Data Science for Decision Making

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 master’s programme in Data Science for Decision Making for academic year 2024-2025.

Important deadlines for study programme application

The master’s programme in in Data Science for Decision Making starts in February and September

The deadlines below are applicable for applying for a start in February 2024 and September 2024.

If you want to apply or are applying for this study programme, it is important that you inform yourself of the requirements and deadlines that you need to meet. The important deadlines are provided in the table below.

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Start in February 2024 (academic year 2023-2024)

Date	What you need to know about this date
1 July 2023	Studielink is open for applications for the academic year 2023-2024 (study start in February 2024)
Up to and including 1 November 2023, 23:59 CET	Deadline for completing the entire application process for non-EU/EEA applicants (these applicants require a visa or residence permit)
Up to and including 1 December 2023, 23:59 CET	Deadline for completing the entire application process for applicants from the EU/EEA or Swizerland
Up to and including 31 January 2024, 23:59 CET	If applicable: deadline for submitting English proficiency test results (TOEFL/IELTS) for all applicants

Start in September 2024 (academic year 2024-2025)

Date	What you need to know about this date
1 October 2023	Studielink is open for applications for the academic year 2024-2025 (study start in September 2023)
Up to and including 1 May 2024, 23:59 CET	Deadline for completing the entire application process for non-EU/EEA applicants (these applicants require a visa or residence permit)
Up to and including 1 June 2024 23:59 CET	Deadline for completing the entire application process for applicants from the EU/EEA or Switzerland
31 August 2024, 23:59 CET	If applicable: deadline for submitting English proficiency test results (TOEFL/IELTS) for all applicants

Please note:

The master's programme in Data Science for Decision Making is listed under the 'transnationale Universiteit Limburg (tUL)' in the ‘Educational institution’ tab in Studielink. Maastricht University (UM) is part of the tUL; this programme is taught at UM just like our other master’s programmes
In Studielink you also need to choose the starting moment. Please make sure to select September 2024 in the pulldown menu if you wish to start on 1 September 2024
Find out if you can apply for a scholarship or financial aid. Deadlines for scholarships are often earlier than the dates mentioned above

The information on this page is for students who would like to start in academic year 2024-2025. Please click here to look into the admission requirements for academic year 2023-2024.

General requirements: previous education

The admission requirements for academic year 2024-2025 for the master’s programme in Data Science for Decision Making depend on your previous education. Please check below which requirements apply to you.

Graduates from related programmes at Maastricht, Hasselt and Aachen universities

Graduates from the following bachelor’s programmes qualify directly for admission:

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (formerly known as Data Science and Knowledge Engineering) from Maastricht University, BSc
Computer Science from Hasselt University, BSc
Angewandte Mathematik und Informatik (formerly known as Scientific Programming) from Aachen University (MATSE), BSc

Graduates from the following bachelor’s programmes qualify for admissions:

Business Engineering from Maastricht University, BSc (depending on curriculum)
Econometrics from Maastricht University, BSc
Maastricht Science Programme from Maastricht University, BSc (depending on curriculum)

Note: you must have passed all your bachelor’s requirements by 31 August at the latest for the September intake or by 31 January for the February intake.

Graduates from other institutes

The Board of Admissions will consider whether you qualify for admission if you have a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent diploma in a programme such as Mathematics, Computer Science, Technical Data Science, Operations Research, Artificial Intelligence, Econometrics, Engineering or Physics.

Graduates from a research university

You can qualify for admission to the programme if your qualification provides sufficient preparation both in terms of academic level and content. The level of your degree should be equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from a research university in the Netherlands; here the guidelines of Nuffic (the Dutch Organisation for Internationalisation in Education) will be taken into account, as well as the national standing of your university and the grades you have obtained.

The required competences are:

Mathematics: a strong background, including, but not limited to, calculus, linear algebra, discrete mathematics, probability and statistics
Computer science: basic knowledge of data structures and algorithms, with some programming experience

Graduates from a university of applied sciences

Students with a degree from other universities of applied sciences (Dutch HBO or international equivalent) in a related field could gain access to the master’s programme upon successful completion of a one-semester pre-master’s programme.

More information about the pre-master’s programme for the master's in Data Science for Decision Making

In case of deficiencies in your prior knowledge, the Board of Admissions may offer you a one-semester pre-master programme at the Department of Advanced Computing Sciences. If you complete the pre-master successfully in one semester, you qualify directly for admission to the master’s programme.

The pre-master programme is tailor-made based on your previous knowledge and skills. For more information, please contact dacs-admissions@maastrichtuniversity.nl.

For applicants with a non-EEA diploma it is not possible to apply for our premaster's programmes directly. You will have to apply for one of our regular master's programmes first (to be found in Studielink with the ‘transnationale Universiteit Limburg’). If your credentials and previous education are insufficient to qualify for direct admission into one of our master's programmes, the Board of Admissions will determine whether a pre-master programme can be offered.

Additional requirements

Language requirements for English-language master 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

You can apply for course exemptions if you have completed courses at a recognised and accredited higher education institution that were similar in terms of content and level.

For more information, please contact the Board of Examiners: 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*
The passport picture must satisfy certain requirements.
A copy of your valid passport or your EU/EEA identity card*
Scan your personal details page(s). Save this copy as ‘passport copy’ (and not as ‘passport picture’).

A copy of your most recent list of grades transcript

A copy of your diplomas if you have obtained it
If you have obtained a diploma for more relevant studies than one, please upload all diplomas and grade transcripts.

Your curriculum vitae
List your education, relevant extracurricular activities and internship/professional experience.
A motivation letter
Give good arguments about why you want to do this master's programme at Maastricht University, and why you expect that you can successfully complete the programme.

^{*As a prospective UM student it is not necessary to upload these documents in the MyApplication portal. Unless your passport is not valid on 1 September 2024; in that case you do have to upload a new copy of your passport.}

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

Course descriptions (in English) of the mathematics and computer science courses that are listed on your grades transcript.
We always advise you to provide this document, especially if your grades transcript does not contain the same course names as the topics mentioned in the admission requirements
Evidence of other courses or tests in mathematics/computer sciences that are not part of your grades transcript, but which you think are relevant to assess your application (for instance an additional online programming course)
Advised for all applicants
Document(s) that demonstrate your proficiency in English
Answer the questions concerning language requirements under ‘Language requirements for English-language master 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.