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Faculty of Mathematics

University
of Belgrade
Faculty of Mathematics

Department of Computer Science and Informatics

Why Study Informatics at MATF?

Frequently asked questions from prospective students

Question: What are computer science and informatics about?
Answer: Computer science and informatics form a scientific and professional field that deals with computation and its applications, data structures, algorithms and their implementations, the representation, storage and processing of information, and the like. (The Serbian terms "računarstvo" and "informatika" correspond to the English terms "computer science" and "informatics"; they are often used as synonyms, although informatics is sometimes considered a broader field than computer science.)

So, computer science and informatics are much more than programming and software development: computer scientists analyze problems, design solutions, implement the designed solutions, verify the correctness of programs, analyze program complexity, process data, develop theoretical models, and work on applications in science, technology, the entertainment industry, etc. There is probably no area of human activity that has expanded in recent decades as much as informatics – today, informatics is present almost everywhere, and computer literacy has become a necessity. All sciences and technology rely fundamentally on informatics, and many countries base their development precisely on progress in the fields of informatics.

Question: Why should I study informatics?
Answer: If you are drawn to computers and programming, it is a good idea to study informatics because, by all analyses, it is the field whose experts will be the most sought-after and best paid for many years to come. In Serbia, the demand for computer scientists currently far exceeds the supply on the job market, and this is probably the only highly specialized field in Serbia where that is the case. The number of IT companies in Serbia has been growing for years, software production and exports are growing intensively, and companies are constantly looking for skilled programmers.

Question: Why should I study informatics at the University of Belgrade?
Answer: There are many reasons to study at the University of Belgrade and at MATF. Some of them are:

  • The University of Belgrade is ranked among the top 500 universities in the world on the prestigious Shanghai list.
  • The University of Belgrade is the oldest and most prestigious higher education institution in Serbia.
  • The University of Belgrade and MATF are guided not by profit, but by excellence in teaching and research.

Question: Why should I study informatics at MATF in particular, among the faculties of the University of Belgrade?
Answer:

  • Informatics studies at MATF are dynamic and constantly adapt to current needs.
  • The solid mathematical and algorithmic education acquired at MATF is a prerequisite for success in all areas of informatics, especially in artificial intelligence.
  • Extensive cooperation with IT companies helps keep informatics studies at MATF up to date.
  • There are no unemployed computer scientists who graduated from MATF. In almost all job ads for IT positions, computer scientists from MATF are at the top of the list of desired candidates.
  • In terms of quality, informatics studies at MATF are at the very top in Serbia and beyond.
  • The solid mathematical and algorithmic education acquired at MATF is a prerequisite for success in all areas of informatics.
  • Computer science and informatics have been studied and taught at MATF for more than 50 years.
  • The Department of Computer Science at MATF has the longest tradition, is one of the largest computer science departments in Serbia, and consists of teachers and assistants who are very successful in both teaching and research. The average age of the teachers (professors) is under 45. The Department is gender-balanced – it has approximately equal numbers of male and female members.

Question: How hard is it to get into informatics studies at MATF?
Answer: Interest in studying informatics at MATF is high. In June 2016, 556 candidates applied for 120 available places in the I-track, which made the I-track the second most sought-after study program at the University of Belgrade (after psychology), and probably in Serbia as well. In recent years, interest has been somewhat lower, due to several factors.

Question: What is the entrance exam for informatics studies at MATF like?
Answer: The entrance exam at MATF consists of a mathematics test that is the same for all tracks. Details about the entrance exam and preparation, as well as sample entrance exams, can be found on the MATF website.

Question: How hard is it to complete informatics studies at MATF?
Answer: To complete informatics studies, you need to work regularly and diligently throughout your studies. The reward at the end is high-quality knowledge and a prestigious degree with which you will find a job that suits you.

Question: How many informatics tracks are there at MATF?
Answer: There are two informatics tracks at MATF: the "Mathematics and Computer Science" track within the "Mathematics" module (popularly called the "R-track") and the "Informatics" track (popularly called the "I-track").

