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Top Universities in UK for Master’s in Data Science (2024)

Date added

26.12.2023



Why is a Master’s in Data Science a good programme to pursue today?

In the words of Andrew McAfee, Co-director of the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy, “the world is one big data problem.” Without the answers given by Big Data, organisations will be forced to operate blindly. The study of gathering data, analysing it, drawing relevant conclusions from it and developing policy decisions based on it is at the crux of data science.

After the USA, the top universities in the UK for master’s in data science are sought after by students all over the globe. They cater to this growing demand for data scientists by providing an entire range of specialisations in the fast growing field of data science.


Why study Data Science in the UK?


There are a number of reasons why you should consider doing your Master’s in the UK in data science.

These are:

1. World-class universities and advanced facilities

There is no doubt that the UK is one of the top global study destinations. UK universities have a global reputation, and their degrees are not just accepted but valued in almost all the other countries. They provide cutting-edge theoretical knowledge and practical experience with their excellent infrastructure and access to advanced facilities ranging from state-of-the-art labs, to the latest software and other resources. Many universities also offer the SAS (Statistical Analysis System) Joint Certificate, which is globally recognised and valued by employers worldwide.

2. Global networking opportunities

As a global higher education hub, the UK provides various networking opportunities, be it with prospective employers or your own peers. Considering how nascent this entire field is, most universities work in close association with large companies so that their qualifications can be tailored to suit the latest industry needs. This allows students to interact with prospective employers and gain real world knowledge of the happenings in the world of data sciences.

3. Shorter duration and more affordable

Data sciences might have boomed in the USA, but the UK is more preferred because it is more affordable, especially for Indian students. Most master’s programmes in the UK are only one year long, while it takes two years in the US or Canada. You get to save a year’s worth of tuition while also beginning the next step sooner, whether it is further study or seeking job opportunities.

4. UK’s demand for data scientists

Speaking of job opportunities, according to findings published by the UK Parliament Post, as of 2021, there were at least 178,000 unfilled data specialist roles in the UK. This number is bound to have increased, considering the developments taking place in ML and AI. Most top universities for data science in the UK have a graduate employment rate of more than 90% within 6 months of course completion.

The Uk, if you are interested, is also a home to top universities to study finance.

Top Colleges in the UK for Masters in Data Science


If you are asking “Which university is best for data science in the UK”, the answer is here. The top UK universities for masters in data science are as follows:

S.No University Fees
1 University of Oxford £33,970
2 University of Edinburgh £40,900
3 Imperial College London £34,350
4 UCL £41,000
5 London School of Economics £36,168
6 University of Glasgow £31,860
7 University of Manchester £32,000
8 University of Warwick £33,340
9 King’s College London £35,244
10 University of Birmingham £31,410

1. University of Oxford - MSc in Social Data Science


Source: University of Oxford

One of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world, Oxford is a university needing no separate introduction. The university continues to be a world leader in higher education, providing top-notch education, research, networking and employment opportunities.

Ranked 4th in the world, Oxford has an MSc in Social Data Science that combines machine learning, multivariate statistics, and mixed-methods research, with a specific focus on social, ethical, and legal considerations for AI and data analysis, especially required today in the world of the internet. This course is designed for students with a basic knowledge of programming and a strong foundation in the social sciences.

Eligibility

  • A bachelor’s degree 3 or 4 year) from a recognised institution with an overall grade of at least 75%.
  • Applicants should also show programming aptitude, by either university-level courses in Computer Science, Data Science or demonstrated industry experience.
  • No GRE or GMAT is required.
  • Minimum IELTS Academic score of 7.5 / TOEFL iBT of 110 / C1 or C2 score of 191

Intake Dates and Duration

Early Admission consideration deadline: November 2024
Final application Deadline: January 2025
Course Begins: October 2025
Duration: 10 Months (Only full-time)

Fees and Scholarships

The tuition fee for this course for international students is £33,970. The university offers over 1,000 full or partial scholarships to graduate students. You will be automatically considered for the Oxford Graduate Scholarships based on your application. You can also apply for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships or the scholarships awarded by the Oxford and Cambridge Society of India.

