In today's world, technology is an integral part of our daily lives, from simple tasks like grocery shopping to complex professional practices. This technological integration generates vast amounts of data, making data science a crucial skill for students across all disciplines, not just IT.

Why choose the Data Science Minor?

1.         Comprehensive Skill Development: This minor equips you with essential skills to handle and analyze data, preparing you for data-driven decision-making in your future career. You'll learn about current trends in data science, cutting-edge technology, statistics, and machine learning.

2.       Real-World Experience: Gain hands-on experience through interdisciplinary group projects that mirror real-world data science challenges. You'll work with peers from various academic backgrounds, enhancing your ability to collaborate and innovate.

3.       Research and Innovation: Learn how to navigate the research field, approach research papers, and stay updated with the latest advancements. This minor emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, ensuring you remain competitive in the ever-evolving field of data science.

4.       Practical Applications: Understand how to manage and utilize the growing amounts of data in both corporate and governmental contexts. You'll explore the challenges of data management and the ethical considerations of data privacy.

5.       Career Readiness: By promoting interdisciplinary learning and practical experience, this minor prepares you to tackle real-world problems. You'll become a competitive candidate in the job market, ready to contribute to any organization.

Join the Data Science Minor and Become a Lifelong Learner!

Embrace the opportunity to develop your skills, work on real-life projects, and stay ahead in the data-driven world. This minor will not only enhance your academic journey but also equip you with the tools to excel in your professional career.

Content & programme
This semester‑-based minor introduces students to key topics within the field of data science, including Data Visualisation, Statistics, Data Mining & Machine Learning, and Ethics & Privacy. Throughout the semester, students will also work on a practical project that runs alongside the theoretical components, allowing them to apply concepts directly and gain hands‑-on experience with data science methods and tools.

Learning goals
After completing the minor, you will be able to create added value by using large amounts of complex data.

• You will be able to work with data (clean, organize and prepare it).
• You will be able to apply methods, techniques, and tools to data sources, and can carry out a statistical analysis of a dataset and understand the underlying relationship between variables. 
• You will be able to understand how important domain knowledge is in the field of data science and how you will be able to use your knowledge to navigate different domain studies.
• You will be able to select, apply, and evaluate Machine Learning algorithms.
• You will be able to successfully execute the phases of a Data Science project cycle: define objectives for the problem (domain), data elicitation, data cleaning, exploration/visualization, feature engineering, model selection/evaluation, and communication of results (application or other product).
• You will be able to analyze data aspects and relate them to your domain knowledge, and you will be able to recognize potential data pitfalls, with applications in ethics and privacy.

This minor is suitable for students of the Computer Science program, but also for students of CMGT, CMD, TI and BI and other students who are interested in this subject. Students from different faculties and different Hogescholen are welcome.

Students should have basic knowledge about programming, as this minor we will use Python.

This minor has 5 different subjects. Four of those are regular courses and the fifth is a large project that lasts the entire duration of the minor. The examination will be dependent on the subjects but students can expect exams, assignments and presentations.  

Minor Choice Week | 2–5 March 2026

Online minor information sessions
Attend an online information session for this minor! View the programme and register here.

Minor fair
This minor will be present at the minor fair. Will you join us? View the programme and register here.

Date: Thursday, 5 March 2026
Time: 4:00–7:30 p.m.
Location: Kralingse Zoom

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APPLICATION PROCESS (KOM)

Are you a student from another educational institution and would you like to follow a minor at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences? If so, you must apply in two steps:

Step 1

• Register for the minor of your choice via the blue Apply button. You can find this button at the top right of the minor’s page.
• Download the learning agreement and complete it.
• Submit this learning agreement to the examination board of your study programme.

Once the examination board has granted approval, register for the minor in Step 2 no later than 01-07-2025 at 9:00 a.m.

Step 2
After approval, register via OSIRIS Application of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences using the link below (first create an account).
https://osiris.hr.nl/osiris_aanmeld_hrprd/Welkom.do?proces=KOM2609&opleiding=MINOR-CMI-VT 00

Part of the application process is uploading the following documents:

• The learning agreement, signed by you and by your institution;
• A scan or photo of your passport or ID card.

You will be informed by Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences whether your application has been approved.

In OSIRIS Application, you must also upload the Proof of Paid Tuition Fee (BBC) for the academic year in which you wish to follow the minor. This can be done from 01 May 2026 onwards. You can request the BBC from your institution after you have signed or issued an authorization for the payment of the tuition fee for the relevant academic year. You may also choose the option for your institution to send the BBC directly to collegegeld@hr.nl.

You will receive a notification from Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences once your application has been approved.