Department of Data Science and Knowledge Engineering

Bachelor's programme in Data Science

and Artificial Intelligence | 2021/2022
Language of instruction: English
2
 Contents

At a glance
• What is Data Science? 4
• The DKE Community 5
• Why this programme? 5

About the programme

• Our teaching method: PCL 6
• Programme quality 6
• Programme scope 7
• Courses & curriculum 8
• Customize your curriculum 9
• Honours paths 10

General information
• Research at DKE 11
• Study association 11
• Living in Maastricht 11
• Your future 11

A (very cool) week in the life of... 13

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
student Philippe Debie

Admission and registration 14

Contact information 16

All programmes in this brochure are accredited by the Accreditation

Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO).

For more information on NVAO, please visit www.nvao.net

Maastricht University is a signatory of the “Code of conduct with

respect to international students in Dutch higher education”.

More information about this code of conduct is available at

www.internationalstudy.nl

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At a glance

What is Data Science?

Put simply, Data Science is the science of taking
large amounts of information - data - and
extracting knowledge from it.

Data challenges exist in a broad range of

disciplines: healthcare, logistics, robotics, ICT, the
gaming industry, nearly all research fields... Given
the large amounts of data generated in today's
society, applications are everywhere. To name just
a few, Data Science is the driving force behind
Spotify recommending you new music based on
what you previously listened to. It is also what
allows us to build climate models, to make better
sense of signals measured from the brain, to help
robots perceive the world around them and to
enable businesses to streamline their customer
journeys.

A multi-disciplinary field
To meet such challenges, Data Science uses tools
from different domains including applied
mathematics, computer science and artificial
intelligence. Data Science is a multi-disciplinary
field with rapidly increasing relevance. In 2017,
The Economist even wrote that "the world’s most
valuable resource is no longer oil, but data". Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at
Maastricht University: is it for me?
Same quality, new name With the amount of data growing ever larger,
The term 'data science' only really became data science increasingly relies on artificial
popular around 10 years ago. By contrast, our intelligence to comb through data for us. To make
bachelor's programme started in 1992. Back then, the most out of data, you'll therefore need
it was named Knowledge Engineering after an techniques and tools from artificial intelligence,
early form of data science. computer science and mathematics.

Since the programme's start, it has changed its
name twice to reflect the evolution of the terms
used to describe this dynamic field of study: from
Knowledge Engineering (1992-2016) to Data
Science and Knowledge Engineering (2016-2020)
and finally Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
(from 1 September 2020 onwards). Our excellent
national ranking scores have stayed consistent
throughout.
Our programme teaches a unique combination of
these three disciplines. If you have a solid
mathematics background (see also 'How do I
enrol?' on page 14) and enjoy coding and
computer science, this could very well be the right
programme for you!

