Data science is one of the most sought-after and lucrative fields in the world today. It involves using data to solve complex problems, generate insights, and create value for various domains. The UK has been at the forefront of innovation in computer science and other cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science. A masters in data science in the UK is no different from the excellent computer science courses in the UK.
According to a report, there is a significant demand for data skills in the UK, with up to 234,000 roles requiring hard data skills in 2021. However, the supply of graduates with specialist data skills from universities is limited, creating a gap that needs to be filled.
As such data science is a fertile ground for research and employment in the UK. The best universities in the UK are at the forefront of innovation in the field and create excellent data scientists equipped to deal with the expanding needs in the modern digital world. In this article, we will discuss some of the best data science programs in the UK, along with their tuition fees, eligibility requirements, and more.
Overview of Masters in Data Science in the UK
| No of Universities | 50+ |
| No of Programs | 100+ |
| Duration of Study | 1 year |
| Tuition Fees | 30,000-40,000 GBP |
Why Study Masters in Data Science in the UK?
World-Renowned Universities: The UK is home to some of the world’s top universities, such as the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, and the London School of Economics, which offer excellent data science programs.
Cutting-Edge Research: The UK has a strong tradition of research and innovation in data science. Universities and research institutes in the UK are at the forefront of developing new data analysis techniques, tools, and applications.
Industry Connections: Many universities in the UK have close ties with industry, including partnerships with technology companies, financial institutions, and healthcare organizations. This can provide opportunities for internships, collaborative projects, and networking, which are valuable for career advancement.
Diverse Courses and Specializations: UK universities offer a wide range of data science programs. You can choose from various specializations such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, data analytics, health data science, and more to tailor your education to your interests and career goals.
Access to Resources: Many UK universities provide state-of-the-art facilities, libraries, and online resources to support your studies in data science. You’ll have access to cutting-edge software, data sets, and computing infrastructure.
Career Opportunities: The demand for data scientists and analysts is high in the UK, and many industries, including finance, healthcare, and technology, are actively recruiting data science professionals. Studying in the UK can position you well for job opportunities and career growth in these sectors.
Post-Study Work Opportunities: The UK offers post-study work visas that allow international students to work in the country for a certain period after completing their studies. Additionally, students can work and study during their stay in the UK.
Best Masters in Data Science Programs in the UK
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a world-class university located in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1907 and has a rich history of scientific discovery and innovation. The university has a diverse student body with over 20,000 students from more than 140 countries. The university has a dedicated Data Science Institute that focuses on cross-cutting foundations of data science, including statistics, big data, machine learning, modeling, simulation, visualization, and cloud computing. The institute supports data-driven research in various application domains such as astrophysics, particle physics, biology, meteorology, medicine, finance, and healthcare social sciences. The university offers an MSc in Statistics (Data Science) program that explores statistical tools and methods with a particular focus on statistical machine learning and data science.
| Program Name | Duration of Study | Tuition Fees (2023/24) |
| MSc Statistics (Data Science) | 1 year | 32,400 GBP |
| MSc Health Data Analytics and Statistical Learning | 1 year | 40,800 GBP |
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King’s College London
King’s College London is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the UK, founded in 1829 and ranked 40th in the world by QS World University Rankings 2024. It is a research-led institution that offers a wide range of academic disciplines, including data science, which is part of the Department of Informatics in the Faculty of Natural and Mathematical Sciences.
The Department of Informatics at King’s College London is one of the leading centers for computer science research and education in the UK. The Data Science MSc program at King’s College London provides advanced technical and practical skills in the collection, collation, curation, and analysis of data. The program covers both the theory and practice of modern data science, with modules on computer programming, big data technologies, databases, data mining, machine learning, natural language processing, and more. The Department of Informatics also hosts several research centers and groups that focus on various aspects of data science, such as the Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research (CAIR), the Centre for Robotics Research (CoRe), the Data Science Group (DSG), the Natural Language Processing Group (NLP) and the Software Systems Engineering Group (SSE).
| Program Name | Duration of Study | Tuition Fees (2023/24) |
| MSc Data Science | 1 year | 31,080 GBP |
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University College London
University College London (UCL) is a public research university located in London, England. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the UK and a founding member of the Russell Group of leading research-intensive universities. UCL offers various programs and courses in data science at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, such as Data Science BSc, Data Science MSc, and Data Science and Machine Learning MSc. These programs aim to equip students with the skills and knowledge to design sophisticated technical solutions for data-driven problem-solving in various domains, such as e-commerce, natural language processing, finance, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence. These programs are accredited by the Royal Statistical Society (RSS). UCL also has a Centre for Data Science, which is a UCL-wide research and innovation initiative that brings together researchers from different faculties and departments to collaborate on cutting-edge data science projects.
| Program Name | Duration of Study | Tuition Fees (2023/24) |
| MSc Data Science | 1 year | 38,300 GBP |
| MSc Data Science and Machine Learning | 1 year | 35,000 GBP |
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University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, England. It was founded in 1876 as University College, Bristol, and became a full-fledged university in 1909. According to various rankings, the University of Bristol is consistently among the top 100 universities in the world and the top 10 universities in the UK.
