Austria · Master's
TU Wien
MSc Data Science
TU Wien
Course Overview
TU Wien's MSc Data Science is the joint Master's of the Faculty of Informatics and the Faculty of Mathematics — one of the few European data science Master's that is genuinely cross-faculty (most are CS-only). The 4-semester, 120-ECTS programme is fully delivered in English and spans the foundational pillars: statistical foundations and machine learning, big data infrastructure and distributed systems, data analytics and visualisation, plus specialisation blocks in deep learning, knowledge graphs, NLP, and applied data science for industry domains. TU Wien sits in the QS top-200 for Computer Science and is consistently the best-ranked Austrian institution for CS / Mathematics research.
Sri Lankan applicants from CS / SE / IT / Mathematics / Statistics bachelor's backgrounds (Moratuwa CSE / IT, Colombo UCSC, SLIIT, NSBM, NIBM, Peradeniya Stats) use TU Wien Data Science as a route into Austrian and broader EU tech roles. Tuition at €726.72/semester (€1,480/year) for non-EU students is dramatically lower than any UK / Dutch / Swiss equivalent. Vienna's data-driven employer base — Erste Group, Raiffeisen, Boehringer Ingelheim (digital health), Bitpanda (fintech), the Vienna offices of Microsoft and IBM, plus AT&S's growing semiconductor analytics team — absorbs MSc Data Science graduates locally. The mandatory Master's thesis (30 ECTS) is often run jointly with an industry partner. Returnees move into senior data engineering, ML engineering, and data science roles at WSO2, IFS R&D, Virtusa, Sysco LABS, Dialog Axiata, Big Four Colombo, and the Lanka AI Hub.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Software Engineering, or a closely-related quantitative discipline with strong grades (Sri Lankan first / upper-second class equivalent).
- check_circle Demonstrated coursework in programming (Python, Java, R, or similar), linear algebra, calculus, probability and statistics, and algorithms / data structures.
- check_circle Sri Lankan applicants from Moratuwa (CSE / IT), Colombo UCSC, SLIIT, NSBM, NIBM, or strong UoP Statistics / Maths backgrounds with first / upper-second class are competitive.
- check_circle Motivation letter (1-2 pages), CV, two academic references, and transcripts with explicit module breakdown.
- check_circle Non-EU applicants apply via TU Wien's General Admissions Office; document nostrification is part of the file.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.0 Overall (no band below 5.0).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 80 Overall.
- check_circle Cambridge English: B2 First with grade C or higher.
- check_circle Programme is taught 100% in English — German is not required for the degree (though valued for Austrian internships and the Red-White-Red Card pathway).
- check_circle Waived if your Bachelor's was taught entirely in English (Sri Lankan applicants from Moratuwa / UCSC / SLIIT / NSBM qualify with an MOI letter).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (€) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, non-EU) | €1,480 | Rs. 510,600 |
| Living Expenses in Vienna (12 months) | €12,600 | Rs. 4,347,000 |
| Student Visa, Residence Permit & Health Insurance | €900 | Rs. 310,500 |
| Cloud Compute, Books & Conference Travel | €1,000 | Rs. 345,000 |
| Total Year 1 Investment | €15,980 | Rs. 5,513,100 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
TU Wien MSc Data Science graduates qualify for Austria's Red-White-Red Card for Graduates (12-month job-search residence permit), with conversion at a qualifying offer. Master's-level salaries clear the EU Blue Card threshold (~€45,500/year gross in 2025) and the points-based RWR Card pathway leads to permanent residence after 24 months. Major Vienna employers: Erste Group, Raiffeisen Bank International, Boehringer Ingelheim Vienna, Bitpanda, UNIQA, Vienna Insurance Group, plus the Vienna offices of Microsoft, IBM, Bosch, and Andritz. Median starting salary €48,000-€60,000. Sri Lankan returnees move into senior data engineering, ML engineering, and data science roles at WSO2, IFS R&D, Virtusa, Sysco LABS, Dialog Axiata, HSBC Sri Lanka, the Lanka AI Hub, and the Big Four Colombo (analytics advisory).
Related Programs
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ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.