4 Bachelor's programme in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | 2021/2022

The DKE community
The Department of Data Science and Knowledge
Engineering (DKE) has nearly 30 years
of experience in the fields of Data Science and
Artificial Intelligence.
We're a tight-knit community consisting of
approximately 700 bachelor's and master's
students and 70 staff members. Together, we
come from over 40 different countries. Last but
not least, DKE has its own dedicated study
association, MSV Incognito.
Our education is tightly linked with ongoing
research through two master's programmes and
one bachelor's programme, Data Science and
Artificial Intelligence (DSAI).
Maastricht University
Maastricht University (UM) has around 18,000
students, most of which are from abroad. The
university houses six different faculties; DKE is
part of the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
The city of Maastricht
Situated in the heart of Europe and within 30
kilometers from the German and Belgian borders,
the student-friendly city of Maastricht has a
strong international character as well.
Maastricht's history spans over 2,000 years. Its
rich history is visible everywhere in the streets:
the ratio of monuments-to-inhabitants is rougly
1:73. Furthermore, the laid-back local culture is
described as 'bourgondisch'. The term roughly
translates to people taking their time to enjoy life
(and good food).
Why this programme?
We...
• have nearly 30 years of experience in the fields
of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
• offer an objectively excellent programme - DSAI
has been named the country's #1 bachelor's
programme in its category for five years in a row
and ranks #2 in the 2020 edition of the Dutch
Keuzegids ranking
You...
• become a well-rounded professional through a
mix of applied mathematics, artificial
intelligence and computer science
• will have excellent career prospects as (for
example) data scientist, researcher, business
intelligence specialist
• can participate in international exchange
programmes, research/business internships and
honours paths
• can further customize your programme through
elective courses
• become part of a tight-knit, international
community
Fast Facts
• 3-year, full-time Bachelor of Science programme
• Taught in English
• Starts in September
More about DKE: maastrichtuniversity.nl/dke
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About the programme
Our teaching method:
Project-Centred Learning (PCL)
Our programme is designed around the
Project-Centred Learning (PCL) teaching method.
You work in small groups on complex and
challenging projects, where you immediately
apply what you have learned to real-life
problems. This enables you to develop a variety of
skills such as project management, writing,
presenting and working in a team. We offer skill
workshops to further develop these competences,
which are also important for your future career.
Student projects
Projects are based on recent research, or on
problems submitted by companies and institutes.
At the end of each project you deliver a functional
product and present your findings to your fellow
students, the teachers and/or the client.
Examples of projects tackled by DSAI students
are:
• Simulating space missions to one of Saturn's
moons, Titan, including a manned return
mission to Earth (Year 1)
• Creating an intelligent agent capable of playing
a game (Year 2)
• Designing and implementing a traffic
simulator (Year 2)
• Enabling a robot arm to play tic-tac-toe with
human players (Year 3)
6 Bachelor's programme in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | 2021/2022
Programme quality
Independent assessment
The bachelor's programme Data Science and
Artificial Intelligence ranks #2 in its cohort
according to the 2020 Keuzegids. The Data
Science and Artificial Intelligence programme has
held the #1 position without interruption
from 2015-2019.
The Keuzegids national ranking evaluates the
quality of bachelor's and master's programmes in
the Netherlands. This independent ranking is
based on student verdicts (through the National
Student Survey), expert opinions and
employability prospects.
Accreditation
Our programmes have been accredited in
accordance with the Dutch Higher Education and
Research Act and the Decree concerning the
universities in the Flemish Community.
The accreditation committee assessed our PCL
teaching method as excellent and spoke highly of
our internationalisation policy.
Programme scope
In contrast to more traditional programmes in
computer science and mathematics, Data Science
and Artificial Intelligence takes a targeted,
practical and applied approach. You'll learn to
build bridges between theory and practice and
you’ll be able to apply solutions to data problems
in a broad range of settings, such as logistics,
robotics and medicine.
Core topics
The curriculum centers around three pillars:
You can find the list of courses on the next page.
Periods last 8 or 9 weeks, and elective courses are
optional courses that require you to choose a
minimum amount out of the list. In addition to
the regular curriculum, we offer skill classes and
workshops such as team building.
Per course, five to seven hours of class are offered
each week in year 1, and five hours in year 2 and 3.
You spend the rest of your time on independent
study and on group work in the projects.

• Computer science, with an emphasis on Year 3

software, programming, algorithms and logic;
• Applied mathematics, including the practical
application of major mathematical concepts,
methods and techniques;
• Artificial intelligence, including ways to reason
using available knowledge and an introduction
to machine learning and intelligent search.
Year 3 is the most flexible year of your
programme. You can choose to go on an
international exchange, follow a minor, or select
your own elective courses. The second semester is
dedicated to writing your bachelor's thesis about
a topic of your own choosing.

DKE's study advisers:

Wendy Brandt and Tessa Fox

"Students can come to us with questions regarding the

rules of the curriculum. For example, which electives are
possible in which period? How can I prevent study
delay?

We can also offer support with personal

problems. If desired, we can arrange help like extra time
for exams or a referral to our student psychologists.
Whatever you tell us is confidential, so you don't need to
worry about us sharing it with anyone.

Our advice for choosing a study? Pick something that

makes you happy! For our programmes, that means you
need to genuinely enjoy mathematics and
programming."

7
Courses & curriculum

Year 1
Semester 1 Semester 2
Period 1 Period 2 Period 3 Period 4 Period 5 Period 6
• Introduction to • Introduction to •D  ata Structures and • Logic;
Computer Science 1; Computer Science 2; Algorithms; •N umerical
• Discrete Mathematics; • Linear Algebra; • Calculus; Mathematics;
• Introduction to • Computational • I CT and Knowledge • Software
Data Science and and Cognitive Project Management Engineering Project
Knowledge Neuroscience
Engineering
Project Project

