Master of Data Science in Data Science & Life Science

University of Oslo
Data Science in Data Science & Life Science
Masters
Computer & It
Public University
Norway

A 2-year (120 ECTS) full-time interdisciplinary master’s degree program taught in English at Campus Blindern. Hosted jointly by the Department of Informatics and the Department of Mathematics in close collaboration with the Department of Biosciences under the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, this specialization bridges advanced data science and modern molecular biology. Students apply machine learning, statistical modeling, and high-performance computing to solve complex, data-intensive challenges in genomics, systems biology, personalized medicine, and bioinformatics.

Course Details

Category	Details
Time	Full Time
Campus	Oslo
Duration	2
Deadline-Date	1-December,
Fee Per Year	295000
Application Fee
Currency	nok
Intake Link	https://www.uio.no/english/studies/admission/master/
Deadline Link	https://www.uio.no/english/studies/admission/master/
Intakes	August
Program language requirement	The English language requirement for programmes taught in English: English language proficiency for programmes taught in English must be documented with a valid TOEFL ibt, IELTS Academic or PTE Academic test score if you are not covered by one of the exemptions. The test result cannot be older than two years on the date of the application deadline. Minimum scores TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language: TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition Minimum total score of 90 with at least 19 in reading, 20 in listening, 20 in speaking and 24 in writing. Or Minimum total score of 4.5 with at least 4 in reading, 4.5 in listening, 5 in writing and 4.5 in speaking (from 21 January 2026). We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. IELTS Academic - International English Language Testing System or IELTS Online Minimum overall band score of 6.5 with at least 6.5 in each component (listening, reading, speaking and writing) Please note that we do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake scores to meet our English language requirements. PTE Academic or PTE Academic Online: Pearson Test of English Academic Minimum overall score of 62 with at least 58 in each component (listening, reading, speaking and writing). Do you need special arrangements on your test? Please note that you are not exempted from completing an English language test due to special accessibility requirements. The test providers have the option to make arrangements for test takers with accessibility requirements. Please contact your test provider for more information on how they can make special arrangements for you. Be aware that it may take a long time to arrange for such tests, so we recommend applying for arrangements well in advance. Are you exempt from submitting an English language test? The following applicants are exempt from submitting an English language test: Cambridge Assessment English exams Applicants who, in 2005 or later, have passed the University of Cambridge exams C2 Proficiency (formerly known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)), with the grades A, B or C or with the result C1 (minimum score 180) C1 Advanced (formerly known as Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)) with the grades A, B or C (minimum score 180) B2 First (formerly known as Cambridge English: First (FCE)) with the grade A (minimum score 180) International Baccalaureate (IB) Applicants who have completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme with English A with the minimum score of 3 or English B at Higher Level (HL) with the minimum score of 4 or at Standard Level (SL) with the minimum score of 6.

Who can Choose this program?

A 4-year Bachelor’s degree (minimum 180–240 ECTS credits equivalent) from an HEC‑recognized Pakistani university. 3-year Pakistani bachelor’s degrees (BA, BSc pass, B.Com pass) are generally not accepted for Norwegian master’s programs. Accepted Bachelor’s Degrees (must be in a relevant quantitative or life science field): Data Science / Computer Science (with biology interest) Bioinformatics / Computational Biology Biology / Molecular Biology / Genetics (with strong programming and statistics) Biochemistry / Biotechnology (with strong quantitative skills) Statistics / Mathematics (with biology interest and programming) Physics (with computational biology interest)

