During the open day, it became clear that this programme shared my perspective: building software is about solving complex problems with others. The programme lasts only one year but can be spread over two years. I took advantage of this flexibility, allowing me to work part-time as a developer while studying. 

The programme is intensive and does not offer elective courses. However, the courses are carefully selected, and each one challenged me in a different way. The variety is significant, and I learned how to tackle real-world software engineering challenges at an academic level. All courses involve group work—a realistic reflection of the industry, because software development is never done alone. 

After graduating, I became a Java backend developer at ASML through a company I worked with. After two years, I moved to the Software Improvement Group, where I had written my master’s thesis. 

A master’s in Software Engineering opens up countless opportunities. Many of my fellow graduates have secured challenging software engineering positions, and I initially took the same path. However, I later transitioned into a role as a technical consultant, where I analyse the quality of software code for companies. In this role, having an academic perspective on software development is extremely valuable. 

Many software engineers are excellent at writing code, but a truly great engineer understands much more—such as requirements, architecture, development processes, communication with the business, and how to translate complex problems into software solutions. 

If you are interested in the technical side of software engineering but also want to learn about all the other aspects that come with it, I highly recommend the Software Engineering programme at the UvA. It is a challenging programme, but also incredibly rewarding and enjoyable!