Erasmus School of Economics - Erasmus University Rotterdam
Research Master in Business Data ScienceRotterdam, Netherlands
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 2,601 **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* * For EEA. (Non-EEA 1 February 2025)
** Statutory fee: Dutch / EEA students; institutional fee: Dutch / EEA students: € 19.950; non-EEA students: € 19.950
Key Summary
Introduction
Research Master in Business Data Science
The Research Master of Business Data Science focuses on the application of Data Science techniques within business disciplines. It is a joint degree Program, offered by the schools of economics and business of EUR, UvA and VU. Course instruction is provided by top scholars from the participating schools. The Program prepares for an academic career in business administration disciplines, like entrepreneurship, finance, human resources and analysis of organisations, marketing and supply chains.
The Business Data Science Program distinguishes itself based on the following unique features:
- It is a two-year research master (120 EC) aiming to train future PhD students who will start their doctorate at one of the Schools in business and economics of the three partner universities.
- It has a strong focus on data science, presented to the students at a higher theoretical level than in a traditional master's Program.
- It ties the foundations of data science directly to different business fields.
- It is a small-scale Program, where students work in close collaboration with faculty. The class size limit of 30 students guarantees a high level of interaction in the classroom, detailed feedback from faculty, and the support of a strong cohort. Individual field courses will generally have fewer students due to their concentration in the various tracks.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please visit the school website for more information.
Curriculum
Data Science Foundation
Acquiring skills
In year 1, the primary objective is to build a solid data science foundation and expose students to a variety of methodological approaches. These skills are applied to various business disciplines in the field courses.
Business Foundation
Building knowledge
In year 2, students focus on a given business subdiscipline, selecting from among 1) quantitative finance, 2) management science, and 3) supply chain analytics. The courses assigned for each of these sub-disciplines have been carefully selected by a team of experts with the aim of ensuring the perfect learning trajectory that will lead to substantive contributions in the fields of each particular sub-discipline.
Research Practice
Aligning skills and knowledge
The program starts with an overview of the business problems that data science can address (in block 0), which also exposes students to fundamental components of the different business fields. This early exposure helps students to absorb and process materials presented later in courses on methodology, with respect to the various business perspectives. Students become further acquainted with the different business fields during seminars held throughout the first year, for which they will have to write a research proposal, as well as during the research hackathon.
The research internship and research hackathon make students think about how to approach the problems that arise in the various disciplines and put their knowledge to the test. Finally, the research clinic and the Research Master thesis represent students' final moments of integrating business and data science and will showcase their ability to identify relevant problems and address them using cutting-edge techniques to make a substantive contribution to the field.
Next to taking courses, students are encouraged to select a research topic for the final thesis and to actively explore potential supervisors. The final thesis is a research project, set up by the student under experts’ supervision. The matching of students and supervisors, while largely the result of individual communication between the two parties, is supported by the DGS.
Program Outcome
Credits: 120 ECTS
Master of Science
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
The Research Master Business Data Science prepares talented and motivated students to start their doctorate at one of the Schools in business and economics of the three partner universities or any other high-quality Ph.D. program in Business.
A job market support program for PhD students will support Business Data Science graduates to enter the international academic job market.