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Hybrid intelligence: where AI systems and humans meet

Artificial Intelligence

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Understand the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and human behaviour

The Artificial Intelligence programme of VU Amsterdam allows you to analyse, develop and apply new AI techniques to come up with solutions that make sense within their social context. 

The programme consists of a number of compulsory courses that cover the key concepts of AI. You will learn how human behaviour can be interpreted based on sensor data and computational models of physiological and cognitive processes. You will also gain experience in integrating such models in dedicated, intelligent applications that support humans in their daily lives. 

In addition, there are lots of possibilities and opportunities to specialise in your area of interest. You can continue to study AI techniques in more depth, building on the core topics, or choose advanced elective courses such as Deep Learning.

Cognitive Science track
Another option is to continue in the specialised Cognitive Science track, during which you gain an in-depth understanding of the cognitive aspects of AI. The track focuses on the processes that underlie human functioning from two different research perspectives: empirical work and computational modelling.

AI for Health track
AI for Health is a track in collaboration with Medical Informatics (Amsterdam UMC, UvA). In this track you will learn about medical informatics basics, Medical AI (with a focus on imaging techniques in medicine and natural language processing techniques in medicine), and how to combine machine learning and reasoning for health applications. Two courses will take place at Amsterdam UMC, location AMC.

VU Amsterdam's AI programme is a pioneer in the development of intelligent systems. As a Master's student, you also have the option to work on advanced information systems at a wide range of companies and institutions. 

The start date of this programme is September 1st.

The content and exit qualifications of the programme are reviewed every year by our Professional Advisory Board.

VU Online Master's Event

Thursday 27 November 2025

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First year

The first year of the program consists of compulsory courses and a few elective courses.

Compulsory courses

  • Evolutionary Computing
  • Knowledge Representation
  • Multi-Agent Systems
  • Deep Learning
  • AI and Society
  • Experimental Design and Data Analysis
  • Natural Language Processing

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the 

Second year

.

Summary

In your second year, you can expect one or two compulsory courses plus more specialisation in your own area of interest. 

topics could include: 

  • Social Robotics
  • Health Sciences
  • Bioinformatics
  • Cognitive Science
  • Language Technology 
  • Deepening AI

Alternatively, you may wish to take the specialised , which will give you an in-depth understanding of the cognitive aspects of AI, or the AI for Health track in collaboration with Medical Informatics (Amsterdam UMC, UvA). 

As a Master's student, you also have the option to work on advanced information systems at a wide range of companies and institutions. Some recent examples include:

  • Semantic navigation on overheid.nl (the Dutch government website)
  • A personal “quit assistant” to help people give up smoking 
  • Adaptive personal music choices during sports training, in collaboration with Philips
  • New forms of online publication for Elsevier
  • A knowledge system to predict problems with Amsterdam's trams and other public transport
  • An intelligent opponent that’s able to anticipate a player's actions in a real-time action game

See also the study guide for a complete overview of the . Or download the directly. 

Summary

Cognitive Science: immerse yourself in the multidisciplinary world of the cognitive mind 

Deepen your research in the multidisciplinary study of mind and cognition. Researchers in cognitive science come from a wide range of backgrounds, including psychology, computer science, artificial intelligence, philosophy, mathematics and neuroscience. However, they all share a common goal: to gain a deeper understanding of the human mind, not just from an academic perspective but also from a practical one.

The track focuses on the processes that underlie human functioning from two different research perspectives: empirical work and computational modelling. For example, empirical work may suggest a functional layout for computational models. The reverse is also true: results of simulations with computational models can provide suggestions for setting up empirical experiments. The underlying philosophy of this track at ĢƵ is to challenge students to build their knowledge in a wide variety of fields and techniques, all of which are related to cognitive psychology.

The Cognitive Science track is jointly organised by the Department of Cognitive Psychology of the Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, and the Department of Artificial Intelligence of the Faculty of Sciences.

Compulsory courses

  • Seminar Cognitive Neurosciences
  • Neural Models of Cognitive Processes for AI
  • Brain Imaging

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the .

Summary

AI for Health is a track in collaboration with Medical Informatics (Amsterdam UMC, UvA). In this track you will learn about medical informatics basics, Medical AI (with a focus on imaging techniques in medicine and natural language processing techniques in medicine), and how to combine machine learning and reasoning for health applications. Two courses will take place at Amsterdam UMC, location AMC.

