In today’s technological world, we are surrounded by a sea of data. Without detailed analysis, however, this data is nothing but a collection of meaningless numbers and figures. What is required to turn this collection of meaningless data into valuable information is smart processing and intelligent analysis. This is where Data Science comes into play.

Data Science is the detailed study of these numbers and figures to gain useful insights, give meaning to noisy data, and transform it into valuable information that supports future actions.

It is no wonder that Data Scientists are such hot commodities, and achieving an accredited qualification in Data Science and Big Data Analytics is a surefire way to set your future career up for guaranteed success.

Although a high percentage of the population of the Netherlands is over the age of 65, the country is one of the liveliest multicultural youth centers, probably as a result of the Dutch tradition of social tolerance.

The Netherlands boasts several universities and many of them offer qualifications in Data Science. We explored some of the Netherlands ’ top-ranked tertiary institutions that offer both undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in this field. Here are the lists of the best universities in the Netherlands for data science!

Top Universities Offering Data Science Programs in the Netherlands

1. University of Amsterdam – Information Studies Program

Where better to start than in the Netherlands’ capital city, the University of Amsterdam (UvA). This prestigious institution has been around since 1632 and is considered to be an international leader in science.

UvA is ranked as one of the top 100 universities in the world, and also consistently ranked as one of the top five universities a recognized institution for data science in the Netherlands.

The University of Amsterdam offers the Data Science track in the Information Studies Master’s Program, developed in collaboration with Amsterdam Data Science (ADS).

This one-year (full-time) or two-year (part-time) program is accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO), and upon successful completion of the program, graduates receive a legally recognized Master’s degree in Information Studies.

2. Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) – Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

The oldest and largest technical university in the Netherlands, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) has a strong focus on both education and research. TU Delft is among the top-listed universities for data science in the Netherlands because of its high-quality data science programs offered to students. The green, park-like university campus stretches over 161 hectares, making it one of the largest campuses in the world.

TU Delft’s Department of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics & Computer Science (EEMCS) offers prospective students a Master of Science (MSc) in Computer Science with a Data Science & Technology track. This postgraduate qualification educates students on how to develop and engineer the complex systems required to interpret and process huge amounts of data to extract valuable information.

This two-year qualification allows a lot of freedom for students to compile their program, either to gain a broad orientation in computer science or a more in-depth specialization in their chosen field.

Another great perk of completing this qualification at TU Delft is that the EEMCS faculty offers bilateral exchange programs with other universities, allowing students the opportunity to spend the third semester of the program studying abroad.

3. Eindhoven University of Technology

Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is considered a “younger” university, even though it was founded in 1956. Part of the appeal of TU/e is that they have partnerships with several other educational institutions both in the Netherlands and abroad, which allows for top-quality interdisciplinary research and an enhanced impact on science and society.

Indeed, TU/e’s Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Data Science is an excellent data science institution in the Netherlands as it is a joint offering with Tilburg University, and students can expect to have lectures on both campuses and can look forward to having access to big data experts from both universities’ Data Science Centers.

This three-year undergraduate qualification offers courses that cover a variety of topics, including data mining, statistics, and the ethics of data science.

Upon completion of the bachelor’s degree, graduates can pursue TU/e’s Master of Science (MSc) in Data Science & Artificial Intelligence.

This qualification runs over two years and is aimed at postgraduate students wanting to study and research advanced data analysis and Artificial Intelligence (AI), with the intent to understand, develop and use intelligent systems. This Master’s is also the only engineering program in the Netherlands that combines advanced methods and techniques in Data Science and AI.

4. Leiden University – Science Faculty

Leiden University, founded in 1575, boasts the title of the oldest university in the Netherlands and is considered to be one of the top international research universities in Europe. Leiden University is a recognized data science school in the Netherlands that has campuses in two cities in the country, Leiden and The Hague, and has a strong focus on academic research.

The Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science, in collaboration with the Leiden Center of Data Science, offers prospective students the Master of Science (MSc) in Computer Science, with a specialization in Data Science.

This research-oriented master’s program requires that applicants to the program have appropriate prior knowledge and skills in a variety of areas, including computing theory, Python programming, statistics, data structures, artificial intelligence, and data mining and machine learning.

Along with thorough training in data science, the program also offers students the flexibility to design their study path by choosing from a wide variety of specialized electives in statistical and computer science. Students in this program also have the opportunity to complete elective courses, or their research projects, abroad.

5. Utrecht University – Science Faculty (Graduate School of Natural Sciences)

Founded in 1636, Utrecht University is a wide-range, international research university that boasts a QS Ranking in the top 6 universities in the Netherlands since 2010. Utrecht University is one of the largest and top universities for data science and is based in Utrecht, Netherlands.

Unlike many of the other master’s degrees we’ve looked at, the Master of Science (MSc) in Applied Data Science has a strong focus on problem-solving and practical application in the real world. Applied Data Science recognizes that similarities exist in data challenges across various fields, and as such, this qualification covers four different focus domains: Media Studies, GeoScience, Social and Behavioral Science, and Health Science.

This fast-paced academic Master’s program, accredited by the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO), runs over one year full-time.

 

Enormous amounts of valuable data are constantly being acquired across virtually all aspects of society, and this calls for a need to analyze and understand this information to make informed decisions to solve problems in a variety of domains. It is anticipated that future scientific research and innovations will all be data-driven, and as such Data Scientists will be the engineers of the future.

Considering that universities in the Netherlands are among the world’s best 2% and that a significant number of Dutch universities offer qualifications in Data Science, whether you are looking at an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification in Data Science and Big Data Analysis, you can’t go wrong by considering completing your studies in the Netherlands.

 

We hope that this article on the Best Universities for Data Science in the Netherlands was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe for International Students to learn more about studying abroad.

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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