Data Science Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt

All mandatory modules as well as a good selection of elective modules are taught in English so that the programme can be completed in English only.  Additional modules taught in German extend the range of possible elective courses.

The successes of artificial intelligence, especially machine learning, impressively demonstrate the potential of mathematical and statistical methods. They enable us to recognise hidden correlations in large amounts of data using automation and make them usable in a targeted manner. The Master's degree programme in Data Science imparts in-depth knowledge of modern methods of data analysis and machine learning and combines theoretical principles with practical applications. The course focuses on data analytics and operations research, weather and climate research, the mathematical foundations of data science and the interface between data-based and model-based modelling. Through this interdisciplinary orientation, students acquire both methodological expertise and the ability to solve complex data problems in scientific and industrial contexts.

15 July for the following winter semester

The programme is structured around the following core modules:

• Mathematics of Data Science (mandatory, Semester 1)
• Operations Research (mandatory, Semester 1)
• Principles of Data Science/Principles of Machine Learning (mandatory, Semester 2 or 4)
• Advanced Programming in Python (mandatory elective, Semester 1)
• Database Management (mandatory, Semester 2)
• Applied Data Science Project (mandatory, Semester 2)
• Ethics and Law (mandatory elective, Semester 3)
• 15 ECTS credit points, mandatory elective courses Mathematics and/or Statistics

In addition, students select four elective modules from any area of Data Science, its mathematical foundations, or its applications, as well as one transdisciplinary elective module ("Studium Pro"), and write a Master's thesis.

PDF Download

Machine learning and mathematical methods are being developed worldwide and applied across borders. For this reason, the course of study has a consistent international focus and is primarily offered in English. This creates ideal conditions for a career in globally active companies and at the same time facilitates the integration of international students. The English-language study programme creates a diverse, intercultural environment that promotes professional and personal exchange.

There is the opportunity to spend a semester abroad in the third semester and gain valuable international experience. Our students benefit from the KU's global network – the university maintains partnerships with more than 300 universities around the world. Whether North America or Asia, Australia, South America or Europe,  you will find the right programme for yourself. The KU International Office provides support with planning and organisation of stays abroad.

No tuition fees

78 EUR per semester

The costs of living in Ingolstadt or Eichstätt are relatively low compared to large university cities. Rental costs in subsidised student residences (offered by the Studentenwerk Erlangen, the Canisius-Stiftung or the St Gundekarwerk) range between 300 EUR to 400 EUR per month depending on size and furnishing. Rental costs in privately owned residences are slightly higher and range around 750 EUR per month in Ingolstadt. In Eichstätt, rental costs are generally slightly lower. All KU students can eat in the university’s canteen at favourable prices. The price for a main dish is between 3.50 and 5.50 EUR. Health insurance costs are approx. 140 EUR per month. In total, you should plan for monthly costs of 1,000 EUR, possibly less in Eichstätt.

Academic admission requirements include a Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, or Physics or a very closely related field. Furthermore, the degree must be formally equivalent to a German academic Bachelor's degree.

Proof of the GRE Subject Test in Mathematics, mandatory for applicants from Bangladesh, China, India, Iran, and Pakistan, and recommended for applicants whose first professional qualifying university degree or equivalent qualification was not obtained in a country that has ratified the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region of 11 April 1997 (Lisbon Convention).

English B2 (CEFR)

15 July for the following winter semester

The KU offers academically qualified international students in financial need a scholarship (approximately 450 EUR per month). Scholarships are awarded for a period of five months. There is no automatic extension, but it is possible to reapply.

Please find more information on financial issues, scholarships and prerequisites on our website.

It is possible to find a job as a student assistant ("Hiwi") by contacting professors and university departments directly. Information on current job vacancies can also be found on the website of each chair.

There are also different offers for temporary part-time jobs outside the university, for example, in restaurants or in shopping malls. Eichstätt and Ingolstadt are the cities with the lowest unemployment rates in Germany.

The International Office at the KU offers a housing service. It helps international students find accommodation, and it facilitates the contact between students and the future landlord or landlady. This service is free of charge. However, a housing service deposit is charged, and this will be refunded at the end of your rental contract. Please find more information on housing at the KU here.

https://www.ku.de/en/career-center/

German language courses offered by KU's language centre during the semester are free of charge.

Pre-semester language courses are fee-based.

Studying at KU is more than just acquiring specialist knowledge. We broaden our horizons together and take responsibility in and beyond the individual degree programmes. KU has a particular focus on topics such as personal development, sustainability, social skills and social commitment.

KU was ranked "Most Popular University in Germany" in 2021, 2022 and 2024 by the online platform StudyCHECK.de, one of the most prominent information sites for studying in Germany. This award confirms the ideal study conditions at the KU. Our 5,000 students are able to work and learn in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. They benefit from personal supervision, interdisciplinary study offers, excellent facilities, a well-stocked library, a broad range of sports and leisure activities, comprehensive support from the KU International Office, and a large global network with over 260 partner universities.

The Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt (KU) is the only Catholic university in the German-speaking world. It is fully accredited, meaning that the degrees and qualifications it awards are equivalent to those issued by German state universities. The KU is committed to its cosmopolitan character and warmly welcomes students of all denominations and faiths, as well as students of no religious belief.

The Bachelor's programme in Data Science is centred at the Mathematical Institute for Machine Learning and Data Science (MIDS), located in the historic buildings of the first Bavarian university which was founded in 1472, moved to Landshut in 1800 and has been located in Munich since 1826 as Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität. Ingolstadt's history as a university town continued 188 years later. In 1989, the KU Faculty of Economics opened in Ingolstadt. In 2023, the foundation of the MIDS marked the return of university life to the historic city centre.

Ingolstadt, with about 135,000 inhabitants, is the dynamic centre of a culturally and economically growing region. It is one of the cities with the youngest, most diverse, and fastest growing population in Germany. The theatre, the AUDI summer concerts, the jazz days and the Museum of Concrete Art are just a few of the cultural highlights. In a historical setting, a large number of restaurants, clubs and pubs invite you to unwind after lectures and seminars often just a few steps away from campus. The day can also be spent relaxing on the Danube beach or at the lake. And of course, as in any Upper Bavarian city: enjoy the local beer gardens for a "Brezel" and a beer or two. And if you yearn for something more cosmopolitan, the centre of Munich is only a 40-minute train ride away.