29/06/2022, 09:52 Admission requirements | Data Science for Decision Making | Maastricht University

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 the academic year 2022-2023.

Important deadlines for study programme application

The master's programme in Data Science for Decision Making has two intakes: September and February.

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

Note: if you are viewing this webpage on your phone, we recommend that you use landscape mode.

Start in February 2023

(deadlines for applying for a start in February 2024 will be published in June 2023)

Date What you need to know about this date

1 July 2022 Studielink is open for applications for the academic year 2022-2023 (study start in February 2023)
Up to and including 1 November Deadline for completing the entire application process for non-EU/EEA applicants (these applicants
2022, 23:59 CET require a visa or residence permit)
If applicable: deadline for submitting English proficiency test results (TOEFL / IELTS) for non-EU/EEA
31 January 2023
applicants
Up to and including 1 December
Deadline for completing the entire application process for applicants from EU/EEA and Switzerland
2022, 23:59 CET
If applicable: deadline for submitting English proficiency test results (TOEFL / IELTS) for applicants
Will be announced soon
from EU/EEA and Switzerland

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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 February 2023 in the pulldown-menu if you start on 1
February 2023.

Find out if you can apply for a scholarship or financial aid. Deadlines for scholarships are often earlier than the dates mentioned above.

Start in September 2022

(deadlines for applying for a start in September 2023 will be published in August/September 2022)

Date What you need to know about this date

1 October 2021
Studielink is open for applications for the academic year 2022-2023 (study start in September 2022)

   
Up to and including 1 May 2022, Deadline for completing the entire application process for non-EU/EEA applicants (these applicants require
23:59 CET
a visa or residence permit)

   
If applicable: deadline for submitting English proficiency test results (TOEFL / IELTS) for non-EU/EEA
15 May 2022, 23:59 CET

applicants

 
 
Up to and including 1 June 2022,
Deadline for completing the entire application process for EU/EEA applicants

23:59 CET

 
 
15 August 2022, 23:59 CET If applicable: deadline for submitting English proficiency test results (TOEFL / IELTS) for EU/EEA 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 2022 if you start on 1 September 2022.

Find out if you can apply for a scholarship or financial aid. Deadlines for scholarships are often earlier than the dates mentioned above.

General requirements: prior qualifications

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The admission requirements for academic year 2022/23 for the master’s programme in Data Science for Decision Making depend on your prior
qualifications. 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 are directly admissible:
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

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

You will be considered for admission by the Board of Admissions 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 be admitted 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 can 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 MSc in Data Science for Decision Making

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In case of deficiencies in your prior knowledge, the Board 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 are directly admissible to the master’s programme.

The pre-master programme is tailor-made based on your previous knowledge and skills. For more information, please
contact [email protected]

Enrolment before completing prior education (zachte knip regulation)

To help students who have experienced delays in their studies due to COVID-19, we have put the ‘zachte knip’ regulation in place. This regulation
means that you can enrol in your next education programme before you have completed your prior education

Were you, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, unable to earn enough credits in the academic year 2021-22 to complete your prior education on
time? In that case, you will be given the opportunity to conditionally start your next education programme at UM under certain terms in academic
year 2022-23 (study start in September or February)

When are you eligible for the ‘zachte knip’?

Would you like to go from:

a bachelor's programme to a UM pre-master’s or master's programme

a pre-master’s or ‘schakel’ programme to a UM master's programme

an HBO propedeuse (first-year diploma at a university of applied sciences) to a UM bachelor’s programme

Read here about the conditions for qualifying for the ‘zachte knip’.

How and when do you file an application for the ‘zachte knip’?
Beginning of July, we will let you know here how and when to apply for the ‘zachte knip’ regulation.

Additional requirements
Language requirements for English-language master programmes

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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.

Do you hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in which English was the sole language of instruction?

YesNoUndo

Prospective students who received their prior education in a non-EU/EEA country

(handling fee)
Prospective students applying for this study programme who received their prior 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.

Credit transfer
You can apply for a credit transfer / 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 [email protected]

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*

Make a copy of the page with your personal details. Save this copy as ‘passport copy’ and not as ‘passport picture’.

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A copy of your most recent list of grades

 
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 (two pages in A4 format)

Provide good arguments about why you want to do this master's programme at Maastricht University and why you believe that you can
successfully complete the programme.
*As a UM student it is not necessary to upload these documents in the MyUM portal. Unless your passport is not valid on 1 September 2022; in that case you do have to
upload a 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 grade transcript.

We always advise you to provide this document, especially if your grade transcript does not contain the same course names as the topics
mentioned in the requirements

Evidence of other courses or tests in mathematics/computer sciences that are not part of your grade transcript, but which you think
are relevant to assess your application (for instance an additional online programming course)

Advised for all applicants

Proof of your language proficiency in English

Answer the questions concerning language requirements under ‘Language requirements for English-language master programmes’ on this
webpage to find out which are the requirements. The outcome of your answers will indicate which documents you should send to prove your
proficiency. This usually is an IELTS or TOEFL result.

Please note:

Only complete applications will be reviewed.

Your Curriculum Vitae and motivation essay should be in English.
All other documents may be handed in in English, Dutch or German.

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How do we assess your application?

When you want to apply or are applying for this study programme, it is useful to know how we assess your application. You can find more
information about this here.

Based on the documents you have submitted and the admission procedure for your chosen programme, the UM decides on whether to admit
you. Once UM has made a decision on your admissibility, you will be informed about this by email.

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