Master in
Fundamental Principles
of Data Science
Master in Fundamental Principles of Data Science
An official 60 ECTS MSc · Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science · UB
Massive amounts of data are generated every day across personal and professional life — from e-commerce to research and finance. Without analysis and interpretation, this data has no value. Data science is the new professional field that gives data meaning, sitting at the intersection of mathematics and computer science.
The Master's degree in Fundamental Principles of Data Science provides — through theoretical and practical training — the algorithmic and mathematical foundations for accurate data modeling, along with the professional competencies needed to lead data-driven projects. Special focus is placed on understanding the principles behind every algorithm: students develop the skills to modify existing algorithms and create new ones tailored to specific problems.
Program Objectives
Tools, knowledge and competencies to work effectively as a data scientist
The Master's Degree in Fundamental Principles of Data Science aims to provide the tools, knowledge and competencies required to work effectively as a data scientist. The course focuses on the competencies required to understand, modify and create algorithms, analytical and exploratory methods and techniques — as well as the leadership abilities to develop effective data-driven projects.
Understand
Grasp the principles behind every data science algorithm
Modify
Adapt existing algorithms to specific problem needs
Create
Design new algorithms from mathematical foundations
Lead
Deliver effective data-driven projects from idea to impact
Admission & Application
Profile, requirements and how to enrol
The ideal applicant holds a bachelor's degree in computer science, mathematics, physics, statistics or a similar background, has a strong academic CV, and a clear interest in the field of data science.
Corporate sector
Lead data initiatives in private companies and finance
Government bodies
Drive analytics in public administration and policy
Research career
Pursue academic or industrial research in data analysis
Prerequisites: regardless of your previous studies, you should have basic knowledge of programming, calculus, algebra and statistics.
In accordance with Article 16 of Royal Decree 1393/29 October 2007, applicants must hold one of the following qualifications to access university master's degree courses:
Official Spanish degree
An official bachelor's degree issued by a Spanish university.
EHEA degree
A degree issued by an institution within the European Higher Education Area that authorises the holder to access master's degree courses in the country of issue.
International degree
A qualification from outside the EHEA framework, either recognised as equivalent to a Spanish degree or verified by UB as authorising master's level access in the country of issue.
Admission does not imply that prior qualifications have been recognised as equivalent to a Spanish master's degree — it confers recognition solely for the purpose of admission to this program.
Holders of bachelor's degrees in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics or related qualifications.
Holders of bachelor's degrees in other subjects of similar background, subject to the authorisation of the Master's Committee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before applying
The course starts in early September and ends in July.
Yes. If you are in your final year of undergraduate studies, we accept your application to the program. If accepted, admission is conditional on finishing your undergraduate program by mid-July.
The first stage is pre-enrolment. The Master's degree committee will then conduct its selection process.
Applicants need one of the following:
(i) An official Spanish university degree.
(ii) A university degree issued by an institution regulated by the European Higher
Education Area (EHEA) which entitles the applicant to enrol on an equivalent master's
degree in any other EHEA-regulated institution.
(iii) A university degree issued outside the EHEA — in this case applicants must obtain
either prior validation of their degree certificate or the UB's official written recognition
that their degree qualifies them for EHEA university master's degree studies.
Successful admission does not qualify as recognition or validation of previous degrees. Definitive admission depends on the evaluation criteria set out by the University and the master's degree committee.
Applicants should hold an EHEA bachelor's degree in computer science or mathematics (or equivalent), a good academic record, and a clear interest in data science.
The goal of applicants should be to pursue a professional career in data science (corporate sector, public administration, finance, biomedicine, ICT, etc.) or to start a research career in data analysis. Regardless of the applicant's bachelor's degree, knowledge of programming, calculus, algebra, and statistics is required.
Since the course is taught in English, a sufficient level of English comprehension is also required.
You can enrol in one of two ways:
(i) By having your degree officially accredited and recognised as equivalent
to its Spanish counterpart.
(ii) By authorisation from the dean of the faculty offering the course,
confirming that your academic studies correspond to the required Spanish level and that
your qualification entitles you to master's level study in the country of issue.
All supporting documents must be translated into Catalan, Spanish, or English.
The master's degree course is taught entirely in English.
Any English certificate equivalent to B2 is valid. Check the equivalences on the CEFR reference page.
If you need a last-minute certificate, you can contact EIM UB Accreditations.
As an indication, fees for academic year 2026–2027 were €27 per credit (€82 for students who are not EU nationals and do not currently reside in Spain).
All fees are officially regulated by the Generalitat de Catalunya, supported by agreements made by the UB's Governing Council and Board of Trustees.
ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits are the academic units used by the program to evaluate student qualifications across lectures, practical classes, hours of study outside class, seminars, assignments, project preparation, and examinations.
Check the available scholarships on the UB Grants page. For other questions about grants or financial support, contact beca.estudis@ub.edu.
Yes. The course can be done on a part-time basis. The minimum is 30 credits per year, with an estimated workload of 18 hours per week.
You have to apply to both master's degree courses. If you are accepted on both, you will be eligible for the double master's degree.
Note that the two Final Master Projects (FMP) must be separate documents. Two options are possible:
(i) Two totally independent projects, each defended in the respective
committee.
(ii) Projects that share a common part plus differentiated specific
chapters corresponding to each master. In this case, the FMP coordinators of both masters
may form a unique committee that elaborates two different and independent resolutions.
