Data science is a growing field in opportunities and relevance. You might see it as a subfield or branch of computer science, which may be partly true since computer science is essential for it. However, data science by itself is interdisciplinary — a convergence of computer science, math, statistics, scientific methods, and many other fields and skills. Data science applications are crucial for many big companies; thus, opportunities are abundant and expanding.
This article lists some of the best data science schools that offer programs without tuition fees. These institutions are renowned worldwide for their high-quality education and training.
Should I Study Data Science or AI?
Despite the fact that the two disciplines are different in their own ways, many universities tend to treat them as areas closely related to computer science. Even though these disciplines are closely related and each one is heavily integrated into one of the others, they remain distinct fields with their own established theories and methodologies. If you’re passionate about research and you like dealing with data, then Data Science is the degree for you, and you should check out the available Data Science Courses on our website. If, on the other hand, you think that you crave something more practical where you get to see the fruit of your labor manifested in a functional program that can perform any number of tasks without human assistance, then you should definitely choose the study of Artificial Intelligence. You can also browse through all our available courses on the Open Courses Page.
Free Data Science Schools
1. Technical University of Munich
The Technical University of Munich is a free, top-ranking data science school that has no tuition fees. It is also a top-ranked institution in Germany and Europe. The university’s German name is Technische Universität München, and it abides by its motto of “the entrepreneurial university” by molding young entrepreneurs on its campuses.
Public universities in Germany are free for all. This also applies to the Technical University of Munich. Thus, you only have to pay semester fees of less than 100 euros for those studying at the Straubing and Heilbronn campuses. For those enrolled in the Munich, Garching, and Weihenstephan campuses, the fee is more than 140 euros.
Future data scientists might want to consider the Technical University of Munich’s MSc in Mathematics in Data Science. This English-taught program tackles mathematics in focus or application to data. Here, students get to learn about data preparation and analysis. The university also offers an English MSc in Data Engineering and Analytics program.
2. Sorbonne University
Sorbonne University is a public university formed through the 2018 merging of Paris-Sorbonne University and Pierre et Marie Curie University. The institution is located in Paris, France. A renowned school globally, the university produces top-caliber alumni awarded the Nobel Prize, Fields Medal, and Turing Award.
Being a public institution, Sorbonne University is free of tuition. However, they charge registration fees. The costs depend on the level of studies (bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D.) and the type of program (engineering programs have more expensive registration fees).
Sorbonne University’s Master’s in High-Performance Computing may be interesting for aspiring data scientists. It covers courses that tackle data science. This two-year, English-taught program has two options: a full study program (with no double degree) at Sorbonne or a double degree with mandatory mobility at a partner university. The partner university is part of EUMaster4HPC, a group of eight universities (including Sorbonne University) with a Pan-European High-Performance Computing Pilot Master’s program.
3. RWTH Aachen University
RWTH Aachen University, like Sorbonne University and the Technical University of Munich, is part of the top universities in computer science. In North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, this institution has several domestic and international affiliations, including the German Excellence Initiative, TU9, and UNITECH International.
Although RWTH Aachen University is a free data science school and has no tuition fees, there are other expenses students need to consider. These include university fees composed of the student body and social contribution fees. Aside from that, there are also costs for accommodation, food, health insurance, books, and materials.
The university offers an M.Sc. in Data Science program. This course is set for four semesters only, and the language of instruction is English. Specialization in specific application areas is possible such as computer science, mathematics, computer science & mathematics, business analytics, computational life science, computational social science, and physics. They also have an M.Sc. in Data Analytics and Decision Science program offered through the university’s business school.
4. Aalto University
Aalto University was formed through the 2010 merging of Helsinki University of Technology, Helsinki School of Economics, and the University of Art and Design Helsinki. Such coming together of prestigious institutions allowed forming a multi-disciplinary university that brings together science, business, and arts. This public institution is in Espoo, Finland.
Citizens from the European Union or European Economic Area nations may enjoy free tuition fees for degree studies (e.g., bachelor’s, master’s). However, those not qualified will have to pay 12,000 to 15,000 euros per year, varying on the program and level of studies. The fees cover costs for courses, academic supervision, exams, counseling, and university services.
There are data science undergraduate and graduate programs at Aalto University. The English-taught Bachelor’s Program in Science and Technology – Data Science imbibes students with skills and knowledge in algorithm design, machine learning, AI, statistical inference, operations research, and optimization. They also have an English-taught, two-year, full-time Master’s Program in Computer, Communication, and Information Sciences – Machine Learning, Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence. Another program available is the Master’s Program in Communications and Data Science, with mobility between Aalto University, Université Grenoble Alpes, and Universidade de Lisboa.
5. Aarhus University
- Free Tuition Fee Link
- Free to: students in a bilateral exchange agreement; students with a permanent residence permit in Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands; students with a temporary residence permit with a view to or with the possibility of permanent residency in Denmark; permanent resident of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland; EU/EEA/Swiss students
Aarhus University in Denmark is another free data science school. It was founded in 1928 and is consistently part of the top 100 universities worldwide. This large public institution has several Centers of Excellence and renowned research centers.
Generally, students from the EU and EEA nations and Switzerland are exempted from paying tuition fees. Specifics about the criteria for exempted students are further outlined in the free tuition fee link above, such as whether students with specific resident permits are considered or not. If you do not qualify, the tuition fee will cover teaching and exams. You will not be required to pay additional fees for transcripts or student ID cards.
Aarhus University has a Master’s Degree Program in Data Science. This English-taught program has general competency courses in advanced statistical learning, large-scale optimization, and data visualization. They also have four specialization packages: computational statistics, data-intensive systems, finance & fintech, and signal processing.
We hope you found this article on free data science schools with no tuition fees informative and helpful. Make sure to check out the Available Data Science Programs for International Students!
