What does it feel like to start as a dual student in Data Science at the BMW Group? What can you expect in your daily work, which projects can you take on – and why does this degree open so many doors? Anton shares his experiences between theory and practice.
19.03.2026
"If you enjoy maths and find AI exciting, the dual study programme in Data Science at BMW offers incredible opportunities.”
Anton on his Dual Study Programme in Data Science at the BMW Group.
The culture at BMW is incredibly open. As a dual student, I receive a great deal of trust from my trainer and my managers. What I especially appreciate is that everyone communicates on an equal footing from day one – no matter how experienced you are. I was impressed by how openly everyone welcomed me and how cool the people here are. For me, it’s more than just a job. I moved to Munich for my studies and didn’t know anyone – and I immediately found great connections. Almost all my friends in Munich are people I’ve met through work.
How
do you experience the collaboration between experienced experts and students?
"The collaboration is fantastic! At the beginning, I was completely inexperienced and had to step out of my comfort zone a bit when approaching people. But I was always met with openness. And I really learn a lot from the colleagues at BMW!"
What
topics do you deal with in your dual study programme?
"At university, it’s a lot of applied mathematics – model building, calculations, theoretical foundations. In practice at BMW, it’s different: the focus is on programming applications and models that draw intelligent conclusions from data – across a wide range of areas within the company."
In
which areas can Data Science students work at BMW?
"Data Science really takes place in almost all parts of BMW. Because data is collected and analysed everywhere. I’m currently working in platform development. There, we focus on aggregating company data and making it accessible. Much of the work revolves around programming, data collection, data cleaning and developing applications that generate value from data. But the fields of application are diverse: one colleague works in computer vision for autonomous driving, and another dual student analyses customer data from complex surveys."
A big highlight was my international assignment in South Africa. I was able to work in Pretoria for two months with other apprentices and dual students, meet new people and explore the country. Those memories are incredibly special.
How
do you experience the switch between the theory and practice phases?
"That was one of the reasons why I chose this programme. University and work don’t overlap directly but are clearly separated: during the theory phase, I can focus fully on my studies – without having to work alongside them, as my salary continues. During the practical phase, I’m fully at BMW without having university topics running in parallel. That takes a lot of stress out and makes both studying and working much more enjoyable."
Which
project has stuck with you the most – and why?
"My very first own project was immediately a truly exciting one: together with another student, I developed an intelligent voice assistant for test drives. The assistant gives drivers live instructions during the test drive on which functions need to be tested. I got to know technologies I had never worked with before: Artificial Intelligence, Speech Recognition and many new tools. The project is still running today."
If you enjoy maths, are analytically strong and fascinated by artificial intelligence, Data Science might be exactly right for you. Data Science specialists are needed everywhere at BMW – which means you’ll have many opportunities after graduating.
Dual Study
Data Science & Scientific Computing.
Have Anton’s insights sparked your curiosity? Find out more about his degree programme on our website – and apply as soon as the next application round opens. It’s worth getting in early!