You don’t have to come from a science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) background to be successful in the Data Science Program at Indiana University.
In fact, we embrace your unique academic or professional experience, and believe that it will only bolster your journey towards becoming a one-of-kind, in-demand data specialist.
Read ahead to discover how to apply to our program.
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To be eligible for our program, Indiana University requires that you have a four-year bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or above.
If you already hold a master’s or doctoral degree from the School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering (SICE), and the requirements of that degree are equivalent to the M.S. in Data Science, you are not eligible to apply to our program.
To apply, you’ll need to provide official documentation showing you’ve earned a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in another country. To apply to our residential M.S. program, you will also need a valid Visa.
Learn more about equivalent degrees for graduate students and Visas at the IU Office of International Services.
Although you don’t need to have a STEM background to be successful in this program, you will need to have a sufficient background in mathematics (calculus and elements of applied mathematics, e.g., linear algebra, probability, statistics, and/or discrete mathematics) and computer programming (Python, R, C++, Java). Experience with data structures and algorithms is also helpful.
If you need help developing any of these skill sets, consider taking IU’s Data Science Essentials: a self-paced package of online coursework that can help you prepare for the successful completion of the M.S. in Data Science degree.
We highly recommend that you submit your application and all supporting materials one month prior to final deadlines to expedite admissions decisions.
Apply to our residential M.S. program by CLOSED.
We begin processing applications for the residential M.S. by mid-September.
Apply for the online M.S. program or online graduate certificate by CLOSED.
We begin processing applications for our online programs by mid-February.
It is your responsibility to act with honesty and integrity, and be responsible and accountable for all actions throughout the admissions process. Once you submit an application, you are formally agreeing to adhere to all deadlines and instructions set by the Data Science Program.
If at any time it is discovered that false information, omissions, or misstatements are made on the application, your consideration could be revoked.
To apply to the Data Science Program, you will need to submit the Online Graduate and Professional Admissions Application, in addition to these supplementary application materials:
Please do not send any materials (e.g., photographs, passports, videos, CDs, or portfolios) other than those listed. They will not be reviewed during the admissions process.
Additionally, all documentation submitted with your data science application becomes the property of Indiana University. This means submitted documentation is nonreturnable, and will not be forwarded, copied, or released to the student or to a third party.
To submit the online graduate application, you will need to create a guest account.
In the Desired Degree tab, you will be asked to choose an academic program.
If you plan to earn an M.S., select Data Science as your academic program. You will then be prompted to select an academic plan. Choose either Data Science M.S. (Residential) or Data Science M.S. (Online).
If you plan to earn an online graduate certificate, select Data Science Certificate as your academic program.
You will be required to provide contact information for three individuals who have agreed to provide a recommendation to support your application. Please provide that information under the Department Information tab on the online application.
Your recommender will receive an electronic request to write a letter after you have submitted your online application.
Be sure to submit your application well in advance of the application deadline, in order to give your recommenders time to get their letters submitted.
It is highly encouraged that letters of recommendation come from those working in academia.
If you have been away from academia for a significant amount of time, you may substitute with professional references. Select recommenders who can attest to your abilities, accomplishments, strengths, and experience.
Your curriculum vitae (CV) or resume should be uploaded in PDF format under the Department Information tab on your online application.
Please include information about your education, employment, achievements, publications, and awards. This information will help the admissions committee better understand your background.
Your personal statement should be uploaded in PDF format under the Department Information tab on your online application.
Please ensure your statement indicates one of the following:
Generally, this statement is between one and two pages (500–750 words) and clearly explains your academic background as it relates to the field of data science, career goals, and overall aspirations for applying to this specific program.
The online application fee is $60 for domestic students, and $65 for international students.
It must be paid via credit card, and is non-refundable.
Our office does not run the graduate application portal. If you have trouble paying the fee, contact the University Graduate School whom administers the site for payment.
Email them at grdschl@indiana.edu or call 812-855-8853.
If you are an international student unable to pay through PayPal, try paying with a credit card with this QuikPAY form.
You may also email the Office of International Services at ois@iu.edu for additional assistance.
On your application, please list each institution of post-secondary education from which you have earned credit.
If you are applying to the Residential Master's Program, submit an electronic copy of your official transcript(s) from each previous undergraduate or graduate institution that you have attended. You will submit them via the online application in the "additional upload" section. Each institutional transcript should be uploaded as a single PDF.
