MSc Data Science

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

The MSc Data Science programme offers in-depth training at the forefront of machine learning and data science. We seek applicants with a solid quantitative background and a strong interest in statistics, mathematics, and programming.The programme offers a unique opportunity for prospective students: the theoretical foundations and computational skills you'll acquire will enable you to deploy state-of-the-art data science methods and gain a thorough understanding to tackle various real-world challenges across different application domains at scale. The programme's integration within LSE will also guide your attention towards socially relevant and impactful problems.The curriculum requires four mandatory courses, including a Capstone project, and three elective courses. The compulsory courses cover fundamental aspects of modern data analysis from both computational and statistical perspectives. The optional courses will enrich you with additional in-depth knowledge in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Bayesian Machine Learning, Distributed Computing for Big Data, Graph Data Analytics and Representation Learning, Time Series Analysis, and Financial Statistics. During the computer seminars accompanying the lectures, you'll gain hands-on experience in numerous applications and develop skills in using modern computing systems and software frameworks.Within the Capstone Project, you'll have the opportunity to apply your acquired skills to real-world data science problems in a team and to interact directly with industry partners. You'll be jointly supported by one of our industrial partners and an academic with leading expertise from the department. In recent years, our Capstone Project partners have included companies such as Google, Microsoft, Facebook/Meta, Adobe, Samsung, Koa Health, AstraZeneca, Capgemini, Siemens Advanta Consulting, ADIA, Wise, Deutsche Bank, Houghton Street Ventures, Experian DataLabs, KPMG, Tesco, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Alpha Telefónica, Westminster City Council, and the Thames Valley Violence Reduction Unit. Our capstone projects covered a wide range of application domains, including healthcare, marine and climate research, sustainability, agriculture, transportation, logistics, student well-being, entrepreneurship, and finance.Graduate destinations:Data scientists are much in demand across industry, including a variety of Internet online service companies, marketers, banks, investment management, and other financial companies.Data scientist positions involve a wide range of responsibilities; such as conducting exploratory data analysis, applying statistical methodologies, deriving business insights from data, partnering with company executives, product and engineering teams to solve problems, identify trends and opportunities, inform, influence, support, and execute product decisions and launches.