Master's Data Science for Food and Health

Why this programme?

• Interdisciplinary programme that integrates data science knowledge and skills with knowledge about nutrition, consumer behaviour and lifestyles, and their effects on human health
• Learn to translate data from diverse sources into intelligible and actionable knowledge, using advanced data processing and analytical methods
• Construct your own learning pathway based on your interest and learn how to give direction to your personal and professional development

Study programme of MSc Data Science for Food and Health

The Master's programme Data Science for Food and Health focuses on training individuals as "bridge builders" who specialise in applying statistical and analytical methods to various domains, including human health and nutrition, consumption and healthy lifestyles, food technology, and marketing and consumer behaviour.

What sets this programme apart is that it is suitable for both students with a domain related background and students with a data science background. Students with a domain related background will learn the entire data science process, acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge along the way. On the other hand, students with a data science background will deepen their domain knowledge by taking more intermediate and advanced domain-related courses.

For a general overview of the programme and detailed information about courses, internships, and the thesis, please refer to the Data Science for Food and Health page.

Tracks

Even though there are no pre-defined specialisations in this master programme, there are several tracks that students can follow. The tracks are explained below:

• Nutrition and health: In the field of nutrition and health, large amounts of data, such as data from health trackers or extensive epidemiological studies, are becoming more common. In this track, you will learn to use data science to analyse these data to answer complex questions related to the field of nutrition and health.

• Consumer behaviour: in the consumer behaviour track, you will learn to analyse complex marketing and consumer behaviour data. For example, using data science to analyse eye-gazing behaviour, integrate purchasing patterns with demographic data, or develop food recommendation systems using AI.

• Lifestyle and health: in the track lifestyle and health, there are two sub-tracks: data science for healthy lifestyles and data science for population health.

  o Data science for healthy lifestyles: In this track, you will work towards understanding and enabling healthy and sustainable consumption and lifestyles. You will learn about health behaviours and behaviour change interventions, as well as how data science techniques can be used to gain more insights and support into these behaviours and interventions.

  o Data science for population health: you will use data science to investigate and promote healthy lifestyles at a population level. You can use various data sources, such as social media data, network data, community data, and policy data to answer research questions related to population health.

• Food technology

Application and admission

Interested in taking part in the programme of Data Science for Food and Health? Find out more about the specific Admission requirements and the application procedures.

Key Facts

Student experiences

The best way to get to know a place is by getting to know the people. Students share their experiences with you about the master's programme and student life in Wageningen on the page Student experiences.

You start with learning the basics, and you grow your knowledge and skills with each course.

Future career

What are your possibilities after graduating? Read more about Career perspectives and opportunities after finishing the programme.