This guide presents the curriculum of the BSc in Information Technology programme (Foreign Language Undergraduate Programme of the Department of Informatics and Telematics, Harokopio University of Athens). The programme runs over 8 semesters and requires 240 ECTS credits in total. Below you will find the programme objectives and learning outcomes, the available specialization tracks, the semester-by-semester course structure (with ECTS, weekly hours and condensed course content), thesis and internship requirements, graduation rules, and the support services available to students, including Erasmus exchange opportunities.
Download Full PDF (BSc in Information Technology – Study Guide)On this page
Programme Overview
Programme Objective
The BSc in Information Technology programme aims to provide students with advanced knowledge and skills for a rapidly evolving IT environment. It covers core and emerging areas such as web technologies and services, data science, artificial intelligence, cloud and edge computing, cybersecurity, the Internet of Things (IoT), and the development of intelligent digital and communication applications.
Information Technology underpins complex, interconnected systems with transformative applications in fields such as smart cities, the digital economy (e-business), public administration (e-government), and health (e-health). Graduates gain an integrated foundation of theoretical knowledge, technical competence and practical experience, enabling them to innovate, design and manage modern IT solutions and to respond successfully in a dynamic, technologically evolving working environment.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the programme, graduates are able to:
- Analyze problems and apply IT and mathematical knowledge to develop appropriate solutions.
- Identify and analyze user needs in order to design, implement and evaluate computing systems, processes or programs.
- Analyze human–computer interaction, including user diversity, user experience, collaboration, and user/task analysis.
- Collaborate effectively within a team to achieve a common goal.
- Identify ethical, social and professional issues in IT, and analyze the roles and responsibilities of IT professionals.
- Communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences, in both written and oral form.
- Develop a basic project plan and understand the formation of project teams, role assignment and allocation of responsibilities.
- Analyze professional development needs and identify opportunities for career growth.
The programme combines technical and soft skills so that graduates are competitive in the IT labour market while also able to operate effectively within business environments. A thesis is mandatory, and an internship is available as an elective course.
Teaching Methods & Open-Source (FOSS) Approach
The programme places equal emphasis on theoretical education in core IT areas and on laboratory and practical training in current technologies. Teaching combines electronic applications and tools, tutorial-style exercises, and analysis of real case studies from private and public organizations — strengthening problem-solving, identification of best-practice solutions, teamwork, report writing, and research methods. Every course includes a strong laboratory component, giving students hands-on experience with the technologies studied in integrated environments based either on open-source technologies or on established commercial tools.
The programme also promotes the systematic use of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) across all undergraduate courses. By accessing, modifying and further developing open-source code, students build significant technical skills and gain a deeper understanding of core IT principles, while the use of open-source software reduces costs and broadens access to modern tools and platforms — strengthening graduates’ prospects in line with growing international demand for FOSS expertise.
Specializations
Students may optionally have a specialization recorded on their transcript and Diploma Supplement, provided they have successfully passed all four courses listed for that specialization. Recording a specialization is optional, not compulsory.
Systems & Application Development
- Advanced Computational Models: Virtualization, Cloud Computing and Mobile Computing (Semester 6)
- Advanced Programming Frameworks and APIs (Semester 7)
- Cybersecurity (Semester 5)
- Mobile Communication Networks and the Internet of Things (Semester 6)
Data Science & Artificial Intelligence
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (Semester 5)
- Data Scaling and Analytics (Semester 5)
- Applied Machine Learning (Semester 6)
- Knowledge Management (Semester 7)
Technology Management
- Software Engineering (Semester 6)
- Information Systems (Semester 5)
- Systems Standards (Semester 7)
- Technology Assessment (Semester 7)
Academic Organization & ECTS
Programme Duration & ECTS
The programme lasts eight (8) semesters and requires a total of 240 ECTS credits. Each semester normally corresponds to 30 ECTS, combining General Education, Core and Specialization courses with elective courses in the later semesters, plus a mandatory thesis and the option of an internship in the final semester.
Academic Year, Lectures & Exam Periods
The start and end dates of the academic year, the scheduling of semesters and exam periods, the number of scheduled lectures, and public holidays are defined in the institution’s Study Regulations and announced on the programme website. The timing and location of examinations are likewise set out in the Study Regulations. At the discretion of the course instructor, assessment may instead be based on exempting assignments, provided their workload is consistent with the course’s ECTS allocation.
e-Learning Platform & ICT in Teaching
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are used throughout the educational process via the Open eClass platform, which hosts lecture notes, slides and supplementary material, and supports assignment submission and the announcement of results. ICT is closely linked to laboratory teaching: IT laboratory sessions are conducted entirely on computers and support a range of development environments depending on each course’s requirements; in some courses, laboratory assessment is carried out directly in electronic environments.
Communication between students and instructors takes place through the e-Class platform, email, official announcements, and the student forum. The University also operates a distance-learning room, supporting connections with partner departments in Greece and abroad.
Semester 1
Total: 30 ECTS. All five courses below are mandatory.
BSC_IT1 – Academic Writing
Develops skills for writing scientific and academic texts, covering the structure of a paper (introduction, body, conclusion), argumentation, organization of ideas, citation and referencing standards, and the avoidance of plagiarism. Students practice writing reports, assignments and presentations, while building critical reading and source-evaluation skills.
BSC_IT2 – Linear Algebra
A systematic introduction to the fundamental concepts of linear algebra as tools for computer science and engineering. Covers vectors and matrices and the operations between them, systems of linear equations (including Gaussian elimination) and matrix rank, vector spaces, bases and dimension, and linear transformations. Particular emphasis is placed on eigenvalues and eigenvectors and their applications in data analysis, computer graphics and machine learning.
BSC_IT3 – Introduction to the Greek Language
Develops basic and advanced Greek language skills with an emphasis on academic and professional use. Covers grammatical and syntactic structures, vocabulary building, and reading comprehension across different text types. Students practice producing written texts (descriptive and argumentative) and develop listening comprehension, with emphasis on accuracy, clarity and coherence for academic and professional communication.
BSC_IT4 – Discrete Mathematics
Covers the core concepts and techniques of discrete mathematics that underpin computer science. Begins with mathematical logic — propositional and predicate logic and proof techniques such as induction and proof by contradiction — followed by sets, relations and functions and their properties. Introduces basic combinatorics (permutations and combinations) and an introduction to graph theory, with applications to networks and algorithms. Emphasis is placed on developing analytical and algorithmic thinking.
BSC_IT5 – Introduction to Computing & Programming
A comprehensive introduction to computer science and its core concepts. Presents the basic components of computing systems — hardware and software — and how they interact. Introduces the concept of the algorithm and algorithmic thinking through simple problem-solving examples, and provides a first introduction to programming languages and basic concepts such as variables and control structures. Also examines the applications of IT across different domains and its role in the digital society.
Semester 2
Total: 30 ECTS. All five courses below are mandatory.
BSC_IT6 – Race, Class and Gender Analysis
Examines core concepts of social theory — race, social class and gender — with an emphasis on understanding inequality and discrimination. Introduces intersectionality and a critical approach to analyzing social phenomena, strengthening students’ ability to evaluate sources and build evidence-based arguments on contemporary social issues.
BSC_IT7 – Physics
Introduces fundamental concepts of physics with applications relevant to IT, covering mechanics, waves, electromagnetism, and the basic principles of electronic circuits. Also presents introductory concepts of quantum physics and their connection to modern technologies such as quantum computing and wireless communications.
BSC_IT8 – Greek History and Arts
Presents the main periods of Greek history and the evolution of the arts from prehistory to the present day. Students learn to connect historical events with artistic movements, to analyze works of art, and to understand the influence of Greek culture on the West, with an emphasis on critical thinking and the use of digital tools for cultural research.
BSC_IT9 – Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming
Introduces the fundamental principles of object-oriented programming using Java, including classes, objects, encapsulation, inheritance and polymorphism, alongside basic data structures and exception handling. Students develop simple applications, building algorithmic thinking and software-design skills.
BSC_IT10 – Platform Technologies
Provides a foundation in computer architecture and modern computing platforms, including computer design with RISC-V, performance analysis, pipelining and memory hierarchy. Also introduces virtualization, containerization and cloud computing (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), laying the groundwork for distributed and large-scale systems.