Yes — both full-time (1 year) and part-time (2 years) itineraries are recommended:
Key Details
English
Pl. Universitat
Python, B2 Certificate
1st round: February 3rd to February 28th, 2025
More Info
Key Details
English
Pl. Universitat
Python, B2 Certificate
1st round: February 3rd to February 28th, 2025
More Info
Master in Fundamental Principles of Data Science
An official 60 ECTS MSc · Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science · UB
Massive amounts of data are generated every day across personal and professional life — from e-commerce to research and finance. Without analysis and interpretation, this data has no value. Data science is the new professional field that gives data meaning, sitting at the intersection of mathematics and computer science.
The Master's degree in Fundamental Principles of Data Science provides — through theoretical and practical training — the algorithmic and mathematical foundations for accurate data modeling, along with the professional competencies needed to lead data-driven projects. Special focus is placed on understanding the principles behind every algorithm: students develop the skills to modify existing algorithms and create new ones tailored to specific problems.
Program Objectives
Tools, knowledge and competencies to work effectively as a data scientist
The Master's Degree in Fundamental Principles of Data Science aims to provide the tools, knowledge and competencies required to work effectively as a data scientist. The course focuses on the competencies required to understand, modify and create algorithms, analytical and exploratory methods and techniques — as well as the leadership abilities to develop effective data-driven projects.
Understand
Grasp the principles behind every data science algorithm
Modify
Adapt existing algorithms to specific problem needs
Create
Design new algorithms from mathematical foundations
Lead
Deliver effective data-driven projects from idea to impact
Admission & Application
Profile, requirements and how to enrol
The ideal applicant holds a bachelor's degree in computer science, mathematics, physics, statistics or a similar background, has a strong academic CV, and a clear interest in the field of data science.
Corporate sector
Lead data initiatives in private companies and finance
Government bodies
Drive analytics in public administration and policy
Research career
Pursue academic or industrial research in data analysis
Prerequisites: regardless of your previous studies, you should have basic knowledge of programming, calculus, algebra and statistics.
In accordance with Article 16 of Royal Decree 1393/29 October 2007, applicants must hold one of the following qualifications to access university master's degree courses:
Official Spanish degree
An official bachelor's degree issued by a Spanish university.
EHEA degree
A degree issued by an institution within the European Higher Education Area that authorises the holder to access master's degree courses in the country of issue.
International degree
A qualification from outside the EHEA framework, either recognised as equivalent to a Spanish degree or verified by UB as authorising master's level access in the country of issue.
Admission does not imply that prior qualifications have been recognised as equivalent to a Spanish master's degree — it confers recognition solely for the purpose of admission to this program.
Holders of bachelor's degrees in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics or related qualifications.
Holders of bachelor's degrees in other subjects of similar background, subject to the authorisation of the Master's Committee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before applying
The course starts in early September and ends in July.
Yes. If you are in your final year of undergraduate studies, we accept your application to the program. If accepted, admission is conditional on finishing your undergraduate program by mid-July.
The first stage is pre-enrolment. The Master's degree committee will then conduct its selection process.
Applicants need one of the following:
(i) An official Spanish university degree.
(ii) A university degree issued by an institution regulated by the European Higher
Education Area (EHEA) which entitles the applicant to enrol on an equivalent master's
degree in any other EHEA-regulated institution.
(iii) A university degree issued outside the EHEA — in this case applicants must obtain
either prior validation of their degree certificate or the UB's official written recognition
that their degree qualifies them for EHEA university master's degree studies.
Successful admission does not qualify as recognition or validation of previous degrees. Definitive admission depends on the evaluation criteria set out by the University and the master's degree committee.
Applicants should hold an EHEA bachelor's degree in computer science or mathematics (or equivalent), a good academic record, and a clear interest in data science.
The goal of applicants should be to pursue a professional career in data science (corporate sector, public administration, finance, biomedicine, ICT, etc.) or to start a research career in data analysis. Regardless of the applicant's bachelor's degree, knowledge of programming, calculus, algebra, and statistics is required.
Since the course is taught in English, a sufficient level of English comprehension is also required.
You can enrol in one of two ways:
(i) By having your degree officially accredited and recognised as equivalent
to its Spanish counterpart.
(ii) By authorisation from the dean of the faculty offering the course,
confirming that your academic studies correspond to the required Spanish level and that
your qualification entitles you to master's level study in the country of issue.
All supporting documents must be translated into Catalan, Spanish, or English.
The master's degree course is taught entirely in English.
Any English certificate equivalent to B2 is valid. Check the equivalences on the CEFR reference page.
If you need a last-minute certificate, you can contact EIM UB Accreditations.
As an indication, fees for academic year 2026–2027 were €27 per credit (€82 for students who are not EU nationals and do not currently reside in Spain).
All fees are officially regulated by the Generalitat de Catalunya, supported by agreements made by the UB's Governing Council and Board of Trustees.
ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits are the academic units used by the program to evaluate student qualifications across lectures, practical classes, hours of study outside class, seminars, assignments, project preparation, and examinations.
Check the available scholarships on the UB Grants page. For other questions about grants or financial support, contact beca.estudis@ub.edu.
Yes. The course can be done on a part-time basis. The minimum is 30 credits per year, with an estimated workload of 18 hours per week.
You have to apply to both master's degree courses. If you are accepted on both, you will be eligible for the double master's degree.
Note that the two Final Master Projects (FMP) must be separate documents. Two options are possible:
(i) Two totally independent projects, each defended in the respective
committee.
(ii) Projects that share a common part plus differentiated specific
chapters corresponding to each master. In this case, the FMP coordinators of both masters
may form a unique committee that elaborates two different and independent resolutions.
Yes — both full-time (1 year) and part-time (2 years) itineraries are recommended: