Data Science (MSc)

The Master's programme in Data Science of the University of Marburg serves to deepen knowledge and provide specialisation for the acquisition of competencies in dealing with (big) data. Taking into account the new requirements in a digitalised society and the resulting changes in the professional world and the associated transdisciplinarity, you will acquire an expanded skill set and knowledge in the field of computer science and applied mathematics. Building on these, you will be able to independently develop solutions to technical and scientific problems as well as to apply and critically assess scientific findings and deal with them responsibly in an application context. In order to achieve these goals, the Master's programme consists of specialisations in information technology, such as machine learning, software development of scalable systems and big data technology as well as applied mathematics. In addition, it is optionally possible to choose an area of application. In any case, you will become acquainted with concrete applications through the project-oriented parts of the studies and strengthen your social and team working skills. Besides a software project with a duration of one year, in which you practice data science skills such as data modelling and analysis, you will participate in at least one seminar, in which you practice working with relevant scientific literature. In the individual Master’s thesis, you will work on research-related problems from data science. Following the Bologna guidelines on European university education, the course is structured so that 30 credit points (ECTS) should be achieved every semester. The different modules in the Master's programme add up to 120 ECTS: Compulsory Elective Modules in Mathematics (18 ECTS points) According to your own interests, you can deepen and broaden your knowledge and competences in applied mathematics by choosing from our long list of electives. This broadens your spectrum of mathematics skills and provides you with the foundation to critically investigate modern research questions and to apply modern methods. Free Compulsory Elective Modules (24 to 48 ECTS points) In this study area, you choose at least 24 ECTS points from our long list of electives in computer science according to your own interests, to deepen and broaden your knowledge and competences in this discipline. If the optional application area is not selected, the scope of free elective modules grows allowing you to further specialise in topics of the disciplines computer science as well as mathematics. Application Area Modules (optional; 18 to 24 ECTS points if selected) Optionally, you can select an application area (such as medical informatics, social sciences, geoinformatics or languages), which consists of fundamental modules from another subject area and relevant data-science modules. These modules are coordinated such that the most relevant data-science competences for the application in the domain of the subject area can be combined. Practical and Seminar Modules (24 to 27 ECTS points) This study area serves to deepen your practice-oriented scientific skills. These include competencies essential for data-science specialists to carry out a research project in group work, usually involving modelling and implementation in an extensive, data-centric software project. In one or two seminar modules, you can sharpen your profile as well as practice to compare and evaluate research results. In a dedicated module, you will learn and practice techniques of scientific work in data science in an individual project. Master's Thesis (30 ECTS points) The final phase of the course is the Master's thesis. Students apply the skills acquired during the taught part of the programme. You will work on your own research project under the guidance of an experienced professor.