Master in Business Administration and Data Science (MSc)

Master in Business Administration and Data Science (MSc) is one of 4 English-taught Data Science programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 4 institutions. 4 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 6,700 to EUR 17,300; this programme lists EUR 8,000 a year. 1 is recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.

This is a two-year master's at Copenhagen Business School, taught in English, for students who want to work where data meets business. The programme is full-time and carries 120 ECTS. It has 150 students, 83 per cent of them from outside Denmark, and the average age is 24.5. You do not need to have coded before you start, but be warned: one student says the first semester is really busy and very challenging if you have no prior knowledge of coding.

What you study

The first year is built around a set of named courses. In the autumn semester you take Programming, Algorithms and Data Structures; Datafication: Regulation, Governance, Security, Privacy and Ethics; Linear Algebra and Applied Statistics; and Data Management and Visualization. In the spring semester you continue with Data, Platforms and Digitalization; Natural Language Processing and Text Analytics; Predictive Analytics; and Machine Learning and Deep Learning.

Across these courses you work with Python and R, big data platforms such as Hadoop and Spark, and methods from machine learning, deep learning and predictive analytics. The technical material is always tied to business cases, so you practise connecting data-driven solutions to the strategic and operational problems companies face. The programme also puts weight on communication, ethics and compliance: you learn to present technical findings to business leaders and to technical specialists, and to design solutions that meet ethical standards and legal rules.

How the programme is organised

The first two semesters are fixed courses. The third semester, 30 ECTS, is yours to shape. You can take electives at CBS or at other Danish universities, take a minor (typically three courses in one academic area), go on exchange at one of CBS's more than 300 partner universities, or do an academic internship at a company in Denmark or abroad, finished with a project report. The fourth semester is the 30 ECTS master's thesis, on a topic you choose, typically written with a fellow student.

Teaching is hands-on and collaborative. Many courses are built around group projects that end in written products, dashboards or data-driven models, which you then present and discuss in individual oral exams. There are also individual home assignments and written sit-in exams. The mix gives you teamwork experience and individual accountability.

Who it suits

It suits someone who enjoys programming, statistics and analytical tools, is curious about how organisations work and how data can drive decisions, strategy and innovation, and likes explaining complex technical results in a clear, business-oriented way. The programme is technical: one student from a social science background says it was more technical than expected and that catching up in the technical courses was the biggest challenge, even with introductory classes at the start. If you are not comfortable with coding or quantitative analysis, you will need to invest significant time to keep up.

Admission, language and next steps

The programme is taught in English. Applications for master's programmes go directly to the institution, not through optagelse.dk. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland study free of charge; other students pay a fee that the institution sets. Check the entry requirements and the programme regulations on the CBS page, and use the Open Day for master's programmes to meet students and staff. The next Open Day is on 4 February 2027 at Solbjerg Plads 3, 2000 Frederiksberg.

Master’s applications go straight to Copenhagen Business School, not through optagelse.dk, and the institution sets its own deadline. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, residence permits and housing.