M.Sc. Data Science in Business and Economics
Data Science is a vibrant, interdisciplinary and rapidly growing field. More and more firms and institutions are hiring data scientists, and data scientist has been one of America's top jobs for several years in a row according to Glassdoor.
Data scientists must be able to acquire, understand, and analyze complex and unstructured data, to interpret the meaning of the results, and to communicate the results to relevant stakeholders. Hence, Data Science requires a unique combination of (1) econometrics and statistics, (2) programming skills, and (3) domain knowledge.
This four-semester M.Sc. program reflects these requirements to provide its graduates with a unique skill set. Students who enroll in this program specialize in econometrics and select further modules from a broad set of options on different aspects of business and economics. On top of that, students complete modules on data science techniques, which includes programming in R and Python as well as the possibility to enroll in courses in Machine Learning in collaboration with the computer science department.
Key Facts
4 Semester Program
Courses start in October
120 ECTS Credits
incl. Master Thesis (30 ECTS credits)
English and German
Course Language
Areas of Specialization
- Econometrics
- Business and Economics
- Data Science Techniques, e.g.:
- Algorithms*
- Basics of Machine Learning*
- Big Data Computing
- Causal Inference
- Causal Machine Learning
- Data Science Project Management
- Database Systems*
- Deep Learning*
- Machine Learning Applications in Business and Economics
- Practical Deep Learning for Language Processing
- Practical Deep Learning from Visual Data
- Probabilistic Machine Learning*
- Statistical Machine Learning*
* in cooperation with the Dept. of Computer Science
Curriculum
Modules / Areas | ECTS credits | |
---|---|---|
Core Studies | 27 | |
Specialization Studies | 12-24 |
30 |
Elective Studies | 0-18 | |
Data Science Project | 12 | |
Advanced Topics | 9 | |
Master Thesis | 30 |
Ph.D. Track
Graduates will also find themselves well-positioned to pursue a Ph.D. subsequent to this M.Sc. program. For this purpose, students may study this M.Sc. program on a Ph.D. track, putting themselves on a fast track to a doctoral degree.
Module Handbook
For more detailed information about the modules, please see the Module Handbook.
Application
Deadline:
Applications will be accepted between March 1 and May 15 via our application portal.
Bachelor Degree Requirements
Bachelor Degree Certificate in Business Administration, Economics or related fields
- A certificate stating that the applicant has successfully completed a first university degree or a certificate (or equivalent documents) providing evidence of the successful completion of at least the year prior to his/her final examination in the equivalent studies.
- Degree should preferably amount to 180 ECTS.
Complete Transcript of Records with a final grade or calculated grade average.
The transcript should prove the applicant has solid intermediate knowledge in
- Statistics / Mathematics / Econometrics
- Business Administration
- Economics
Further, applicants must have experience in writing code in a statistical programming language (preferrably R or Python). Applicants can prove their experience
- by showing that they have successfully passed modules in their qualifying degree that involve students' writing code (preferrably R or Python), or
- by providing documents that demonstrate their skills/experience in writing code in a statistical programming language (preferrably R or Python), e.g., part of a B.Sc.-thesis, or
- by providing other documentation that establishes the applicant's skills/experience in writing code in a statistical programming language (preferrably R or Python)
Transcripts of Records containing generic module titles (such as Business Administration I, II and III) should be accompanied by detailed module descriptions.
CV
CV in tabular format in English or German
Letter of Motivation
Please provide us with a letter of motivation explaining your reasons for applying for this degree and outlining your qualifications for it. Kindly limit yourself to one page, the letter may be composed either in English or in German.
Language Requirements
Certificate equivalent to the German Abitur certificate
- i.e. A-level certificate or other entry qualification for university admissions
Proof of English Language Qualification
- German Abitur certificate or equivalent (i.e. A-level certificate, high school diploma), or
- official test certificate (TOEFL, IELTS), or
- Bachelor degree in an English-speaking country.
Proof of ability to study in German (only for international students):
- Information of German Language Requirements can be found on the website of the Student Affairs Office.
Additional Documents
Further documents proving specific qualifications relevant to the desired course of study may be submitted. Examples of these additional documents are, among others, proof of additional foreign language skills, results of standardized tests specific to the fields of Business and Economics (such as GRE or GMAT) and certificates of participation in summer schools or research projects that are not documented in the applicant's academic transcript. Please note that neither a GMAT nor a GRE are a prerequisite for any of our M.Sc. programs but that they may serve as an indication that the applicant possesses a certain skill set.
Note: It is not compulsory to send reference letters. However, if you wish to hand in reference letters, you can do so voluntarily.
