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Completion of this pre-Master's will grant you unconditional admission to the Master's Data Science and Business Analytics. During the programme you will take courses that complement your prior education. This gives you the opportunity to fully catch up with basic subjects relating to data science and business analytics. Within one academic year you will have all the necessary knowledge and skills to start your Master's in Data Science and Business Analytics.

Why this pre-Master’s programme

Obtaining your Master's Data Science and Business Analytics degree is a great step in your career. Leading experts will challenge you to discuss and reflect on theories, examine case studies and work with advanced software. Most of your teachers execute world-class research and will share their latest techniques and practices with you. Future employers will reward your MSc degree with a Master’s degree worthy starting salary and a wide range of promotion opportunities.

Duration and content

You have a full academic year to successfully complete the 36 ECTS credits programme. Throughout the year, you can expect excellent teaching and support from our professors, each highly respected in their field of expertise.

Courses

For your convenience, we selected a fixed set of 6 courses for you. These form an excellent preparation for any of the 2 tracks you will later on choose within the Master's Data Science and Business Analytics.

  • Probability Theory and Statistics 3

    Gain fundamental insights into classical mathematical statistics and learn to work with basic statistical models.

  • Machine Learning

    Get acquainted with Machine Learning. Learn to discriminate between different machine learning and pattern recognition methods, apply methods on different types of data and evaluate their performance using different metrics.

  • Optimisation

    Learn how to formulate mathematical models for practical problems such as a linear programming (LP) problem, perform a sensitivity analysis for LP problems and solve integer programming problems.

  • Econometrics 1

    Learn how to develop the multiple regression model with applications, especially to cross-sectional data. Make extensive use of matrix algebra and multivariate statistical theory. Use software packages EViews and R or Python for the execution of applications and simulations.

  • Finance for AE

    Get a broad introduction to modern finance, theoretical and empirical, with focus on the assessment of investment projects and the way to finance them as well as the fundamental relationship between risk and return by presenting modern portfolio theory and the capital asset pricing model (CAPM).

  • Time Series Analysis and Forecasting

    Learn about the parts of univariate and multivariate time series analysis that are most relevant for analysing and forecasting (macro)economic and financial time series.

Our pre-Master’s in brief

Language English
Duration 1 academic year
ECTS 36 ECTS
Start pre-Master's September
Start MSc Econometrics Following academic year in September (choose 1 of 2 tracks)
Cost You pay tuition fee per ECTS. Calculate your tuition fee

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for this pre-Master’s programme depend on your previous academic education.

  • Previous education from a Dutch research university

    Your eligibility is based on the following criteria:  

    1. Academic Bachelor’s degree with a focus on mathematics and statistics. You should have completed a level of mathematics, statistics and programming that is comparable to the following courses of the Bachelor's in Business Analytics: 

    We do not require a specific minimum GPA for this programme, but we will compare and assess the performance on all selection criteria to make an informed decision regarding placement into the programme.

  • Previous education from an international research university

    Students with an EU academic degree + EU nationality:  

    Your eligibility is based on the following criteria:  

    1. Academic Bachelor’s degree with a focus on mathematics and statistics. You should have completed a level of mathematics, statistics and programming that is comparable to the following courses of the Bachelor's in Business Analytics (it is required to upload course descriptions of these courses in your online application):
    1. GRE test: minimum score: 155 and preferably 158 in the Quantitative Reasoning section (please take your GRE test before the application deadline).
    2. We require evidence of English language proficiency. Good English skills are essential for successful class participation and understanding. In some cases, you might be exempted from the English test requirement. If not, we'll assess your English skills through specific proficiency tests:
    • TOEFL iBT Test: minimum total score of 92 with a minimum of 22 per subscore. You can use the institution code 9011 to have your score report sent to us. 
    • IELTS Academic: overall band score of 6.5. Minimum score per subscore: Speaking and Writing a 6.5 and Listening and Reading a 6.0. Please note that the IELTS Indicator test is not allowed. 
    • Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: overall score of 180 and a minimum of 180 per skill. 

     

    Other test versions or modules are not accepted. Examples of this include but are not limited to: IELTS Indicator, IELTS One Skill Retake, TOEFL Home Edition, TOEFL MyBest Scores, etc.

    Validity of scores 

    Test scores may not be older than 2 years, counting back from the start of the programme. For example, if you are applying for the September 2025 intake, we do not accept English proficiency tests taken before September 2023. Scores older than 2 years are only valid in combination with certain study programmes (check the exemptions). Sufficient test scores received after the application deadline are accepted, as long as your English proficiency test was taken before the application deadline. 

    We do not require a specific minimum GPA for this programme, but we will compare and assess the performance on all selection criteria to make an informed decision regarding placement into the programme.  

    Students with a non-EU degree + non-EU nationality  

    If you are a student with a non-EU nationality, you may consider applying for a Master’s-qualifying programme at the Cambridge Education Group.  

  • Previous education from a Dutch University of Applied Sciences (HBO)

    We do not have a pre-Master’s programme available for students with previous education from a Dutch University of Applied Science (HBO). You can apply for our BSc Business Analytics.  

How to apply 

If you meet all the admission requirements, you can apply for the pre-Master's programme. Please complete these steps to apply. Only applicants who complete these steps will be considered. 

  • 1. Check the application deadline

    The application deadline for the September 2025 intake:  

    For applicants with an EU degree:  1 May 2025
    For applicants with a Dutch degree:  1 June 2025
  • 2. Register in Studielink
  • 3. Check your personal enrolment checklist in SIS

    After registering in Studielink, you will receive your UvAnetID. This will give you access to check the status of your personal enrolment Checklist. There you find the subsequent steps that you need to take in order to complete your enrolment. Please note that the pre-Master's Data science and Business Analytics is called pre- Master's Business Analytics in your checklist.

  • 4. Submit your application in Embark

    In order to check if you are eligible for the programme you need to upload and submit your documents in our online application system Embark. Make sure you keep an eye on the deadlines! 

    You will most likely receive your results within 4-6 weeks after we have received a complete application, but in peak moments (January till June) evaluating your application may take a few weeks longer.

  • 5. Pay the tuition fee

    The tuition fees for your pre-Master’s programme depend on the number of ECTS credits you need to obtain. Please take into account that it is not possible to arrange payment of your tuition fees until the programme has officially admitted you to the pre-Master’s programme. The tuition fees for pre-Master's programmes are usually not calculated until August. 

If you have received the great news that you are (conditionally) admitted to the programme, it's time to focus on other essential matters like arranging a visa (if necessary), finding accommodation, and preparing for the start of your academic journey. Want to get an early idea of what you need to consider? Visit one of these helpful pages: practical information / praktische zaken (Dutch info).