Research Project (Thesis)

Also known as: thesis (project).

Everything you wanted to know about the Research Project and were afraid to ask.

Structure Research Project

At the final step of the master programme, the Data Science students are required to perform a Research Project that leads to a thesis. The project is done under the supervision of a faculty member, on a topic related to those of the programme.

The goal of the project is to make the students put into practice the knowledge they have acquired throughout the courses, deepen their knowledge in a specific area of Data Science, become able to position their work within the related research field, become able to work independently to find solutions to challenging problems, advance the research in some field of Data Science, and report the research findings professionally and scientifically.

When can I start?

We recommend you start looking for a Research Project as early as the end of period 4. You need to find a Research Project at the latest by the middle of period 1 or 2 of the second year.

It is not advisable to start very early to have the opportunity to get to know all the professors and their respective research groups. Many courses often host presentations and guest lectures from different groups to let students get acquainted with their respective topics of interest.

An (internship) contract is required if your project takes place outside UU, for example at a company.

Arrange the (internship) contract before submitting your application form in Osiris.

The contract has to be checked and signed by the Research Project Coordinators, Rebecca Puyk and Noor Weelink, on behalf of the UU via science.internshipcontracts@uu.nl. Once your contract has been checked and signed by the UU, you can upload it with your application form in Osiris (for more information on that, go to the page 'Preparation').

The contract options are as follows:

The Universities of the Netherlands (UNL) contract (Dutch version/English version) is preferred for an external project inside the Netherlands.
The EAIE contract is preferred for an external project outside of the Netherlands.
The host organisation may have their own contract, provided that it meets the requirements of Utrecht University.

There can only be one contract, so please discuss this with the host organisation carefully. We advise students to first discuss their contract with their supervisor before signing.

Penalty clause (a fine)

The Faculty and Utrecht University strongly discourage signing an contract provided by an external organisation with a penalty clause (a fine).

Please be aware: We will not co-sign any contract which contains a penalty clause (fine).

Going abroad? You need to take these extra steps:

If your project is outside of the Netherlands, you also have to do a Stay Abroad request in Osiris after receiving approval by the Board of Examiners. Information about this can be found on the webpage Internship abroad.
Please read the whole page carefully. If you have questions, please contact the International Office. Be aware that arranging a project abroad takes time.
You might find this checklist useful during the organisation of your traineeship abroad.
It is important to check the travel advice for your destination given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Please type in your destination on the website (in Dutch). If your country has orange or red areas your Stay Abroad request cannot be validated.

From 1 September 2025:

This is what you need to do if you foresee a delay of your Research Project or extension/addition to the project is necessary.

The protocol*

Please carefully read the entire delay protocol (pdf)*. Make sure to also discuss this document with your examiner(s).

Some important remarks:

You must submit the extension request before the original end date.
You can receive multiple extensions if necessary, but each extension has a maximum duration of three months.
If the end date is exceeded and you did not submit an extension request, you lose the right to graduate cum laude.

Possible reasons for an extension

There are different reasons why you might need an extension. Check below which category belongs to you, so you know which approvals to obtain:

Personal circumstances: there are (unforeseen) circumstances in your or your examiner(s)’ personal life.
Study-related circumstances: circumstances that affect your study planning, e.g. you are following extra courses or an internship at the same time.
Project-related circumstances: unforeseen circumstances in your project, e.g. when working together with a company.

Note: The absence of positive or significant results, new insights within the research group, the writing of a scientific article, and other aspects of daily research practice are not considered valid reasons for requesting an extension.

Steps to submit an extension request

Discuss and agree on a new end date with your first and second examiner. Important: the end date refers to the date on which your grade is registered by your examiner, not the date on which you submit your thesis.
Obtain the necessary approval statements. This can be a screenshot of an e-mail or Teams chat that shows the person in question agrees with the new end date.

Personal: project supervisor/first examiner, second examiner, study advisor

Study-related: project supervisor/first examiner, second examiner, study advisor

Project-related: project supervisor/first examiner and second examiner. For second or later extension in this category, also an approval from the study advisor and programme coordinator is needed.

Start the Osiris Case via Osiris Student > ‘My Cases’> ‘Start Case’ > ‘Request to the Board of Examiners’ > New end date thesis project and complete all the information.

The Research Project Coordinator will review your request for an extension. You will receive a notification of the outcome. If the extension is approved, the end date of your research project will be changed in Osiris.

Why do I need to receive approval to extend my end date?

Please note: In most cases, especially when personal circumstances are involved, your request will be approved. The extension request serves as a tool to identify potential issues early on and, if necessary, guide both you and your examiners toward appropriate support.