Data Science (M.Sc.)

What is it about?

Data Science is becoming increasingly important in national and international companies and encompasses the process of understanding data, data preparation, modeling, evaluation, and implementation of data-driven solutions. Skills in this area are becoming more important because German companies are currently working hard on digital transformation. The "Stifterverband für die deutsche Wirtschaft", an association of around 3,000 German DAX-listed and medium-sized companies, forecasts 700,000 new jobs with technological skills in Germany, more than 400,000 of which will be in the field of complex data analysis alone.

What does it Cover?

The Master-program Data Science prepares students to start a career as a Data Scientist. The study is practice-oriented and focuses on Data Engineering and Data Analysis. Several Data Science Frameworks are used, e.g., Python and R. This knowledge is applied in practice-oriented courses, a team project as well as the Master's thesis. It allows you to foster your intercultural skills with a semester abroad at our partner universities.

Why study in Fulda?

Many Possibilities

Fulda University of Applied Sciences with its eight departments offers around 60 Bachelor's and Master's programs. The selection is large and ranges from technology, computer science, business, and law to nutrition, health, society, and culture. In addition to traditional subjects such as business administration or electrical engineering, we also offer innovative degree programs such as Nutrition, Health Sciences, or Renewable Energies.

Applied Sciences - the Combination of Theory and Practice

Fulda University of Applied Sciences is a university of applied sciences. This means that studying with us is not just about theory, but also has a lot to do with practice. This is reflected, among other things, in the close relationship between the university and regional organizations and companies, for example, when it comes to internships or theses. The International Careers Service of the International Office also offers international students and graduates a comprehensive range of information and advice on the topics of internships and career entry - paving the way to your future career.

Dual Study Programs - a German Success Story

More practice is not possible. As a student in a dual study program, you attend courses at the university and work in a company. In this way, you gain specialized knowledge that you can apply directly, gain the necessary experience for the transition into work, and also earn money. Some degree programs even include complete vocational training. This means you study in a discipline and learn a profession at the same time.

State-of-the-Art Equipment and the Latest Technology

Where could technicians, scientists, or engineers apply their acquired knowledge better than at the workplaces typical for their work? Fortunately, Fulda University of Applied Sciences has a wide range of so-called "labs" for authentic experimentation, real research, and repeated application. This Audio/video, NetLab, Renewable Energies Lab, Raw Materials Science Lab, Microbiology Lab, and Skills Labs simulate real working conditions and thus help students acquire the skills for their future profession.

From Preparatory Program to Doctorate

At Fulda University of Applied Sciences, you can follow the complete path of higher education. If you still lack some knowledge, you can catch up on it in a preparatory program. If you want to complete a Master's degree or even a doctorate, all doors are open to you. Since 2016, Fulda University of Applied Sciences has been the first university in Germany to have the right to award doctorates independently.

Thriving Internationality

Of the approximately 9,000 students at Fulda University of Applied Sciences, about 1,500 are not from Germany, but from over 100 different countries. The mix of languages, cultures, and perspectives not only creates an international atmosphere on campus and in the refectory but also enriches the courses and (student) life in the city.

Short Distances and Personal Contact

A great advantage of small towns and small universities is the short distances and personal contact between students and their lecturers. Despite its now 9,000 students, Fulda University of Applied Sciences still has a familiar atmosphere. People know each other and meet regularly. If you need support, you don't have to look far and the contact persons are easy to reach.

Support Where It is Needed

We want to help international students with their transition to life in Germany and Fulda. To this end, we have developed various measures for the time before and during your studies. Special preparatory programs such as Pre-College and Pre-Study help you to improve your German language skills, acquire specialist knowledge, or get to know the German academic system. The Buddy program, the orientation week as well as field trips provide opportunities for encounters and exchange.

Historic City With a Central Location

With a population of around 70,000, Fulda is one of the smallest cities in Germany. However, it offers a high quality of life, short distances, public safety, and nature on your doorstep. Its central location and direct connections to trains, long-distance buses, and highways make Fulda an ideal starting point for getting to know the whole of Germany.

Free Time Activities

A historic city center, museums and theatres, restaurants, and bars, concerts, clubs and parties, hiking and cycling trails, and the mountains of the Rhön. The list of leisure activities in and around Fulda is very long. On campus, there are university sports, and events as well as student projects, film evenings, the University Days, and the International Evening. And if you want even more, the train to Frankfurt/Main only takes about 80 minutes...

1 Semester Winter

• Frameworks & Application Development for Data Science
• Preparation and Analysis of Data
• Mathematics for Data Science
• Machine Learning
• Process Mining
• Data Security, Law and Ethics in Data Science

2 Semester Summer

• Big Data Technologies
• Data Visualization
• Data Mining and Predictive Analytics
• Team project (10 ECTS)
• Master seminar

3 Semester Summer or Winter

• Electives in Computer Science at Partner Universities abroad or in Fulda

4 Semester Summer or Winter

• Colloquium
• Master's thesis

Note:

• Winter semester: Mid-October – End February.
• Summer semester: Mid-April – End July.

Each block has a size of 5 ECTS (except Team project, 10 ECTS). This schedule is valid for a start in the winter semester.

• You enjoy working in an international team and have good English skills
• You are interested in analyzing complex data sets and extracting innovative solutions
• You have a sense for the sensitive handling of data security and ethics
• You like to understand relationships in detail and want to systematically develop data-based solutions
• You want to expand your technical and methodological knowledge in dealing with data processing and analysis

The programme is taught in English and has a 90 and 120 ECTS option. The first two semesters start with the basics in Data Engineering (yellow) as well as Data Analysis (orange), one application-specific course (blue) and one course in Data Security, Law and Ethics (brown). This knowledge can be applied in different functional areas in the team project and the master thesis. If the 120 ECTS option is chosen (for 180 ECTS-Bachelors), an additional semester contains a semester abroad or a research project as well as Computer Science courses and electives.