Study programme - BSc Data Science for Global Challenges
The bachelor's programme Data Science for Global Challenges is a three-year programme, and includes 180 ECTS credits (60 credits per year). The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) is an international system in which each credit represents around 28 hours of study. The Wageningen University & Research academic year is divided into six teaching periods. Usually the first six weeks of each period are devoted to classes and practicums; the seventh week is for private study, to prepare for the exams that are given in week 8. Students take two subjects per teaching period; one morning subject, and one afternoon subject.
The study programme follows 5 learning lines:
- Computer Science [blue]
- Statistics/Mathematics [brown]
- Domain of Global Challenges [green]
- Electives [dark blue]
- Integration – Data Science for Global Challenges [multicolour]
Year 1
In the first year you learn the broad data science basics (mathematics, statistics, computer science and data science) but also the basics of life sciences. Additionally, you learn the basics about applying this knowledge to better understand or solve global challenges in life sciences.
Year 2
The second year continues with life sciences and shifts towards more advanced data science and AI topics, and further integrating the domains. With the disciplinary grounding of the first year, the focus gradually shifts from understanding the domains and analysing problems to finding common ground and working on challenges and solutions.
Year 3
The first half of the third year allows students to broaden or deepen their scope by following a minor, choosing electives or partaking in an international exchange opportunity. The second half of the third year aims to integrate the different perspectives from the domains in an individual research project.
