Urban Data Science and Analytics MSc

Urban data science and analytics are critical to helping cities evolve, providing invaluable insight into urban processes, dynamics within cities, and highlighting local and global issues. This is why specialists in this field are highly sought after within the public and private sectors to help address these issues and contribute to solutions in future planning.

Our Urban Data Science and Analytics MSc offers you the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of the methods and approaches of data science and learn how to apply them in understanding cities and setting urban policy.

The course will combine technical training in the latest data science techniques – from data wrangling to machine learning, visualisation, and beyond – with the critical thinking needed to interrogate and understand complex urban and mobility challenges.

At the heart of this course will be a commitment to tackling the real-world challenges facing cities. Researchers at the University of Leeds are finding novel data-driven solutions to tackle challenges such as traffic congestion, social and economic equality, healthy cities, and competition for resources.

This means, once you graduate, you’ll be fully equipped with the experience, technical skills, and knowledge needed to pursue a career in this area, with roles in everything from data science to software development or urban planning.

Career opportunities

Data science and analytics have become crucial to many industries worldwide, meaning demand for qualified specialists in this field has grown exponentially in recent years – with no signs of slowing down.

This course will teach you the in-depth technical knowledge and skills in data science along with training in workflow practice, teamwork, and ‘hacking’ that’s highly sought after by employers and will prepare you for an exciting career in industry. You'll also build an online portfolio of work developed throughout the course which will demonstrate your skills to prospective employers.

On completion of this course, you'll have the technical knowledge to secure employment in local government, companies handling spatial data (e.g. supermarkets, retail), start-ups, transportation authorities and operators, urban planners and consultancies (e.g. Arup, Mott MacDonald) in roles such as a data scientist, data analyst or software developer.

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in a relevant subject. Those with a background in geography, urban planning, transport, or computer science, or who can demonstrate good quantitative and/or computing skills, are particularly encouraged to apply.