Year 2
Semester 3 Semester 4
Period 1 Period 2 Period 3 Period 4 Period 5 Period 6
• Databases; • Machine Learning; • Theoretical • Linear
• Probability and • Graph Theory; Computer Science; Programming;
Statistics; • Reasoning • Mathematical • Mathematical
• Philosophy and Techniques Modelling; Simulation
Artificial Intelligence • Human Computer
Interaction and 1 out of the electives:
Project Affective Computing • Natural Language Project
Processing
• Introduction to
Image and Video
Processing

Project Project

Year 3
Semester 5 Semester 6
Period 1 Period 2 Period 3 Period 4 Period 5 Period 6
Optional courses:* • Data Analysis;
• Semantic Web; • Web Applications; • Operations
• Game Theory; • Logic for AI; Research Case
• Computer Security; • Parallel Studies;
• Robotics and Programming; • Intelligent Systems Bachelor’s thesis
Embedded Systems; • Introduction to Project
• Prolog Bio-Informatics;
• Software and Systems
Verification
Project Bachelor’s thesis

* In period 1 and 2 of the third year, students can choose 3 out of 5 courses (6 in total) in addition to the
project. Students can also choose elective courses from other UM bachelor’s programmes, the minor
Entrepreneurship, the educational minor, or to study abroad for a semester.

8 Bachelor's programme in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | 2021/2022

Customize your curriculum
The programme offers you flexibility to adapt the
curriculum to your own interests and ambitions.
You can:

• Choose your own elective courses, including

courses from other bachelor's programmes
• Study abroad via our exchange programme
• Pursue a minor in Entrepreneurship or
Education
• Participate in practice- or research-oriented
honours paths
• Pick your own bachelor's thesis topic

Our study advisers and academic staff can help

guide your curriculum choices, and the Board of
Examiners evaluates your choices to ensure that
the quality of your overall programme remains
high.

Minors
In year 3 of the programme, you can opt to take a
minor in education or entrepreneurship.

The educational minor leads to a teaching

qualification allowing you to teach mathematics
at lower secondary schools of VWO, HAVO and
VMBO-tl (MAVO) level. The educational minor is
organised in close cooperation with the Fontys
Leraren Opleiding (Teacher Training) in Sittard
(FLOS) and Tilburg (FLOT). The main language of
this minor is Dutch.
The entrepreneurial minor is taught by
Maastricht University's School of Business and
Economics. The minor consists of courses
covering topics such as starting and growing a
business, turning science into products and how
to combine social and environmental goals with
financial sustainability. This minor is taught in
English.
Exchange programme
In year 3 of the programme, you can choose to
study a semester abroad at one of
our well-established partner universities in
countries including but not limited to:
• Canada (Université de Montréal)
• Australia (University of Adelaide, UTS, University
of Sydney)
• Italy (La Sapienza Università di Roma in Italy)
• Denmark (University of Copenhagen)
• Switzerland (Université de Genève)
• China (CityU, Hong Kong)
• France (Université Toulouse Capitole)
• Luxembourg (Université du Luxembourg)
• Iceland (Reykjavik University)

9
Courses & curriculum

Honours paths
We offer honours paths to high-performing
students who are looking for an extra challenge
on top of our regular curriculum. Whether your
interest lies in research or business, we have an
honours path that's right up your alley.
Business: KE@Work
With KE@Work, you'll spend 50% of your time in
year 2 and year 3 working for a regional business.
There, you work on solving academic data science
challenges and complex business problems under
supervision of dedicated business and DKE
supervisors. A fixed internship fee is, of course,
part of the deal.
Research: MaRBLe 2.0
MaRBLe ('Maastricht Research-Based Learning')
2.0 lets you get up close and personal with
research during year 2 of the bachelor's
programme. As a MaRBLe student, you are
embedded in a real research group. You get the
opportunity to work on a state-of-the-art research
project, where work is organized in a similar way
as in professional research institutes.
MaRBLe students work together as individual
experts on a team project. Together, you work
towards a scientific publication.

KE@Work provides you with extremely valuable

work experience before even graduating. The
honours path is unique to the Data Science
and Artificial Intelligence programme and
received international recognition in the form of
two Reimagine Education awards in 2018.

10 Bachelor's programme in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | 2021/2022

General information
Research at DKE
At DKE, research and education are tightly
linked. Our academic staff consists of experienced
lecturers and researchers that are well known in
the international scientific community.
Our research centers around nine themes:
• Affective & Visual Computing Lab
• Algorithms, Complexity, and Optimization
• Cognitive Robotics and Complex Self-Organising
Systems
• Cybersecurity
• Dynamic Game Theory
• Explainable and Reliable Artificial Intelligence
• Game AI & Search
• Machine Learning
• Signals, Complex Systems and Images
Study association
MSV Incognito is the dedicated study association
for DKE bachelor's and master's students.
Whether it's a pub crawl, a study evening, a
barbecue or discounts on study materials: MSV
Incognito has it all!
Find out more about MSV Incognito:
www.msvincognito.nl
Living in Maastricht
Maastricht is a student-friendly city situated near
the Belgian and German borders. The city's history
spans over 2000 years, and its rich past is
reflected everywhere in the streets. And
importantly: unlike other university towns in the
Netherlands, finding housing is relatively easy!
Explore the city:
www.mymaastricht.nl
Your future
Most of our students continue with a master's
programme, although a substantial number of
Data Science and Artificial Intelligence alumni
choose to find a job straight away. Some start
their own business.
Master's programmes
A bachelor's degree in Data Science and Artificial
Intelligence allows you to enrol for
master's programmes in fields such as Artificial
Intelligence, Data Science, Computer Science and
Applied Mathematics. While you can choose to do
so at a different university, it is also possible to
continue your studies at DKE.
We offer two master's programmes - Data Science
for Decision Making (DSDM) and Artificial
Intelligence (AI) - that teach you to respectively
leverage Data Science as a tool to make informed
decisions (DSDM) or to understand, design and
create intelligent systems (AI).
For more information:
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/masterDSDM
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/masterAI
Alumni at work
You can find DKE alumni in positions such as data
scientist, software engineer, consultant, systems
analyst, business intelligence manager, process
manager or researcher.
Their employers include Google, Tesla, Amazon,
the European Space Agency, Facebook, Ebay,
Spotify, CBS (Statistics Netherlands), Philips,
Vodafone and universities around the world.
11
A (very cool) week in the life of...

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence

student Philippe Debie

Philippe Debie took a rather literal approach to

going the extra mile. His bachelor's thesis led him
to Santiago, Chile – approximately 7450 miles or
12,000 kilometers away – where he presented his
work at a renowned international conference.

For Philippe, it was his first time attending an

international research conference, let alone
presenting at one. No wonder: bachelor’s
students are anything but a common sight at
such events. “I didn’t meet any other
undergraduate students. It was all PhD students
and professors”, Philippe explains.

So how did the Data Science and Artificial

Intelligence student end up at the high-profile
gathering? “From the moment the project started,
my supervisor intended to publish the results as a
scientific paper. One day, she simply entered the
room and said: we are going to submit your thesis
there.” There, in this case, meant to the
prestigious IEEE Web Intelligence conference in
Santiago. “I thought, sure, it’s unlikely that it will
get accepted, but that seems super interesting so
let’s go for it. You can imagine my surprise when
we received a message that we could come and
give a presentation.”

Philippe kept a travel diary of his experiences in

Chile, of which you can find a part on the next
page.

12 Bachelor's programme in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | 2021/2022

Day one: internet, por favor
As one might expect from attendants of a
conference by the name of ‘Web Intelligence’,
Philippe and his thesis supervisor spent their first
hours in Chile trying to get affordable internet
access. Philippe: “My Spanish doesn’t go beyond
‘gracias’. We went around town using Google
Translate on our phones, trying to see if shop
owners would understand that we wanted to
purchase a sim card. It took two or three hours! It
felt like a waste of time, but looking back, it was a
lot of fun visiting all those shops.”

Day three: Eduroam

The conference organization, too, had its priorities
straight. Upon arriving at the conference site –
the University of Chile – Philippe’s phone
immediately switched over to Eduroam, the
global wifi service for research and education.
With the internet issue out of the way, Philippe
turned his attention towards the conference. “The
first day was reserved for workshops. One of my
current student projects [as a master’s student]
focuses on finance, where we try to see if we can
predict the foreign exchange market. I attended a
four-hour workshop that gave me a lot of new
ideas for this.”

Day four: conference presentation

Philippe and his supervisor received a
twenty-minute slot to present their work on the
second day of the conference. “I was initially
pretty nervous,” Philippe reminisces, “but
afterwards it didn’t feel so different from the
presentation I gave back in Maastricht. I’ll be less
nervous next time. Beforehand, I was afraid my
presentation would stand out in a bad way. After
discussing the presentation with some people
during the coffee break, I think I can say that my
presentation went much better than I expected.
Looking back, I’m really happy with the result.”

