Master's Degree Programme
| About the programme Language: English (See language requirements) | Place of study: Aarhus | Commencement: August / September and January / February |
The Master’s degree programme in Data Science focuses on both general and specialist competences. You will acquire general competencies through three compulsory courses covering advanced statistical learning, large scale optimization and data visualisation. You will develop specialist competences through a 30 ECTS specialisation package, and you can choose between the following four packages: Computational Statistics, Data-Intensive Systems, Finance and FinTech and Signal Processing.
The programme is taught in English, and large parts of it can be designed to match your specific academic interests, through elective elements and through your choice of specialisation package.
A degree in Data Science will offer job opportunities in many different companies and organisations. The common denominator is the need to create data-driven solutions in these companies and organisations, for example in the wind turbine industry, consultancy firms, pharmaceutical companies, the telecommunications industry, the food industry, the healthcare sector etc. You may also choose to continue your studies on the PhD degree programme, and pursue a career in research.
In this section you can learn more about the admission requirements relevant to the master's degree programme in Data Science. Depending on your educational background and your qualifications, there are different ways to meet the admission requirements:
This section is relevant for you, if you have:
The two sections listed below are relevant only for students with a bachelor's degree from a Danish institution:
Below you will also be able to learn more about language requirements and find out whether or not this master's degree programme has a limited intake.
If you have an international educational background, you must meet both the general admission requirement and the specific admission requirements:
You must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent that is comparable to a Danish bachelor's degree in both level and duration (180 ECTS).
For more information about how your bachelor's degree is assessed, please see the national database.
If you meet the general admission requirement, the university will continue on to assess whether or not you meet the specific admission requirements.
You can be admitted to the master's programme if the university assesses that your education has a level, scope, and content that corresponds to the academic requirements specified below.
| Subject area | Number of ECTS |
Mathematics The following subject areas must be covered:
| 20 |
Probability theory and statistics | 30 |
Programming and databases | 30 |
| Optimisation | 10 |
| Machine learning and deep learning | 20 |
| Total | 110 |
We cannot assess in advance whether your specific degree will meet the above requirements. Therefore, we recommend that you apply for the programme if you believe that you meet the academic requirements. In this regard, it is a good idea to compare your degree with the programmes that provide direct admission.
The following Bachelor's degree programme(s) from Aarhus University entitles you to an offer of admission to the Master's degree programme in Data Science:
Bachelor’s degree programme in Data Science from Aarhus University
Please note that you must apply for admission to the Master's degree programme within three years of completing your Bachelor's degree programme.
Learn more about Legal right of admission.
Certain Bachelor's degree programmes from Aarhus University and various other Danish Universities have been determined to meet the admission requirements to this Master's degree programme in Data Science:
You must fill in this appendix and upload it to the application portal. The appendix helps the Admission Board to assess your application.
Download appendix
This master's degree programme has a limited intake.
Because of the limited intake all qualified applicants will be prioritised according to a set of selection critieria (see below).
Meeting the admission requirements does not automatically ensure your offer of admission. Only if you have a specific bachelor's degree from Aarhus University with a so-called 'legal right of admission' will you be guarenteed an offer of admission to this master's degree programme.
If there are more qualified applicants than available student places, the selection will be based on the following criteria (each criterion counts for 1/3):
Grades from the qualifying degree
Grades achieved in relevant subject fields:
Mathematics (including linear algebra)
Probability Theory and statistics
Programming and databases
Optimisation
Machine learning
Deep learning
Please note that grades achieved after the application deadline are not included in the grade point average (GPA).
Relevant subject fields (measured in ECTS). In this assessment, ECTS credits that are a part of the admission requirements described under ‘Other qualifying degrees’ are not included.
Mathematics (including linear algebra)
Probability Theory and statistics
Programming and databases
Optimisation
Machine learning
Deep learning
In order to be admitted to this programme you must meet the university's english language requirements.
Students with bachelor's degree from Aarhus University with a so-called 'Legal right of admission' are exempt from the English language requirement.
Unfortunately, Aarhus University is not able to assess your qualifications beforehand. In order for your qualifications to be assessed you must apply for admission. To learn more, please go to Assessment of your qualifications.
The two-year Master’s degree programme consists of three compulsory courses:
• Advanced Statistical Learning 10 ECTS
• Large Scale Optimization 10 ECTS
• Data Visualization 10 ECTS.
In addition, the programme includes a 30 ECTS specialisation package, where you can choose between:
• Computational Statistics (30 ECTS)
• Data-Intensive Systems (30 ECTS)
• Finance and FinTech (30 ECTS)
• Signal Processing (30 ECTS).
Furthermore, the programme includes elective course elements totalling 30 ECTS and a Master's thesis of 30 ECTS.
Your individualised study programme will be designed on the basis of your interests and with guidance from the head of degree programme for the Master's in Data Science.
A description of the four specialisation packages as well as the elective courses is available on the study portal: Valgfrie kurser for Datavidenskab (in Danish)
As a student it is important to know the regulations for your the chosen subject: what is the content, how is it structured and what does it require from you. You can find this information in the academic regulations
The programme has been approved with English as the language of instruction. The language of instruction is the language in which the programme is generally taught.
The Master's degree programme in Data Science is organised in two semesters per academic year. Below, you can see the structure of the degree programme.
The Master's degree programme in Data Science is based at the Department of Mathematics, as well as three other departments (Computer Science, Economics and Business Economics and Electrical and Computer Engineering), depending on your choice of specialisation package and other elective elements. Teaching is by active researchers and includes both theoretical and practical elements.
Data Science has its own student organisation, and there are also other student organisations at the Department of Mathematics, for example Kalkulebar, the department’s Friday bar, which organises academic and social activities, study trips and parties. You will also meet Tågekammeret, a committee that arranges parties and talks at the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Aarhus University.
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