Joint BSc in Data Science

Program 

Data Science, a joint bachelor’s program offered by Tilburg University and Eindhoven University of Technology, is a small-scale, interdisciplinary course of study on an international topic. You will be taking courses at both universities.

• In the first year, you are introduced to the various Data Science core fields. You develop a mathematical base which you will build on during the rest of your studies. Courses include Calculus and Data Statistics. You also become familiar with the various perspectives on Data Science and you complete your first Data Challenge.
• In the second year, you study the legal, economic, mathematical, and technical aspects of data research more in-depth. You determine part of your program yourself by selecting elective modules, which allows you to set the focus of your program. You will apply all your acquired knowledge and skills in two Data Challenges. 
• Entrepreneurship plays a greater role in the third year, which features courses such as Start-ups and Business Insights. There is a more extensive choice of electives, so that you can make sure the courses you choose provide the best preparation for the Master’s program you are planning to take. You complete the Bachelor’s program with a Bachelor's thesis.

Typical courses are:

• Data Challenges
  Learn how to set up, execute, and evaluate scientifically sound data analyses that are adequate for particular stakeholders (i.e., users, enterprise, and society) using available data sets.
• Programming
  Introduction to imperative and object-oriented programming using Java and Python.
• Business Analytics
  Learn to select the appropriate econometric tool for a given real-life data set and to apply it to make your own causal estimates and predictions.

More on the program and courses

Study Data Science in Tilburg and Eindhoven

• Become a first mover in interdisciplinary data science education.
• Data Science is an  interdisciplinary study program on an international topic.
• Be taught by specialists in the field, from two renowned universities.

A short impression of Data Science (video - 2:35 min)

What to expect when coming to Tilburg

• Why Tilburg University?
• Student life in Tilburg
• International student support
• Study in Holland

Beyond your Bachelor: Extracurricular Activities

Are you looking for an additional challenge? Your studies give you ample opportunity to develop personally and professionally.

• For the Data Challenges, for example, we always work with business and nonprofit organizations.
• You can also join the program’s study association, D.S.A. Pattern.
• Excellent students in this Joint Bachelor’s program are eligible for the honors programs of both universities.

Pursue a Master's degree

Tilburg University and Eindhoven University of Technology’s intense collaboration in the field of Data Science has led to the creation of the Jheronimus Academy of Data Science (JADS). JADS offers a joint Master’s program in Data Science and Entrepreneurship, while both universities also have their own programs:

Career prospects

Because data science is important in many industries you can be employed in a wide range of companies and nonprofit/governmental institutions. Just some examples: Companies may want to know more about the purchasing behavior of their customers. The police uses big data to detect crime. Health care organizations share global data on rare diseases for research purposes. And data science start-ups develop all kinds of personalized and intelligent apps. You can either choose to work as a data scientist within a company/organization, or decide to work as a data entrepreneur, running your own data science business.

Admission requirements

Dutch students can check their eligibility in the application procedure for Dutch students.

The admission requirements for this program for international students are, in short:

• You have a secondary school diploma which is equivalent to the Dutch VWO diploma. Examples of diplomas which are accepted are the International Baccalaureate, European Baccalaureate and most European high school diplomas which allow direct access to a university in your own country. 
• You need to prove your English language proficiency. Tilburg University accepts Academic IELTS (6.5 overall, minimum of 6.0 on individual parts), TOEFL (minimum score of 90 internet based), and Cambridge English test results: C1 advanced (formerly CAE) or C2 proficiency (formerly CPE). For both C1 and C2, we accept a score of A, B or C.
• Mathematics plays a very large role in the Data Science program. This means that besides having a secondary school diploma which prepares you for a research university, you must be able to prove that you have a sufficient level of mathematics.

Go to application and admission

Tuition fees for international students

Information about tuition fees

Monthly cost of living

Living in Tilburg is relatively inexpensive compared to other student cities in the Netherlands, such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Utrecht. An indication for your monthly cost of living (including rent, food and drink, books, and insurance), of course depending on your lifestyle:

Related Bachelor's programs

• In line with using mathematics and statistics to optimize complex processes, and applying your analytical skills to tackle economic, societal, and organizational challenges, Econometrics and Operations Research may be of interest to you.
• Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence could also be a fit, if you are interested in gaining in-depth knowledge about the workings of the human brain and computers that are capable of intelligent behavior.