Read the full travel diary and learn more about

Philippe's thesis on implementing neural networks:
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/ThesisPhilippe

13
Admission and registration
How do I enrol?
Admission
Whether you are directly admissible depends on
your prior qualifications. You need to show proof
of a solid background in mathematics, for
example through a Dutch VWO diploma
with Wiskunde B, an International Baccalaureate
with (Further) HL Mathematics or equivalent.
Depending on your background, you may need to
satisfy additional requirements in the area of
Mathematics and/or English. To see which
conditions apply to your specific situation, visit
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/bachelorDKE
and refer to the page 'Admission requirements' in
the left-hand menu.
We also offer an optional (but highly
recommended!) matching procedure to help you
make the right study choice.
Application and registration
For a step-by-step guide to applying and
registering for the programme, including current
deadlines for submitting your application, go to
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/bachelorDKE
and select 'Admission & registration' in the
left-hand menu. Note that it is only possible to
start the programme in September.
At the time of applying, you likely haven't received
your high school diploma yet. No problem: if you
meet the other requirements, you will be
14 Bachelor's programme in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | 2021/2022
admitted under the condition that you obtain and
submit a copy of your diploma. We encourage you
to apply as early as possible - processing and
approving your application takes time.
Umm... Help please!
If you have additional questions, missed the
online registration deadline, or experience
difficulties with the admission procedure, please
contact DKE's admission office by e-mail:
boa@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
Financial matters
Tuiton fee
The tuition fee depends on several factors, such
as your nationality and whether this is your first
or second bachelor's programme in the
Netherlands. For up-to-date information and to
find out which rate applies to you, check our
online tuition fees guide:
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/tuitionfeesguide
Study finance
The Dutch system for study finance changed. In
the new system, students can obtain a loan on
favourable conditions. Study finance is
determined by the Dutch authorities and can be
subject to change. For the latest information:
www.duo.nl.
Non-EU students
Application deadlines
If you are from outside the European
Union, applying for a visa and the evaluation of
your diploma may take longer than two
months. We recommend you apply as early as
possible.
For current deadlines, please refer to
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/bachelorDKE
Visa
Students from non-EU/EEA countries wishing to
reside in the Netherlands for more than three
months are required to obtain a residence permit.
To enter the Netherlands, non-EU/EEA students
(except those from Japan, the United States,
Canada, New Zealand, South Korea or Australia)
also need an entrance visa.
Once you are admitted to a programme, our Visa
Office can assist with visa and permit procedures.
For more information please go to
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/visa
Visit us!
Bachelor's Open Days:
Saturday 31 October 2020
Saturday 6 February 2021
For more information about the programme,
including the option to take a virtual tour:
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/bachelorDKE
In addition to (virtual) Open Days, we offer events
to let you experience studying at DKE. These
include Student-for-a-Day and Experience Days,
and are announced on our department's website:
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/dke
Please do not hesitate to contact us for more
information on our activities.
By email: info-dke@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Follow us!
Another way to find out about what goes on in
the department is to follow us on social media.
On Facebook: um.dke
On Instagram: @um_dke
On Twitter: @um_dke
15
© 2020 Faculty of Science and Engineering, Department of Data Science and Knowledge Engineering, Maastricht University, P.O.
Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, the Netherlands | Photography: Jonathan Vos, Harry Heuts, Peter Müllenberg/Photostique, Studio
Zwartlicht, Dieudonnée van de Willige, Philippe Debie | Concept and design template: VA, Arnhem| Layout and production: UM-180818-en-GB-0920-3
Marketing & Communications, Maastricht University. Although this brochure was made with the utmost care, no rights can be
attained from it.
For more information and a virtual tour, visit:
www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/bachelorDKE
Bachelor's Open Days
Saturday 31 October 2020
Saturday 6 February 2021

Internet: www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/dke

www.maastrichtuniversity.nl
Email: info-dke@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Contact information

Faculty of Science and Engineering

Department of Data Science
and Knowledge Engineering

Follow DKE on social media:
Phone: +31(0)43 388 3455
Paul-Henri Spaaklaan 1

Instagram - @um_dke
Twitter - @um_dke
6229 EN Maastricht

Facebook - um.dke
The Netherlands