Semester 3
Total: 30 ECTS. All four courses below are mandatory.
BSC_IT11 – Statistics
Introduces fundamental concepts of probability and statistics with applications in IT, covering random variables, basic probability distributions, sampling and the Central Limit Theorem. Presents methods of statistical inference, hypothesis testing and basic regression models, using tools such as R or Python for data analysis.
BSC_IT12 – Technical Writing
Focuses on producing clear, well-structured technical documentation. Students learn to write technical reports, user guides and software documentation, adapting their style to the target audience, with emphasis on tools such as Markdown and LaTeX and on techniques for visualization and collaborative writing.
BSC_IT13 – Introduction to Web Programming
Introduces the core technologies for developing web applications, covering HTML, CSS and JavaScript for the front end, alongside basic backend concepts, databases and client–server architecture. Students develop dynamic web pages and simple web applications while applying good practices in security and code organization.
BSC_IT14 – Operating Systems
Presents the structure and operation of operating systems, covering process and thread management, synchronization, CPU scheduling, memory management and file systems. Also introduces basic security concepts and the use of Unix/Linux, with the aim of understanding and evaluating the performance of computing systems.
Semester 4
Total: 30 ECTS. All four courses below are mandatory.
BSC_IT15 – Introduction to Economics
Introduces basic concepts of microeconomics — supply and demand, market equilibrium, elasticities, and market structures such as competition, monopoly and oligopoly — with applications in ICT. Also presents methods of techno-economic analysis and investment evaluation (NPV, IRR, payback period), together with the basics of business planning, costing and demand forecasting.
BSC_IT16 – Data Communications and Networks
Covers the fundamentals of computer networks and communications, presenting the OSI and TCP/IP models and the functions of the Physical, Data Link, Network and Transport layers. Emphasis is placed on transmission techniques, routing, flow and congestion control, and on the analysis of network performance.
BSC_IT17 – Advanced Programming
Deepens students’ understanding of advanced programming concepts, including data structures (lists, stacks, queues, trees and graphs) and design patterns. Introduces the principles of functional programming (map, filter, reduce) and software-testing techniques, and covers modern concepts of concurrent and asynchronous programming such as event-driven models, futures and async/await.
BSC_IT18 – Database Systems
Introduces the fundamental principles of database design and management. Students learn to model data using ER diagrams and convert these into relational schemas, with emphasis on using SQL to create and manage data, as well as on normalization, integrity constraints and query optimization.
Semester 5
Total: 30 ECTS. The two courses below are mandatory (15 ECTS). Students additionally choose 2 of the following 4 elective courses (15 ECTS).
Mandatory Courses
BSC_IT19 – Human-Computer Interaction
Introduces the fundamentals of human–computer interaction (HCI), with emphasis on designing user-friendly and effective interfaces. Students learn to analyze user needs, apply usability principles, and design wireframes and prototypes. Covers evaluation methods such as heuristics and usability testing, along with basic principles of accessibility and user experience (UX).
BSC_IT21 – Web and Mobile Systems Development
Focuses on full-stack application development. Students build web applications with Vue.js and backend services with Node.js (REST APIs), as well as Android mobile applications. Covers system integration, data management and authentication, with emphasis on modern development practices.
Electives (choose 2 of 4)
BSC_IT20 – Data Scaling and Analytics
Covers the fundamentals of managing and analyzing large volumes of data (big data). Presents storage architectures and distributed-processing technologies, cloud platforms and data-analytics tools. Students gain hands-on experience with data preprocessing, analysis and visualization, as well as performance and scalability considerations.
BSC_IT22 – Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Introduces fundamental concepts of artificial intelligence, including search in state spaces, adversarial search, and constraint-satisfaction problems. Also presents basic principles of reinforcement learning and machine learning (e.g. linear regression), with the aim of applying algorithms to practical problems.
BSC_IT23 – Information Systems
Examines the role of information systems within organizations, presenting categories of systems (TPS, MIS, DSS, ERP), concepts of business intelligence and data analysis, and issues of IT security and governance. Emphasis is placed on linking technological solutions to business needs and on IT project management.
