Course content
Master of Science Data Science & AI for Business
The program offers you a perfect balance of theory and practice. Elective courses, Certificates and numerous academic opportunities throughout the program allow you to customize the curriculum to your needs and aspirations.
Data is at the core of nearly every business decision. This joint degree with École Polytechnique, will provide students the tools needed to solve real problems, teaching them to ask the “right” questions (both from a Machine Learning and business perspective) and to use the appropriate mathematical and IT tools to answer them.
Students will be equipped to shift seamlessly from data to knowledge, from knowledge to strategic decision-making, and from strategic decision-making to operational business implementations. With the first year spent learning the technical skills at a world-class engineering school, combined with a practical application in the second year at HEC Paris, students will master how to leverage data in a business context.
The teaching in the first year of the MSc Data Science & AI for Business focuses primarily on the foundation skills of Machine Learning and Deep Learning : statistics, probabilities, linear algebra, coding in R and Python…
Students will learn how to perform a complete data analysis, from data manipulation, exploration, and visualization to analysis with powerful machine learning methods and to communicate and deploy their solution.
For further information about the program at École Polytechnique, see their website.
Students can also benefit from refresher courses in probability, statistics and the mathematical foundations of data science.
- Statistics
- Regression
- Machine Learning I and II
- Deep Learning and Optimization
- Database Management
- Python for Data Science
- Generative AI
A 4-month compulsory internship with a company in a data-related sector. Recent examples include Microsoft, Facebook, Orange, Capgemini...
- Applied Mathematics Centre (CMAP), Ecole Polytechnique
- Information Technology Laboratory (LIX), Ecole Polytechnique
HEC Paris offers a sharp focus on Data & AI for Business for the second year of the curriculum through a range of business challenges and courses on how to create business value using data.
During the second year at HEC Paris, students learn how to use data science techniques to design business solutions.
The first semester consists of core courses and business challenges with companies. Students work on real-life business issues using sophisticated data sets.
Two tracks are available in the second semester: Data Entrepreneurship or Data Manager & Data consultant.
Learning expeditions are organized to visit companies and learn about their data science approaches.
Core courses
- Data for business challenges : working on up-to-date business cases using data from a company
- Data engineering courses: using the latest tools (Spark, Github, Dataiku, Python…) to build and deploy models
- Advanced coding in Python for Machine Learning
- Reinforcement learning and advanced Deep Learning
- Data for Finance, Data and Sustainability, Data and Regulation, Data & Strategy
- Algorithmic Fairness and Interpretability
From one to three week-long challenges enabling students to work in teams on real and up-to-date business issues using data from a company and providing a relevant business solution for the company’s top management.
- Data Entrepreneurship: creating your own startup by joining the HEC Startup Launchpad
- Data Manager & Data Consultant
Two learning expeditions are organized every year to discover the highly diverse approaches of companies to AI and data science.
Students choose a subject they want to work on and master during 3 months with the support of a dedicated tutor.
All students are required to complete a 4-month internship.* Students who have not previously earned a degree or worked outside of France, must complete their internship, or other professional experience abroad.
*This requirement may be fulfilled instead through a full-time position at the end of the program.
You will also have the opportunity to obtain a certificate in the following areas, in addition to your degree:
- Climate & Business
- Data Science for Management
- Impact Investing and Entrepreneurship for Systemic Change
- Energy & Finance
- Engagement & Commitment towards Society Inspiring Excellence
- Influential Luxury
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Strategy for Impact
- Private Equity & Infrastructure
- The Future of Money and Payments
At the end of this program you will develop your skills in :
- Ability to analyze any business issue related to Data Science and AI
- Ability to build, optimize and explain Data Science Models using state of the art tools in order to solve business issues alone or working in a team
- Understanding of the impact of the use of Data Science and AI on society
- Having the skills to become Data Manager, Data Consultant or Data Entrepreneur
- Quizzes, exercices
- Case studies
- Business games and role-playing games
- Action projects
- Professional immersions
- A master's thesis (research paper )
Accréditations
HEC Paris is accredited by the “Bienvenue en France” certification, by the Campus France organization and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation for the quality of the reception of its international students. We have obtained the highest level of accreditation, recognizing the quality of HEC Paris for reception in all the criteria provided:
- The quality and accessibility of information
- Reception facilities and the integration process within school and life in France
- Academic support and availability of English-speaking staff and the teaching community
- Housing and quality of life on campus
- The quality of post-graduation follow-up and career placement
