Study Computer Science and IT – Which subject should you choose?
With a degree in computer science, you can take part in fascinating initiatives and advancements in business and academia as information technology continues to advance quickly.
Although self-taught developers or job changers can work in the IT industry, a university degree in computer science is the best investment. The theoretical foundations you’ll learn as part of a computer science degree or master’s programme are what make it valuable. You won’t merely “hack away”; instead, you’ll have a greater grasp of fundamental ideas that will enable you to advance farther.
However, the topic isn’t usually “Computer Science”. There are numerous sub-disciplines you might specialise in, and each has its own distinct qualities:
Artificial Intelligence 🤖
The science of artificial intelligence has advanced rapidly in recent years. “Artificial Intelligence” has turned into one of those buzzwords that many use but few comprehend. You can change that by acquiring a degree with a machine learning and AI specialisation. Both bachelor’s and master’s degrees with a focus on the area are now available from many universities. This is a viable educational option because AI will become more and more relevant in future technological applications.
Business Information Systems 🏢
Companies are complex entities that handle staggering volumes of information using a variety of workflows. An IT infrastructure and environment designed to support businesses forms the basis of that. With a degree in business information systems, you are prepared for a job at the nexus of technological implementation and business requirements. You are also ready to advance in both directions, eventually becoming more of a technical specialist or a business leader.
Computer Science 🖥️
Companies are intricate entities that employ a variety of procedures to manage staggering amounts of information. The foundation for such is an environment and IT infrastructure created to support enterprises. You are prepared for a career at the intersection of technical implementation and business requirements if you have a degree in business information systems. You are also equipped to move on in both directions, eventually advancing to the level of a business or technical expert.
Data Science & Big Data 📊
Data is everywhere; the essential inquiries for corporations, organisations, and governments are what data is pertinent and how to analyse it to obtain the desired insights. You should anticipate a deep dive into database technology, analytical methodologies, and tools in a Bachelor’s or Master’s programme with a concentration on data science, big data, or data analytics.
Game Development 🎮
Video games are entertaining, well-liked, and ultimately just software! The development of video games involves many different aspects, and programming is a crucial one. While anyone with any educational background can become a video game developer, specialised Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in game development are now commonly offered at numerous universities throughout Europe. Beyond what is generally covered in a “regular” Computer Science degree, a video game degree typically teaches you the most relevant programming languages and production tools as well as the basics of computer science. This is the best option for a quick introduction into the fascinating video gaming industry.
Health Informatics 🏥
A Health Informatics degree programme allows you to specialise in IT solutions for diverse medical objectives. The health sector has its own unique complexity. Usually, this entails gathering health data (diagnostics), processing patient information (with significant privacy and encryption constraints), and deriving conclusions from it (nowadays often with the support of artificial intelligence). You might specialise on the hardware, the relevant software, or a combination of both. Aspects of bioinformatics may be covered if the bachelor’s or master’s programme is designed to train students for careers in medicine in a laboratory setting.
Human Computer Interaction 🤳
We use technology in a variety of ways, including using a keyboard and mouse, a touch screen, our voice, and other methods. Degree programmes in this field address topics including user interface design (UI), user experience (UX), and what is commonly referred to as “product design.” Aspects of technology, development, and design are frequently included in courses.
Informatics 🖥️
Although the terms “Informatics” and “Computer Science” are frequently used interchangeably, “Informatics” may also refer to a more theoretical curriculum with a strong emphasis on mathematics if it is the name of a study programme. Here, it may be beneficial to take a glance at the upcoming course modules: You might wish to search for another study option at the same or a different university if you’re expecting to learn a lot of practical information technology applications but discover a lot of math modules.
Software Engineering ⌨️
A degree in software engineering is the best preparation for a successful profession if programming is your main area of interest and you’re passionate about creating software. A major component of that is learning programming (and different programming languages), but there is much more to it than that. For example, in a degree programme in software engineering, you will learn systematic approaches to development, which cover things like IT architecture, design, testing, and maintenance.