If you are applying to the Online Master's or Online Certificate Programs, submit an electronic copy of your official academic records from each previous undergraduate and graduate institution that you have attended. You will submit via email at siceooe@indiana.edu. When providing these records, please include your full name and IU application number in the body of the email.
Your records must include:
If you are still enrolled in your bachelor's degree program when you apply to the Data Science Program, submit the most updated version of your transcript.
International records
Because it can take a substantial amount of time to obtain records from schools outside the United States, please keep legible photocopies of your official international transcripts and degrees.
Official academic records
If you are admitted to our program and elect to attend, you must send your official academic records, or attested copies certified by the registrar of the degree-granting institution you attended, to Indiana University no later than September 1.
GRE and TOEFL scores are required for residential M.S. in Data Science applicants.
Online M.S. in Data Science applicants need only submit GRE scores.
Online certificate applicants are not required to submit scores.
Indiana University GRE and TOEFL code: 1324
Department code: All programs
Verbal, quantitative, and analytical scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are required for admission into the Data Science Program.
Have your official GRE scores sent directly to Indiana University via ETS.
Tests must be taken no more than five years prior to the start of your intended academic term.
We will not accept GMAT scores as sufficient evidence of your comprehensive and analytic skills.
Students interested in the residential M.S. in Data Science computational and analytical track have GRE score prerequisites.
We only accept GRE waivers for online M.S. in Data Science applicants; we do not accept waivers for the residential M.S in Data Science.
If you wish to apply for the online M.S. in Data Science, and you believe your quantitative or technical background is exceptionally strong, a GRE waiver is available. To be considered for a waiver, you must possess all of the following minimum criteria:
Additionally, you must have one of the following:
To apply for the waiver, first submit your online graduate application.
Then request the GRE waiver form through the Office of Online Education via email at siceooe@indiana.edu. The Admissions Committee will review the request, as well as your supporting materials, during the application review period.
If your native language is not English, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam is required for residential M.S. in Data Science applicants only.
Applicants should have official TOEFL scores sent via ETS directly to Indiana University.
Tests must be taken no more than two years prior to the start of the intended academic term.
We do not accept IELTS scores as sufficient evidence of English proficiency at the academic level.
Any form of documentation or recorded information—regardless of physical characteristics—created, received, recorded, or legally submitted in the course of study becomes the property of Indiana University. This means documentation is non-returnable, and will not be forwarded, copied, or released to you or a third party.
We recommend that you avoid sending irreplaceable documents.
We do encourage you to make photocopies of your original academic records and send them to your home university.
Ask your home university to:
Indiana University requires that university records, as defined herein, regardless of format, be retained for specific periods of time in accordance with legal or other institutional requirements, or for historical value. The university has designated official repositories to manage the retention of these records according to procedures outlined below, wherein documents are securely destroyed after three years of the last date of enrollment.
Learn more about the records retention guidelines.
Note: All credentials are retained indefinitely throughout a student's academic career with the Data Science Graduate Office. Excluded from this policy are individuals who reserve the right to request their irreplaceable; original documents be verified upon arrival on campus for same-day verification. Same-day verification is only awarded to those who submit their irreplaceable and official academic records to the Office of International Services (OIS) in-person.
International documentation is nonreturnable, unless deemed irreplaceable. An irreplaceable document is defined by Indiana University as:
“A document that can only be issued once in a lifetime per person by a ministry of education (or other educational authority) or a document where another official copy cannot be obtained.”
International documentation, as deemed irreplaceable by the Office of International Services (OIS), may be returned after the conferral of your degree or certificate at your sole request. Indiana University will not voluntarily return your documentation upon degree conferral.
The Data Science Graduate Office will return materials if all of the below is followed:
NOTE: Any documents requested to be returned through mail, will be at your expense. The Data Science Graduate Office is not reliable for any damages that should occur prior, during, or after the delivery of the documents.
The length of time it will take to review your application depends on the time of the year you apply, the number of applications we receive, and the size of the current admissions committee.
After your application fee has been processed and your application forwarded to us for review, the committee strives to complete the review process in four to five weeks from the application deadline.
The Data Science Program has limited funds to distribute. The number of students who apply to our program each year, as well as the competitiveness of each applicant, determines the number of financial awards we are able to offer.
Our aid packages typically do not cover full tuition or large stipends. All completed admissions applications will be considered for financial aid or fellowship by the admissions committee at the time of the application review. If you are offered admission, your admit letter will detail the financial award.
Learn more about financial aid at IU.