The data science department at the University of Bristol is part of the Faculty of Engineering and has strong links with the Bristol Institute for Scientific Computing (BriSC), a cross-faculty research center that provides high-performance computing facilities and expertise for data-intensive applications. The department also offers an MSc in Data Science, which is co-designed with industrial partners and provides students with a breadth and depth of knowledge and skills in computational, machine learning, and statistical principles and the capability for insightful large-scale data analysis.
| Program Name | Duration of Study | Tuition Fees (2023/24) |
| MSc Data Science | 1 year | 30,500 GBP |
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London School of Economics and Political Science
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is a world-renowned social science university located in the heart of London. LSE is ranked among the top universities in the world for social sciences and public policy. LSE has a strong data science department that provides training and research in data science methods, with an emphasis on their social, economic, and political aspects. The department offers two programs at the master’s level: the MSc Data Science and the MSc Applied Social Data Science. The MSc Data Science program gives students a thorough grounding in theory, as well as the technical and practical skills of data science. The Applied Social Data Science program on the other hand grounds data science theory in important social and political issues in the world, such as the politics and policy of big data, artificial intelligence, social media, etc. LSE also has a Data Science Institute (DSI), which is an interdisciplinary institute that fosters the study of data science and new forms of data. The DSI supports research projects, events, education and training activities, and collaborations with external partners.
| Program Name | Duration of Study | Tuition Fees (2023/24) |
| MSc Data Science | 1 year | 34,128 GBP |
| MSc Applied Social Data Science | 1 year | 34,128 GBP |
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is one of the largest and most prestigious universities in the UK, with over 40,000 students and 12,000 staff. The University of Manchester has a strong reputation for data science. It has several research centers and groups that focus on data science, such as The Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research (CMI), which conducts research on social statistics, survey methods, data governance, and data ethics; as well as the Data Science Institute (DSI), which fosters collaborations between researchers from different disciplines and sectors to address real-world problems using data science.
The university offers various data science programs such as BSc Data Science MSc Data Science (Computer Science Data Informatics), MSc Data Science (Business and Management), MSc Data Science (Health Data Science), MSc Data Science (Social Analytics). These programs aim to equip students with the skills and knowledge to become agile, skilled data scientists, adept at working in a variety of settings and meeting the challenges and rewards of interdisciplinary teamwork.
| Program Name | Duration of Study | Tuition Fees (2023/24) |
| MSc Data Science (Computer Science Data Informatics) | 1 year | 31,000 GBP |
| MSc Data Science (Business and Management) | 1 year | 31,000 GBP |
| MSc Data Science (Social Analytics) | 1 year | 31,000 GBP |
| MSc Health Data Science | 1 year | 28,500 GBP |
| MSc Data Science (Environmental Analytics) | 1 year | 31,000 GBP |
Admission Requirements for Masters in Data Science in the UK
- A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field with a minimum of 60% or equivalent grades. Some universities may require a first-class degree or 70% or higher.
- Proof of English language proficiency with IELTS (6.0-7.0) or TOEFL (90-100) scores.
- Some programs may require specific undergraduate coursework in mathematics, statistics, or programming.
- Letters of recommendation from professors or professionals.
- A statement of purpose (SOP) or personal statement is often required.
- Many programs will request a current resume or CV that highlights your academic and professional experiences.
- Some universities may conduct interviews as part of the admission process.
- Depending on the program, you may need to submit a portfolio showcasing your relevant work, such as coding projects, data analysis projects, or research papers.
Career Opportunities for Data Science Graduates in the UK
Data science is one of the most sought-after and rewarding careers in the UK, as data-driven decision-making becomes increasingly important for businesses and organizations across various sectors. Data science graduates have a wide range of career opportunities in the UK, as data skills are applicable and transferable across different domains and sectors. Some of the most common industries that employ data scientists are Technology, Finance, Healthcare, Government, etc.
According to a report by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), there is a significant demand for data skills in the UK, with an estimated 178,000 to 234,000 roles requiring hard data skills in 2020. This indicates a skills gap and a shortage of qualified data professionals in the UK labor market. As such, the UK is an excellent place to study data science and pursue a fruitful career.
According to Glassdoor, the average base salary for a data scientist in the UK is 55,496 GBP per year, with a range from 28,000 to 75,000 GBP. The salary level may vary depending on factors such as experience, education, location, industry, and company size.
Conclusion
In Conclusion, pursuing a masters in data science in the UK can be an extremely rewarding choice. The programs are rigorous, and cutting-edge and can open doors to opportunities anywhere in the world.
With its high-quality institutions, global perspective, and interdisciplinary programs, the UK is a haven for studying data science. There are more than enough options for everyone in the UK, and as such it’s important to make a balanced and informed choice. Some of the most important factors to consider such as such as tuition fees, scholarships, living expenses, student visa, and career prospects. For more information, reach out to us at Gyanberry. Book your free video call appointment now!
