Master’s in Applied Data Science Application Requirements

The application portal to be considered for Autumn 2024 enrollment closed on June 19, 2024. The Online Program will also take applications for Spring 2025 Part-Time (not Full-Time) enrollment beginning September 2024.

The In-Person program admits full- and part-time students for entrance in autumn quarter annually. The Online program admits full- and part-time students for entrance in autumn quarter. Online program part-time students may also begin the program in spring quarter.

Only completed applications are sent for committee review.

Next Application Deadlines:

The application for entrance in 2025-26 will open in September 2024.

In-Person:

• November 7, 2024 – Priority Application Deadline
• December 4, 2024 – Scholarship Priority Deadline
• January 21, 2025 – International Application Deadline (requiring via sponsorship from UChicago)
• March 4, 2025 – Second Priority Application Deadline
• May 6, 2025 – Third Priority Application Deadline
• June 23, 2025 – Final Application Deadline

Online:

• Spring 2025 Part-Time, Online Only
  • January 9, 2025 – Final Application Deadline
• Autumn 2025
  • June 23, 2025 – Final Application Deadline

*The application portal may close early if the cohort is filled.

Letters of Recommendation

The MS in Applied Data Science program requires two letters of recommendation. We strongly recommend that at least one letter is written by someone such as a direct manager/supervisor or internship supervisor who can attest to skills you demonstrated or gained though a professional workplace experience (e.g., leadership, teamwork, collaboration, initiative, management, other).

Note: Letters of recommendation can be uploaded after you submit your application. Recommended sources for letters of recommendation include: professors; supervisors or managers; professional mentors.

We do not accept letters of recommendation from family members, friends, or peers.

Candidate Statement

The candidate statement is a key part of your application. The admissions committee pays careful attention to how you understand and present your aims and qualifications.

Best practices to keep in mind as you write:

• Do not restate your resume.
• Explain why the Master’s in Applied Data Science program at UChicago is right for you (see examples below).
  • Address the curriculum.
  • Browse our faculty profiles and write about who you want to work with, and why.
  • Detail the short- and long-term plans you have for the Master’s in Applied Data Science program.
  • What career goals will the program help you accomplish?
• Describe the unique perspective(s) you would bring to this program.
• What educational and/or professional experiences do you bring to the program?
• Your statement should not exceed 750 words.

Resume/CV

The Master’s in Applied Data Science admissions committee will review your resume. We encourage you to take the time to carefully update the resume you submit to us.

Important to Include:

• Work experience, including internships and part-time positions in the analytics/ data science space
• Major accomplishments and awards
• Educational background including areas of study
• Professional conferences attended

Not needed:

• Undergraduate or graduate GPA

Programming Supplement

Your application contains a section on programming skills. Although applicants with limited skills in R or Python can and do get accepted into the program, the admissions committee values prior programming experience. Include a PDF of no more than two pages demonstrating current programming language skills.

Examples include a PDF submission of work completed in R or Python. The programming supplement must be shared as a PDF file. We are looking for the following in your code (see below). Please note your code does not need to contain all of the below.

• Ingest data from csv
• Manage different data types
• Use your function for data analysis
• Visualize data
• Wrangle data
• Write your own function
• Import libraries

One video prompt response is required, the other is optional. Each video should be approximately 1:30 min in length.

International Students

• The in-person, full-time program only intakes students for the Autumn start.
• Only the full-time, in-person program is Visa eligible.
• International students are also welcome to apply to our Master’s in Applied Data Science Online program, which does not require citizenship or permanent resident status and does not provide visa sponsorship.

English Language Requirement

Applicants to the Master’s in Applied Data Science program who do not meet the English Language Proficiency criteria must submit proof of English language proficiency.

Minimum scores for the Master’s in Applied Data Science program: TOEFL, 102 (no subscore requirement); IELTS, 7 (no subscore requirement).

Please review our waiver policy here.

Transcripts from all previous colleges and universities attended

When applying to the program, only your unofficial transcripts are required. If you are admitted into the program, then official transcripts must be sent to the following (note a bachelors degree is required to apply to the program):

Please have your institution send your e-transcripts directly to:

applieddatascience-admissions@uchicago.edu.

If your institution cannot send your documents electronically, please have them send your transcripts to the following mailing address.

Please note, if documents are being mailed, we must receive them in their original, school-sealed envelope. If your documents are not received in a school-sealed envelope, they will be considered unofficial. Additionally, if your transcript does not list degree conferral information (degree earned and date of conferral), we will also need to receive an attested copy of your degree certificate.

The University of Chicago
Attention: MS in Applied Data Science Admissions
455 N Cityfront Plaza Dr., Suite 950
Chicago, Illinois 60611

Application Fee

There is a $90 non-refundable application fee. For questions regarding an application fee waiver, please refer to the Physical Sciences Division fee waiver policy.

Tuition, Fees, & Aid

The program awards merit-based scholarships. Read more about Tuition, Fees, & Aid.

Meet your Admissions Counselor

Daniel Truesdale, MPP
Associate Director of Recruitment

Daniel Truesdale serves as an enrollment advisor for the Master’s Applied Data Science in-person and online programs. A graduate from the Harris…

Learn more about Daniel

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