The sheer amount of data that is being produced each and every day is redefining our world: according to IBM, 90 percent of all current data has been created in the last two years alone. The collection and evaluation of this data can transform behaviours, business models, markets and every imaginable organisational structure. The Data Science Programme at Dalarna University prepares you to be at the centre of this transformation working within private companies, public organisations and research institutions.
A Programme for Fast-Paced Data Management
Our programme provides you with both hands-on training in the collection and interpretation of data as well as broad knowledge and an understanding of how data analysis is used for decision-making within organisations. You will gain a unique cross-disciplinary skill-set that will prepare you for jobs both in the present day and in the future.
Should you apply?
If you want to have an impact on data-driven decisions that affect the daily operations of companies and organisations, then you will find your calling in our Data Science Programme. If you have previously received a degree in Computer Science, Computer Information Systems or IT from an internationally recognised university and if you have documented knowledge of English proficiency, then you are strongly encouraged to apply to our Data Science Programme.
Please note that if you have a degree in Statistics, Economics, Mathematics or Business then you can apply for our Master's Programme in Business Intelligence with the possibility of continuing to the second semester of the Master's Programme in Data Science.
*Please note that admission to this programme is incredibly competitive. Therefore you should pay careful attention to the selection criteria listed in the "Check if you are eligibile" information and list this programme as your first priority to increase your chances of being admitted.
The Master’s Programme in Data Science is a two-year programme taught entirely in English. It comprises 120 credits (1 credit = 1 ECTS) and starts twice a year, in January and late August.
The following courses are mandatory for the programme name (Data Science) to be included on the degree certificate:
- Business Intelligence (7.5 credits, spring)
- Statistical Learning (7.5 credits, spring)
- Data Collection and Data Quality (7.5 credits, autumn)
- Data-Driven Leadership (7.5 credits, autumn) OR Economics of Leadership (7.5 credits, autumn)
- Machine Learning (7.5 credits, autumn)
- Master's Thesis (30 credits, autumn/spring)
Additional courses that may be taken within the programme include:
- Data Analysis and Visualization (7.5 credits, spring)
- Python and R Programming (7.5 credits, autumn/spring)
- Risk Analysis (7.5 credits, autumn)
- Data Warehousing (7.5 credits, autumn)
- Logic and Mathematics (7.5 credits, spring)
- Spatial Data and Geographical Information Systems (7.5 credits, spring)
- Internship (7.5 credits, autumn/spring)
- Complexity and Operations Research Methods (7.5 credits, spring)
Note: 1.5 credits = one week of full-time study.
Degree awarded
Upon completion of the programme, you will be awarded a Master of Science (120 credits), Main Field of Study: Microdata Analysis. The programme name is written on your degree certificate subject to completing the required courses.
Tuition fees
Total for programme: 300,000 SEK*
*EU/EEA citizens are not required to pay tuition fees.
Tuition fees are paid in one-semester installments of 75,000 SEK. The first payment should be made as soon as possible after you have received your invoice and no later than the deadline on the invoice. This allows for reasonable processing time for a residence permit application.
Visit our Tuition Fee webpage for more information about paying tuition fees and what is included in the fee.
If you have any questions about tuition fee payments, please e-mail tuitionfees@du.se.
Scholarships
Students admitted to the Master’s Programme in Data Science (DS) may be eligible for two scholarships offered by Dalarna University.
Choose Dalarna First Scholarship
If you apply on time and are admitted to the DS programme as your first-choice programme on UniversityAdmissions.se, you are eligible for a one-time scholarship of 5,000 SEK. This amount will be deducted from your first semester tuition fee, provided that you also apply for the scholarship no later than September 15 (spring intake) or February 15 (autumn intake).
Academic Excellence Scholarship
Students in the Data Science programme can also qualify for the Academic Excellence Scholarship, which recognises outstanding academic achievement during the programme.
- Semester Award: Receive 10,000 SEK per semester when you meet the criteria for outstanding academic results.
- Programme Distinction: An additional 30,000 SEK may be awarded if you receive the Semester Award in every semester of the programme.
To qualify for the Semester Award, you must:
- Complete all 30 credits that are part of the programme curriculum for that semester.
- Earn a VG (pass with distinction) in at least 15 credits.
- Have all course results reported within 6 weeks after the semester ends.
The Semester Award is evaluated independently for each semester — you may receive it for one semester even if you do not qualify in another.
For full eligibility details and how to apply, visit our Scholarships Overview webpage.
How to apply
You apply to the Master’s Programme in Data Science in two steps:
- Click on the green "Apply" button to create a user account and add the programme to your account in the online application portal (UniversityAdmissions.se).
- Submit the required documents to verify that you fulfill the entry requirements listed below. It is usually possible to upload the required documents directly to your user account.
