Why this programme?

Did you know that around 30% of our master's students publishes their work in academic journals and at top-tier research conferences? Project work, theses, internships and honours projects often find their way into scientific literature, and our students frequently travel to present their work.

Here is a few recent examples:

• In 2019, five students of the Data Science for Decision Making master's programme built a chatbot to assist survivors of sexual harassment. The sci & tech blog The Register wrote about the chatbot. The project went all the way to the Dutch government, where the chatbot became the subject of questions to the parliament. Academically, the chatbot was a hit too: the publication received the Best Paper Award at the 4th Workshop on Data Science for Social Good.
• Five master’s students of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Science for Decision Making programmes tackled AI models and looked into ways of making them interpretable. You can read the write-up of their problem statement and results in this blog.
• Do you want to know more about project-centred learning? The student projects blog collects a selection of layman's write-ups, which is one of the tasks you're asked to complete for the projects. It features bachelor’s theses and master's projects.

In this programme, you'll have plenty of opportunity to concentrate on specific areas of interest and specialise in a particular field.  In the first year, you start by following a number of core courses which will be complemented with two (semester long) projects. These projects allow you to apply your knowledge to real-life problems. During the entire academic year you are able to pursue your own interests with a number of elective courses.  In the second year of the master’s programme you can specialize in specific topics and profiles, enabling you to fit your personal needs and build towards your future perspective. You can participate in internships within a company, go on an international exchange semester at one of our partner universities or follow courses from other master’s programmes at Maastricht University. The final semester will be fully spent working on your thesis. For more detailed information about the programme, visit the courses & curriculum page.

Maastricht University is focused the development of its International Classroom, a place where our differences become our strengths. From day 1, you’ll be challenged with differing viewpoints and experiences as you interact with staff and students from all over Europe and the world. Your preconceptions and worldview will be enhanced by this interaction, bringing you closer to the programme’s goal of teaching students not only facts and concepts but also international accessibility and understanding. Roughly two-thirds of the students at the Department of Advanced Computing Sciences come from outside the Netherlands, giving the department the highest ratio of international students at Maastricht University. Such diversity creates an international atmosphere that is strengthened by the international orientation of the programme.

The Data Science for Decision Making programme gives you the opportunity to study abroad for at least half a year. Imagine sipping a cappuccino in Rome, taking a glacier tour in Iceland, or taking a long-weekend hike outside Montreal, all while studying at one of the top universities in the world. The Department of Data Science and Knowledge Engineering has partner institutions in Asia, North America and Europe. Students return having had the experience of a lifetime: travelling the world, meeting new friends, learning about different cultures, and working to complete their studies.