Data Science

Why study Data Science at Dundee?

The School of Computing has been working on 'big data' and data analysis for at least five years; not only working with data but also developing new algorithms and techniques for data scientists. The School already runs the most successful Business Intelligence Masters course in the UK.

This course will be led by Professor Mark Whitehorn and Andy Cobley. Mark not only holds the Chair of Analytics at the University of Dundee but also runs a successful consultancy company that specialises in BI, Data Sciences and analytics. Andy is the course organiser for both the existing BI course and the new Data Science course.

This course will enhance your employability by providing you with knowledge, skills and understanding of data science research and implementation. You will also acquire skills in the professional procedures necessary to ensure that data science research and implementation is both valid and actionable, and engage with contemporary debate about the role, ethics and utility of data science in commercial and other settings.

What is the difference between Data Science and Business Intelligence?

There is clearly a huge overlap with Business Intelligence. A BI specialist will need to understand data and data analytics, however there may be a bias towards the implementation details of dealing with data, and understanding how data is stored in the system. A data scientist will be less concerned with the physical implementation and more interested in the message the data can deliver.

However, without an understanding of the implementation the data scientist will find it difficult to interrogate the data for its secrets. For this reason the two courses will be linked.

If you already have a strong grounding in Business Intelligence and would like to upgrade your knowledge to include topics from the Data Science MSc, we offer the relevant Data Science modules either on a stand alone basis or as a PGCert.

What's so good about Data Science at Dundee?

Our facilities

You will have 24-hour access to our award winning and purpose-built Queen Mother Building. It has an unusual mixture of lab space and breakout areas, with a range of conventional and special equipment for you to use. It's also easy to work on your own laptop as there is wireless access throughout the building.

Postgraduate culture

The School of Computing maintains a friendly, intimate and supportive atmosphere, and we take pride in the fact that we know all of our students - you're far more than just a matriculation number to us. We have a thriving postgraduate department with regular seminars and guest speakers.

Who should study this course?

We are looking for students with:

• Insatiable curiosity
• Interdisciplinary interests
• Excellent communication skills

Related courses

• All Postgraduate Computing courses

Teaching & Assessment

This course is taught by staff in the School of Computing .

The start date is January and the course lasts for 12 months on a full time basis or 24 months on a part time basis.

Careers

Various job sites now report an increase in jobs carrying the title of data scientist. Other career opportunities are in intelligence analysis, data management/database maintenance, data processing manager, database development and research, business intelligence consultant and more.

Entry Requirements

You should have, or expect to have, an honours degree at 2.1 or above, in Computing (or equivalent qualifications).

However, if you don't meet this requirement you may still apply in which case you will need to prove that you have equivalent experience in the field in order to be accepted onto the course.

All applicants will need to undergo a technical interview to ensure they have the necessary background to undertake the course.

English Language Requirement

IELTS of 6.0 (or equivalent), if your first language is not English. Please check our Language Requirements page for details of equivalent grades from other test providers, and information about the University of Dundee English Language courses.

Fees and Funding

Academic Year	Home/EU	Overseas
2012-13 (January 2013)	£6,300 £2,700 for PGCert only	£14,831 £2,700 for PGCert only
2013-14 (January 2014)	to be confirmed	to be confirmed

Sources of Funding

Information about the School of Computing scholarships can be found on the School of Computing scholarships webpage.

Other sources of funding for postgraduate students can be found on our Scholarships webpage.

Living Costs

• Dundee is ranked as one of the most affordable places for students to live in the UK, and the cost of living is around 15% cheaper than the UK average.
• Increasing numbers of students are successfully undertaking part-time work to supplement their income. You can get advice from our Careers Service, both about job opportunities and how to find a suitable study/work/life balance. EU and international students are also allowed to work up to 20 hours per week.
• As a student in Scotland, you have free access to the National Health Service. Visits to doctors and hospitals, as well as prescriptions, sight tests and dental checkups, are available free of charge.

Your Application

Apply online via UKPASS:

• MSc Data Science (full time)
• MSc Data Science (part time)
• PGCert
• Individual modules

Applications have not yet opened for this new course. If you wish to be informed when applications open, please register your interest.