BSC_IT24 – Cybersecurity
Introduces the fundamental principles and practices of cybersecurity, helping to build a security-conscious culture for information systems. Covers common network vulnerabilities and protection techniques, basic applied cryptography, security management and policy, the legal and regulatory framework, and mechanisms for access control and data protection. Students complete a group project based on realistic security scenarios.
Semester 6
Total: 30 ECTS. The two courses below are mandatory (15 ECTS). Students additionally choose 2 of the following 4 elective courses (15 ECTS).
Mandatory Courses
BSC_IT25 – Systems Analysis and Design
Focuses on the principles and methods of software analysis and design. Students use UML for system modeling and the development of specifications, covering software requirements, architectures, and verification and validation techniques.
BSC_IT26 – Information Security and Policy
Covers concepts of information security such as the CIA triad, risk analysis and the design of security policies. Presents regulatory frameworks such as GDPR and ISO 27001, protection techniques, and incident management, with emphasis on security governance and the human factor.
Electives (choose 2 of 4)
BSC_IT27 – Advanced Computational Models: Virtualization, Cloud Computing and Mobile Computing
Examines modern cloud architectures, virtualization and distributed systems, including multi-cloud management, serverless models, and edge/mobile computing. Emphasis is placed on security, compliance, resource optimization, and AI-driven operations (AIOps).
BSC_IT28 – Software Engineering
Presents the fundamental principles of software development, from requirements analysis through to maintenance. Covers UML, software architectures, Agile/Scrum methodologies, testing and DevOps practices, giving students experience of team-based development and software-project management.
BSC_IT29 – Applied Machine Learning
Focuses on implementing modern machine-learning and deep-learning algorithms using PyTorch. Covers neural networks (MLP, CNN, RNN) and Transformers, with applications in computer vision and natural language processing, and emphasizes hands-on development, evaluation and optimization of models.
BSC_IT30 – Mobile Communication Networks and the Internet of Things
Covers the fundamentals of wireless networks and the Internet of Things, presenting 4G/5G technologies and IoT protocols such as MQTT and CoAP. Students develop applications using sensors and embedded systems (e.g. Arduino, Raspberry Pi), addressing security, cloud connectivity, and the analysis of IoT data.
Semester 7
Total: 30 ECTS. The two courses below are mandatory (15 ECTS). Students additionally choose 2 of the following 4 elective courses (15 ECTS).
Mandatory Courses
BSC_IT34 – Project Management in IT and Information Systems
Focuses on the principles and practices of project management in IT and Information Systems, covering scheduling, resource management, risk analysis, progress monitoring and outcome evaluation. Emphasis is placed on modern methodologies such as Agile, supporting tools, team collaboration, and decision-making.
BSC_IT32 – Business Continuity Planning and Disaster Recovery
Covers the fundamentals of business continuity planning (BCP) and disaster recovery (DR). Students learn to identify risks, conduct a Business Impact Analysis (BIA), design continuity plans, and develop recovery strategies such as backup, redundancy and failover. Examines standards such as ISO 22301 and techniques for crisis management and readiness testing.
Electives (choose 2 of 4)
BSC_IT33 – Knowledge Management
Introduces the principles and technologies for transforming data into knowledge. Covers mathematical logic, relational and NoSQL databases, RDF and triplestores, with a focus on the Semantic Web, ontologies (OWL), and knowledge graphs, as well as reasoning techniques for deriving new knowledge and integrating heterogeneous data.
BSC_IT31 – Advanced Programming Frameworks and APIs
Introduces advanced programming approaches for working with web-based data sources, including the use of open-data APIs (e.g. for smart cities and smart campuses) and the design of software architectures for distributing data and events. Presents modern approaches such as serverless computing and event-driven architectures for building scalable, cloud-native applications.
BSC_IT35 – Technology Assessment
Examines the assessment of technology within the digital society, analyzing the social, economic, environmental, political and ethical dimensions of technological development. Presents methods such as cost-benefit analysis, risk analysis, multicriteria analysis, and technology forecasting, with applications to AI, big data and digital platforms.
