Data and Decision Analytics (MSc)

University of Southampton

United Kingdom, Southampton

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University of Southampton

United Kingdom , Southampton

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Research

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

Highfield

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 1 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 26,200 / year

Next Intake September-2026

Data and Decision Analytics (MSc)

About

Develop the analytic and professional skills for success in the data science on this Data & Decision Analytics MSc. You’ll learn advanced level mathematical modelling, statistical analysis, and computation.

This UK master’s course will give you the skills and knowledge to make better decisions based on data. There is also a strong focus on real work experience, with opportunities for summer projects in a range of industries.

Through this degree you’ll learn:

programming skills in R and in Python
advanced theory and methods of applied statistics
practical application of operational research
modelling of deterministic and stochastic systems
industry career skills working on a project with an external organisation

You'll take on 3-month summer project which can be in operational research, statistics, data science or a combination of each. This is excellent preparation if you want to go onto a PhD in one of these areas.

There are 2 options for this project:

The opportunity to compete for a 3-month project with an external organisation
An internal project linked to the latest research led by one of our academics

You'll also get the chance to meet with the CORMSIS Business Advisory Board which is represented by major companies including; Tesco, Shell, British Airways and HM Revenue & Customs. They ensure this MSc continues to be fresh and relevant to the needs of employers, so you’ll have excellent employment prospects.

We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.

Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).

Course lead

The leader for this course is Dr Hou-Duo Qi, who’s current research interest is on matrix optimisation with applications in finance and statistics. Examples include the (low-rank) nearest correlation matrix problem from finance and convex quadratic semidefinite programming in multidimensional scaling. Find out more on Dr Hou-Duo Qi’s staff profile page.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

You'll need a 2.1 degree in a quantitative subject which has a high maths content. You must have high grades in maths modules as well as programming modules.

Find the equivalent international qualifications for your country.

English Program Requirements

If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:

IELTS score requirements

overall score: 6.5
reading: 6.0
writing: 6.0
speaking: 6.0
listening: 6.0

We accept other English language tests. Find out which English language tests we accept.

Career

Careers

Data science has seen an unparalleled expansion as the data-driven economy grows. Having a good understanding of the process of deriving actionable insights from data opens-up a huge amount of career options.

Increasingly organisations require skilled professionals who can handle large datasets and managers who can utilise the resulting analysis to make impactful decisions. The nature of the work brings MSc Data and Decision Analytics graduates into early contact with senior management which can offer opportunities for rapid career advancement.

Careers services at Southampton

We're a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. This support includes: