MS in Data Science in UK is offered as a course-based postgraduate degree by over 75 institutes. A full-time masters in data science from UK universities will cost an international student around 23,000 to 35,000 GBP per year. This is equivalent to 23.6 Lakhs to 34.17 Lakhs INR per annum for an Indian student planning to pursue data science courses in the UK.

International students planning to secure admission MS in Data Science in UK require at least 60% in their bachelor’s. Additionally, they need English language proficiency scores of IELTS min. 6.0 or equivalents. You can expect to earn around 116,000 GBP a year with a graduation degree in data science.

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Top Universities for MS in Data Science in UK

As per the industrial strategy of the UKs government, bringing the country to the forefront for data revolutionization and artificial intelligence is one of the major four focuses. A new approach towards increasing data in the industries has lead to enhancing the quality of education of data science courses in UK. This has also resulted in the improvement of the education of the programs based on data mining. As per THE World University Ranking of 2023, the following are the top data science colleges in the UK. Along with the rankings the table also details the program fees of pursuing Masters in Data science from data science colleges in the UK.

Data Science Related Courses in UK

If you are interested in diving into the pool of data available across the world, MS in data science in the UK is not the only degree that will help you swim. You can also apply for various other related programs. Some of these are given below:

Subjects like AI, machine learning, big data, data mining, data analytics are all intertangled with each other. Belonging to one parent stream data science and analytics these programs all together are one’s key to the enormous data that has entered the business world by making its way through digitization.

Why Study Data Science in the UK?

As the volume of data being collected by various organizations is increasing, the demand for data science graduates is also increasing, especially in the UK, as demonstrated by the Dynamics of Data Science Skills report of the Royal Society. The rise of demand has made data science one of the highly sought-after masters in the UK. 

• In the UK, the demand for Data Scientists and Data Engineers increased by 231% in the past five years.
• Funding of 13 Million GBP has been announced in AI, Data Analytics, and related projects.
• A 45 million GBP investment has been made to 200 Ph.D. programs in AI and related fields, suggesting that the scope of Ph.D. in the UK in AI and relevant fields like data science, big data, etc is brighter than it has ever been.
• The average salary of Data Science graduates increased by 5% from 50,800 GBP in 2022 to more than 116,000 GBP at present.
• Home to AI and Big Data drive companies like DeepMind, Benevolent AI, Oxbotica, and FiveAI as well as Alan Turning Institute, makes UK one of the best study destinations for data science courses.
• The highest increase of 35% in salaries of Data Engineers in the UK was also observed in the report published by the Royal Society.

MS in Data Science: What is it About?

Masters in Data Science teaches how to analyze a large set of information and extract useful statistics from it. This program also focuses on implementing the extracted data for the benefit of the organization or client. Students enrolled in masters in data science in the UK get in-depth knowledge and skills in Computational data analysis, Machine learning, Statistical principles of data analysis, Insightful large-scale data analysis, Understanding the ethical issues in the application of data science techniques, and Initiating independent data science projects.

Some courses taught to MS in Data Science graduates studying in UK are Informatics Research Review, Informatics Project Proposal, Machine Learning, Statistics and Optimization, Databases and Data Management, Large-Scale Data Engineering, Technology, Innovation, Business, and Society, Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, Text Analytics, and Visual Analytics.  

Specializations Available in Data Science in UK

Some of the popular specializations for data science courses in the UK are tabulated below:

These are some of the popular specializations offered in different universities. International students are suggested to ensure that they go through the detailed module of the university they wish to enroll with. The program modules are available on the university website's program page. 

MS in Data Science in UK Admissions

Students with a bachelor's degree in computer science or other related disciplines are eligible for making applications for masters in data science in UK. An undergraduate degree in cognitive science, electrical engineering, linguistics, mathematics, philosophy, physics, psychology is also considered by some universities for MS in data science in UK admissions. The related degree courses that will be accepted must have statistics, mathematics, and similar subjects that can be considered while working on data. 

Where to Apply: Most of the universities in the UK accept international applications via their own application portal for a postgraduate program. Some universities also accept applications through the UCAS application portal. 

Eligibility for MS in Data Science in UK

For pursuing a master's in data science in UK an international student must fulfill the following minimum criteria. 

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or relevant discipline.
• 2:1 undergraduate degree or minimum 60% at bachelor's level for an international degree.
• GRE is not required.
• English proficiency test scores.

