Online MS in Data Science: Frequently Asked Questions

The admissions committee looks at many factors when reviewing an application, some of which include: A record of academic excellence — so we can be assured that you will thrive in our dynamic learning environment; and evidence of managerial and leadership potential — to indicate the value you will bring to future employers; diversity of thought — to ensure that you will be challenged by people who have different fields of reference within your teams and in the classroom.

Attend a free webinar or contact the admissions team today to learn more about the program and application process.

The Admissions Committee conducts a rigorous and holistic review of each application. All aspects of an applicant’s application will be considered, including work experience, undergraduate and graduate coursework and grades, personal statement, optional letter of recommendation, and resume. Typically, admitted candidates will have at least two years of post-undergraduate professional experience.

We ask all interested applicants to complete our online application and follow our admission procedures as outlined here.

We have several deadlines throughout the year. You can view the upcoming deadlines in the application here.

You can only apply to one CDS program per entry term. For example, you may not apply to both the residential MSDS and the online MSDS for the same entry term.

While it is your choice to decide who to ask to write your letters of recommendation, we suggest recommendations come from an employer or someone you have worked with in a professional setting.  Please note that the letter of recommendation is optional for the online MSDS.

To expedite the admissions process, we ask that you upload unofficial documents at the time of your application submission. Admitted candidates who plan to matriculate are required to submit official transcripts for all coursework. Documents should be submitted by the start of MOD 1. When possible, we ask that documents be submitted directly from your university to CDS via email to cds-admissions@bu.edu. If your university prefers to mail the documents, they can send them via postal mail to:

Boston University Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences

Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid Office

665 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215

If your application is submitted in its entirety by the required deadline, we aim to release the decision to you within one to two weeks.

No. You can still submit your GRE/GMAT score as an optional part for your application if you wish. But not submitting a GRE/GMAT score will not have a negative impact on your application.

Candidates who have earned or will have completed at least two years of a bachelor’s or master’s degree at an institution in which the language of instruction was solely based in English are eligible for an automatic TOEFL/IELTS/DUOLINGO waiver. Candidates must present evidence of language of instruction with the application for admission. Appropriate documentation includes a transcript cover sheet, an official statement from the university, or a link to the institution’s website that specifies that the mode of instruction is English.

Additionally, candidates who have or will have worked for at least two years in a full-time, post-bachelors degree position in the U.S. are eligible for an automatic waiver. If you do not meet these criteria but would like to be considered for a waiver, you can submit a written request highlighting your experience with and proficiency in the English language to cds-admissions@bu.edu before the submission of your application. The admissions committee will consider these requests on a case-by-case basis.

TOEFL: Minimum of 90 on the IBT is recommended. BU’s TOEFL code is 3087. IELTS: Competitive applicants typically score a minimum of 6.5 on each band. Duolingo: We recommend a score of 110 or higher.

We do not have a minimum work experience requirement for applicants to the online MSDS. With few exceptions, accepted students typically have at least two years of full-time, post-undergraduate professional experience. The Admissions Committee takes internships and cooperative education assignments into account, but those experiences are usually considered supplementary.

We require that applicants hold a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution or its international equivalent. If you have earned a three-year degree that is the equivalent of a four-year degree in the U.S., it will be accepted in the admissions process. For example, if you earned a three-year degree in India, your degree will qualify you to be considered for admission.

For students starting in the fall semester, MOD 0 will begin in early August. For students starting in the spring semester, MOD 0 will begin in early January.

Students earn a Master of Science from the Boston University Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences.

The modules are designed to be taken in order, but some flexibility is possible.

Yes. Students in the online MSDS may take up to five years to complete the program. Students will work with their Student Success Specialist each semester to plan their enrollment, as well as any planned semesters off, to ensure timely completion of the OMSDS.

Yes. We enroll OMSDS students in both August and January.

Live sessions are synchronous Zoom-facilitated learning environments with faculty, Learning Facilitators, and students all engaging in “real time” using relevant course content. These sessions are highly interactive and last approximately one to two hours.

Students will demonstrate the ability to apply a wide range of data science skills acquired
throughout the program, including data analysis, modeling, programming, and data
management, in a realistic project based in the student's professional environment.

Teams change from MOD to MOD to allow students to work with a variety of individuals throughout their time in the program.

The online MSDS is 100% online, and there are no in-person requirements. Students are also welcome to plan their own meetups in their respective locations. Online students may attend any on-campus events that are not restricted to a certain population.

For each MOD, you and your team will have an assigned Learning Facilitator (LF). The LF will serve as your subject matter expert for each module, and they are available to help you with all course-related material. They will communicate with you on a regular basis about your coursework, hold office hours, and be available for one-on-one meetings. When it comes to questions about your course, they are your first stop.

Your Student Success Specialist will support you from the start of your program to graduation. When it comes to your student experience, advising, and university resources, they are your first stop. Your Success Specialist will help you navigate the program and your life as an online student. They will help plan your schedule, share best practices for learning online, suggest ways to engage in the program community, and guide you to the various university resources you may need to enable your success in the online MSDS program. Your personal Student Success Specialist will communicate with you regularly as you continue your learning journey.

The online MSDS is 100% online, and any appointments or advising sessions will be conducted online. Students will have access to BU and CDS online platforms and a recruitment site (Handshake) as well as online career resources available to BU online students.

Tuition for the online MSDS is $2,500 per module x ten 3-credit modules + one 0-credit module at $0.

Books are not included in the tuition costs, however the cost for books or other course materials will be minimal to $0 in most modules. You are only billed for direct expenses (tuition and fees) charged by the university.

Federal unsubsidized loans are available to U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents. Learn more about our financial aid offerings.

Additional questions? Email cds-admissions@bu.edu.