Course summary

Deep statistical thinking combined with expertise in health and computer science is becoming increasingly fundamental in tackling public health problems across the world. The MSc in Health Data Science will equip you with advanced technical skills which will allow you to develop a career as a data-scientist in the health and care sector. The MSc in Health Data Science, consists of an initial set of 4 core modules: “Statistical methods and models for health research”, “Programming for Health Data Science”, “Fundamentals for Health Data Science” and “Introduction to applied epidemiology”. These will allow you to develop and consolidate foundational skills in the three main areas of Health Data Science: epidemiology, statistics and computer science. On completion of these modules, you will then progress onto one of two pathways: “Global health” or “Health informatics”. The “Global Health” pathway further develops your skills in statistical science with a focus on spatio-temporal methods of analysis of infectious diseases and how these are used to inform health policy decisions. The modules of the “Health Informatics'' pathway will focus on developing your knowledge and statistical skills in the analysis of routinely collected health data and in the economic evaluation of health care. These two pathways will open you new career opportunities as a data-scientist of a multidisciplinary team within international and national public health organizations and health care providers. In addition to these taught modules, you will also undertake a 12-week project as part of a placement with one of our partners, which include the World Health Organization and the National Health Service. This will provide you with a fantastic opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge to real-world situations and challenges, allowing you to gain valuable professional experience as a part of a multidisciplinary team. The placement project represents a substantial, independent research project. Supervised by an academic specialist, you will develop your ability to formulate a project plan, gather and analyse data, interpret your results, and present findings in a professional environment. This research will be an opportunity to bring together everything you have learnt over the year, expand your problem-solving abilities and manage a significant project. This will be a great experience for you to draw upon in an interview and in your career.