Master's Degree Programme in Information and Communication Technology: Data Analytics
Turku, Finland
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
21 Jan 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 12,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* application period: January 2026
** free for citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland, for citizens of non-EU/EEA countries €12,000/academic year
Key Summary
Introduction
Discover all degree programs at the University of Turku
Elevate your expertise to empower data-driven decisions
The Master’s Degree Programme in Information and Communication Technology provides versatile and high-quality ICT education in selected fields of ICT, with an established reputation in innovative interdisciplinary and international education.
The Data Analytics track trains specialists for the effective utilisation and communication of data in research, decision-making, and society. The focus of teaching is on understanding and applying the operational principles of the key data analysis methods in practice.
Teaching is linked to the current research themes of the Department of Computing, from health technology to computational humanities and from language technology to intelligent systems. Our research activities and collaborative projects with applied research fields, companies, and public actors enable a diverse in-depth selection of courses and thesis topics.
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Academic Excellence & Experience
The research of the data analytics team is currently organized in three laboratories: Algorithmics and Computational Intelligence (ACI), Natural language processing (NLP), and Data Science.
The research of the ACI group is based on the long tradition of combining basic research on algorithm development and analysis with active cooperation with companies and academic partners on solving real-life problems by the use of combinatorial optimization and the latest techniques on Artificial Intelligence and especially machine learning.
The NLP group studies various aspects of natural language processing, human language technology, and digital linguistics, with a distinct focus on machine learning methods.
The Data Science group's research combines theory and methods of algorithmic data analysis, with a particular focus on probabilistic machine learning, complex systems, high-throughput data analysis, and statistical programming. The main application areas are computational humanities and molecular life sciences.
Specialization Tracks
The specialization in Data Analytics is one of five tracks in the Master’s Degree Programme in Information and Communication Technology. The program has an international double-degree collaboration with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Master School and offers four other specialization tracks:
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Admissions
Curriculum
Program Structure
The scope of the Master of Science in Technology (DI) degree is 120 ECTS credit points, and the degree is divided into the following modules for the Data Analytics track:
- Joint advanced studies of the ICT degree program, 20 ECTS;
- Studies in Data Analytics, 20 ECTS;
- Advanced studies in Data Analytics, 10 ECTS;
- Master’s thesis, 30 ECTS;
- Thematic module or minor subject, 20-25 ECTS;
- Elective studies, 15-20 ECTS
Master's Thesis & Topics
In the master’s thesis in Technology, you will prove your ability to perform scientific work, skillfulness in research methods, knowledge of the research field, and skill in scientific writing. To complete the master’s thesis, you will need to apply your technological skills and abilities. You will identify an engineering problem, study its relevance to the field, propose and design a solution, test and analyze it, and evaluate its merit.
The thesis is often commissioned by a company, meaning that you may have the chance to get directly employed by the company commissioning the thesis, potentially leading to a successful career in the industry. On the other hand, an academia-oriented student might seek a thesis topic in a research group at the university and target a PhD candidate position upon completion of an academically merited master’s thesis.
Program Outcome
Competence Description
After completing a degree in data analytics, you
- are aware of the main methods of data analysis, their theoretical basis, their possibilities and their limitations;
- can apply scientific methods in the field and either find existing, or, when necessary, develop your own methods for data analysis;
- can search and critically evaluate scientific literature;
- acquire the skills based on the latest research for wide-ranging and responsible expert and management positions in the field of data analysis and more broadly in ICT;
- achieve multidisciplinary competencies that support diverse professional development and lifelong learning in changing work environments;
- master the central cooperation and oral and written communication skills required in working life;
- know how to work and get around in a multidisciplinary and multicultural work environment;
- understand the importance of science and technology to the individual, society, the environment; and
- are ready for postgraduate scientific studies in data analytics and related fields.
Scholarships and Funding
Scholarship Opportunities
The University of Turku supports merited and motivated students with generous scholarships. The university offers these scholarships to students pursuing Master's level studies who are subject to tuition fees.
Scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, and you can apply for a scholarship by simply answering “yes” to the corresponding question in the online application form when you apply for the programme.
One type of scholarship covers whole tuition fees for two years for Master’s degree programmes. In addition to that, there is a scholarship for the best applicants that covers tuition fees and includes an additional grant of €5,000.
Approximately 30 % of the admitted students are awarded a scholarship by the University of Turku.
Gallery
Career Opportunities
Job options
Data and data analytics are the cornerstones of digitalization and artificial intelligence.
The need for the effective utilization and communication of data in research, decision-making and society is growing rapidly, offering diverse career opportunities for those skilled in the field. The importance of open and transparent data has also grown, hence creating opportunities for a rapidly growing range of services and businesses. Knowledge management has become one of the most important factors in the competitiveness of companies, and data analytics plays a key role in this.
Data analytics is widely applicable in various sectors of society, and the exploitation of explosively increased data requires specialists, who are in high demand in the labor market.
Career in research
Master's degree (Technology) also gives you eligibility for scientific postgraduate degree studies – doctoral and licentiate degrees. Degrees can be completed within the University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS).