mentor is happy to provide advice.
The IT sector is very international. Apart from operating globally, companies also provide services to customers abroad and you meet people from all corners of the world. An internship or study abroad is therefore certainly encouraged. We have partnerships with, for example, universities and companies in China or South Africa.