Employability

There is no doubt that employers and organisations from all over the world highly value a degree from Oxford. Besides working for various governments, think tanks and other policy-making roles, graduates of this course have been absorbed into companies such as IBM, Google, Meta; smaller start-ups like Academia.edu, Spotify and TikTok.

Related Courses

  • MSc in Statistical Science
  • Online Certificate Course in Applied Data Science

2. University of Edinburgh - MSc in Data Science


Source: University of Edinburgh

One of the top universities in Scotland, the University of Edinburgh ranks 15th in the world when it comes to Data Sciences according to the QS World University Rankings. The School of Informatics at Edinburgh University offers the MSc in Data Science programme. Designed for students who want to establish a career as a data scientist, this course helps you gain

  • Knowledge across data science areas with advanced specialised knowledge in one of the areas
  • The ability to apply and use the principles of data science to understand/ solve real-world problems
  • Research experience

Eligibility

The eligibility criteria are as follows:

  • A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent (minimum score of 70%) in informatics, artificial intelligence, cognitive science, computer science, electrical engineering, linguistics, mathematics, philosophy, physics, psychology or another quantitative discipline.
  • Must have also completed a university-level programming course, equivalent to 30 credits in the ECTS (European Credits Transfer System)
  • Minimum IELTS Academic Score of 7.0/ TOEFL iBT of 100 or equivalent.

Intake Dates and Duration

Application deadline: 31 March
Tentative Decision Date: 31 May
Programme Start Date: 11 September
Duration: 1 year full-time/ 2 years part-time

Fees and Scholarships

The tuition fee for international students is £40,900. Here are some of the funding options you can look into. Particularly for Indian students.

  • John Fisher High-Performance Computing (HPC) Masters Scholarship
  • Informatics Global PhD Scholarships
  • Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships
  • Ravi Sankaran Foundation Scholarships
  • Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships

Employability

The university has an employability rate of about 96% within six months of graduation. That said, data scientists are in high demand considering the data-driven world that we live in today. This programme will give you practical experience and theoretical knowledge, making you professionally attractive to organisations across the globe.

Related Courses

  • MSc Statistics and Data Science
  • Pg Diploma in Data Science for Health and Social Care (Online Course)
  • Data Science, Technology and Innovation (Online Learning)

3. Imperial College London - MSc in Statistics (Data Science)


Source: Imperial College

Focusing exclusively on science, technology, medicine and business, Imperial College London ranks 16th for Data Sciences in the world. Their postgraduate programme in statistics places special emphasis on statistical machine learning and data science. While the programme’s core modules include applied and computational statistics, you also get to choose elective modules such as Big Data, Deep Learning and Multivariate Analysis.

Eligibility

  • 2:1 Bachelor’s degree in statistics, mathematics, engineering, physics or computer science (First class, over 70% from Indian universities).
  • Minimum IELTS score of 7.0 or TOEFL iBT of 100 or other equivalent tests.

Intake Dates and Duration

Application Opens: October
Course begins: September
Duration: 1 year

Fees and Scholarships

The tuition fee for 2023-24 was £34,350. This figure is bound to marginally increase for the upcoming academic year. Here are some of the scholarships to consider

  • Basil Furneaux Memorial Fund
  • Chevening-Bseisu Scholarship
  • GREAT – Imperial College London Scholarship
  • Sanctuary Scholarship – Postgraduate
  • Schrödinger Scholarship Scheme
  • Stevenson Fund

Employability

Imperial College London is a top ranked institution when it comes to graduate employability in the UK. The university has an employability rate exceeding 90% within just three months of graduation. The MSc in Statistics (Data Science) programme is also accredited by the Royal Statistical Society, allowing you to develop your career as a statistician further. Graduates of this programme are highly sought after in banking and finance, accountancy, education, and IT and technology sectors.

You will also develop highly transferable skills such as programming, problem-solving, critical thinking, scientific writing, project work and presentation – essential skills that are required across all industries.

