Software Engineering and Business Informatics (Venlo)
- 4 year
- English
- Bachelor
- Full-time
Online open day
Take a lookAbout
You’ll be trained to become a versatile IT professional. Practice is essential! As you’ll be collaborating with others a lot, the programme’s focus will also be on developing your social and communicational skills. Sound knowledge of information systems is essential, but you’ll also learn how to organise and give advice. This will often be done in group projects, focused of practice with extra guidance. You can always contact your lecturers and student counsellor to discuss your study plan and progress.
Why this study in the Netherlands?
- The first 3 semesters are the same for both students of Software Engineering and Business Informatics. Afterwards, you choose to specialise in one of these.
- You’ll work on projects for a third of each semester.
- You’ll do two internships to gain experience in the field.
- Possibility to specialise (abroad) during your minor programme.
- This is a small study programme, so you’ll be part of a personal community.
What are you going to learn?
As a student of our Software Engineering / Business Informatics programme, you learn to shape and make use of new developments. You’ll also learn to collaborate with professionals from different backgrounds, which gives you a head start in the business field. You’ll choose between two specialisations:
- Software Engineering is about the process of making and improving software systems, from the initial idea to implementation and management of the system. You’ll learn how to produce high-quality software systems instead of spaghetti-code with bugs in it. The type of system to develop, the operating system to develop for and the environment to develop in do not play a role, as a software engineer is qualified for all of them.
- Business Informatics includes the knowledge of developing software, the use of IT to digitalise business processes, and supporting managers by giving them information derived from the business processes, so they can make the right decisions. To be able to do all this, you’ll learn how to collect requirements from the various stakeholders, and to use the requirements to define a adapted/new business process which afterwards is to be implemented in software (= digitalised). You’ll learn about specific types of software and software architectures that enable the manager to perform data-based decision making.
How does your week look?
A typical study week has 4 lectures and 2 practical sessions for developing specific skills, and 3 project sessions. The projects are designed as to give you the chance to apply what you learned in the lectures, while also providing you with a real-life setting since you have to work in small teams and find out the answers yourself. We always try to set all this in a schedule restricted to 4 days - or at least with 2 mornings or afternoons without any scheduled activities.
Get to know our campus
Check out our classrooms, outside area, engineering labs, the city of Venlo and much more via our 360° tour.
Costs
The tuition fees indicator helps you to determine the tuition rate for your situation. The information and tuition rates from this indicator are without engagement.
For the 2021-2022 academic year, you can count on a one-time discount on tuition fees from the ‘Nationaal Programma Onderwijs’. Do you want to know what this means for you personally? Check the tuition fees indicator to see how high your tuition fees are for academic year 2021-2022.
A distinction is made between statutory tuition fees and institutional tuition fees. Only if you satisfy all statutory requirements regarding your nationality and if you have not yet been awarded a degree, will you be eligible for statutory tuition fees. Via the tuition fees indicator, you can secure an indication of the type of tuition fees that will be applicable in your situation. To do so, please make use of the indicator above.
Distinctions are made between the following types of Institutional Tuition Fees:
• Low institutional tuition fees
• High institutional tuition fees
These different types of tuition fees and the Exemption Regulations are fully detailed in the
The amount to be paid may vary in accordance with the following situations:
• If you have enrolled in more than one course programme (at Fontys and/or elsewhere), it is possible that you may only be obliged to pay one set of statutory tuition fees.
• If you believe that you may be eligible to pay only the statutory tuition fees on the basis of information that may be unknown to us, please report this to your Course Department.
• If it later transpires that you do not meet the requirements for statutory tuition fees, you will be obliged to pay the (higher) institutional tuition fees and if this is the case, you will be notified accordingly.
Fontys currently offers several scholarships for Non-Eu / Non-EEA students. You might also be eligible for other scholarships not provided by Fontys. These can be found on Grantfinder.nl
Paying in instalments
Collection will take place in a maximum of ten equal instalments on or around the 26th of the month. Depending upon the processing time required after your enrolment, the direct debit may need to be moved to the following month. If so, the amount outstanding will then be divided and added to the remaining instalments to be executed until and including the June instalment.