BSC_IT36 – Systems Standards
Covers systems design and architecture, requirements gathering, and modeling. Examines architectural frameworks such as SOA, Zachman, ITIL and COBIT, testing and quality assurance, and system-integration techniques, including practical applications in the development, management and evaluation of integrated information systems.
Semester 8
Total: 30 ECTS. “Social, Professional and Ethical Issues in IT” (6 ECTS) and the Thesis (14 ECTS) are mandatory. The remaining 10 ECTS are completed either by choosing 2 of the 4 elective courses below (5 ECTS each), or by undertaking the Internship (10 ECTS) instead.
Mandatory Courses
BSC_IT37 – Social, Professional and Ethical Issues in IT
Examines ethical issues arising in the development and use of technology, including privacy, security, intellectual property and social impact. Presents professional codes of conduct (ACM/IEEE) and topics such as the ethics of artificial intelligence and algorithmic bias.
BSC_IT42 – Thesis
A mandatory, individually-completed thesis combining a literature review with the development and study of a system, tool or methodology in a current IT research area. See Thesis & Internship below for full requirements and submission details.
Electives (choose 10 ECTS total)
BSC_IT38 – Communication for Success: Advanced Level
Develops advanced communication skills for academic and professional environments, including presentation techniques, argumentation, writing and negotiation. Emphasis is placed on cross-cultural communication, giving and receiving feedback, and public speaking.
BSC_IT39 – Technological Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Introduces concepts of innovation and entrepreneurship. Students learn to identify business opportunities, develop business models using the Business Model Canvas, design minimum viable products (MVPs), and evaluate markets, including startup funding and pitching business ideas.
BSC_IT40 – Sustainability, IT and the Green Economy
Examines the relationship between IT and sustainability and the green economy. Analyzes issues such as energy consumption, critical raw materials, and electronic waste (WEEE), and presents the positive contributions of technology to sustainability, such as process optimization and environmental simulation.
BSC_IT41 – Spatial Data Technologies
Introduces concepts of spatial data and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Covers the management of geospatial data (vector and raster), the use of GIS tools such as QGIS, spatial analysis, and spatial databases (PostGIS), as well as GPS, remote sensing, and the development of web-mapping applications.
BSC_IT43 – Internship (alternative to two electives above)
An optional work placement in which students gain practical experience and skills in IT and Telematics under supervision, applying theoretical knowledge in a real working environment. May be taken instead of two of the 5-ECTS elective courses above. See Thesis & Internship below for full details.
Thesis & Internship
Thesis Requirements
Every student must complete a thesis in order to graduate. Thesis topics must fall within the subject areas of the Department of Informatics and Telematics, and particularly within its research areas. The thesis is completed individually by each student and may be submitted and graded no earlier than the 8th semester.
The purpose of the thesis is for students to engage in depth with a current IT research area, combining a literature review with the development and study of a system, tool, or methodology — a literature review alone is not an acceptable thesis topic. Students are expected to draw on the knowledge and skills acquired throughout their studies, developing critical and synthetic thinking on research and scientific topics and producing a complete document describing the work undertaken.
Significant importance is placed on thesis quality: a good thesis equips students with valuable knowledge and skills while encouraging them to explore new and innovative solutions, and serves as strong preparation for further academic or professional work in IT.
Internship (Optional)
Students may optionally undertake an Internship during their studies. The internship comprises a series of educational activities with clear objectives and predetermined evaluation strategies, aimed at giving students work experience and skills in IT and Telematics, allowing them to practice the profession under supervision and become familiar with their future duties.
The internship helps students apply their theoretical knowledge in a controlled but real working environment. Students take part in tasks and activities at host organizations, contribute new ideas and perspectives, work within the constraints of the host organization, and manage the situations and problems they encounter. The internship also strengthens the connection between the Department and the labour market.
Graduation Requirements & Final Grade
Graduation Requirements
Students complete their studies and are awarded their degree once they have successfully passed all courses required by their programme and accumulated the required 240 ECTS credits.
The graduation date is the end date of the relevant examination period. Where the programme includes a thesis, the graduation date is the date on which thesis examinations for that examination period are completed, for students who took part in them.
