The program is made up of four course groups, each containing several different course offerings:
(1) Foundational courses in computer science
(2) Advanced Applications
(3) Creative design and entrepreneurship
(4) Humanities courses related to Hungary’s rich cultural heritage
In addition, a diverse range of extracurricular activities are offered for exploring the historic heritage and contemporary cultural life of Budapest and the region. Prior to the academic program a 2-week long intensive Hungarian language course (not for credit) is also offered. This intensive language course is organized by a language school which charges a separate fee.
Courses are graded using the A/B/C/D/F grade system with + and - for in-between grades, or with "Audit". Students are expected to select academic courses with an average load of 20-22 contact hours a week.
Following the Spring Semester, AIT offers a 4-week Summer Term with two additional courses.
Students may select one or more courses to deepen their knowledge in the foundations of computer science. The world’s very first graph theory course was offered at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics some 80 years ago. The lecturer was Professor Dénes Kőnig, author of the first book on graph theory; his students included Paul Erdős, Tibor Gallai, Paul Turán and other pioneers of the subject. Based on this unique tradition, various courses are offered, among others, in classical graph theory, combinatorial optimization, theory of computing, and declarative programming.
| Title | Faculty | Credits | Duration |
| Semantic and Declarative Technologies | Péter Szeredi | 4 credits | weeks 1 – 14 |
| Graph Theory | Gábor Wiener, Tamás Fleiner |
4 credits | weeks 1 – 14 |
| Combinatorial Optimization | Dávid Szeszlér | 4 credits | weeks 1 – 14 |
| Theory of Computing | Gyula Y. Katona | 4 credits | weeks 1 – 14 |
| Data Mining, Part 1 | András A. Benczúr, Krisztián Búza | 2 credits | weeks 1 – 7 |
| Data Mining, Part 2 | András A. Benczúr, Krisztián Búza | 2 credits | weeks 8 – 14 |
| Algorithms and Data Structures | Katalin Friedl, Judit Csima | 4 credits | weeks 1 – 14 |
| Computer Graphics | László Szirmay-Kalos, László Szécsi | 4 credits | weeks 1 – 14 |
| Quantum Probability and Quantum Logic | Mihály Weiner | 4 credits | weeks 1 – 14 |
For detailed syllabi click on the course title.
We are witnessing a dramatic expansion in the areas of genomics and systems biology, and their immediate interaction with translational research in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Building on early applications of computer science in the field of biology, bioinformatics research requires input from the diverse disciplines of mathematics and statistics, physics and chemistry, and medicine and pharmacology. AIT students interested in bioinformatics will be introduced to this multidisciplinary perspective and its consequences for academic and industrial environments. A key recent development in systems biology is bioinformatics, which is becoming increasingly successful at managing huge amounts of biological data. AIT brings internationally-acclaimed scholars in this exciting new field together with professionals and business people committed to industrial/software applications for this cutting-edge research. AIT also offers a course on another cutting-edge application of information technology: Computer vision. This is a research area where numerical and statistical methods are used to extract various informations from images. Applications include medical imaging, surveillance, vehicle navigation and - the focus of this course – film post-production. Not only will students learn the theoretic foundations through interesting examples, but also understand how these concepts are put to use at the hands of filmmakers. The curriculum includes studio visit and remote session at the Academy Award winner post-production facility Colorfront.
| Title | Faculty | Credits | Duration |
| Computational Biology and Medicine (Highlights in Systems Biology and Medicine; a Computational Genomics Approach) |
András Falus |
4 credits | weeks 1 – 14 |
| Advanced Algorithms for Bioinformatics | István Miklós | 2 credits | weeks 1 – 14 |
| Structure and Dynamics of Complex Networks | Daniel Abel, Albert-László Barabási, Péter Csermely, Gergely Palla |
4 credits | weeks 1 – 14 |
| Computer Vision for Digital Film Post-Production | Gergely Vass | 2 credits | weeks 1 - 14 |
For detailed syllabi click on the course title.
For students inclined to work as IT entrepreneurs in the future, AIT provides a great opportunity to develop their skills and aptitude for business. Given the fact that the world's most accomplished IT entrepreneurs were trained as engineers rather than business administrators, AIT's approach to entrepreneurship is shaped by the specific characteristics of the IT industry. AIT's courses are taught by Hungary's leading IT entrepreneurs with vast experience in internationally successful companies and software product development. These courses fill important gaps in contemporary IT education by focusing on the importance of user-centered product development, and by fostering cross-cultural skills of development and adaptation. What's more, Ernő Rubik's contribution provides an exceptional opportunity for students to gain a better understanding of the concept of 3D design both on and off the computer screen.
| Title | Faculty | Credits | Duration |
| IT Entrepreneurship | Gábor Bojár, Tamás Hajas | 4 credits | weeks 1 – 14 |
| User Interface Design | Gyuri Juhász | 2 credits | weeks 1 – 14 |
| Design Workshop | Ernő Rubik, István Keszei | 4 credits | weeks 1 – 14 |
For detailed syllabi click on the course title.
Humanities courses at AIT aim at acquainting students with Hungary and the Hungarians, their history, art, culture, and language. The course Hungary through Hungarian Cinema provides an overview of Hungarian cinema, its history, most famous works and famous figures. Students will be given an introduction to the typical and peculiar features of the Hungarian “way of life” by watching Hungarian movies (old and new) and by discussing the historical, political, literary and other connotations the films may evoke. Accomplished directors, cinematographers and young festival award winners will be invited to share some secrets of their art. The course Hungarian Literature in the 20th and 21st Centuries aims to provide an insight into the rich literary heritage of Hungary. An introduction to the practical, everyday understanding and usage of Hungarian Language (gestures, symbols, connotations, etc.) reveals the construction and meaning of linguistic structures as well as the “Hungarian mentality” and the relationship of Hungarians with other peoples living beyond the borders of the country. Hungarian classical music, Central European music, its roots in folk music and very special urban popular music, and the operetta will be introduced in the Hungarian Music in a Central European Contextcourse. In addition to this course AIT offers a wide range of organized concert visits.
| Title | Faculty | Credits | Duration |
| Hungarian Music in a Central European Context | Gergely Fazekas, Lóránt Péteri | 2 credits | weeks 1 – 14 |
| Hungary Through Hungarian Cinema | György Báron, Annamária Róna | 4 credits | weeks 1 – 14 |
| Hungarian Language I. | András Aradi, Katalin Bakonyi Berényi |
2 credits |
weeks 1 – 7 |
| Hungarian Language II. | András Aradi, Katalin Bakonyi Berényi |
2 credits |
weeks 8 – 14 |
For detailed syllabi click on the course title.
