The first year, the so-called propaedeutic year, consists of 8 subjects of 3 ECTS each and 6 subjects of 6 ECTS each (total 60 ECTS). As part of the Leiden Study System and the associated Binding Study Advice (BSA), you are required to obtain at least 45 ECTS in the first year, barring special circumstances. 

The second year consists of 9 subjects of 6 ECTS and 2 subjects of 3 ECTS each (total 60 ECTS). If you have not yet completed the propaedeutic year (but a positive advice), you can still continue with the subjects from the second year. 

In the 2nd year, highly motivated students may choose to take extra-curricular courses. It should be noted that these should be taken out of interest; the actual load might be higher than 2 EC.
 

Free choice space

In the third year you  must take 3 compulsory computer science courses (total of 24 ECTS) and a free choice space of 36 ECTS. 

The "free choice space" of 36 ECTS can be filled:

• With either 1 course from the DSAI electives and one of the 30 ECTS minors offered by Leiden University, Delft University of Technology, or Erasmus University Rotterdam
• or with a free choice of 6 courses from the DSAI electives (see table below)

If the free choice space is filled in a different way, permission must be requested in advance from the Board of Examiners. The self-composed package of courses must comprise at least 15 EC of courses in the fields of data science and artificial intelligence, and the Board of Examiners will assess for coherence and level.

About the third year

The Bachelor Thesis Project is a mandatory course of the Bachelor.

In order to be admitted to the Bachelor class and start the Bachelor thesis project, students have to comply with the rules below at the reference date of February 1st. At the pre-reference date of September 1st it is determined whether students are allowed to participate in the matching for Bachelor thesis projects, which takes place in December.

The rules are:

1. At the reference date the student must have completed all first year courses (60 ECs) of their program.
2. At the reference date the student must have completed at least 66 ECs of the second and third year courses in their program.
3. At the reference date the student misses at most 27 ECs from second and third year spring courses (apart from the Bachelor thesis project).
4. At the pre-reference date, the student misses at most 27 ECs from second and third year spring courses (apart from the Bachelor thesis project) and expects to comply with all rules at the reference date.
5. The course "Research Methods in AI" (for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence students) or "Research Methods in Computer Science" (for Informatica, Informatica en Economie, and Bioinformatica students) has been completed. In the case of the double bachelor Wiskunde en Informatica, either “Research Methods in Computer Science” or “Seminarium Presenteren en Communiceren” has been completed.

Please note that you must meet these 5 requirements to be allowed to start. If you are uncertain whether you (will) meet them, please contact your study advisor before November 1st.

Also note that from the academic year 2027-2028 onwards there no longer is a fall Bachelor class. For students who participate in the fall class in 2026-2027, please check the study guide from 2025-2026 for the specific rules.

For students who need more of a challenge than is offered in the regular program, it is possible to participate in the Honours College. This program is particularly suitable for motivated, ambitious students with a broad academic interest, who want to get more out of their studies by taking a package of extras.