Students who have completed their studies as described above are entitled to a Certificate of Completion of Studies in both Greek and English.
Final Grade Calculation
The final degree grade is calculated as a weighted average of the grades obtained in all successfully completed courses: each course’s grade is multiplied by its weighting coefficient, these products are summed, and the total is divided by the sum of the weighting coefficients. Weighting coefficients are determined by decision of the Assembly of the School of Digital Technology.
The resulting grade is rounded to two decimal places and classified as follows:
- Excellent: 8.45 – 10.00
- Very Good: 6.95 – 8.44
- Good: 5.00 – 6.94
Erasmus & Student Mobility
Erasmus+ Exchange Programme
The Department has built a network of partnerships with international universities and research centres of high standing and recognition. Through the Erasmus+ programme, it aims to strengthen the mobility of students, teaching staff and administrative staff to and from partner European institutions. Bilateral Erasmus+ agreements have been signed with European universities at all levels of study — undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral — supporting both staff mobility for teaching and administrative staff mobility for training, and the Department actively pursues new partnerships to create further opportunities for its students.
Students participating in Erasmus receive full recognition of all coursework successfully completed at any partner institution and can transfer these credits to their home institution, based on a prior agreement between the student and the Erasmus coordinator of their institution. On successful completion of the agreed study programme abroad, students return home with their credits transferred, continuing their studies without losing time or credits.
The Department also supports incoming mobility, welcoming visiting students and offering courses taught in English at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Through Erasmus Mundus, it additionally seeks to strengthen the mobility of researchers to and from international universities outside Europe. The Erasmus Office (International & Public Relations Office) supports the process of establishing and operating these agreements, strengthening the University’s external relations, internationalization, and academic partnerships, primarily within the European Higher Education Area and beyond.
Other Student Mobility Programmes
Students have the right to take part in mobility programmes within Greece or abroad. These include movements and exchanges of students under European programmes, under the European Universities Initiative, under bilateral agreements between Greek and foreign universities, and movements under internal (domestic) mobility programmes, in accordance with current legislation.
Student Support Services
Electronic Services (e-Services @ HUA)
Upon enrollment, students receive a username and password giving access to the full range of electronic services provided by the University and the State. Accounts are registered in the University’s user directory (LDAP) by the Computer & Network Center; credentials can be collected from the department secretariat or electronically, as specified by the Center, and are strictly personal.
Available services include basic electronic services such as email, website hosting, and cloud-based file creation and storage; e-learning services (e.g. Open eClass); access to electronic resources and libraries; and a wide range of additional applications made available to the University community, including Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Nextcloud, GitLab, Docker, Proxmox, VMware, Azure, RocketChat and osTicket.
Library and Information Center
Harokopio University operates a Library and Information Center supporting the academic community’s needs for scientific information. For students, it organizes user-training seminars and provides a reading room, computers for searching print and electronic material, and lockers for personal belongings. Self-service borrowing and photocopying of material that cannot be borrowed are available, always in accordance with copyright law. Some Library services may also be provided remotely where circumstances require.
Student Service Center
The University operates a Student Service Center responsible for informing students about the overall operation of the University, their rights and obligations, and the services provided by the State and the University, as well as for serving them electronically and/or in person. It includes the Student Welfare Services and the Career & Studies Liaison Office, which supports students transitioning into the labour market by providing information and counselling on employment and on continuing their studies in Greece or abroad.
Foreign Language Teaching Center
The Foreign Language Teaching Center offers specialized foreign-language courses to programme students, ensuring foreign-language learning in accordance with current legislation and the University’s Study Regulations.
Academic Advisor
An Academic Advisor guides and supports students throughout their studies. The Advisor is a faculty member of the student’s department, assigned in accordance with the procedure approved by the Assembly of the School of Digital Technology, and is appointed during the student’s first year of study.
Student Ombudsperson & Support for Students with Special Educational Needs
The University operates the institutions of Student Ombudsperson and Academic Advisor for Students with Special Educational Needs. Specific arrangements and procedures are determined in accordance with current legislation and the University’s internal Study Regulations.