Health Data Science MSc

Program Overview

The MSc Health Data Science at the University of Exeter equips students with cutting-edge skills in handling health-related data, applying quantitative skills in a medical setting, and engaging in real-world research. The program offers career opportunities in the NHS, industry, and research, and is delivered by experts from medicine, computing, and health-related fields.

Program Outline

MSc Health Data Science at the University of Exeter

Degree Overview:

This MSc program equips students with cutting-edge skills in the field of health-related data, a rapidly growing area where the UK excels with access to extensive biobanks, genomic, and health services resources. The program aims to:

• Apply quantitative skills (computational, mathematical, engineering) in a health and medical setting, even without prior experience in health, medicine, or biology.

• Apply previous experience in health, medicine, or biology in new ways by learning quantitative skills in computing and data science.

• Perform real-world research with exciting project opportunities in the NHS, large pharmaceutical companies, and health data companies.

The program offers exciting career opportunities, with previous students securing positions in:

• The National Health Service as analysts.

• Clinical trials and PhDs in the USA, University College London, and Cancer Research UK.

Outline:

Course Structure:

• The MSc Health Data Science can be studied full-time over one year or part-time over two or three years.
• The program is divided into units of study called 'modules,' each assigned a number of 'credits.'
• A Masters qualification requires completing 180 credits at level seven.
• One credit is equivalent to 10 hours of work.
• Contact Days: A draft timetable of contact days for the 2023/24 academic year is available, but it is subject to change.

Teaching:

• Teaching Staff: The program is delivered by experts from mathematics, computing, biomedical science, the NHS, and industry.
• Research-Active Academics: The course is delivered by research-active academics from Medicine and Health, Engineering, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences.
• Non-Academic Partners: Non-academic partners, including the NHS, pharmaceutical, and data companies, contribute to the course through guest lectures, seminars, and research project supervision.
• Academic Tutor: Each student is assigned an academic tutor who provides guidance, feedback on assessment performance, support in generic academic skills, and pastoral support.
• Highly Experienced Tutors: The tutors are highly experienced health data science researchers, with expertise in computing, maths, stats, and health-related research.

Careers:

• Career Paths: The program prepares students for careers in health data science, including roles in the NHS, pharmaceutical industry, health data companies, and research.
• Employer-Valued Skills: The program develops skills valued by employers, including the ability to work in interdisciplinary teams and tackle challenges in health data science.
• Work-Based Learning: Most students complete their research project with an external provider, offering real-world experience with real health data.
• Studying While Working: The program can be taken over one, two, or three years, making it suitable for working professionals.
• Graduate Destinations: Previous students have secured positions in the NHS, NHS Digital, the Office of National Statistics, data science and AI companies, and PhD programs.
• Facilities: The program is based at the St Luke's campus in Exeter, offering a vibrant atmosphere and proximity to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and the Exeter Health Library.
• HDRUK Funding: Five students receive full fees and stipends as part of the Health Data Research UK funding.
• Coding Aptitude Test: Students are assessed for their coding aptitude with a short test in Python before being accepted into the program.

UK fees: Fees are subject to an annual increment each academic year. MSc fees (1 year): £12,700 full-time MSc fees (2 years): £6,350 MSc fees (3 years): £4,250 PGCert (1 year): £4,250 PGDip (2 years): £4,250 Standalone module fees: UK £1,200 per 15 credit module International fees: MSc fees (1 year): £29,700 full-time MSc fees (2 years): £14,850 MSc fees (3 years): £9,900 PGCert (1 year): £9,900 PGDip (2 years): £9,900