Data Science (MSc)
Duration: 12 months (full-time)|Hope Park|Start month: February & October
International students can apply
About the Course
In today’s world, almost every interaction we have is through digital technology—whether it’s on a computer, smartphone, camera, or smartcard. These interactions create data, which can be analyzed to improve decision-making, systems, and research.
Thanks to advancements in technology, computational power, and machine intelligence, a new field has emerged: Data Science.
Instead of just focusing on business metrics or financial markets, we’re now analyzing data about people and the world they live in. As Jake Porway, Executive Director of DataKind, explains: “A data scientist is a rare combination of a computer scientist, who can build software to manage data from various sources, and a statistician, who knows how to extract valuable insights from that data. They prototype new ideas and ask the most important questions about what the data can reveal.” This course is designed for people like this.
Built on the expertise of the Mathematics and Computer Science departments, this program blends new technologies, groundbreaking research, and fresh scientific perspectives to prepare you to shape the future of society in meaningful ways.
Note: Some international partners offer this course as part of a two-year program.
Curriculum Overview
Core Modules
The MSc in Data Science aims to equip postgraduate students with core skills in:
- Data Analytics
- Numerical Methods
- Theoretical Computer Science
- Programming
- Applied Computer Science
Additional Modules
The students will then undertake a selection of courses such as:
- Big Data and Cloud Computing
- Artificial Intelligence
- Internet of Things
- Mobile Computing
- High Performance Computing
Assessments
The ethos within the School is to foster enthusiasm for Computer Science and so assessment is largely through project work, giving you the opportunity to explore the subject area and focus on those specific topics that capture your interest. The project entails research and innovation as well as practical industrial applications of the ideas developed during the programme of study.
The dissertation gives you the opportunity to use the skills gained throughout the PG taught provision. Students are expected to specialise in a specific area of research in order to create something new, or to scientifically investigate research questions and independently solve problems in an innovative way. During this practice you should reflect the scientific process and be self-reflective, critical and clear in its explanation of its hypothesis and synthesis of ideas.
Each individual dissertation is worth 60 credits and this is expected to be a student led investigation into a relevant area of Computer Science. A “pool” of topics is available that reflects the research interests of the staff within the department, however, a student can propose their own topic which is then considered by the PG coordinator. Ultimately the research topic needs to be agreed with and approved by the PG coordinator. Students are assigned to a specialist tutor that guides them through the research process. We strongly encourage our students to produce publishable research work, where possible, and thus provide an opportunity to jointly publish their research work with members of the team. Workload allocation is in accordance with the agreed Common Dissertation Policy for allocation and supervision.
Entry Requirements
A minimum of a second class honours degree in a relevant discipline (eg Data Science, Computer Science, Computing, Science, or engineering-based) awarded by a UK university, or an equivalent higher education qualification.
International Entry Requirements
Possess a degree from an overseas institution that is judged by the Registrar or Nominee to be equivalent to a second class honours degree from a UK University.
For students whose first language is not English there is a language requirement of IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 minimum of all components. In addition to this, we also accept a wide range of International Qualifications, for more information please visit our English Language Requirements page.
For additional information about country specific entry requirements visit the your country pages.
Teaching and Research
The course is delivered by a passionate and dedicated team that takes pride in both its high teaching standards—recognized independently—and its vibrant research community. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) Exercise, 100% of the Department's research was rated as internationally excellent or recognized. Our staff specialize in a wide range of fields, including Robotics, Bio-inspired Systems, Deep Learning Networks, Machine Intelligence, Virtual and Augmented Reality, Cognitive Mobile Networks, Cyber Security, Mathematical Modelling, and more.
We've recently opened a state-of-the-art Robotics Laboratory in our Science Building, featuring cutting-edge technologies such as industry-standard software (e.g., Matlab/Simulink, Labview, Visual Studio, 3D Studio Max), as well as Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality interfaces (e.g., Oculus Rift). The lab is equipped with a variety of advanced robots (e.g., Kilobot swarm robots, Aldebaran Nao, i-Sobot, Moway Robotic Buggies), embedded systems for physical computing (e.g., Arduino, Xilinx Zynq), communication modules, wearable and biomedical sensors, motion capture systems, and even UAVs and drones. This is a place where technology and innovation come to life!
UK/Channel Island Tuition Fees
2025/26
Tuition fees for Home students are £9,500.
Funding
We offer a number of scholarships and loans to help fund your postgraduate studies. Visit our scholarships pages for more details.
EU/Non EU International Tuition Fees
2025/26
Tuition fees for EU/Non-EU International students for 2025/26 are £16,500.
Please be aware that the UK’s departure from the EU may affect your tuition fees.
Learn more about your fee status and which tuition fees are relevant to you.
Careers
The demand for Data Scientists is growing rapidly, with year-on-year increases of 13% to 23%. Currently, 46% of industries report having difficulty recruiting skilled staff. As this is a relatively new field, very few potential Data Scientists possess the unique combination of programming, statistics, and specific subject knowledge required.
The talent gap has been highlighted in several recent reports. For example, the "Big Data Report" from McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) estimates that the demand for data analysts could exceed the available supply by 140,000 to 190,000 positions by 2018. With a projected 440,000 to 490,000 data analyst jobs available by that time, only 300,000 trained analysts are expected to be ready, creating a supply-demand gap of 50 to 60%.
Despite 26% of UK companies already using or planning to use cloud-based big data services, only 13% feel they have the necessary skills to manage it. According to the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), better use of big data could contribute an additional £216 billion to the UK economy by 2017.
McKinsey's research predicts that Data Science will be a crucial driver of competition and growth for companies in the future. For more details, visit McKinsey.com