Data Science (MSc)

Unlock the power of data. Develop the technical, statistical and analytical skills to mine complex data for the insights that transform business, government and scientific discovery. 

Course overview

• Data can provide insights to shape decision-making, power scientific innovation, improve business operations and inform government policy. But it takes cutting-edge statistical and computational methods to unlock that power. Our MSc Data Science course lets you master those methods. 
• On this masters, we’ll equip you with the knowledge and skills to acquire, curate, manage and analyse data for solving real-world problems. You'll gain essential, transferable computational and statistical thinking skills to create and deploy data-driven products and knowledge. You’ll also look at ways to solve challenges in a range of potential, data-rich, application domains such as health, climate, transportation and sales.   
• You'll have the flexibility to set the direction for your postgraduate studies with a masters project of your own design. While you’ll have the one-to-one support of your supervisor, it’s a solo project – as much about developing computing skills as it is about building confidence and autonomy, vital skills for the workplace.  
• We’ll also help you put the technical skills into a real-world, professional context. This will help you communicate your findings in the workplace, and address any of the legal or ethical questions that come with data processing. 
• Whether you plan to continue your studies onto PhD level or you’re looking ahead to a career as a data scientist, data architect, database developer or big data analyst, this masters degree in data science can pave the way.

Features and benefits

• Professional accreditation –  This course is accredited by the British Computing Society (BCS) – The Chartered Institute for IT – providing a strong professional focus.
• Learn alongside world-leading research – 86% of our research outputs in Computer Science are rated world-leading and internationally excellent (REF, 2021).   
• Professional study environment – We’ve invested over £115 million to transform the way we teach and the way our students learn. The new Dalton building is equipped with dynamic learning spaces, world-class teaching and research facilities and collaborative study zones. This means you’ll graduate with the skills and experiences employers look for.
• Industry standards – We’re an Academy for the Computer Technology Industry Association (CompTIA). We deliver their partner programme which provides a pathway for students towards a rewarding, high-growth IT career.
• Institute of Coding – The Department of Computing and Mathematics is part of the £40m national Institute of Coding (IoC). Our students have access to the IoC’s cutting-edge computer lab to hone their skills in this area. 
• Optional placement year – Boost your career prospects and put theory into practice with the option to take an industry placement year.  

Course information

• Our MSc Data Science degree is made up of nine core modules covering topics from the principles of data science, computational mathematics and statistics to fundamental algorithms and machine learning concepts. You can choose to study the course full-time over one year, or part-time, where you’ll complete the modules over two years. You may also choose to take an additional one-year optional industry placement on the full-time route.  
• You’ll start by learning key processes of data science from an applied perspective, gaining the required skills for operating fluently within a data science environment. From there, you’ll explore aspects and tasks relating to the life cycle of data in organisations and the wider issues relating to data handling, along with algorithms and data structures used to solve several computational challenges.  
• You’ll cover fundamental machine learning concepts, mainly from a practical, problem-solving perspective – including the foundations of predictive tasks and contemporary techniques for predictive modelling. You’ll then build on your knowledge with an Advanced Machine Learning module and a Deep Learning module. This provides you with the necessary skills to work within a deep learning ecosystem.  
• In another module, you’ll gain an understanding of industry-relevant tools and techniques for solving large-scale problems through exploring practical aspects of scalable data processing and efficient problem solving for ‘big data’.  
• Finally, you will complete an in-depth, independent research project. With the support of our academic and technical team, you’ll undertake a piece of research on a topic of your choice related to your studies. This will involve designing, implementing and evaluating a substantial piece of software and documenting the research through writing a dissertation.   
• Studying as part of the Department of Computing and Mathematics, you’ll have guidance from an expert team with leading knowledge in the area. Your studies will be rooted in the kind of cutting-edge research that’s addressing societal challenges, making an impact on areas like healthcare, future cities and security.

Year 1

• You'll study nine core modules, including your individual research project. If you're studying full-time, you’ll complete all the modules within one year. If you choose to study part-time, you’ll complete your modules over two years.   
• If you choose to apply to study full-time with an optional industry placement year, the MSc course will be two years and you'll start your placement after completing all the core modules in year one.  

Core modules

• Computational Mathematics and Statistics
• Algorithms and Data Structures
• Data Management and Governance
• Principles of Data Science
• Machine Learning Concepts
• Advanced Machine Learning
• Deep Learning
• High Performance Computing and Big Data
• MSc Project

Study and assessment breakdown

• Ten credits equates to 100 hours of study, which is a combination of lectures, seminars and practical sessions, and independent study. A masters qualification typically comprises of 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits and an MFA 300 credits. The exact composition of your study time and assessments for the course will vary according to your option choices and style of learning, but it could be:

Study

• Full-time 20% lectures, seminars or similar; 0% placement; 80% independent study
• Full-time with placement 10% lectures, seminars or similar; 50% placement; 40% independent study
• Part-time 20% lectures, seminars or similar; 0% placement; 80% independent study
• Assessment
• Full-time 100% coursework; 0% practical; 0% examination
• Full-time with placement 100% coursework; 0% practical; 0% examination
• Part-time 100% coursework; 0% practical; 0% examination

Placement options

• Strengthen your skillset by spending time in industry on a placement year, applying the skills you’ve learned throughout your academic studies in a practical, real-world environment. It’s an excellent opportunity to develop a professional career development plan and gain transferable workplace skills that can boost your employability.
• Following completion of the taught elements of your MSc course, you can gain additional practice credits by working for a minimum of 36 weeks and a maximum of 42 weeks in an industrial setting, relevant to your course.  
• It’s your responsibility to search and apply for advertised placement opportunities, but you’ll be supported by academic staff and the University’s Careers and Employability Service to find a placement that is suited to you and your career ambitions. However, not all students can be guaranteed a placement.  
• All placements are approved and monitored in accordance with the University’s Institutional Code of Practice for Placement and Work‐Based Learning. For international students, this includes additional checks on study visas to ensure the appropriate visa status. 

Career prospects

• Skilled data scientist professionals are in high demand across a diverse range of industries. You'll be able to apply your skills in a multitude of sectors – whether it be developing solutions that support the government to improve public services, driving operational efficiencies in the manufacturing industry, or working in e-commerce to enhance supply chain systems. 

With the expertise you’ll develop with us, you’ll be well placed to apply for roles such as:  

• Data scientist 
• Data architect 
• Database developer 
• Data engineer 
• Big data analyst 
• Decision sciences analyst

Whatever route you decide to go down, your ability to harness the power of data and technologies will have far-reaching impacts, not only on the companies and industries you work in, but on society as a whole.