Eligibility
Selection methods
Eligibility requirements
You can apply to the Master’s Programme in Data Science if you meet the following criteria:
You have completed an applicable first-cycle (bachelor’s) degree at a higher education institution in Finland or abroad, or will do so by the deadline.
You have sufficient skills in Finnish, Swedish or English.
You have completed a sufficient amount of studies applicable to the master’s programme.
Admission
If you do not meet these criteria, you cannot apply through this application procedure.
1. You have completed a higher education degree providing eligibility for master’s studies
To apply in master's admissions, you must have completed, by the deadline, a higher education degree providing eligibility for master’s studies.
If the degree providing eligibility has been completed in Finland, the deadline is 31 July 2027.
If the degree providing eligibility has been completed outside Finland, the deadline is 31 August 2027.
Therefore, you can apply even if your degree will not be completed during the application period.
The Master’s Programme in Data Science:
You can be admitted to the Master’s Programme if you have completed or will complete by the deadline a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent at a university or an institution of higher education in computer science, statistics or mathematics, a first-cycle degree in an applied field of data science or another applicable degree.
Applicable fields for the Master’s Programme in Data Science are
computer science
statistics
mathematics
an applied fields of data science
You can only be admitted if the degree you would be eligible to complete with the right to pursue studies you are applying for is sufficiently different in terms of its contents from the degree you have already completed.
2. Sufficient skills in Finnish, Swedish or English
You must demonstrate sufficient skills in Finnish, Swedish or English at the application stage. For the methods of demonstrating your language skills, please see the University website.
3. Studies serving as grounds for application
You can be admitted to the Master's Programme in Data Science if you have completed or will complete by the application deadline:
at least 15 credits in programming, algorithms and data structures, at least 5 credits in probability and statistics and at least 10 credits in linear algebra, differential calculus, integral calculus or other studies in mathematics.
Studies completed after the application deadline will not be taken into account in the assessment of your application.
The applicability and sufficient scope of studies will be assessed after you submit your application. The University of Helsinki does not make preliminary assessments of the applicability of studies.
Selecting the language of the degree
In the Master’s Programme in Data Science, you can select Finnish, Swedish or English as the language of your degree. You will select the language on the application form. This selection is binding, and you must demonstrate your skills in the selected language.
In multilingual master’s programmes, teaching is provided mostly in English, but you can answer examination questions, complete any written coursework and write your master’s thesis in the language of your degree.
The Master's Programme in Data Science at the University of Helsinki trains you to work at the intersection of computer science, statistics and real-world data challenges. You gain both the theoretical foundations and the practical skills to analyse complex datasets, build intelligent systems and contribute to cutting-edge research across industry and academia.