MSc Applied Data Science

This course is closed for January 2023 entry. Applications are open for October 2023 entry.

Our MSc Applied Data Science is a conversion course specifically designed for students with a background in humanities, social sciences, life sciences and business studies who want to be part of our fast-growing digital economy. The course will build upon your undergraduate degree in the humanities, social or life sciences, giving you postgraduate-level skills in essential data science methods with various applications, covering case studies and applications of AI and data using a balance of methods and practical application.

The course introduces you to programming with the R language and as well as text analytics. Relational databases and SQL are developed and used for relevant applications from humanities, life sciences, linguistics, marketing and social science. The course encourages statistical thinking by data visualisations and guides you to develop your creativity within a scientific framework.

You cover topics such as:

• Using R for statistical modelling and decision making
• Linear and generalised linear models are used for experimental and observational data
• Artificial intelligence
• Deep and statistical learning
• Applied statistics
• Information retrieval
• Digital economy
• Survey sampling

The leading department on this course, our Department of Mathematical Sciences, is genuinely innovative and student-focused. Our research groups are working on a broad range of collaborative areas tackling real-world issues. The Department of Mathematical Sciences and our School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering are working together with other departments across the University to deliver optional modules and summer projects with Essex Business School, the Department of Language and Linguistics, the School of Life Sciences, the School of Philosophy and Art History, and the Department of Psychology. Our course also benefits from many Knowledge Transfer Partnerships which support students through placements and an interdisciplinary outreach culture.

The University of Essex is committed to transformational education and inclusion, focused on learning opportunities for every student, responsive to our students' needs and aspirations. Our MSc Applied Data Science reflects this by supporting every student, from every background, and removing the barriers to their education.

This course is developed in collaboration with industry partners and public sector organisations, which include BT, Profusion, Essex County Council, Essex Police, and Suffolk County Council. Our active links with industry can broaden your employment potential and offer placement opportunities.

Suitably-qualified applicants may be eligible for a scholarship as a stipend or towards their tuition fees.

This course is available on a full- and part-time basis, starting in October. You can also start this course in January, but this option is only available to those who wish to study full-time.

• We are international leaders in data science education for the digital industry.
• We offer you access to specialist research facilities such as the UK Data Archive and our Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER), both located on campus.
• We have active links with industry to broaden your employment potential and placement opportunities.

The majority of our Postgraduate Taught Masters will consider applicants with 2.5/4 or C or 79% from Bachelor Degree.
 

With a predicted shortage of data scientists, now is the time to future-proof your career. Applied data scientists with undergraduate skills in the humanities, social or life sciences are required for the designing and carrying out of statistical analysis or mining data, so our course opens the door to almost any industry, from health, to government, to publishing.

Our graduates are highly sought after by a range of employers and find employment in financial services, scientific computation, decision making support and government, risk assessment, statistics, education and other areas. Our recent graduates have gone onto work as data scientists and data analysts in both the private and public sectors.

We also offer supervision for PhD, MPhil and MSc by Dissertation.

We additionally work with our Employability and Careers Centre to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.