Data Science and Artificial Intelligence

Admission requirements

On this page, you will find important details of the application process (such as deadlines, admission requirements, required documents and application assessment) for the bachelor’s programme in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence for the academic year 2025-2026.

Important deadlines for study programme application

The bachelor’s programme in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence starts September.
The deadlines below are applicable for applicants who want to start their studies in September 2025

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Date	What you need to know about this date
1 October 2024	Studielink is open for applications for the academic year 2025-2026
1 April 2025, 23:59 CET	Deadline for completing the entire application process for non-EU/EEA applicants (these applicants require a visa or residence permit)
1 May 2025, 23:59 CET	Deadline for completing the entire application process for applicants from the EU/EEA or Switzerland
31 August 2025, 23:59 CET	If applicable: deadline for submitting English proficiency test results
31 August 2025, 23:59 CET	If applicable: deadline for submitting extra math test result for applicants from the EU/EEA or Switzerland

Please note: in Studielink you need to choose the starting moment. Please make sure to select September 2025 in the pulldown menu, so that you will apply for the start of the next academic year.

The information on this page is for students who would like to start in the academic year 2025-2026.

Please click here to look into the admission requirements for the academic year 2024-2025.

Are you a non-EU citizen requiring a visa/residence permit for study?

Please note that Maastricht University can only formally apply for your visa/residence permit if you have met all admission and enrolment requirements.

This means you have to have completed all admission and enrolment tasks in the MyApplication portal (except the ‘visa/residence permit’-task and the ‘send certified copy of diploma’-task) before we can send your application to the IND (Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service).

We have to send the application to the IND before 1 July if you are starting your studies in September. Please note: a few pre-master and master programmes offer a start in February. If you’re study programme offers a start in February and you want to start your studies in February, we have to send the application to the IND before 1 December. You can find out if your study programme offers a start in February on the admission requirements web page of that programme (pre-master’s, master’s).

Therefore, we strongly recommend that you reconsider applying for this study programme if you are not sure that you will meet the following requirements before 1 July/1 December (if applicable in your situation):

Having remedied all subject and/or language deficiencies (if applicable)
Having qualified for admission to your study programme, including being selected (if applicable to your study programme) AND
Having paid the tuition fee for your study programme

General requirements: previous qualifications

The admission requirements for academic year 2025-2026 for the bachelor’s programme in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence depend on your previous education. Please check below which requirements apply to you.

Applicants with a Dutch diploma

You qualify for admission if you have one of the following diplomas:

VWO diploma with mathematics B
A relevant HBO ‘propedeuse’ or bachelor’s degree, math and English requirements apply

Applicants with a non-Dutch diploma

You are directly admissible if you have one of the following diplomas:

Belgian diplomas: ASO with mathematics at least 4 hours per week in the final 2 years. KSO, TSO, or BSO (BSO only if you followed the seventh year) will be evaluated individually
German diplomas: a Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife with Grundkurs mathematics up to and including the final year
International Baccalaureate from Geneva: Mathematics Analysis and Approaches HL
European Baccalaureate: mathematics at least 5 hours per week in the final 2 years
British A/AS-levels, (I)GCE’s and/or AICE: mathematics GCE A-Level

If your diploma is not included in this list, it must be evaluated first. UM will assess whether you can demonstrate sufficient knowledge in Mathematics on individual basis.

List of diplomas equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma 2025-2026
Additional subject requirement pertaining to non-Dutch entry qualifications 2025-2026

Applicants who do not meet the requirements

If you do not have the required diploma, or do not meet the additional subject requirements, there are several ways to eliminate your deficiency depending on your background.

Eliminating a mathematics deficiency

UM will always check whether you meet the general and mathematics requirements for admission, and you will be informed if you do not meet the mathematics requirements. If you do meet the general requirements for admission but not meet the mathematics requirement, there are several options available:

You can take our on-site entrance exam at the Department of Advanced Computing Sciences in Maastricht. For questions about the entrance exam that will take place at the end of June 2025, please contact our Admissions Officer via dacs-admissions@maastrichtuniversity.nl
You can take an additional VWO Mathematics B course and/or exam with an external institute (see below for a list of options).

Where else can I take a VWO Mathematics B course and/or exam (externally)?

Dutch (speaking) applicants can take a VWO Mathematics B exam at for example NHA or LOI.
All applicants can take the VWO Mathematics B course and test (or test only) offered by the Boswell Institute. We advise a minimum result of 7 in order to successfully complete the first year of the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence programme.
All prospective students can take the online OMPT-D test. There is a maximum of two attempts to pass the OMPT-D test with at least 60%.
For students proficient in Dutch, deficiencies can also be lifted by obtaining ‘vwo-deelcertificaten’

Please take note of the deadlines for submitting an extra math test result; these are provided in the table under ‘Important deadlines for study programme application’ on this page.

When am I eligible for the options mentioned above?
You have a VWO diploma or equivalent, but do not meet our mathematics requirements.

Colloquium Doctum

If you do not have the required diploma, and/or cannot meet the additional requirements via the options outlined above, you can still qualify for admission by passing the Colloquium Doctum. If you pass the Colloquium Doctum you will qualify for admission.

When are you eligible for a Colloquium Doctum?

You don’t have a VWO diploma or an HBO/propaedeutic statement; and you are 21 years or older

If you wish to apply based on the Colloquium Doctum, please:

Indicate this in Studielink
Upload a personal statement in your application portal stating you wish to apply based on the Colloquium Doctum

For questions about (how to pass) the Colloqium Doctum, please contact the Board of Admissions via dacs-admissions@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Please note that Maastricht University does not have a corporate agreement with external institutes and therefore cannot help you with applying for mathematics courses or exams offered by external parties.

Additional requirements

Language requirements for English-language programmes

As English is the language of instruction in this study programme, it is essential that your English language skills are good enough for you to undertake intensive and challenging academic courses that are taught and examined in English.

Answer the questions below to find out if you meet the language requirements.

Applicants who received their previous education in a non-EU/EEA country (handling fee)

Applicants for this study programme who received their previous education in a non-EU/EEA country will have to pay a handling fee. More information on this handling fee and how to arrange this payment can be found on the Handling fee page.

Exemptions

If you have followed courses at a university of applied sciences (HBO) or a research university before, you may qualify for exemptions. This means you could use the credits you obtained elsewhere for your study programme at Maastricht University.

The Board of Examiners will determine whether this is possible in your case. They will compare the content and level of your previous education with the course or subject for which you are requesting exemption. To make use of this possibility, you must submit an exemption request to the study programme’s Board of Examiners. The Board of Examiners will only consider a request for exemption once you are enrolled in the study programme. This means you first need to apply for, and be admitted to the first year of the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence programme.

Do you have questions about credit transfer or do you think you might qualify for exemption? Email the programme’s Board of Examiners at: dacs-boe@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Documents required for the application process

During the application process for this study programme you will need to complete a number of tasks for which you will often have to upload documents. The list below gives you an insight into what documents you will (and might) need to prepare.

Required documents for all applicants to this study programme

A recent passport picture
This picture must satisfy certain requirements. You can find these requirements in the task description 'Upload portrait photo' in the MyApplication portal.
A copy of your valid passport or your EU/EEA identity card
Scan the personal details’ page(s). Save this copy as ‘passport copy’ (and not as ‘passport picture’)
A copy of your most recent grades transcript, and/or a certified copy of your diploma if you have obtained it

Documents that might be required depending on your (academic) background

Proof of your language proficiency in English
Answer the questions concerning language requirements under ‘Language requirements for English-language bachelor’s programmes on this webpage to find out if you need to provide additional documentation. The outcome of your answers will indicate which documents you can use to prove your proficiency.
Proof of your proficiency in mathematics with evidence of additional courses or tests in mathematics
If you have been notified by the Student Services Centre that you do not meet the mathematics admission requirements - directly or after you have been asked to upload more details-, you will need to pass an extra math test (see ‘Eliminating a mathematics deficiency’ on this page) and provide us with your results.

How do we assess your application?

Matching Procedure

Maastricht University finds it most important that you choose a study programme and learning environment that suits you well and in which you can be successful. This is why a Matching Procedure is an optional part of the application process. However, you are not required to complete the Matching Procedure to be qualified for admission if you have met all other requirements.

Privacy statement Matching Procedure

Binding Study Advice

This study programme has a Binding Study Advice. This means that in your first year of the programme, you must obtain a minimum of 45 out of 60 ECTS credits. Students who fail to meet these criteria will receive a negative Binding Study Advice that leads to exclusion from the programme for a period of six years. All students who are at risk of receiving a negative Binding Study Advice will receive a warning after the first semester.