Question: What is the difference between the "R" and "I" tracks?
Answer: The "R" track is an informatics track with a long tradition. It was founded in 1982 and has since been reformed several times. Graduates of the "R" track receive the title of mathematician in computer science and informatics. The "R" track provides extensive knowledge of both mathematics and informatics (about 60% of the content is mathematics, and about 35% informatics). With this title, you can work as a computer scientist or as a mathematician, or as a mathematics or informatics teacher in primary or secondary school.

The "I" track was created relatively recently (in 2005) and was designed in line with similar programs at leading universities in Western Europe and the USA. Graduates of the "I" track receive the title of computer scientist. The "I" track provides extensive knowledge of both informatics and mathematics (about 65% of the content is informatics, and about 35% mathematics). With this title, you can work as a computer scientist (but not as a mathematics or informatics teacher in primary or secondary school). [Note: the "I" track originally consisted of three years of undergraduate studies and two years of master's studies. Since 2015, both tracks follow the 4+1 format.]

MATF has a single doctoral program in informatics, which is open both to those who completed master's studies in the R-track and to those who completed master's studies in the I-track.

Question: How long do informatics studies at MATF last?
Answer: Undergraduate studies in both the "R" and "I" tracks last four years. After that, students can enroll in master's studies, which last one year, and then doctoral studies, which last three years.

Question: Who teaches informatics courses at MATF?
Answer: Informatics courses at MATF are taught by members of the Department of Computer Science and Informatics. The Department has existed since 1987 and now it has around fifty members. Members of the Department publish research papers in leading international journals, take part in national and international projects, collaborate with numerous researchers and research institutions in Serbia and abroad, participate in leading international conferences, and organize important scientific meetings held in Belgrade. Details can be found on the websites of the Faculty, the Department, and the teachers' personal pages.

Question: What is the selection of courses in informatics studies at MATF like, and will I gain enough practical knowledge?
Answer: The selection of courses in informatics studies was made very carefully, in line with the programs of leading world universities and the recommendations of the renowned international association ACM (Association for Computing Machinery). The informatics education acquired at MATF is an academic education that broadly and deeply covers almost all areas of computer science, from fundamental theoretical to practical knowledge (including a large number of programming languages, tools, and technologies). Programming tests and exams are taken on computers as early as the first semester (at that point, in the C programming language). The informatics education acquired at MATF is designed so that anyone who completes their studies can adapt to any practical task in a relatively short time. In addition to standard academic courses, I-track students in their later years can also take professional courses (which form part of their studies) that are or have been taught by leading IT companies such as, for example, IBM, Microsoft, and Oracle.

Question: Does the Department of Computer Science maintain other forms of cooperation with IT companies?
Answer: In addition to professional courses, IT companies often give lectures at the Department's professional forums, give guest lectures within standard courses, offer topics for master's theses, offer internships to students, post job offers on the student server, etc.

You can read an account, from a student's perspective, of one meeting between representatives of IT companies and the Department of Computer Science and Informatics here.

Question: What else characterizes informatics studies at MATF?
Answer:

  • A significant part of the required literature is available in electronic form and free of charge
  • Exercise classes for most informatics courses are held in relatively small groups, mostly in well-equipped computer classrooms
  • Students can take some exams on their personal computers
  • Students can register for exams online, without waiting in line

Question: How do informatics studies at MATF differ from studies at other faculties?
Answer: Informatics studies at MATF are characterized, above all, by strong foundations in algorithms and mathematics – essential for all areas of informatics, and especially for artificial intelligence. Students who complete informatics studies are capable of taking on even the most challenging jobs in informatics.

Question: Where do former MATF students who completed informatics studies work?
Answer: Most work at leading IT companies (and other companies with IT departments) in Serbia, some work at leading companies abroad, some are in graduate studies at leading foreign universities, and some of the best work as teaching assistants and teachers at the University of Belgrade.

Question: All in all, should I enroll in informatics studies at MATF?
Answer: If you think that working with computers and programming will be fun and interesting, if you have a good background in mathematics, if you are hard-working, diligent and eager for high-quality knowledge, if you want to one day work in well-paid and challenging IT jobs or pursue informatics as a science, in Serbia or abroad, the answer is – yes, enroll in informatics studies at MATF!