Compulsory courses

  • Evolutionary Computing
  • Knowledge Representation
  • Multi-Agent Systems
  • Socially Intelligent Robotics
  • AI and Society
  • Experimental Design and Data Analysis
  • Natural Language Processing

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the . 

  • Specialisation phase

    Summary

    In your second year, you can expect one or two compulsory courses plus more specialisation in your own area of interest. 

    topics could include: 

    • Social Robotics
    • Health Sciences
    • Bioinformatics
    • Cognitive Science
    • Language Technology 
    • Deepening AI

    Alternatively, you may wish to take the specialised , which will give you an in-depth understanding of the cognitive aspects of AI, or the AI for Health track in collaboration with Medical Informatics (Amsterdam UMC, UvA). 

    As a Master's student, you also have the option to work on advanced information systems at a wide range of companies and institutions. Some recent examples include:

    • Semantic navigation on overheid.nl (the Dutch government website)
    • A personal “quit assistant” to help people give up smoking 
    • Adaptive personal music choices during sports training, in collaboration with Philips
    • New forms of online publication for Elsevier
    • A knowledge system to predict problems with Amsterdam's trams and other public transport
    • An intelligent opponent that’s able to anticipate a player's actions in a real-time action game

    See also the study guide for a complete overview of the . Or download the directly. 

  • Cognitive Science Track

    Summary

    Cognitive Science: immerse yourself in the multidisciplinary world of the cognitive mind 

    Deepen your research in the multidisciplinary study of mind and cognition. Researchers in cognitive science come from a wide range of backgrounds, including psychology, computer science, artificial intelligence, philosophy, mathematics and neuroscience. However, they all share a common goal: to gain a deeper understanding of the human mind, not just from an academic perspective but also from a practical one.

    The track focuses on the processes that underlie human functioning from two different research perspectives: empirical work and computational modelling. For example, empirical work may suggest a functional layout for computational models. The reverse is also true: results of simulations with computational models can provide suggestions for setting up empirical experiments. The underlying philosophy of this track at ĢƵ is to challenge students to build their knowledge in a wide variety of fields and techniques, all of which are related to cognitive psychology.

    The Cognitive Science track is jointly organised by the Department of Cognitive Psychology of the Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, and the Department of Artificial Intelligence of the Faculty of Sciences.

    Compulsory courses

    • Seminar Cognitive Neurosciences
    • Neural Models of Cognitive Processes for AI
    • Brain Imaging

    You can find the complete course overview for this year in the .

  • AI for Health

    Summary

    AI for Health is a track in collaboration with Medical Informatics (Amsterdam UMC, UvA). In this track you will learn about medical informatics basics, Medical AI (with a focus on imaging techniques in medicine and natural language processing techniques in medicine), and how to combine machine learning and reasoning for health applications. Two courses will take place at Amsterdam UMC, location AMC.

    Compulsory courses

    • Evolutionary Computing
    • Knowledge Representation
    • Multi-Agent Systems
    • Socially Intelligent Robotics
    • AI and Society
    • Experimental Design and Data Analysis
    • Natural Language Processing

    You can find the complete course overview for this year in the . 

Internships and scholarships

The AI Master’s programme culminates in an individual graduation project. An internship is a great potential alternative, so long as it’s approved in advance by a member of staff who is also involved in supervising the project.

Scholarships
There are several ways to obtain funding to study for your Master’s. ĢƵ, the Dutch government and other organisations all offer . 

The VU’s AI programme is a pioneer in the development of intelligent systems

VU staff members in the AI department are currently researching a number of pioneering topics: 

  • Structuring information
    How can you bring structure to the information on the internet? Is it possible to make the internet smarter and more personal?  
  • Turning information into knowledge
    What turns information into knowledge? How do you generate the right knowledge? And how do you make sure the computer knows what to do with the information presented? 
  • Learning from data
    There are millions of hard disks full of information reflecting our world. What can you learn about the real world from that mass of digital information?   
  • Supporting humans in an intelligent way with awareness of the human’s state
    How can you make intelligent support systems (or agents) that are aware of the current functioning of the human state? How can you provide dedicated support based on this state?

Change your future with the Artificial Intelligence programme

Change your future with the Artificial Intelligence programme

The majority of AI alumni find a job within three months of completing their Master’s. They are employed by all kinds of organisations, ranging from large corporations and consultancies to small start-ups.

Explore your future prospects
Robot washes hair from a human

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