Data Science

Modules and Teaching

• One year full-time or two years part-time, on campus, starting in October 2026 or January 2027

  Course structure

  You must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:

  • five compulsory modules (75 credits)
  • two or three option modules (45 credits)
  • a project (60 credits). 

  Alternatively, you may graduate with a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma if you complete four or eight modules, respectively.

  Compulsory modules

  • Analytical Foundations of Data Science
  • Data Analytics Using R
  • Data Science Techniques and Applications
  • Data and Knowledge Management
  • Principles of Programming

  Indicative option modules

  • Advanced Cloud Computing
  • Advances in Data Management
  • Applied Machine Learning
  • Big Data Analytics
  • Financial Modelling and Data Science
  • Information and Network Security
  • Intellectual Property and Artificial Intelligence
  • Natural Language Processing
  • Neural Networks and Deep Learning
  • Statistical Learning

  MSc Data Science project

  • MSc Data Science Project

• Teaching

  We encourage innovative and engaging ways of teaching to help ensure you have the best learning experience and provide a range of different modes of learning to help you juggle study with work and other commitments.

  Find out more about our teaching and teaching hours.

  What are the methods of teaching?

  Teaching consists of formal lectures which frequently incorporate practical sessions, for example in programming, and also group exercises carried out in class.

  There is a large element of practical coursework that students carry out in their own time, although some of these coursework assignments are carried out in groups. You also undertake an individual project in data science, including background research, which is supervised by a member of staff. The project provides an opportunity for you to investigate in depth an aspect of data science that particularly interests you.

• How will I be assessed?

  Assessment is via coursework assignments, written examinations and the project proposal and final report.

  Please see individual modules for more details.

  Find out more about assessment at Birkbeck, including guidance on assessment, feedback and our assessment offences policy.

Entry requirements

The degree is designed for graduates who are new to computer science, so the main requirement is at least a second-class honours degree (2:2) or equivalent, in any subject other than single-honours computer science. If you have not acquired this level of academic qualification, you may be considered if you have significant experience in the IT industry.

If you already hold a degree in computer science, then please see our MSc Advanced Computing.

Upon receipt of application, suitable candidates will be invited to take an online aptitude test. The details of the test will be clearly set out via email. You are expected to take the test before the deadline specified in that email and we aim to get back to you with our decision based on the results of the aptitude test within 10 working days. Please note that you can only take the aptitude test once per academic year.

• What are the English language requirements?

  If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

  If you don't meet the minimum English language requirements, please contact us or see our international study skills page for more details about how we can help.

  Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.

• What are the visa and funding requirements?

  If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

  The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

  • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
  • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

  International students who require a Student visa should apply to study on our courses full-time as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol to study part-time courses at Birkbeck (with the exception of some modules).

  As a Student visa student, you should also apply to study on campus only, as online and flexible options of study (if they are available for your course) may affect the conditions of your visa.

  For full information, read our visa information for international students page.

  Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.

  Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

• Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

  If you have studied at university (or have an HND or Foundation Degree), you may have accumulated credits. It may be possible to transfer these from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

Fees

• Birkbeck's Lifelong Learning Guarantee

  If you've studied at Birkbeck before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a reduction on the tuition fee of this course.

• Can I apply for an international scholarship?

  We provide a range of scholarships for eligible international students, including our Global Future Scholarship. View Birkbeck's available scholarships.

Careers and employability

Upon successfully completing this MSc Data Science, you will have developed a diverse skill set that can be applied across various industries, including:

• proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R and Java
• robust data analysis and interpretation skills, allowing for informed decision-making
• experience in project management, particularly in leading data-driven initiatives
• critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, particularly in handling large data sets and developing machine learning models.

Studying this course will prepare you for a career path in a range of fields:

• data scientist: analysing complex data to drive business solutions
• machine learning engineer: building and deploying AI models
• data engineer: managing and optimising data pipelines and architectures
• business intelligence analyst: providing insights to support business strategies
• software developer: focusing on developing data-intensive applications.

Graduates have gone on to work at leading organisations in technology, finance and consulting, including Google, Amazon, IBM, PwC and Microsoft.

These fields and companies represent a broad array of opportunities, all of which are in high demand. This reflects the versatile and in-demand nature of data science expertise, making it a promising field for those seeking a career with excellent job prospects.

Student support

How to apply

• When should I apply?

  You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places left, and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.

  You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.

• How can I get help with my application?

  Get all the information you need about the application, admission and enrolment process at Birkbeck.

  Our online personal statement tool will guide you through every step of writing the personal statement part of your application.

• International agents

  If you are an international agent applying to Birkbeck on behalf of an international student, please use Birkbeck's agent portal.