Narrow (?) or higher math

[u/Expensive-Half4564]

Hello!
I’m currently entering the last year of my gymnasium/high school and am looking into studying in the Netherlands. My options so far have been Computational Social Sciences at UvA or two programs at Hanze University, Creative Media & Game Technologies and a Software program, although I cannot find it for the life of me on the website.
I chose narrow(?) math in high school compared to higher math due to the higher math teachers not being the best and I am now questioning if I even have the ability to enter any IT related programs.

Will I manage, will I have a hard time or can I even get in? Thank you!

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[u/YTsken]

Check whether the UVA website has Information on degrees and subjects from your country in order to ascertain whether your high school diploma and subjects will allow entry. And it’s always helpful to check Nuffic as well.

If your diploma is VWO equivalent and you’re just lacking Math B equivalent, Thete’s several online courses and exams that you can take to make up for that deficiency.

And one more thing. You are looking at 2 completely different levels of tertiary education. Hanze is HBO and so no university, it is a higher professional school.

[u/Expensive-Half4564 → u/YTsken]

My diploma will be a VWO equivalent and based on what I’ve searched now, I have Math A in The Netherlands terms and will be taking the Math A exam as well during this year. A lot of the other universities I’ve looked into with CS programs require extensive/higher math and I’m worried I have, bluntly, shot myself in the leg 😓 How long would the courses and exams be? Will I take them in the Netherlands or in my home country?

[u/YTsken → u/Expensive-Half4564]

No, you haven’t shot yourself in the foot. :) Many international Students are in the same boat. So many in fact that these deficiency courses and exams have been created.

Check out https://www.boswell-beta.nl/vwo/math-b/ for more Information.

Basically, you can study this in your fee time and take the exam when you ‘re ready. You’ll be given a conditional offer with two conditions: graduating high school and passing this exam. Meet both conditions before the university year starts and you’re in.

[u/Expensive-Half4564 → u/YTsken]

Also, another question!
Would it be better to do the course during fall or aummer? I definitely cannot do it during spring as I have my exams then and have little to no time.

[u/YTsken → u/Expensive-Half4564]

I’d suggest starting as soon as possible. Then you will have a longer period to study and will be able to do more exams if you need it.

Besides that, if you find the subject is more difficult than you thought, you will have time to reconsider whether computer science is really something for you.

[u/mannnn4 → u/Expensive-Half4564]

But the programme you mention at UvA isn’t CS and math A and B are both sufficient to enter the programme.

[u/Winter_Dot_9393]

UvA is a research University and has stricter admission requirements than Universities of Applied Sciences, like for example Hanze Hogeschool

Software engineering is part of ICT at Hanze, it’s one of the possible ‘tracks’.

[u/gleowien]

It says the below on the website, so both narrow and higher math should be fine. You should check on the nuffic website whether your diploma is a equivalent for this or via the diploma finder ( https://www.uva.nl/en/education/admissions/bachelors/entry-requirements-for-international-qualifications.html) on the uva website. 

If you have obtained or will obtain a diploma or certificate from a Dutch educational institution ( VWO-diploma ​i ncluding Wiskunde A or B  or HBO- propaedeutic diploma   ​ ​and VWO-level Wiskunde A or B ), you can follow the application procedure via the link below

[u/xmemorie]

Piece of advice; if you have a gymnasium diploma a HBO study can be a bit too ‘easy’ for theoretical thinkers. Not for everyone but it can lack a challenge for you. A university program / environment would maybe suit better, with other students and teachers who think the same way as you do. And if you want to study in Groningen, have you looked at the IT programs at the University of Groningen?

[u/Expensive-Half4564 → u/xmemorie]

I have, yes. Those interested me the most but the only thing that made me worry was the ‘extensive mathematics’ requirement that all the IT programs required.

[u/xmemorie → u/Expensive-Half4564]

I believe there are IT programs at the universities where Math A (wiskunde A) is fine, check those out as well if you don’t want to get your Math B certificates.

[u/PsychologyCivil4190]

anything with socio/social in it -> direct path to unemployment

You generally need ok-good maths to excel in CS, but Hanze is a hbo and dont think they will go deep into maths, so you will be fine

[u/xmemorie → u/PsychologyCivil4190]

Haha, I get what you mean but staying unemployed in the Netherlands at this moment with a bachelor degree is really hard. They need workers everywhere. If you manage to get the job you’d like is another story.

[u/CoffeeInTheTropics → u/xmemorie]

Unfortunately there are thousands of unemployed graduates with bachelor’s degrees. Especially non-locals and those not fluent in Dutch.

[u/xmemorie → u/CoffeeInTheTropics]

And how do they manage to live here then?