MSc Data Science

Data can provide insights to shape decision-making, power scientific innovation, improve business operations and inform government policy. But it takes state-of-the-art statistical and computational methods to unlock that power. Our MSc Data Science course lets you master those methods.

On this data science masters, we’ll equip you with the knowledge and skills to acquire, curate, manage and analyse data for solving real-world problems. You will 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 will 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 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

• Access to industry-standard facilities – The department has an extensive range of equipment in our own specialist laboratories with high-spec computers for processing large data and performing complex computational tasks efficiently, together with the support of our dedicated technical staff.
• Professional accreditation – This course is accredited by the British Computing Society (BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT), providing a strong professional focus.
• Thriving technology sector – Being in Manchester puts the largest creative and digital technology sector outside the capital on our doorstep.
• Professional 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.
• Optional placement year – Boost your career prospects and put theory into practice with the option to take an industry placement year.
• Learn alongside world-leading research – 86% of our research outputs in Computer Science are rated world-leading and internationally excellent (REF, 2021).
• 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.
• Investing in your future – We’ve invested over £115 million to transform our science and engineering campus into a space to thrive. Opening in 2024, our new Dalton building provides a professional study environment equipped with dynamic learning spaces, world-class teaching and research facilities and collaborative study zones to further prepare you for your future career.
• Dedicated computing studio space – Designed in collaboration with our current students, a new studio provides you with a professional environment to work individually and in groups. As well as being a great learning environment, the space can be used outside of your classes to organise hackathons, develop your own video games or simply a space to use your imagination to create the technology of the future.

You'll need a UK honours degree in a STEM subject – at least a 2:2 – or the international equivalent. We might also consider applications with relevant lower-level qualifications, together with substantial professional experience in a related field.