Master’s Degree Programme in Data Science Appendix 1 / Admission
Appendix 1
To the Programme Regulations 2023 of the
Master’s degree programme in Data Science
13.10.2022
Applies to students who commence or re-enter the degree programme in Autumn
Semester 2023 or later.
This English translation is for information purposes only. The German version is the legally binding
document.
This Appendix sets out the academic, language and performance prerequisites and further
details regarding admission to the Master’s degree programme in Data Science. It
supplements the stipulations of the ETH Zurich Admissions Ordinance 1 and the Directive on
Admission to Master’s degree programmes2.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Contents
1 Profile of requirements
1.1 Degree qualifications
1.2 Academic prerequisites
1.3 Language prerequisites
1.4 Performance prerequisites
2 Specific stipulations for admission
3 Entering the Master’s degree programme
3.1 Bachelor’s degree from ETH Zurich
3.2 Bachelor’s degree from another university
4 Application and admission procedure
5 Fulfilling additional admission requirements
5.1 General regulations
5.2 Persons with a university Bachelor’s degree
1 SR 414.131.52
2 www.weisungen.ethz.ch
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Master’s Degree Programme in Data Science Appendix 1 / Admission
1 Profile of requirements
For admission to the Master’s degree programme in Data Science (subsequently “the
degree programme”) all of the following prerequisites must be satisfied.
1.1 Degree qualifications
1 Admission to the degree programme presupposes a university Bachelor’s degree
comprising at least 180 ECTS credits, or an equivalent university degree, in a discipline the
content of which – also with regard to any additional academic requirements within the given
framework – satisfies the pertaining academic and performance admission prerequisites.
2 Said disciplines include, in particular (listed alphabetically):
– Electrical Engineering
– Computer Science
– Mechanical Engineering
– Mathematics
– Physics
3 A Bachelor’s degree qualifies its holder for admission to an ETH Master’s degree
programme only if it also qualifies said holder to enter, without additional requirements, the
desired Master’s degree programme within the university system where the Bachelor’s
degree was acquired. The Rector may also demand proof of this, determining whether such
proof must come from the home university or from another university in the country where
the Bachelor’s degree was acquired.
1.2 Academic prerequisites
1 Attendance of the degree programme in presupposes basic knowledge and skills in
Mathematics and Computer Science which must in content, scope, quality and level of
mastery be equivalent to those covered in the ETH Bachelor’s degree programmes
(discipline requirements profile).
2 The discipline requirements profile detailed below comprises 76 ECTS credits in total
and is based on knowledge and skills covered in the ETH Bachelor’s degree programmes
in the disciplines listed in Section 1.1. This includes training in the relevant methodological
scientific thinking.
3 If a candidate does not completely satisfy the academic prerequisites, admission may be
subject to the acquisition of the missing knowledge and skills in the form of additional
requirements. Completion of additional requirements is expressed in ECTS credits.
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Master’s Degree Programme in Data Science Appendix 1 / Admission
4The discipline requirements profile is structured in the two parts set out below. Information
on the content of the course units is published in the ETH Course Catalogue
(www.vvz.ethz.ch).
Part 1: Basic knowledge and skills (60 ECTS credits)
Part 1 comprises 60 ECTS credits and covers basic knowledge and skills in Mathematics
and Computer Sciences. The substance of the following course units is required:
Area Mathematics (30 ECTS credits)
– Analysis
– Linear Algebra
– Numerical Methods
– Probability and Statistics
Area Computer Science (30 ECTS credits)
– Data Structures and Algorithms
– Data Modeling and Databases
– Complexity Theory
– Programming
Part 2: Subject-specific knowledge and skills (16 ECTS credits)
Part 2 comprises 16 ECTS credits and covers subject-specific knowledge and skills in
Data Analysis and Data Management.
1.3 Language prerequisites
1 The teaching language of the degree programme is English.
2 For admission to the degree programme, proof of sufficient knowledge of English
(level C1 3) must be provided.
3The required language certificate must be submitted at the latest by the last day of the
application deadline. A list of recognised language certificates is published on the
ETH Zurich website.
1.4 Performance prerequisites
Admission to the degree programme presupposes a very good study performance record
in the preceding course of studies.
3 The required language level is measured according to the Common European Framework of Reference for
Languages scale (CEFR).
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Master’s Degree Programme in Data Science Appendix 1 / Admission
2 Specific stipulations for admission
1Holders of a university Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent university qualification must
satisfy all of the prerequisites set out in Section 1.
2 Admission may be subject to additional requirements.
3 Admission is not possible if
a. the language prerequisites are not satisfied; or
b. the performance prerequisites are not satisfied; or
c. the number of additional ECTS credits required to satisfy the academic prerequisites
exceeds 30 ECTS credits in total.
3 Entering the Master’s degree programme
3.1 Bachelor’s degree from ETH Zurich
1 Bachelor’s degree students enrolled at ETH Zurich can enrol in the Master’s degree
programme once they have acquired that number of ECTS credits which would qualify them
to enrol in the Master’s degree programme consecutive to their original subject 4.
2 The normal ETH Zurich enrolment dates and deadlines apply.
3 Admission is provisional until the Bachelor’s degree is issued. Admission will be revoked
if the Bachelor’s degree is not or cannot be issued.
3.2 Bachelor’s degree from another university
Candidates with a positive admission decision can enter the degree programme if they have
successfully completed the previous (Bachelor's)degree programme.
4 Application and admission procedure
1 All candidates must submit an application for admission to the degree programme at the
admission office. The specifications for application, in particular the documents required and
the dates and deadlines for submission, are published on the website of the ETH Zurich
Admissions Office (www.admission.ethz.ch).
2 Application may be made at a time when the required preceding degree has not yet been
issued.
4 The permissible number of missing ECTS credits is defined in the study regulations of the respective
consecutive Master's degree program (e.g.: BSc Computer Science -> MSc Computer Science).
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Master’s Degree Programme in Data Science Appendix 1 / Admission
3 Applications will not be considered if
a. they are submitted late or not in the correct form; or
b. the respective fees have not been paid.
4The admissions committee of the degree programme determines how far the background
of the candidate corresponds to the profile of requirements and submits an application for
admission/rejection to the Director of Studies of the degree programme.
5On the request of the Director of Studies the Rector makes the final decision regarding
admission or rejection.
6 The candidate receives a written admissions decision which includes the relevant
information concerning any additional admission requirements.
5 Fulfilling additional admission requirements
5.1 General regulations
1Candidates who are admitted subject to the fulfilment of additional requirements must
acquire the required additional knowledge and skills before or during the Master’s degree
programme via independent study or by attending classes. The corresponding individual
performance assessments must take place by set deadlines.
2 If the candidate fails said performance assessments or does not respect the set deadlines
they will be regarded as having failed the degree programme and will be excluded from it.
3 The deadlines and conditions for undergoing said performance assessments depend upon
the background of the candidate.
5.2 Persons with a university Bachelor’s degree
1 Candidates holding a university Bachelor’s degree must undertake all of the performance
assessments pertaining to the additional admission requirements by the end of the first year
of the Master’s degree programme at the latest. All additional requirements, including any
repetitions of performance assessments, must be fulfilled within one and half years of the
start of the Master’s degree programme at the latest.
2 A pass grade in each individual performance assessment is required.
3 A failed performance assessment may only be repeated once.