Applications of international students may be considered even if they have a lower level of education in relevant subjects but substantial professional experience in a related field to support the lack of degree required. This, however, is a rare condition and applicants are considered on an individual basis. 

English Proficiency for International Students

Students from non-EU countries where English is not the primary language are required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language by submitting IELTS or TOEFL scores. PTE scores are also accepted by some universities in the UK. These scores must not be older than two years. The minimum IELTS and TOEFL iBT score required for admission in MS in Data Science in the UK is listed below: 

MS in Data Science in UK Documents Required

• Copies of the official academic transcript: Certificates and mark sheets of your previous institutes. 
  • English translation of non-English transcripts
• Academic LOR (2-3) 
• Personal statement: A statement from the applicant catering to their achievements and detailing why they want to the program in the university. Applicants must make sure that personal statement being an important part of the application is capable of making or breaking their chances. Ensuring that a personal statement is well written ensures better chances of scoring a position in your favorite university. 
• Updated resume: A detailed resume with all your previous experiences, if any is also an important aspect of the applications. 

Masters in Data Science in UK Costs

Students planning to study abroad have to bear three types of expenses: Pre-arrival Cost; Tuition Fees; and Cost of Living. The cost one might spend before landing in UK on various applications, exams, etc are a part of the pre-arrival expense. The tuition fees and cost of living abroad are cumbersome expenses to cater to. You should be familiar with these before applying for data science courses in the UK. Given below are the details of the same:

Tuition Fees for Masters in Data Science in UK

The average annual tuition fee of universities offering masters in data science in UK is around 23,000 to 25,000 GBP. The University of Edinburgh has the highest annual tuition fee of 32,500 GBP for masters in Data Science in UK. This amount is equivalent to 33 Lakhs INR per annum for Indian students. 

Cost of Living in UK

The cost of living for an international student in the UK includes accommodation charges, transportation charges, meal cost and other personal expenses. The following table provides the living expenses for some of the popular universities in UK: 

Masters in Data Science in UK Scholarships 

Funding education in the UK could be a daunting task, especially for students. However, universities provide plenty of scholarships for international students in the UK to assist them in financial matters. Apart from scholarships applicants can always apply for loans for pursuing higher education abroad. The benefit of having a scholarship over a loan is the repayment involved in loans can be another added task for a student on a budget. 

Some of these scholarships are listed below along with their eligibility and amount offered: 

Looking for more scholarships to study for masters in the UK, click here. 

Work-While Studying in UK

Did not get a scholarship? Don’t worry!!! The UK gives you a work permit for part-time jobs while you are availing of any course from UK universities. It allows you to work around 20 hours a week depending on the course structure you are admitted to.

Some of the popular Part-time Jobs in the UK: Restaurant staff, Online Customer Services, Tutoring, Freelance Creative Writer, and Assistant jobs in Research Labs. You can also apply to university facilities like the cafeteria, library, etc. 

You can earn an average amount of up to 115 GBP/week working in a part-time job which can help you with your personal expenses to a certain extent.

Internships: If you are good at your academics and have good marks in your semesters you can simply opt for internships at some of the best automotive, aerospace, or power plant industries that might again pay you well and help you sustain in the UK.

Masters in Data Science in UK Jobs 

Offering a significant jurisdiction for big data and related fields like data science and a fast pace increase in the demand for workers with specialist data skills, UK is a great destination to find jobs post-completion of the degree. As labor data analysis, the demand for skilled workers in the field has more than tripled over the past five years as compared to a general increase in the demand for workers in other fields. After completion of MS in Data Science, students can work in one of the following jobs in UK: 

Also Check: Popular Job Sectors in UK

For previous years some of the top recruiters for Data Science graduates in UK include the following. Along with the top recruiters in listed the job designations and the payscale offered to the graduates of data science courses in UK.:

Apart from cushy median salaries and upcoming industry giants in the data science and analytics field, UK offers an additional benefit. For bridging the gap between the huge demand and the poor supply business have starting to react by collaborating with education institutes to come up with programs in related streams. With an offer of handsome salaries, UK will ensure that you do not run empty-handed without a job in the country. The need of the hour for a country is skilled labor, making masters in data science in UK worth the cost. However, students looking to pursue a degree at a cheaper cost can study Masters in Data Science from Canada as well. The average tuition fee of Canadian universities offering masters in data science is around 13,210 GBP as compared to 24,000 GBP charged in the UK. 

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