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
To be eligible for the Master’s Programme in Data Science, you must have:
- A completed Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Data Science, or an equivalent field (at least 180 credits, equal to three years of full-time study). Applicants in the final year of their Bachelor’s degree are also welcome to apply, but proof of degree completion will be required before the start of the programme.
English language requirements
You must also demonstrate English language proficiency. You should check the UniversityAdmissions.se information about English language proficiency to see if your previous studies fulfill this requirement. If you need to take an IELTS or TOEFL, the following minimum results are required:
- IELTS (academic training): 6.5 overall (with no part below 5.5)
- TOEFL (Internet-based): 90 (with a minimum of 20 on the written part)
For more details, see the English documentation webpage (UniversityAdmissions.se).
If you have taken an English proficiency test that fulfills the requirements listed on the UniversityAdmissions.se website then you can ignore the information below.
For 2026, Dalarna University has made a temporary local exemption to the English proficiency requirements listed on the UniversityAdmissions.se website.
If you previously studied in India or Sri Lanka
Applicants from India and Sri Lanka should submit your upper-secondary documents to show your English proficiency as explained on the UniversityAdmissions website.
This will fulfill the formal English proficiency requirements for most courses and programmes at Swedish universities.
If you do not have the required proof of English proficiency from your upper-secondary studies and you have completed a 4-year bachelor’s degree majoring in a technical or science subject (such as engineering, IT or physics) which is equal to a Swedish bachelor’s degree, then you will not need to submit a TOEFL or IELTS result.
If you previously studied in Nepal
If you have not taken a TOELF or IELTS and you have completed a 4-year bachelor’s degree majoring in a technical or science subject (such as engineering, IT or physics) which is equal to a Swedish bachelor’s degree, then you will not need to submit a TOEFL or IELTS result.
Selection criteria
This programme uses two selection processes to determine admission:
1. Letter of motivation
The first and main selection is based on a letter of motivation that you must write and upload to your user account at UniversityAdmissions.se by the stated deadlines:
- September 1, 2025 (for the first admission round in the spring 2026 intake)
- November 1, 2025 (for the second admission round in the spring 2026 intake)
- February 2, 2026 (for the first admission round in the autumn 2026 intake)
- May 1, 2026 (for the second admission round in the autumn 2026 intake)
The letter should not exceed 3,000 characters (including spaces). It should describe your academic and professional background, explain its relevance for the programme, and show how the programme will benefit your future career. There is no template you must use.
Motivation letters are reviewed and scored between 10 and 50 points. The higher the score, the greater your chances of being admitted.
2. Fee-paying status
The second selection process is based on your tuition fee status. A number of places are reserved for students required to pay tuition fees, and a number of places are reserved for students exempt from tuition fees.
The Master's Programme in Data Science from Dalarna University will prepare you for work in an expanding global industry as well as for further studies at the PhD level, including Dalarna University's PhD Programme in Microdata Analysis.
Possible future positions for our graduates are as follows:
- Data Warehouse Developer
- Growth Trends and Peak Business Periods Analyst
- BI Manager
- Architect and Developer in Business Intelligence
- Marketing Database Analyst
Data Science: a Career for the 21st Century
The short- and long-term outlook for graduates of Dalarna University's Data Science Programme is extremely favourable. In the "The Future of Jobs Report" published in 2018, the World Economic Forum writes that "Four specific technological advances—ubiquitous high-speed mobile internet; artificial intelligence; widespread adoption of big data analytics; and cloud technology—are set to dominate the 2018–2022 period as drivers positively affecting business growth"
Dalarna University's Data Science Programme will provide you with the practical and theoretical knowledge in machine learning, AI and big data analytics to make you an attractive candidate for a variety of job positions.
Stay in Dalarna and look for a job after graduating
You can apply for a 12-month residence permit to stay in Sweden and look for work after you complete a degree programme of at least 60 credits. International students are encouraged to stay in Dalarna and look for a job after graduating from the Master's Programm in Data Science.
During the past few years the majority of our students who graduate from the Data Science programme have been able to find relevant work in Sweden.
Using your degree overseas
The degree awarded by Dalarna University for this programme is internationally recognized and has been used by previous students to attain employment or pursue further studies outside of Sweden.
You can also apply to receive an Erasmus+ grant for an internship, even up to 12 months after completing your studies. This opportunity is available to all students in the programme, regardless of nationality, who pursue an approved internship within an Erasmus+ programme country other than Sweden.
At Dalarna University, our teaching is closely connected to active research in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and decision support. Our researchers work in collaboration with industry partners to explore how data can be used to solve real-world challenges and support sustainable development.
Meet our experts in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and related fields.
