Data and Information Science, B.Sc.
Data and information play a pivotal role in today’s digital society and in times of "big data". Enterprises, politicians and the sciences all require reliable information in order to make sound decisions. Being able to analyze huge amounts of data and to provide the right information at the right time, in the right quality and at the right place is a crucial task.
Data and Information Scientists are specialists in retrieving, analyzing and organizing data and information and have a solid knowledge of the technologies and tools that are required to do so. Programming skills, mathematics and statistics therefore play an important role in this Bachelor's program.
Programme facts
| Degree | Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 7 semesters, 210 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | German, English |
| Required German | C1 |
| Study mode | Full-Time |
| Start | Winter semester |
| Application | Via uni-assist, winter semester until 20.07 |
| Admission | Admission restriction (NC): a competition of school grades |
| Tuition fee | €0 per semester for international students |
| Semester contribution | €276.70 per semester |
What the tuition fee consists of
Will I get in
The programme has an admission restriction: the average grade of your certificate, converted to the German scale, decides. The cut-off changes every year — last year's value shows the order of magnitude, not a promise.
How the selection works and how strong the competition is — we go through it against your certificate when we select programmes for you.
Programme selection →About the programme
What makes a data and information scientist special?
Information is obtained from data, e.g. B. by content and statistical analysis. Information science has increasingly developed into a digitized, data-driven discipline. Traditional methods of information acquisition are increasingly being supplemented or replaced by algorithmic methods of analyzing mass data (big data). Mathematics and statistics as well as programming and techniques of text, data and web mining are therefore a focus of this course in addition to classic information research and information development. Another central component are questions of information ethics, information security and data protection.
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Through this interdisciplinary mix of methods, data and information scientists play an important interface function between IT development and the information needs in companies, organizations and scientific institutions. With their diverse skills, you will find a wide range of applications in the very heterogeneous information industry.
What you study
Data and Information Scientists deal with how to find, organize and use information, so that concrete questions can be answered and well-founded decisions made in the context of business, science and politics.
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
Graduates of the Data and Information Science (B.Sc.) course have a wide range of career entry opportunities. The job titles are as diverse as the areas of application.
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Data Scientist or (Big) Data Analyst
These or similar job titles are used to find specialists for professional data analysis across industries. The focus here is on the analysis and interpretation of facts and figures as well as the ability to convey the knowledge gained in an understandable and convincing manner. This requires not only a sound knowledge of the visualization and preparation of data, but also very good communication and presentation skills. In addition, (advanced) programming skills are typically required.
Research and market analyst, research specialist or knowledge manager, information manager
Here the "classic" information professional is sought, who combines relevant IT knowledge with predictive analytics. Information professionals research and analyze reliable information based on sound knowledge of the source and solid industry knowledge. Here too, the focus is on the preparation and the corresponding visualization of this information. In addition, the knowledge organization of internal and external data (knowledge management) also plays a major role.
Data librarian or IT system librarian or research data management employee
In the library-specific job exchanges, employees with library skills combined with IT skills are always sought. Programming skills, database languages, scripting languages and data management skills (also in the research process: research data management), library management systems and knowledge of bibliometrics and data security are required.
Cost of study
| Tuition fee of the federal state (North Rhine-Westphalia), international students | €0 |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €276.70 |
Requirements and application
| Previous education | Curiosity about data and information Enjoy searching, structuring and organizing information Interest in mathematics and statistics No fear of contact with topics of computer science Analytical and creative thinking Perseverance and persistence even with tricky problems Enjoy interdisciplinary teamwork Good communication, presentation and storytelling skills |
|---|---|
| Language | German C1 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | Via uni-assist, winter semester until 20.07 |
The procedure and the set of documents depend on your certificate. We check the university's requirements against your documents and give you a list: what to submit, how to certify and translate it, where and when to apply.
Check the requirementsHow to get into this programme
- 1Check your certificate and its recognitionDirect admission, a year at a university at home, or Studienkolleg first — this decides the whole plan.
- 2German up to C1 and a certificateDSH or TestDaF has to be passed before you apply.
- 3Documents and translationsCertified translations of the certificate and transcript, an APS if required. 3–4 weeks.
- 4Application via uni-assist until 20.07uni-assist checks documents for 4–6 weeks — send them well before the deadline.
- 5Admission, visa, movingPlan 2–3 months for the visa and the blocked account in parallel.
How to apply
You can submit the application yourself or with our help — the university decides on admission in both cases.
Applications go through the university's portal or uni-assist. Typical mistakes:
- ×incorrectly made certified copies and translations
- ×a wrong set of documents
- ×the application submitted the wrong way
- ×errors or gaps in the application form
- ×the application submitted at the wrong time — too early or too late
An incomplete or incorrectly prepared application is excluded from the selection — it can no longer be corrected after the deadline.
StudyInFocus does not represent the university and does not influence the admission decision. We do not sell study places and do not guarantee admission — this is a service for preparing and submitting documents on the applicant's side.
If your level is not enough yet
The two most common stoppers are a language level below the requirement and a certificate without direct admission. Both can be solved, but they take months — plan them now, not after a rejection.
Questions about this programme
How much does the programme cost?
What language level do I need?
When do I need to apply?
Don't postpone the application
The deadline is 20.07.2027 (279 days left). Language, translations and the document check take months, not weeks. In 30 minutes we will build a plan backwards from the deadline and tell you honestly whether you can make it.