Belgium is fast becoming a popular destination for international students due to its high quality of education and high-ranking universities. The number of universities offering programs in English is also increasing, attracting even more students globally. As a country with several globally acclaimed universities, Belgium also proactively pursues academic competence with its data science programs.
Most universities offer a Master’s in Data Science to help provide their students with excellent theoretical and practical skills. The programs are taught in English so graduates can gain more accessible admission to the international labor market, which has a growing demand for globally competent data scientists. In this article, we will look at the best universities for data science in Belgium!
Top Schools Offering Data Science in Belgium
1. KU Leuven
- Study Program | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Degree/s Offered: Master’s
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, or KU Leuven, opened in 1425, making it the oldest and among the best universities for data science in Belgium. Its Catholic identity brought many positive and negative changes to the university that helped shape its current reputation. Its long history helped it naturally adapt to the changes in generations and the demands of modern times.
Even in its early years, KU Leuven had already attracted several students worldwide and hosted renowned scholars, such as Erasmus and Mercator. Its Master of Statistics and Data Science program offers prospective careers in various fields, including business, biometrics, behavioral or educational science, and more. The course lasts two years and provides 120 ECTS credits.
2. Ghent University
- Study Program | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Degree/s Offered: Master’s
Ghent University started operations in 1817 in Flanders, Belgium. Classes were initially conducted in Latin, then French, but it adopted Dutch as the medium of instruction. These days, to cater to the growing number of incoming international students, the university offers courses and programs in either Dutch or English.
While many of its international students take up engineering and science courses, Ghent University is still an excellent school for data science in Belgium. It offers a subsequent one-year Master of Science in Data Science for Business program with 60 ECTS credits and a two-year Master of Science in Business Engineering Major in Data Analytics program with 120 ECTS credits.
Both programs are English-taught and provide graduates with the necessary skills and background to pursue a promising career relevant to data science.
3. University of Antwerp
- Study Program | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Degree/s Offered: Master’s
The University of Antwerp officially opened in 2003 after the merger of three institutions in the city: the Rijksuniversitair Centrum Antwerpen (RUCA), the Universitaire Faculteiten Sint-Ignatius Antwerpen (UFSIA), established in 1852, and the Universitaire Instelling Antwerpen (UIA), founded in 1971.
The experience brought in by its three parent institutions helped the school gain global recognition among universities under 50 years old. Today, it is another top-notch university for data science in Belgium. It offers a two-year Master of Computer Science: Data Science and Artificial Intelligence with 120 ECTS credits.
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information science to be directly admitted to its master’s program. Upon admission, students may select data science, computer networks, or software engineering as their major.
4. University of Liège
- Study Program | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Degree/s Offered: Master’s
The University of Liège is one of Belgium’s recognized data science universities, with the highest proportion of international students. The institution’s history dates back to 1808, but it officially became a university in 1817. Its Master of Science in Data Science and Engineering degree requires students to have a solid background in skills necessary for a promising career in data science, such as applied mathematics, computer science, and statistics.
Therefore, students with an undergraduate degree in Computer Science or Engineering Science may have direct access. The university will evaluate the applicant’s academic background and require additional courses and credits before admission to the program.
In addition to the fundamentals of data science, the program will provide students with management and legal courses specific to AI, robots, and data. The program lasts two years and has 120 ECTS credits. It is taught entirely in English to help prepare graduates for an international career.
5. Hasselt University
- Study Program | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Degree/s Offered: Master’s
Hasselt University is one of the leading universities in Belgium for data science, having acquired its current name in 2005. It was opened in 1973 as Limburg University Center (LUC), and the transnational University of Limburg (tUL) was established in partnership with Maastricht University in the Netherlands in 2002.
In less than 50 years, the institution established seven faculties, two schools, four research institutes, and more. The university offers a Master of Statistics and Data Science program. Students can select from four specializations related to the program, including Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Data Science, and Quantitative Epidemiology.
Located in the heart of Europe, Belgium provides easy access to solid data science programs and research facilities from institutions like KU Leuven, Ghent University, and more. The country also has a prosperous tech industry, with many companies seeking data science professionals, providing international students with excellent internship and global job opportunities.
We hope this article on the best universities for data science in Belgium was helpful. If you’re looking to study abroad, make sure to check out the Belgium Page and some of the Available Programs in Europe for International Students.
About the Author: Hyun Lee
