Applied Data Science and Statistics MSc

Program Overview

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MSc Applied Data Science and Statistics

Overview

This well-established conversion course, with a network of over 600 graduates, will enable you to learn data science skills alongside the fundamental mathematics that underpins all data.

You will learn to programme in Python and R (no prior experience of programming is required) and explore a wide variety of applications to prepare you for a career working with data in a variety of sectors.

Benefitting from the skills and experience of our academics in the Mathematics and Statistics department, you will work extensively with data and gain the ability to perform statistical analysis to answer questions, and understand how to interpret and communicate results in the presence of bias and uncertainty.

You will graduate with the capability to extract otherwise-hidden information within data and use it to make informed ethical decisions, with the skills needed to become a rigorous and responsible data scientist or analyst.

Entry Requirements

• A good degree (normally a 2:2).
• Successful applicants will usually have at least an A-level or equivalent in Mathematics and/or have received quantitative skills training as part of their undergraduate programme or professional experience.
• Prior experience of coding is not necessary on this course.

International Students

• English language requirements: International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B3.
• Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

Course Content

The programme will include applications across a wide variety of sectors and help you develop innovative and responsible approaches to the use of data. You will cover the entire spectrum from collection through to interrogation and analysis, interpretation, visualisation, and communication.

Our data governance and ethics module is essential to this programme – you will learn from colleagues in our faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences how the complex technologies behind data science can be managed and governed for the benefit of society now and in the future, as well as exploring your responsibility as a data scientist for ensuring that data and the technologies used to harvest and analyse it are used ethically.

Assessments will be based on a combination of exams, group and individual project work, practical data analysis, visualisation and communication skills.

You do not need any prior experience of coding to study this programme. Our Working with Data (MTHM501) and Applications of Data Science and Statistics (MTHM503) give you a great introduction to programming in in R and Python.

The course is based around open source software (Python and R) meaning that you will be well-equipped to apply your new skills to any setting when you graduate. As a student you will also have access to other programmes, such as Matlab, through the University.

All aspects of the course are designed with windows, mac and linux in mind.

The taught component of the programme is completed in June and you will complete your Applied Data Science and Statistics project (dissertation) over the summer period for submission in September. You can submit your own project idea or take up an idea proposed by an external organisation, supervisors from the Applied Data Science and Statistics teaching team or from colleagues across the University such as from our Centre for Computational Social Science (C2S2) The dissertation is an extensive project of approximately 15,000 words that involves project planning, analytical, experimental or empirical results and their interpretation, showing how the goals of the project have been met.

Modules

Compulsory Modules

• MTHM501: Working with Data
• MTHM502: Introduction to Data Science and Statistical Modelling
• MTHM503: Applications of Data Science and Statistics
• MTHM507: Communicating Data Science
• MTHM017: Advanced Topics in Statistics
• MTHM506: Statistical Data Modelling
• MTHM505: Data Science and Statistical Modelling in Space and Time
• SOCM033: Data Governance and Ethics
• MTHM504: Applied Data Science and Statistics Project

Applied Data Science and Statistics with Professional Placement MSc - Year 2

• If you have chosen to study Applied Data Science and Statistics with Professional Placement, your course will be structured as follows:
  • Year 1 – study all the 15 credit taught modules in the module table above and secure a work placement for year two.
  • Year 2 – take part in a work placement and complete your Applied Data Science project (dissertation).

During your work placement you will gain extensive practical work experience, giving you the chance to apply the knowledge and skills you have acquired from taught modules to authentic problem solving in a professional environment. Collaborating with your work placement employer, you will identify a project that will constitute your MSc dissertation. Ideally, the dissertation should be based on the work that you will undertake during the placement, but this is not compulsory. The dissertation is an extensive project of approximately 15,000 words that involves project planning, analytical, experimental or empirical results and their interpretation, showing how the goals of the project have been met.

Course Variants

Applied Data Science and Statistics with Professional Placement MSc

• Combine your masters in Applied Data Science and Statistics with work experience in the UK, putting your learning into practice while studying
• Studied over two years, you’ll have the opportunity to gain valuable professional experience by completing a 9-12 month work placement in a role relevant to your degree
• Become a sought-after professional with strong industry experience

Fees

2025/26 Entry

• UK fees per year: £14,300 full-time
• With Professional placement (second year): £2,860 full-time
• International fees per year: £30,300 full-time
• With Professional placement (second year): £6,060 full-time

Scholarships

• The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships.
• For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship

• We are pleased to offer University of Exeter alumni beginning a standalone taught Masters degree (eg MA, MSc, MRes, MFA, LLM, PGCert, PGDip) or research degree (eg MPhil, PhD) with us a scholarship towards the cost of their tuition fees. These scholarships are worth 20% of the first year tuition fee for students enrolling on a postgraduate taught or research programme of study in 2025/26. Full details can be found here.

Teaching and Research

Teaching on this programme is delivered through a mix of lectures, projects, group work and hands-on lab sessions. Many of your lectures will be interactive combining a blend of classroom learning, coding and data analysis. Group and individual projects will be undertaken using real data and will often focus on topical challenges which are the focus of current research.

Assessments

• The assessment strategy for each module is explicitly stated in the full module descriptions given to students.
• Group and team skills are addressed within modules dealing with specialist and advanced skills.
• Assessment methods include essays, closed book tests, exercises in problem solving, use of the Web for tool-based analysis and investigation, mini-projects, extended essays on specialised topics, and individual and group presentations.

Artificial Intelligence at Exeter

• The University has invested £50 million in the development of its Data Science and Artificial Intelligence capabilities.
• The Accelerating Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (ADA) project has been running since 2023 and has invested in teaching, research and infrastructure which this programme benefits from.

Facilities

• Our latest computing facilities are world-class spacious teaching labs allowing comfortable, collaborative working in a sensory-friendly environment.
• The Babbage and Lovelace computer labs are comfortable, pleasant and engaging environments that are sensory-friendly - they are quieter and less cluttered than traditional computer labs.

Careers

Employer demand for statistically-trained data scientists is high.

A World Economic Forum report ‘The Future of Jobs 2023’ projects that the demand for data analysts and scientists, big data specialists, business intelligence analysts, database and network professionals and data engineers is growing by 30 to 35%.

Graduate Destinations

• Whether you’re looking to take your career in a new direction or for an MSc that will sit alongside your undergraduate degree to land you an exhilarating graduate job, you’re unlikely to find a better choice than Applied Data Science and Statistics.
• Previous graduates from this programme have gone on to work for a variety of organisations from small start ups through to large multinational corporations in locations across the world.

Dedicated Careers Support

• You will receive support from our dedicated Career Zone team, who provide excellent career guidance at all stages of career planning.
• The Career Zone provides one-on-one support and is home to a wealth of business and industry contacts.
• Additionally, they host useful training events, workshops and lectures which are designed to further support you in developing your enterprise acumen.