Modules

Compulsory modules Statistics in Government (10 credits) This module provides a sound overview of the issues and challenges for Official Statistics in the UK. Data Science Foundations (10 credits) This module presents an overview of core data science concepts and tools, focusing on real-life data science research questions with practical exposure to R and/ or Python programming as an integral part of the course. Survey Fundamentals (10 credits) This module provides an overview of sampling and estimation fundamentals. Statistical Programming (10 credits) This module introduces core programming techniques in R essential for performing data manipulation, data processing and data analyses of traditional and alternative data sources through practical sessions. Introduction to Survey Research (10 credits) This module introduces the stages involved with planning and undertaking surveys. It will consider the methodological issues that may arise, including errors, and will discuss options for minimising the impact through the survey design. Regression Modelling (10 credits) This module will introduce the basic regression model - residual analysis, model building and selection, and the handling of categorical variables. Also, Logistic regression (binary response regression) will be introduced, assessing the model fit and model building and selection. Finally, Multiple regression and Multivariate regression modelling will be introduced. Advanced Statistical Modelling (10 credits) This module introduces a broad class of linear and nonlinear statistical models and the principles of likelihood inference to a variety of commonly encountered data analysis problems in variety of disciplines. Time Series Analysis (10 credits) Analysis of univariate time series: description, modelling and forecasting. This module is aimed at the students who wish to gain a working knowledge of time series and forecasting methods. An Introduction to Machine Learning (10 credits) This module provides you with the principles of computer learning and its applications. It covers the fundamentals of machine learning methodologies, implementations and analysis methods appropriate for machine learning applications. Advanced Machine Learning (10 credits) This module builds on the Intro to Machine Learning module. It focuses on Advanced Programming Skills and Neural Computing as an extension of machine learning, natural language processing & multi-media. It considers supervised and unsupervised machine learning algorithms (random forests, neural networks, clustering, Log regression, and support vector machines) alongside more advanced Imaging and multi-media data processing. Introduction to Distributed Systems (10 credits) This module provides an overview of processing data at large scale and parallel processing. It introduces Hadoop and Spark and the use of parallel processing paradigms. Data Visualisation (10 credits) This module will build on the basic data visualisations introduced in the compulsory modules. It will cover information design, interaction design and user engagement; state of the art tools to build useful variations for different types of data sets and application scenarios; mapping. Optional modules Survey Data Collection (10 credits) Further Survey Estimation Methods (10 credits) Applied Data Mining (10 credits) Dissertation in Data Analytics (60 credits) Students on the MSc are also required to complete a dissertation on a data science focussed topic related to their programme of study. The exact content of each dissertation will vary in accordance to the title but will involve you completing a literature review and research of the topic at an advanced level, the preparation of a project proposal, the application of analytical techniques and academic approaches to the generation of alternative solutions and synthesis of a solution for the complex problem in hand, together with the presentation of the solution in oral and written form.

Assessment method

We have designed the assessments on this course to develop your technical skills. This is led by the underlying theory and requirements of the industry. Assessment is 100% coursework and covers a range of activities including:

• reports

• data analysis

• programming

• presentations.