Bachelor's Degree Programme

Summary
We provide a description of the structure of the bachelor's degree programme in ICT. We cover the full-time, part-time and 3-year options for students from pre-university education.

The bachelor's degree programme at Fontys ICT is a four-year study programme divided into semesters. Each semester, students take one Unit of Learning Outcomes (ULO), which are also referred to as ‘Topics’ at Fontys ICT. All ULOs are worth 30 ECTS credits and are either passed in full or not at all.

Topics are offered at three levels:

• Introduction: these are suitable for first-year students.
• Main: these are suitable for second-year students.
• Advanced: these are suitable for students who have already successfully completed an internship.

All topics have a final level in terms of the HBO-i competency matrix and include a number of learning outcomes related to the chosen competencies. The expected entry-level competences are also specified for each topic. The entry-level competences are not binding.

In addition to the standard topics, students may opt for open learning, whereby they select their own HBO-i competences and learning outcomes.

The standard structure of the bachelor’s programme consists of 8 semesters. There are three topics that every student must complete, namely the first semester (semester 1), the internship (semester 5) and graduation (semester 8). Students are free to tailor these topics to their own preferences by choosing the projects they undertake. Every student may also choose a minor in either semester 4 or 7. Semester 4 can also be used to participate in the Academic Preparation or Education programme.

In the remaining semesters, students are free to choose (roughly halfway through the previous semester) from the topics, although not all choices are equally logical. It is the student’s responsibility to choose wisely, with advice from their semester coach. The most logical study paths are described as specialisations. An interactive description of this curriculum can be found on the Study Guide.

In semesters 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 of their study programme, students may also opt for open learning each time.

Students who wish to pursue an academic Master’s degree at TU/e or Jads after their Bachelor’s can follow these universities’ pre-Master’s programme as their minor in Semester 7. Usually, participation in the pre-Master’s programme requires a completed higher professional education (HBO) study programme, but students who choose the Academic Preparation topic in Semester 4 may undertake this pre-Master’s programme as their minor. For more information, see Academic Preparation on studyguide.fontysict.nl. This topic actually consists of a number of smaller units of learning outcomes which together comprise 30 ECTS credits, but which can be completed separately.

Naturally, all students who complete the Bachelor’s programme may enrol on our own Master of Applied IT.

In the free study area, students may also opt for Education. This programme consists of two components provided by Fontys University of Applied Sciences. Upon successful completion, you will receive a second-degree teaching qualification for MBO, preparatory secondary vocational education (VMBO) or senior general secondary education (HAVO/VWO). For more information, see Education on studyguide.fontysict.nl

A student who has completed an MBO study programme may be able to complete the first semester on the first day of enrolment. This is done via the so-called pre-assessment. The student then compiles a portfolio in advance based on the educational material provided. With this portfolio, the student demonstrates that, in addition to the IT topics from their MBO study programme, they have also explored and broadened their knowledge in other specialisations. In other words: they demonstrate the learning outcomes of the first semester at the intake and may start an introduction topic immediately.

The part-time variant of the bachelor's degree programme is called ‘Pro’ at Fontys ICT. Here too, the study programme consists of 8 units of learning outcomes. There are two Topics that every student must complete, namely the first semester (semester 1) and graduation (semester 8). However, students can tailor these Topics to their own preferences by choosing the projects they undertake. After the first semester, the student undertakes an introduction semester. The choice here is somewhat more limited than in the full-time Bachelor’s programme. From semester 3 onwards, all education for the Bachelor’s programme is organised as open learning. An interactive description of the Pro curriculum can be found in the Study Guide Pro.

The WHW permits the provision of a 3-year bachelor's degree programme for pre-university education students. At Fontys ICT, we have organised this option as follows:

• The first semester can be completed on day 1 of enrolment via the pre-assessment, as described above. The difference, however, is that the pre-university education student must explore the full breadth of their portfolio, as they do not yet have any prior ICT-related education.

* Subsequently, this student undertakes one introduction topic, one main topic, an internship, one advanced topic, one free study area and graduation.

• In addition to the introduction topic, main topic, internship and advanced topic, the student completes a number of smaller units of learning outcomes which, taken together, correspond to the Academic Preparation topic.

In total, 240 EC are thus obtained within 3 years. The student may also opt for a 3.5-year variant by participating in the first semester as normal instead of taking the pre-assessment.

These students may choose a pre-master’s programme from TU/e or JADS as their minor. In that case, they are eligible for the master’s programmes associated with these pre-master’s programmes immediately upon obtaining their HBO-ICT diploma. They are also always admitted to our own Master of Applied IT.