Course summary

The MSc Data Science programme is designed as a conversion master’s to introduce graduates from diverse backgrounds to the field of data science. The programme aims to provide a comprehensive foundation in data analysis, statistical methods, probability models, big data, machine learning and modern data imputation and processing technologies. Students will learn to extract insights from complex data sets, use machine learning algorithms, and apply predictive analytics in various sectors. The course provides broad knowledge and practical skills needed to develop software systems to generate predictive, descriptive, diagnostic, preventive and prescriptive analytics from huge and complex real-world datasets. The practical skills include programming, analyses of algorithms, statistical & probabilistic techniques, neural networks, large language models, distributed processing and data science. The integral academic writing, research and project management skills and a mandatory independent dissertation/project in the final semester further underpin application of the industry-style professional approaches as well as an appreciation of future directions of technological advances and research. The balanced academic preparation is aligned with emerging trends in job market and allows graduates to pursue in-demand and lucrative careers in IT industry or assume interdisciplinary roles by effectively combining applied computing with their first degrees. The course also provides foundations and opportunity to progress to and formally pursue specialized computer science research on a Ph.D. programme