Software Engineering Foundations: second year (Venlo)

Focus on advanced concepts such as design patterns, software architectures, and data science to improve your software engineering skills. The coursework and group project aim to enhance your ability to tackle complex software development challenges.

About the exchange programme

This exchange programme will give you insight in some more advanced Software Engineering concepts. It’s actually the third semester of an Informatics bachelor programme. Several software engineering topics will be discussed in more detail, like design patterns, software architectures, algorithms and data science. Furthermore, the programme knows a project in which an app, either iOS- or Android-based and using a cloud architecture, will be developed.

Why this programme?

Focuses on advanced software engineering concepts like design patterns and architectures.
Includes hands-on project work for practical experience in app development using cloud architecture.
Aims to prepare you for complex challenges in software development and data science.

More about Software Engineering Foundations: second year (Venlo)

What can you expect from us

The semester consists of four modules with theory lectures and practical work, and a project in which students work together in groups. Educational activities are interactive and take place in small classes. Our classes are quite international: Dutch, German (due to our location at the border) and “real” international students. Speaking English is the standard.

What de we expect from you

Foreknowledge in the IT domain is needed, you preferably finished the first year of an IT bachelor programme. Furthermore, interest in the IT discipline and an active and eager-to-learn attitude is all we expect. * This programme is only offered in the fall semester.

Courses

The total workload for this programme is 30 European Credits, duration is 1 semester. All courses have to be taken in order to achieve the full credits. The following minor parts (courses) have been defined:

For a software engineer, understanding of the application programming interfaces (API) is very instrumental in increasing productivity. Modern API’s, such as Java and .NET strongly use the Design Patterns as introduced by Eric Gamma in the Gang of Four (Gamma et al.) book. This course is a follow-up on the UML-modeling course (AAD) in the first year. AAD focuses on getting to know modeling techniques (syntax) and apply them in simple cases. This course focuses on smart software design using software and architectural design patterns.

Algorithms and data structures belong to the standard equipment of a software engineer. A number of important algorithms and data structures will be studied and applied in practical work. During the practical work, a test-driven approach is used. An important topic, which returns frequently in discussions, is (time-)complexity. This module uses Java for the practical part, so knowledge of Java is required.

In this course is explained the way computer networks are connected and how computers store information and communicate with each other. The scope of this module ranges from physical storage and signal processing to high level communication protocols. After following this course students are able to understand possibilities of networks and its Pro’s and Con’s, which components are used in computers and networks, the OSI model and how it works, communication in LAN’s and WAN’s, protocols like Ethernet, IP and TCP, and different ways of storing information on a computer system.

For an higher education-graduate, competence in designing, executing, and documenting applied research is necessary. Applied research delivers new knowledge which helps making (business / economic / engineering / scientific / …) decisions important in professional situations, for example for the IT to be developed or to a well-founded advice on an IT infrastructure. For gaining the new knowledge, data is the basic material. For a graduate in Informatics, it is mandatory that they can analyse, interpret and visualize data based on state-of-the-art methods and techniques and report adequately on the process, methods and results of their applied research.

Mobile App Development is a very important application area. The world of mobile apps development is divided into different technologies. The most important technologies are IOS, Android, Hybrid and html/css/javascript. Because the server centered software development is already covered by other courses, we use in project 3 the device centered and platform dependent major technologies iOS and Android, both using cloud services, GPS data and an in-memory database. Entry requirement: project and programming (including SQL) experience, Git and Agile/Scrum preferrably as well.

Admission requirements

For this exchange programme we have the following admission requirements:

English level: equivalent to IELTS 6.0;
The student’s foundation year should be successfully rounded off.
Students must have prior knowledge in IT, 1 year knowledge of Java and knowledge of UM, specifically class diagrams, experience in OO programming.

How will your course programme be recognised by your home university?

Fontys will provide you with a so-called ‘Transcript of Records’, which will clarify the results that you have achieved. Depending on your results, you will receive a maximum of 30 ECTS credits. ECTS credits are recognised throughout Europe. The agreement between your home university and Fontys University of Applied Sciences will usually include a condition whereby the credits that you obtain will be recognised and transferred into the records kept by your home university.

Practical information

Start moment(s): September
Location: Venlo
ECTs: 30
Language: English
Duration: 1 semester

Applications should always be submitted via the International Exchange (or Erasmus) Officer at the home university. This officer will send your application request (nomination) to Fontys. Once Fontys has received the nomination, your Fontys study department will send you a link to a web application called Mobility Online. Please take a look here to see how it works.

If you want to come as a freemover, we also need your university to send us a nomination e-mail. Once we have received this we will send you our application information.
As a freemover the fees are €75 per ECTS. If you are not sure if your university is a partner of Fontys Venlo University of Applied Sciences, the international office of your home university can tell you more about this.

Deadlines

Spring semester:

Nomination deadline November 1st

Application deadline November 15th

Fall semester:

Nomination deadline May 1st

Application deadline May 15th

For more information concerning the start date, please get in touch with the contact person of the study department of the concerned exchange programme.

English language requirements

For most English taught exchange programmes a minimum level of English language proficiency of CEFR* B2 or an equivalent of IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80 is required. However there might be programmes where a higher level is required and submitting evidence might be necessary.

For more detailed information about practical matters, such as financial matters, residence permit, health insurance and accommodation, please click on the button below.

More information on practical matters

Doing a study abroad most certainly means a lot of excitement and perhaps also a bit of anxiety. Getting used to everything may be a challenge at times. You may have language difficulties or be unfamiliar with certain aspects of life in the Netherlands and at the university.

We receive around 100 international exchange students each semester. To give them a warm welcome into Dutch culture and at our campus, the International Office has set up a buddy programme. A buddy is a Fontys bachelor student who is familiar with the campus and who can give practical help with administrative systems, timetables etc. They know their way around the city of Venlo and can also help students to better understand Dutch traditions and habits and feel at home real soon!

What else can students expect from a buddy? A buddy will:

- meet you at the Venlo train station and accompany you to your room.

- help you get settled during the first weeks by answering practical questions related to living in Venlo and by showing you around town.

- help you with questions about campus life, teaching styles, campus set-up, how to prepare for exams, etc.

- help you with practical questions such as how to print documents, how to get connected to Wi-Fi, get acquainted with the Fontys portal, etc.

- introduce you to Dutch culture.

- be able to join you during social activities.

The programme seeks to give students the best possible start to their study abroad in Venlo and at our campus!

Location and contact

Venlo

Tegelseweg 255

: fhtenl-studyabroad@fontys.nl