Additional Information

Category	Details
Scope of the program	Prepares graduates for high-level technical, analytical, and research careers—such as bioinformatics data scientist, computational biologist, machine learning engineer in biotech, genomic analyst, and health data specialist—across biotechnology firms, pharmaceutical industries, medical research hospitals, bioinformatics research centers, public health institutions, and academic organizations, as well as eligibility to pursue doctoral (PhD) studies.
Program entry requirement	Bachelor's degree You must have a bachelor’s degree comparable to a Norwegian bachelor’s degree. Degree requirement for Pakistan 4-year bachelor's degree or 2-year bachelor's degree and 2-year master's degree. Required specialisation and minimum grade requirement You must have a specialisation of at least 80 ECTS credits required by the programme and a minimum grade average comparable to a Norwegian C. A Norwegian C is described as a good grade, generally comparable to an American B and a Second Class Upper in the British system. We do not use conversion tables for foreign grades. All foreign education is individually evaluated during the admission process. Please note that eligible applicants who fulfill the minimum grade requirement will compete for a study place. Please see the section on ranking below for more information on which subjects are calculated to determine the minimum grade average. The required specialisation consists of 80 ECTS credits where the following, or equivalent, courses are included: MAT1100 – Calculus MAT1110 – Calculus and Linear Algebra MAT1125 – Advanced linear algebra or MAT1120 – Linear Algebra IN1900 – Introduction to Programming with Scientific Applications or IN1000 – Introduction to Object-oriented Programming IN1910 – Programming with Scientific Applications or IN1010 – Object-oriented Programming STK1100 – Probability and Statistical Modelling or STK-FYS1110 – Probability, modeling and data analysis for the physical subjects STK1110 – Statistical Methods and Data Analysis 10 ECTS credits on advanced Bachelor's level (2000- or 3000-level at UiO) among courses given at The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. If you have completed studies/courses outside the University of Oslo, you must upload course descriptions. The course names and codes on the course descriptions must match the transcript of records.
Required GPA	A recognized 4-year Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline with a minimum CGPA of 2.7–3.0/4.0 or equivalent. Competitive universities generally prefer 3.0/4.0 or higher.
GRE Required	No – GRE is not required for this program.
GMAT Required	No – GMAT is not required for this program.
Application Process	1. Apply to an accredited Norwegian higher education institution and secure full-time admission. 2. Receive your official unconditional admission letter confirming your study program. 3. Transfer required living expenses and tuition fees to the university's deposit account or an approved Norwegian bank account. 4. Create an account on the UDI Application Portal Norway and complete the online study permit application. 5. Pay the required UDI residence permit application fee online and download your cover letter. 6. Prepare supporting documents: passport, admission letter, deposit receipt, housing documentation, and insurance. 7. Book a submission appointment at the nearest Norwegian Embassy, Consulate, or VFS Global Centre. 8. Attend your appointment to submit your document checklist, give biometric data, and submit your passport. 9. Track your application status on the UDI portal and await the official decision. 10. Travel to Norway after permit approval and register with the local police station to obtain your Residence Card.
Available Scholarships	https://studyabroadupdates.com/scholarships/
Program accreditation	Accredited by NOKUT (Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education) under the Norwegian university system.
Living expenses	Living Expenses: Average living costs range from NOK 12,000–16,000 per month, covering accommodation, food, transportation, study materials, and personal expenses. Students should budget around NOK 150,000–170,000 per year.
Visa Process Details	1. Passport: Valid passport with required validity and blank pages (Mandatory). 2. CNIC / B-Form / FRC: Applicant ID and family relationship documents (Mandatory). 3. Photographs: Recent biometric passport-sized photos (Mandatory). 4. Offer letter: Official unconditional admission letter (Mandatory). 5. Tuition fee receipt: Deposit, tuition payment, or scholarship proof (Mandatory/Conditional). 6. Academic documents: Transcripts, degrees, and required attestations (Mandatory). 7. Language certificate: IELTS, TOEFL, or language test proof (Conditional). 8. CV / resume: Updated resume with education and gap details (Mandatory/Conditional). 9. SOP / motivation letter: Study plan and home ties explanation (Mandatory/Conditional). 10. Financial documents: Bank statements, income proof, and source of funds (Mandatory). 11. Sponsor documents: Sponsor ID, affidavit, and income proof (Conditional). 12. Accommodation proof: Housing booking, contract, or university letter (Mandatory/Conditional). 13. Insurance: Travel and health insurance coverage (Mandatory/Conditional). 14. Police certificate: Character clearance certificate if required (Conditional). 15. Medical certificate: Medical clearance certificate if required (Conditional). 16. Translations / legalization: Certified translations or legalization if required (Conditional). 17. Previous refusals: Visa refusal letters and explanation if applicable (Mandatory if applicable). 18. Travel history: Copies of previous visas and travel stamps (Conditional). 19. Family / home ties: Return proof such as FRC, property, or job ties (Recommended). 20. Country-specific: UDI application portal cover letter (Country-specific). 21. Country-specific: Funds deposit in a Norwegian or student bank account (Country-specific). 22. Country-specific: Housing documentation if required (Country-specific).
Part timework	Part-time Work: International students can work up to 20 hours per week during the academic semester and full-time during official holidays. Many students find part-time jobs in retail, hospitality, customer service, and campus roles.
Post-study work opportunity	Post-Study Work Opportunity: After graduation, eligible students can apply for a 12-month Job Seeker Residence Permit to stay in Norway and search for employment. Once they secure a qualifying job, they can apply for a Skilled Worker Residence Permit, which can lead to long-term residence if eligibility requirements are met.

What are the English language requirements for the master's program at the University of Oslo?

The English language requirement for programmes taught in English must be documented with a valid TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, or PTE Academic test score if applicants are not covered by one of the exemptions. Minimum scores include a TOEFL total score of 90, IELTS overall band score of 6.5, or PTE Academic score of 62.

What are the eligibility criteria for applying to the master's program in Data Science at the University of Oslo?

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree comparable to a Norwegian bachelor's degree, which includes a minimum of 80 ECTS credits in a relevant quantitative or biological specialization, along with a weighted average grade of C or better. Eligible fields include Data Science, Bioinformatics, Mathematics, and related disciplines.

How long does the master's program take to complete at the University of Oslo?

The master's program in Data Science takes 2 years to complete, with a total of 120 ECTS credits earned across 4 semesters.

What is the tuition fee for studying at the University of Oslo for international students?

The tuition fee for the master's program at the University of Oslo is NOK 295,000 per year. There is no application fee required.

Are there opportunities for part-time work for international students in Norway?

International students in Norway can work up to 20 hours per week during the academic semester and full-time during official holidays, with many students finding part-time jobs in retail, hospitality, customer service, and campus roles.