MSc Data Science
University of Surrey
Key Information
Campus location
Guildford, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 - 2 year
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
GBP 24,400 / per year *
Application deadline
01 Jul 2024
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* Overseas | UK £10,400
Introduction
Why Choose This Course
Collecting, managing, and analyzing data is essential across many sectors – from finance to politics, and advertising to healthcare. This course will give you the advanced computation and mathematics skills you’ll need to work in the growing field of data science.
Designed in collaboration with industry and drawing on leading research, our Data Science MSc will prepare you for a career as a data scientist, data analyst, data engineer, data architect, or business analyst.
This program uniquely addresses the fundamentals of data as well as the technical considerations needed to handle data with increasing scale and complexity.
What You Will Study
This course combines an in-depth study of the theory and practice of data science with an optional year-long work placement, where you’ll get the chance to apply your knowledge to industry-relevant challenges. A placement also allows you to discover the business value of data-oriented research and development.
You’ll acquire solid technical knowledge of data science principles and practices, machine learning and data mining, practical business analytics, database systems, and cloud computing. You can also customize this MSc with optional modules in information security, natural language processing, and advanced artificial intelligence.
You'll complete a dissertation where you can further explore an area that interests you. Our dissertation projects involve topical real-world problems, often linked to cutting-edge research.
Admissions
Curriculum
Academic Year Structure
If you’re studying this course full-time, you’ll study eight modules across the year – four in each semester.
Students starting in September will take the Semester 1 modules first, whereas students starting in February will take a mixture of Semester 1 and Semester 2 modules in their first semester, and Semester 1 and Semester 2 modules in September.
You will work on your project full-time during the summer period for approximately two-and-a-half months, and prior to that, during semester time, you will work on the initial stages of the project part-time and complete an interim report. This means that if you begin your course in February, you will complete your project in between the two semesters, and if you begin your course in September, you will complete your project after the two semesters.
Modules
Modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that modules may be subject to teaching availability, student demand, and/or class size caps.
The University operates a credit framework for all taught programs based on a 15-credit tariff. Modules can be either 15, 30, 45 or 60 credits, and additionally for some masters dissertations, 90 credits.
The structure of our programs follows clear educational aims that are tailored to each program. These are all outlined in the program specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes:
Full-time: year 1
- Data Science Principles And Practices, Compulsory
- Database Systems, Compulsory
- Information Security Management, Optional
- Internet of Things, Optional
- Practical Business Analytics, Compulsory
- AI and AI Programming, Optional
- Cloud Computing, Compulsory
- Computational Intelligence, Optional
- Image Processing and Deep Learning, Optional
- Information Security for Business and Government, Optional
- Machine Learning and Data Mining, Compulsory
- Mobile Applications and Web Services, Optional
- MSc Dissertation, Compulsory
Optional Modules for Year 1 (full-time) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
- 4 modules of 15 credits each (60 credits total), semester 1: students must choose 1 module from 2 optional
- 4 modules of 15 credits each (60 credits total), semester 2: students must choose 2 modules from 5 optional
- 1 dissertation module of 60 credits, summer
Full-Time with Placement - 2 Years: Year 1
- Data Science Principles and Practices, Compulsory
- Database Systems, Compulsory
- Information Security Management, Optional
- Internet of Things, Optional
- Practical Business Analytics,Compulsory
- AI and AI Programming,Optional
- Cloud Computing, Compulsory
- Computational Intelligence, Optional
- Image Processing and Deep Learning, Optional
- Information Security for Business and Government,Optional
- Machine Learning and Data Mining, Compulsory
- Mobile Applications and Web Services, Optional
Optional modules for Year 1 (full-time with placement - 2 years) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
- 4 modules of 15 credits each (60 credits total), year 1, semester 1: students must choose 1 module from 2 optional
- 4 modules of 15 credits each (60 credits total), year 1, semester 2: students must choose 2 modules from 5 optional
Full-Time with Placement - 2 Years: Year 2
- Aligning Business Value With Research And Development, Core
- MSc Dissertation, Compulsory
- Professional Postgraduate, Year Report Core
Optional modules for Year 2 (full-time with placement - 2 years) - FHEQ Levels 6 and 7
- 1 module of 30 credits reflecting placement learning, year 2
- 1 module of 30 credits reflecting business relevance, year 2
- 1 dissertation module of 60 credits, year 2 and summer
Timetable
Course timetables are normally available one month before the start of the semester. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday– Friday). Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities. Part-time classes are normally scheduled on one or two days per week, details of which can be obtained from the course administrators.
Career Opportunities
We offer careers information, advice and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University.
Graduates of this course are in high demand across many sectors, and go on to roles such as data scientist, data analyst, data engineer, data architect or business analyst.
Surrey graduates have joined companies such as:
- Allianz Partners
- Bank of America
- Fluro
- Healthera
- IBM
- KPMG
- NBCUniversal
- Rolls-Royce
- S&P Global.
94 per cent of our computer science postgraduate students go on to employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2023, HESA).
Facilities
Program Tuition Fee
English Language Requirements
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