Related Courses

  • MSc Applied Machine Learning
  • Msc Artificial Intelligence
  • MRes Biomedical Research (Data Science)
  • MSc Computing (AI and ML)
  • MSc Digital Chemistry
  • MSc Environmental Data Science
  • MSc Health Data Analytics and ML
  • MSc Machine Learning and Data Science (Online)
  • MSc Transport with Data Science and Mathematical Optimisation

4. UCL - MSc Data Science


Source: UCL

One of the top-ranked colleges in the United Kingdom, especially for its research power, University College London has one of the best data science courses in the UK. This masters degree in data science will provide you with intensive training in core statistical and ML methodology with electives including statistical computing and modelling, business analytics, data mining and data engineering. UCL’s data science programme is ranked 17th in the world by QS World University Rankings.

Eligibility

The following are the minimum eligibility requirements to get into the masters in data science

  • Upper Second Class Bachelor’s Degree (Minimum overall CGPA of 7.5/10 for institutions in India) in any quantitative area of study such as mathematics, statistics, economics, actuarial science.
  • University level knowledge of mathematical methods and linear algebra
  • Prior experience in a high-level programming language (e.g. R/matlab/python) is required.
  • Minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or TOEFL iBT score of 92 or its equivalent is required as proof of English language proficiency.

Intake Dates and Duration

Application Opens: Mid-October
Application Closes: 31 March
Course Begins: September
Duration: One year full-time, Two years part-time

Fees and Scholarships

The tuition fee for international students is around £41,000. Here are some of the financial aid options to consider:

  • UCL Global Masters Scholarship
  • Chevening Scholarships
  • Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Awards
  • Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme

Employability

The UCL master’s in data science is accredited by the Royal Statistical Society. Data science graduates from this school get absorbed into a wide range of sectors including IT, Technology and Telecoms, Healthcare and related fields and Accountancy and Financial Services. The university’s postgraduate employment rate stands at around 95%.

Related Courses

  • MSc/ PG Dip in Knowledge, Information and Data Science, MSc
  • MSc Data Science for Cultural Heritage
  • MSc Spatial Data Science and Data Visualisation
  • MSc Data Science and ML
  • MSc Crime Science with Data Science
  • MSc Ecology and Data Science
  • MSc/ Pg Dip in Health Data Science
  • MSc Data Science and Public Policy
  • MSc/ PG Diploma in Social and Geographical Data Science

5. London School of Economics - MSc in Data Science


Source: LSE

Dedicated almost exclusively to the study and research of social sciences, the London School of Economics and Political Science is one of the best universities in the UK. Offered by the Department of Statistics, this master’s degree in data science provides training in methods and data analytics from a statistical perspective. The theoretical component of this course will begin at a higher mathematical level while the practical side helps you apply the methods you have learnt to answer real-world questions.

Eligibility

  • 2:1 degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline, including a substantial amount of mathematics. (For Indian students, that means a minimum CGPA of 3.3/4 or 65%)
  • Minimum IELTS Academic score of 7.0/ Pearson Test (PTE) score of 70 / TOEFL iBT of 100 as proof of English proficiency.
  • A well-written SOP, two academic references and a CV

Intake Dates and Duration

LSE has a rolling admissions policy which means they accept applications throughout the year. However, it is advantageous to apply at the earliest.
Course Start Date: Mid to End September
Duration: 1 year full-time only

Fees and Scholarships

The tuition fee for international students is £36,168. The programme has eligible need-based funding from the school. You can apply for the Graduate Support Scheme, Master’s Awards, or the Anniversary Scholarships.

Employability

The average salary of data science graduates is around £33,000. The top sectors where these graduates have been employed are

  • Financial and Professional Services
  • Accounting and Auditing
  • Information, Digital Technology and Data
  • Education, Teaching and Research
  • Advertising, Marketing, PR, Media, Entertainment, Publishing and Journalism.

Related Courses

MSc Geographic Data Science
MPA Data Science for Public Policy

6. University of Glasgow - MSc Data Science


Source: University of Glasgow

Established in 1451, the University of Glasgow is one of the oldest universities in Scotland. It is a member of the prestigious Russell Group and one of the top 100 universities in the world. Glasgow’s master’s in data science programme is a specialist version of the MSc Computing Science. This course aims to provide you with a thorough understanding, analysis and application of data sets along with the research experience required to conduct a substantial development project. The school also works in close association with the Data Lab, an internationally leading research and innovation centre in data science whose core mission is to generate significant economic, social and scientific value from data.

Eligibility

  • A minimum of 2:1 (Upper Second Class) Honours Degree with computing as a major subject
  • Minimum TOEFL iBt score of 90 or IELTS Academic score of 6.5 or other equivalent tests.

Intake Dates and Duration

The programme typically begins in the second week of September. The application process must be completed by March. The duration of the course is one year.

Fees and Scholarships

The full-time fee for international students is £31,860. You might be eligible for

  • School of Computing Science: International Excellence Awards
  • College of Science and Engineering Deans’ Award
  • Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Schemes
  • Chevening Scholarships
  • University of Glasgow Chancellor’s Award

Employability

Graduates of this course have carved a niche for themselves in companies such as Amdocs, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Sky UK as Software Developers and Data Scientists. There is also a need for data analysts and scientists in many other sectors, such as education, engineering, health services, financial services, government, manufacturing, retail, and transport.

Related Courses

MSc in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence

7. University of Manchester - MSc Data Science (Business and Management)


Source: UoM

Established in 1824, the University of Manchester is a red-brick university and one of the largest institutions for higher education in the UK. This school has a data science master’s degree programme that has been specifically curated from a business and management perspective. It is a highly interdisciplinary course, drawing from the principles of mathematics, statistics, computing, business management and machine learning.

Eligibility

  • High 2:1 honours degree or an overseas equivalent in quantitative or computational subjects such as mathematics, statistics, management science or economics, physics, engineering or computer science.
  • Applicants with the above-mentioned degree and industrial experience in business management will have an added advantage.
  • Minimum IELTS Academic score of 7.0/ TOEFL iBT score of 100 or equivalent tests

Intake Dates and Duration

The school has a staged admission process with selection deadlines throughout the year.
Stage 1 application deadline: 8 December 2023
Stage 2 deadline: 3 March 2024
Stage 3 deadline: 5 May 2024
Stage 4 deadline: 1 July 2024

However, international students are advised to apply for the 1st stage since it will give them enough time to apply for the student visa and prepare for travel. For 2025 entry, the stage 1 application will close by December 2024.

The course typically begins in September and lasts one year.

Fees and Scholarships

The cost of studying this data science programme in the UK for international students for the academic year beginning September 2024 is £32,000. You can apply for the Manchester Humanities International Excellence Scholarship or the Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships plan to secure financial aid.

Employability

According to The Graduate Market 2022, the University of Manchester is the UK’s most targeted university by the country’s top graduate employers. The university also has its dedicated Career Services cell that you can access up to 2 years after your graduation.

Related Courses

  • MSc Data Science (Computer Science Data Informatics)
  • MSc Data Science (Social Analytics)
  • MSc Data Science (Environmental Analytics)

8. University of Warwick - MSc Data Analytics


Source: University of Warwick

Located on the outskirts of Coventry, the University of Warwick is one of the top 100 universities in the world and the top 10 universities in the United Kingdom. The university’s course on Data Analytics is one of its most sought after. It brings together aspects of computer science, statistics, business, engineering and mathematics.

Eligibility

  • First Class Honours degree or a high 2:1 undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or other quantitatively focused subjects.
  • Minimum IELTS Academic score of 6.5 with no bands less than 6.0.

Intake Dates and Duration

Application opens: 2 October 2023
Application closes: 2 August 2024
Course begins: 30 September 2024
Duration: 12 months (only full-time)

Fees and Scholarships

The tuition fee for overseas students is £33,340. Here are some scholarships to consider.

  • Excellence in STEM Scholarships
  • Chevening Scholarships
  • Commonwealth Scholarships
  • OFID Scholarship Programme

Employability

Graduates of this course have gone to work for employers including BAE Systems Applied Intelligence; Barclays; Brainlabs; Dell EMC; Huawei Technologies Co Ltd; JPMorgan; KPMG; PlayStation; and UBS.

Related Courses

  • Behavioural and Data Science (MSc)
  • Data Visualisation (MASc)
  • Diagnostics, Data and Digital Health (MSc)

9. King’s College London - M.Sc Data Science


Source: King’s College

An internationally recognised institution, King’s College is renowned, especially in the fields of humanities, law, healthcare and international affairs. Their MSc Data Science provides advanced technical and practical skills in data collection, analysis and application. In 2022, the university ranked 6th in the world for Computer Science, making it one of the top universities in the world.

Eligibility

  • A bachelor’s degree in a computational subject with at least 8.5/10.
  • Must have a background in basic mathematics (standard concepts of calculus, trigonometry, linear algebra, vectors and matrix mathematics)
  • Must know computer programming, close to the level expected at the end of the first year of a BSc honours degree in computer science.
  • Minimum IELTS Academic Score of 7.0 or TOEFL iBT of 100 or equivalent

Intake Dates and Duration

Application usually opens: October
Course begins: September
Duration: One year

Fees and Scholarships

For international students, the tuition fee is £35,244. While there are no separate scholarships for the Department of Computer Science, you can apply for any of the government scholarships open to students from India.

Employability

Recent graduates of this course have found roles in Casai, PwC, AgFlow SA, MTR Corporation, Deloitte, Procter & Gamble, and HM Revenue & Customs, among others.

Related Courses

  • Computational Finance MSc
  • Advanced Computing MSc
  • Cyber Security MSc
  • Advanced Software Engineering MSc

10. University of Birmingham - MSc Data Science


Source: University of Birmingham

Another top public research university in the UK, the University of Birmingham is one of the leading centres for higher education, especially in the field of computer science. Their MSc in Data Science course has been designed to include students from different academic backgrounds.

Eligibility

  • 2:1 Honours degree in any subject plus Grade A (or above) in A Level Mathematics or equivalent (if your degree is not in Maths).
  • Minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or TOEFL score of 88.

Intake Dates and duration

Course begins: September
Duration: 1 year

Fees and Scholarships

The tuition fee is £27,540 (International students). The university does not have any department specific aid for data sciences. However you can apply to any of the common / government scholarships for financial aid.

Employability

Graduates have proceeded to find work in technology consultancy firms like Accenture, PwC, CHP Consulting, LogicaCMG, BAE Systems, PA Consulting or Capgemini, or one of the global IT giants, such as Microsoft, Google, Oracle, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Cisco Systems and Apple, amongst many others.

You can also find opportunities in retail banking and financial computing and analytics (such as Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Bank of England, Bank of America, HSBC, Barclays, RBS); telecommunications companies (such as BT, Vodafone, Orange, AT&T); IT for retail businesses (such as eBay, Amazon, Tesco, Argos, Expedia) and public sector organisations (such as NHS, GCHQ, Home Office).

Related Courses

  • MSc Computer Science

Other universities for Ms in data science in the UK


It is natural to wonder “beyond the top 10, which university in the UK offers Masters in Data Science?” Here are some more of reputed data science courses in the UK.

S.No University Course Fees
1 University of Sheffield MSc Data Science £29,700
2 University of Southampton MSc Data and Decision Analytics £24,200
3 University of Bristol MSc Data Science £34,200
4 Lancaster University MSc Data Science £29,150
5 University of Liverpool MSc Data Science and Artificial Intelligence £28,800
6 Cardiff University MSc Data Science and Analytics £30,950
7 University of Leeds MSc Data Science and Analytics £31,750
8 University of Exeter MSc Data Science £29,100
9 Coventry University MSc Data Science and Computational Intelligence £20,050
10 Loughborough University MSc Cyber Security and Data Analytics £28,750

Career opportunities after Master’s in Data Science in UK


Now that you have a fairly extensive list of the universities for MSc in Data Science in the UK, the next questions that students typically ask are “Is there a demand for data science in the UK?” So let’s take a look at the career opportunities available.

“Can you get a job as a data scientist in the UK?”
The simple answer is yes. It is competitive, especially to find roles in the big organisations, MNCs who have a presence all across the globe but it is absolutely possible. The smaller start ups in the UK are also in need of data scientists to capitalise better on consumer research, product design, UI/ UX design and digital marketing. However, while the start ups give you more liberty and creativity with your roles, the compensation is not as high as the larger, more well established companies like PWC, Meta or Google.

“How do you go about networking or finding these jobs?”
Most universities/ departments have a dedicated career services centre that conducts meet and greets or even on-campus recruitment programmes for you to meet with prospective employers. This would be a more specialised route than going through conventional job listings on the internet.

“What are the roles that one can assume after MSc Data Science in the UK?”
As a data analyst/ data scientist, you can work in a range of areas including finance, academia, scientific research, health, retail, information technology, government and ecommerce.

The jobs for data science in the UK are also well paying. As a junior data scientist, the median salary is around £25,000 to £30,000, rising to £40,000 depending on your experience. With a few years’ experience, it can increase anywhere between £40,000 and £60,000. Lead and chief data scientists can earn upwards of £60,000, in some cases reaching more than £100,000 (Source: www.prospects.ac.uk)

Scholarships for MS in in Data Science in UK


Scholarship options for universities in the UK for masters in data science have been listed along with the respective universities. However, here are some of the common government scholarships for Indian students.

  • GREAT scholarships
  • Chevening Scholarships
  • Commonwealth Scholarships
  • Felix Scholarships
  • Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships (CWIT)
  • Global Study Awards

Besides these, it is also important to look at funding provided by your home government for students going to the UK for their masters.

Frequently asked questions


Is the UK good for masters in data science?

Yes. The UK is home to some of the best universities for data science and is comparatively more affordable. These universities also provide a number of specialisations within the field of data science for you to choose from. Degrees from these universities are also recognised by most organisations all over the world.

Is data science a good career in the UK?

Yes. Not only the UK, but globally speaking, we live in the era of data and therefore data specialists are in very high demand. In the United Kingdom alone, there is a substantial demand for data scientists in both governmental and corporate sectors.

How do I study data science in the UK?

To apply for a master’s in the UK for data science you must have an undergraduate degree in either maths, statistics, computing, physics, engineering or quantitative economics with an excellent academic score at the bachelor’s level. Then you can apply for UK universities with your transcripts and your proof of English proficiency. A basic knowledge of programming languages like Python or R is also required to apply.

Can I get a job after a master’s in data science in the UK?

It is competitive but there are huge skill gaps when it comes to data science specialists in the UK. So yes, you can get a job after master’s. Check out our Career Opportunities section for a more detailed take on the prospects.

Should I study data science or data analytics?

The short answer is that it depends on your career goals. Data science is the umbrella term that also includes data analytics. If you study Data Analytics, you are choosing a super specialised path and can build a career within the realm of analysis. However, by studying data science as a whole, you can choose to specialise further or even create advanced machine learning models and algorithms.

Will the new UK visa rules affect international students?

There are new visa rules in the United Kingdom that will come into effect from January 1, 2024. For international students, there are two main changes.

  • International students who begin their course after January 1, 2024 will not be allowed to bring dependents, unless it is a postgraduate research degree or a PhD.
  • International students will no longer be able to convert from the student path to job routes, such as skilled workers and other sponsored work visas, before the completion of their studies. You can however, after the completion of your course with a valid job offer on hand. You can also choose to stay in the UK by upgrading your visa to a UK Graduate visa.

How to apply to UK universities with TC Global?


Now that you have the list of top universities in the UK for masters in data science, you will have to plan your career path and the application process. While becoming an international student is very thrilling, the prep and paperwork of it all can get overwhelming. The easiest way to reduce your stress is to sign up with TC Global.

We simplify international education, learning, and mobility through connecting students, universities, and a global community on a single platform where there are over 1000+ education providers and over 80,000+ courses.

Our platform enables students to study anywhere in the world in just a few steps. From search and discovery and finding the right course fit for you, to applications, visas and departure – we see you through it all.

To move forward with us, download our app or visit tcglobal.com and sign in to create an account on our student platform and onboard with us in quick, easy steps.! 🚀

Then simply set up a visit Calendly.com/tcglobal to pick a Relationships Team closest to you and choose a slot to meet with a Relationship Member.

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