If paying the full sum in a single payment
If you commence your studies on 1 September, the direct debit pertaining to your Tuition Fees will be executed on or around 25 September. If you commence your studies after 1 September, the direct debit will be executed on or around the 26th of the month in which you commence your studies.
Non EU students
Incoming Non EU students will receive a payment letter from their study department which must be paid before the deadline. In the following academic years payment can be done by direct debit.
The Dutch currency unit is the Euro (i.e. abbreviated to ‘EUR’ or ‘€’).
The average living expenses per month for a foreign student living and studying in Holland are between EUR 900 and EUR 1,100 per month. These living expenses cover rent, insurance, food, public transportation, books, clothing and other general costs.
Costs within the first months upon arrival will be higher than all other months due to a housing deposit, intro week and books. Study books are usually bought at the start of the semester and therefore it is wise to reserve and have direct access to an amount at the start of the semester which can cover the price of all study books and the living expenses for the first two months.
It is not always easy for international students to find accommodation in the Netherlands. Therefore, Fontys University of Applied Sciences (Fontys) offers a service to provide students with assistance in securing suitable accommodation (i.e. a student room) for the first period of their studies at Fontys. Fontys works with private landlords, but also offers their own accommodation in Venlo.
Requirements
Diploma
As a prospective Bachelor's student you must have a diploma of higher secondary education that is equivalent to Dutch standards. In order to be admitted to Fontys University of Applied Sciences students must be eligible for higher education through a diploma of secondary education / high school diploma with good results. For international students this means:
- senior high school diploma, which generally grants access to a Bachelor programme in the country of issue
- General Certificate of Secondary Education in 4 subjects with marks ranging from A-C, plus a General Certificate of Education with 2 subjects at advanced subsidiary level
- International Baccalaureate Diploma
- Baccalauréat Général
- American High School Diploma (AP courses are strongly recommended)
For German students specifically: Fachabitur or Abitur (Fachhochschulreife or Allgemeine Hochschulreife)
Besides your diploma, please provide additional academic qualifications if available (especially in the field of mathematics and physics). E.g. additional courses, workshops, projects, participation in competitions. Your qualifications will be assessed by the Admission Officer of the specific study programme.
Language requirements
For the English taught programmes, the minimum English language proficiency required is explained in the table below:
| TEST | Bachelor's students |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 (academic level) |
| TOEFL paper | 550 |
| TOEFL computer | 213 |
| TOEFL internet | 79/80 |
| TOEIC* | 670 |
| Cambridge ESOL | CAE-C |
* only if the units 'Speaking and Writing' and 'Listening and Reading' have been passed succesfully.
The level of English proficiency must always meet the entry requirements for the chosen Fontys course. Fontys always reserves the right to require a language proficiency test for all categories of applicants.
Exemptions
Some applicants can be exempted from submitting the language proficiency test results:
- Candidates with a Dutch MBO-4, HAVO- or VWO-diploma
- EEA/EU candidates with diplomas from certain countries are exempted from the language test. Find the lit of diplomas and countries here
- Applicants whose previous education was English-taught, and taken in a country in which English is an official language
- Applicants whose mother tongue is English.
Diploma
As a prospective Bachelor's student you must have a diploma of higher secondary education that is equivalent to Dutch standards. In order to be admitted to Fontys University of Applied Sciences students must be eligible for higher education through a diploma of secondary education / high school diploma with good results. For international students this means:
- senior high school diploma, which generally grants access to a Bachelor programme in the country of issue
- General Certificate of Secondary Education in 4 subjects with marks ranging from A-C, plus a General Certificate of Education with 2 subjects at advanced subsidiary level
- International Baccalaureate Diploma
- Baccalauréat Général
- American High School Diploma (AP courses are strongly recommended)
For German students specifically: Fachabitur or Abitur (Fachhochschulreife or Allgemeine Hochschulreife)
Besides your diploma, please provide additional academic qualifications if available (especially in the field of mathematics and physics). E.g. additional courses, workshops, projects, participation in competitions. Your qualifications will be assessed by the Admission Officer of the specific study programme.
