Semantic Web

6 EC

Semester 2, period 4

5072SEWE6Y

Owner Bachelor Informatiekunde
Coordinator dr. Lise Stork
Part of Exchange Programme Faculty of Science, specialisation BSc Computer/Information Sciences, year 1Bachelor Information Sciences, year 2
Links Visible Learning Trajectories

Course manual 2025/2026

Course content

The course covers formalisms and languages for representing knowledge and data, particularly in environments where that information needs to be shared. We use data from the Web as the main example. Students will gain experience with linked graph data representation, query languages, formats, formalisms and infrastructures (e.g. RDF, RDFS, SPARQL, OWL) used in these environments. The course covers both the theoretical and the practical aspects of working with knowledge and data.

Study materials

Literature

Objectives

  • The student is able to explain the social and technical aspects of representing knowledge at Web scale
  • The student is able to use web query and modeling languages (e.g. RDF, RDFS, SPARQL, OWL, SHACL) and automatic reasoning capabilities
  • The student is able to reflect on relevant developments in the research fields of Semantic Web, Knowledge Graphs, Knowledge Representation, Information Extraction
  • Learn to specify ontologies, and to query and validate them.
  • The student is able to create ontologies for specific use cases , and to query and validate them

Teaching methods

  • Lecture
  • Self-study
  • Computer lab session/practical training
  • Supervision/feedback meeting
  • Presentation/symposium

Learning activities

Activity

Hours

Hoorcollege

14

Laptopcollege

14

Tentamen digitaal

3

Self study

137

Total

168

(6 EC x 28 uur)

Attendance

  • Some course components require compulsory attendance. If compulsory attendance applies, this will be indicated in the Course Catalogue which can be consulted via the UvA-website. The rationale for and implementation of this compulsory attendance may vary per course and, if applicable, is included in the Course Manual.

    • Additional requirements for this course:

    Absence must be reported to the coordinator.

    Assessment

    Item and weight Details

    Final grade

    0.7 (70%)

    Tentamen digitaal

    		Must be ≥ 5.5

    0.3 (30%)

    Weekly exercises + one paper presentation

    The assessment is done based on the weekly exercises and one shared presentation (30%), and the final exam (70%).

    For grading exams, we follow in this course the rules of the OER, which can be found at https://student.uva.nl/onderwerpen/onderwijs-en-examenregelingen-oer

    Assignments

    Every week, students will receive an individual homework assignment that builds on the material discussed in that week’s lecture. Once during the course, students will present a research paper related to that week’s topic in groups of three.

    Fraud and plagiarism

    The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

    Course structure

    Weeknummer Onderwerpen Studiestof
    1 The Semantic Web: Basics and Motivation  
    2 The Data Layer: RDF Graphs  
    3 The Schema & Ontology Layer: RDFS and OWL  
    4 Designing Ontologies for Knowledge Graphs  
    5 Querying Knowledge Graphs with SPARQL   
    6 Validating Knowledge Graphs with SHACL  
    7 Linked Data and Knowledge Graph Ecosystems  

     

    Contact information

    Coordinator

    • dr. Lise Stork

    Lecturers

    • dr. Lise Stork

    Teaching Assistants

    • Mijke Taal (runs Lab sessions) 
    • Lisa van Oosten (runs Lab sessions)