Big Data MSc

The MSc Big Data is a taught advanced Masters degree covering the technology of Big Data and the science of data analytics. You’ll gain practical skills in big data technology, advanced analytics and industrial and scientific applications.

The course will teach you how to collect, manage and analyse big, fast moving data for science or commerce. You’ll learn skills in cutting-edge technology such as Python, R, Hadoop, NoSQL and Machine Learning. At the same time, you’ll delve into important maths and computing theory, and learn the advanced computational techniques you need to develop your career in data science.

Course objective

The syllabus for the MSc Big Data includes:

• Mathematics and Statistics for Big Data
• Python scripting
• Business and scientific applications of Big Data
• Big databases and NoSQL including MongoDB, Cassandra and Neo4J
• Analytics, machine learning and data visualisation using Weka, R and ScikitLearn
• Cluster computing with Hadoop, Spark, Hive and MapReduce
• Student projects including paid internships

On this Masters course you’ll gain:

• an understanding of the issues of scalability of databases, data analysis, search and optimisation
• the ability to choose the right solution for a commercial task involving big data, including databases, architectures and cloud services
• an understanding of the analysis of big data including methods to visualise and automatically learn from vast quantities of data
• the programming skills to build solutions using big data technologies such as MapReduce and scripting for NoSQL, and the ability to write parallel algorithms for multi-processor execution.

A minimum of a second class honours degree or equivalent in a numerate subject such as maths, computing, engineering or an analytic science. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate work experience are encouraged to apply.