Recognition of International Degrees
Please note that we as the academic advisory team are not in a position to provide accurate information regarding the recognition of international degrees in Germany. These matters are handled by our central Student Affairs Office (Advising and Admission of International Students) who can provide information about the recognition of specific degrees as well as grade conversion.
study.master @uni-tuebingen.de
Bachelor Degree Requirements
Bachelor Degree Certificate in Business Administration, Economics or related fields with a final grade of at least 2.5 or better according to the German grading system. (The final grades of international applicants will be converted into the German grading system and therefore also be subject to this rule).
- A certificate stating that the applicant has successfully completed a first university degree or a certificate (or equivalent documents) providing evidence of the successful completion of at least the year prior to his/her final examination in the equivalent studies.
- Degree should preferably amount to 180 ECTS.
Complete Transcript of Records with a final grade or calculated grade average.
The transcript should prove the applicant has solid intermediate knowledge in
- Statistics / Mathematics / Econometrics
- Business Administration
- Economics
Further, applicants must demonstrate their experience in writing code in a statistical programming language (preferrably R or Python). Applicants can prove their experience
- by showing that they have successfully passed modules in their qualifying degree that involve students' writing code (preferrably R or Python), in this case, applicants must provide detailed descriptions of the relevant courses, or
- by providing documents that demonstrate their skills/experience in writing code in a statistical programming language (preferrably R or Python), e.g., part of a B.Sc.-thesis, or
- by providing other documentation that establishes the applicant's skills/experience in writing code in a statistical programming language (preferrably R or Python), e.g. certificates of online learning platforms that offer programming for Data Science courses.
- In all cases, it is important that applicants provide clear documentation of their skills that allows the selection committee to make an informed assessment.
Transcripts of Records containing generic module titles (such as Business Administration I, II and III) should be accompanied by detailed module descriptions.
CV
CV in tabular format in English or German
Letter of Motivation
Please provide us with a letter of motivation explaining your reasons for applying for this degree and outlining your qualifications for it. Kindly limit yourself to one page, the letter may be composed either in English or in German.
Language Requirements
Proof of English Language Qualification
- TOEFL ibt: 80 or
- TOEFL pbt: 550 or
- IELTS: 6.5 (overall band) or
- Cambridge: CAE, CPE or BEC Higher or
- TOEIC: 700 or
- UniCert III Certificate or
- German Abitur including at least 6 (G8) or 7 (G9) years of English or
- Officially recognized higher education degree (e.g. Bachelor degree) entirely taught in English (English as the language of instruction) or
- Transcript of Studies proving at least 30 ECTS-Credits were obtained in English-taught modules
Proof of ability to study in German (only for international students):
- Information of German Language Requirements can be found on the website of the Student Affairs Office.
Additional Documents
Further documents proving specific qualifications relevant to the desired course of study may be submitted. Examples of these additional documents are, among others, proof of additional foreign language skills, results of standardized tests specific to the fields of Business and Economics (such as GRE or GMAT) and certificates of participation in summer schools or research projects that are not documented in the applicant's academic transcript. Please note that neither a GMAT nor a GRE are a prerequisite for any of our M.Sc. programs but that they may serve as an indication that the applicant possesses a certain skill set.
Note: It is not compulsory to send reference letters. However, if you wish to hand in reference letters, you can do so voluntarily.
Recognition of International Degrees
Please note that we as the academic advisory team are not in a position to provide accurate information regarding the recognition of international degrees in Germany. These matters are handled by our central Student Affairs Office (Advising and Admission of International Students) who can provide information about the recognition of specific degrees as well as grade conversion.
study.master @uni-tuebingen.de
Admission
Incoming applications will be reviewed by the admission committee to determine whether they meet the entry requirements and then ranked according to the grades the applicants obtained in ther undergraduate studies and other criteria.
Timeline Admission Process
March 1
application portal opens
May 15
application deadline
June 14-20
interviews
June
offer letters are sent out by the end of June
October
start of the M.Sc. program
Interviews
After the admission committee has reviewed the applications they will invite the best candidates to take part in the next stage of the admission process, the interviews. Invitations will be sent out via email at least three days before the interview and will state the day and the time of the interview. Please make sure that you regularly check your emails. Interviews are conducted via Zoom. Admitted candidates will receive an admission letter 1-3 weeks after the interview. Students who receive an offer have only a limited period of time to accept the offer and matriculate at the University of Tübingen before the offer becomes invalid and the spot will be offered to the next candidate on the list.
Student Fees
The program is free of tuition fees for all EU residents, students are only obliged to pay a small administrational fee and a contribution to the student union to matriculate.
The state of Baden-Württemberg has introduced fees for international non-EU students and second-degree students in recent years. For background information and for fee exemption options, please refer to the following link:
Further Questions?
For further questions, please contact:
Academic Advisory Service
Want to talk in person? Make an appointment
Nauklerstraße 47 | 72074 Tübingen
+49 7071 29-76415
master @wiwi.uni-tuebingen.de
Program Coordinator
Prof. Dr. Dominik Papies