Business Data Science (Research Master) at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The Research Master Business Data Science is a multidisciplinary research program with a central focus on the performance of academic research.

The English-taught Research Master Business Data Science prepares talented and motivated students to enter high quality PhD programs in Business. It is a joint initiative of the Erasmus School of Economics of the Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), the Faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Amsterdam (UvA), and the School of Business and Economics of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU).

This program is looking for students with strong analytical and quantitative skills.

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Business Data Science (Research Master)

The Research Master in Business Data Science is a two-year program consisting of 120 EC. It is tailored for recent Bachelor's degree graduates, or those currently still enrolled in an undergraduate degree program, who are looking to pursue a solid course of training leading to a doctoral degree.

Data Science Foundation - Acquiring skills. In year 1, the primary objective is to build a solid data science foundation and expose students to a variety of methodological approaches. These skills are applied to various business disciplines in the field courses.

Business Foundation - Building knowledge. In year 2, students focus on a given business subdiscipline, selecting from among: 1) quantitative finance, 2) management science, and 3) supply chain analytics. The courses assigned for each of these sub-disciplines have been carefully selected by a team of experts with the aim of ensuring the perfect learning trajectory that will lead to substantive contributions in the fields of each particular sub-discipline.

Research Practice - Aligning skills and knowledge. The program starts with an overview of the business problems that data science can address (in block 0), which also exposes students to fundamental components of the different business fields. This early exposure helps students to absorb and process materials presented later in courses on methodology, with respect to the various business perspectives. Students become further acquainted with the different business fields during seminars held throughout the first year, for which they will have to write a research proposal, as well as during the research hackathon. The research hackathon makes students think about how to approach the problems that arise in the various disciplines, and puts their knowledge to the test. Finally, the research clinic and the Research Master thesis represent students' final moments of integrating business and data science, and will showcase their ability to identify relevant problems and address them using cutting-edge techniques to make a substantive contribution to the field. 

Next to taking courses, students are encouraged to select a research topic for the final thesis and to actively explore potential supervisors. The final thesis is a research project, set up by the student under experts’ supervision. The matching of students and supervisors, while largely the results of individual communication between the two parties, is supported by the DGS.

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Business Data Science (Research Master)

The jumpstart for your PhD trajectory

The program helps students to jumpstart their PhD trajectory not only through solid training, but also with direct experience in research (provided during the seminars, research clinic, research hackathons, skill workshops, thesis, interaction with faculty, research assistantships opportunities), and teaching (e.g., teaching assistantships opportunities).

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Business Data Science (Research Master)

Admission requirements

Important note for applicants: We fully understand that you may encouter difficulties to complete your application package due to obstacles in Corona times. Our urgent advice is to submit what you have before the deadline. Please enclose a statement listing what is missing for what reason. In case you are not able to finish your bachelor program before September 1, please include a statement giving the reasons why you were not able to finish on time and how much work still needs to be done after September 1.

1. Undergraduate degree
Students must have at least a Bachelor's degree demonstrating strong analytical and quantitative skills. The Bachelor’s program should have been completed before the start of the Research Master program.

2. GRE or GMAT test scores
Valid GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) and/or GRE (Graduate Record Examinations, General test) results are required from all applicants who are not holding a Dutch degree before the start of the program. Applicants with a GMAT score below 700 or a GRE Quantitative score below 160 will not be considered. Successful applicants typically rank among the top 10% of examinees on the quantitative section of the GMAT and GRE. Code number for the GRE is 3811 (shared with Tinbergen Institute). Code number for GMAT is QK8-4B-73 (shared with Erasmus School of Economics). 

3. Language
An excellent command of English is crucial. Students whose native language is not English are therefore required to demonstrate English proficiency by:

• holding a degree from a Dutch university or an institution at which English is the language of instruction, or
• scoring at least 100 on the TOEFL iBT test or 7 on the IELTS test.

We require that official test scores be sent to us directly from the GRE or TOEFL/IELTS organization or can be verified online by us. Use code number 3811 for TOEFL (code is shared with Tinbergen Institute).

Note: Chinese nationals (unless already enrolled at a university in the Netherlands) have to meet the NUFFIC requirements before they can pursue their studies in the Netherlands. Also proficiency in English is assessed. See FAQs for more information. 

4. Strong motivation
Students should be strongly motivated to pursue a PhD in (academic) research.. Such motivation will be assessed by a written Statement of Research Interests and Purpose of Study.

5. Recommendations
Two reference letters are required to support your application. 

6. An interview may be part of the selection process
Other qualifications being equal, preference is given to candidates who show capacity for higher academic performance.

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Übersicht der Masterstudiengänge - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

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