Language requirements
For the English taught programmes, the minimum English language proficiency required is explained in the table below:
| TEST | Bachelor's students |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 (academic level) |
| TOEFL paper | 550 |
| TOEFL computer | 213 |
| TOEFL internet | 79/80 |
| TOEIC* | 670 |
| Cambridge ESOL | CAE-C |
* only if the units 'Speaking and Writing' and 'Listening and Reading' have been passed succesfully.
The level of English proficiency must always meet the entry requirements for the chosen Fontys course. Fontys always reserves the right to require a language proficiency test for all categories of applicants.
Exemptions
Some applicants can be exempted from submitting the language proficiency test results:
- Candidates with a Dutch MBO-4, HAVO- or VWO-diploma
- EEA/EU candidates with diplomas from certain countries are exempted from the language test. Find the lit of diplomas and countries here
- Applicants whose previous education was English-taught, and taken in a country in which English is an official language
- Applicants whose mother tongue is English.
Visa
As a non-EU/EEA student, the Netherlands will require an Entry Visa* (MVV) and a Residence Permit. Fontys will apply onbehalf of its students for these documents. We recommend that you start withe process early, i.e. approximately three month before you plan to enter the Netherlands.
*except nationals from Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, the USA and Vatican City State.
Diploma
As a prospective Bachelor's student you must have a diploma of higher secondary education. For Dutch students this means: VWO-, HAVO- (NT/NG profile obligated) or MBO-diploma.
Language requirements for Dutch students
For the English taught programmes, the minimum English language proficiency required. As an applicant with a Dutch MBO-4, HAVO- or VWO-diploma you can be exempted from submitting the language proficiency test.
Career opportunities
The demand for good IT personnel is rising and it is expected to keep increasing in the future. This is great for you as an IT graduate! Our graduates work in a range of jobs and positions:
- Software Developer
- Database Developer
- Data Scientist
- Developer for Artificial Intelligence
How to apply
All applications for our programmes have to be conducted via www.studielink.nl. Studielink is an online portal that allows applicants to apply and maintain their registration whenever they want to.
The application process may differ for EU and Non-EU students, please read below what applies for you.
Application deadlines EU
| September intake | |
|---|---|
| If you want us to arrange accommodation | 15 June |
| If you arrange accommodation yourself | 1 August |
Start your online application
- Log in to Studielink: www.studielink.nl.
- Submit your personal details (please ensure that you enter your names as stated on your passport and/or identity card), ensuring that all details are entered correctly, i.e. capital letters where required.
- Add 'New Enrolment Application': mind you choose the correct intake (September 2021).
- Add your previous education and answer the supplementary questions.
Within Studielink, choose this option:
| Educational institution | Fontys Hogescholen |
|---|---|
| Location of educational institution | Venlo |
| Programme | Software Engineering and Business Informatics |
Application deadlines NON-EU
| September intake | |
|---|---|
| If you want us to arrange accommodation | 1 June |
| If you arrange accommodation yourself | 1 June |
Start your online application
- Log in to Studielink: www.studielink.nl.
- Submit your personal details (please ensure that you enter your names as stated on your passport and/or identity card), ensuring that all details are entered correctly, i.e. capital letters where required.
- Add 'New Enrolment Application': mind you choose the correct intake (September 2021).
- Add your previous education and answer the supplementary questions.
Within Studielink, choose this option:
| Educational institution | Fontys Hogescholen |
|---|---|
| Location of educational institution | Venlo |
| Programme | Software Engineering and Business Informatics |
More about Information Technology - Software Engineering and Business Informatics
Right now we haven't planned new virtual open days. New dates will be planned later this year. We would like to keep you posted about new dates.
In case there are no events planned, please keep an eye on this programme website for upcoming events.
The situation and guidelines resulting from the corona pandemic are constantly changing, also for higher education. One thing we know for sure: in the new academic year we will have to observe the 1.5 metre distance rule in our buildings and on campus for the time being. We are adapting our education accordingly so that a good mix of face to face education on location and online education is created.
We carefully consider which form of education is best suited to each course, each subject and even each component.
In the factsheet you will find the most important programme information at a glance.
Download the factsheet