Program Overview

MSc Statistical Data Science

Overview

This programme is co-created and co-delivered by the department of Mathematics & Statistics and the department of Computer Science. It combines perspectives from both disciplines giving you a unique insight into modern statistical data science and the opportunity to begin your studies in January.

Our Statistical Data Science MSc is a conversion course, developed for students from a variety of backgrounds to gain essential knowledge, skills, and competencies to thrive in the rapidly evolving field of data science.

Benefitting from the skills and experience of both our Mathematics and Statistics department and our Computer Science department, you will study advanced statistics, learn to programme in Python and R and bring together these skills to investigate data. No prior experience of programming is required.

In addition to the technical aspects of data science and statistics, you will examine the ethical issues related to the use of data in contemporary society, ensuring your scientific rigour is underpinned by responsibility and integrity.

Our programme offers you the opportunity to apply your skills to a variety of sectors, including industry, medicine and healthcare, environment and climate.

Your learning will be applied to real-world problems in your dissertation preparing you for work as a rigorous data scientist or analyst with a fundamental understanding of the statistics at the heart of the data you investigate either in a commercial setting or further postgraduate study.

Entry Requirements

• A good degree (normally a 2:2 or above).
• 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.

International Students

• 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 B2.

Course Content

This programme supports individuals with a non-mathematical or computing background who aspire to transition into the field of data science. We provide a background in the necessary mathematics and statistics, as well as equipping you to use machine learning, data model and code in a variety of languages (such as Python and R). No prior experience of programming is required.

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.

The MSc includes applications across a wide variety of sectors and helps you to develop innovative and responsible approaches to the use of data.

You will develop advanced-level mathematical, statistical, machine learning and computing skills to enable you to draw and utilise insights from data sets to inform business decisions.

In term one (January to March) you will study:

• Working with Data (MTHM501)
• Programme with Python (COMM109)
• Data Governance and Ethics (SOCM033)
• Introduction to Data Science and Statistical Modelling (MTHM502)

In term two (May to July) you will study:

• Applications of Data Science and Statistics (MTHM503)
• Statistical Data Modelling (MTHM506)
• Machine Learning (ECMM422)
• Social Networks and Text Analysis (ECMM447)

You will work on your final project (dissertation) during Term 3 (September to December). You can submit your own project idea or take up an idea proposed by an external organisation, supervisors from the Statistical Data Science teaching team or from colleagues across the University such as from our Centre for Computational Social Science (C2S2).

Fees

• UK fees per year: £13,700 full-time
• International fees per year: £29,100 full-time

Scholarships

• Our Exeter Excellence Scholarships are also available for applicants looking to study with us in January 2026 and applications for these scholarships will open in September.
• 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.

Teaching and Research

• Teaching on this degree is directly influenced by research undertaken within Exeter’s Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence which provides a hub for data-intensive science and artificial intelligence activity within the University.
• The institute’s vision for data science is to find new means of interrogating and understanding data and to apply cutting-edge data analytical methodologies to diverse questions.
• We believe every student benefits from being taught by experts active in research and practice. All our academic staff are active in internationally-recognised scientific research across a wide range of topics.

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

• Data Science is changing the way people do business. Mountains of previously uncollectable data, generated by huge growth in online activity and appliance connectivity, is becoming available to businesses in every sector.
• You will graduate with the skills and confidence to apply sophisticated data science methods in a wide variety of settings and interpret the results as a data scientist or analyst.
• This conversion course produces graduates who are not only skilled in their undergraduate discipline, but also in statistical data science, which is a potent and highly employable combination.