Data Science Programs Outside the US

Data science programs offered by universities outside of the United States vary. If you’re considering studying data science abroad, it’s best to investigate programs individually as your personal interests and circumstances dictate.

Why Go Abroad?

Reasons to pursue graduate study in data science outside the United States may include:

• You want to see another part of the world. Stating the obvious here. Maybe you missed out on the study abroad experience as an undergrad, or maybe you’re just keen to live in another country for a more extended period of time. Either way, graduate study could be a fine excuse for a change of scenery.
• It’s possible to get a great education for a great price. Costs vary widely from country to country and school to school, so it’s worth researching tuition and other program costs directly on each school’s website rather than assuming a program abroad will automatically be less expensive than a comparable U.S. program.
• You seek an international perspective. If a degree program in a non-English-speaking country offers instruction in English, that’s a good indication that it’s catering to an international clientele. Your classmates in such a program may come from all over the world, and the global perspective you’ll gain could prove advantageous on the international job market.

Where these programs are offered

Interest in data science graduate study outside the U.S. spans many countries, including Spain, France, Germany, and Singapore, as mentioned above. Program availability, format, and requirements differ by country and by school, so it’s worth treating each option on its own terms rather than assuming one country’s programs work like another’s.

A few practical differences tend to separate international programs from their U.S. counterparts:

• Program length varies by country. According to the European Commission, second-cycle (master’s) programs in Europe generally run 1 to 2 years, or 60 to 120 ECTS credits, though the exact length depends on the country, the school, and whether the program is full time or part time. Confirm the expected time to completion for any specific program you’re considering.
• English-proficiency requirements are set by each institution. Programs taught in English in a non-English-speaking country set their own English-proficiency requirements for applicants, including which standardized test they accept (such as TOEFL) and what score they require. ETS, which administers the TOEFL, confirms that institutions set their own score requirements — check each program’s admissions requirements directly rather than assuming they match across schools.
• Admissions timelines can differ from the U.S. cycle. Application deadlines, intake terms, and required documentation vary by country, so it’s worth building extra lead time into your planning if you’re applying to schools outside the U.S.

The program listings on this page span multiple countries. Use them as a starting point, then compare admissions requirements, format, and cost directly on each school’s own program page, since these details aren’t standardized across countries.