Program Overview

Introduction to the Master of Data Science Program at UBC Okanagan

The Master of Data Science program at UBC Okanagan is designed to prepare graduates for a career in one of the world's most in-demand fields. The program covers all stages of the data science value chain, teaching students how to extract and analyze data, turn data into knowledge, and clearly communicate recommendations to decision-makers.

Program Benefits

The program offers several benefits, including:

• A 10-month, full-time, accelerated program that provides a short-term commitment for long-term gain
• Condensed one-credit courses that allow for in-depth focus on a limited set of topics at one time
• A capstone project that gives students an opportunity to apply their skills
• Real-world data sets integrated into all courses to provide practical experience across a range of domains

Highlights Specific to Okanagan Campus Option

The Okanagan campus option offers:

• A curriculum designed by computer science and statistics experts, emphasizing optimization and statistics with a focus on operations research
• Courses taught by renowned computer science and statistics faculty, giving students access to experts across a broad skill set
• A collaborative and intimate learning environment with a cohort limited to 60 students
• The opportunity to study at a top 40 university in a smaller setting, situated in a diverse region of natural beauty
• Access to a hub of economic development, with 2,000 tech start-ups in the Okanagan region providing networking and employment opportunities
• Fluency with both open source software and commercial software, including Tableau and Microsoft products

Curriculum

The program structure includes 24 one-credit courses offered in four-week segments, with courses delivered in-person and some blended online content. The program culminates in an eight-week, six-credit capstone project, allowing students to apply their knowledge and work with real-life data sets.

Fall: September - December

The fall semester includes:

• Block 1:
  • Computing Platforms for Data Science (DATA 530)
  • Programming for Data Science (DATA 531)
  • Scripting and Reporting (DATA 541)
  • Modelling and Simulation I (DATA 580)
• Block 2:
  • Algorithms and Data Structures (DATA 532)
  • Databases and Data Retrieval (DATA 540)
  • Privacy, Security and Professional Ethics (DATA 553)
  • Predictive Modelling (DATA 570)
• Block 3:
  • Collaborative Software Development (DATA 533)
  • Data Wrangling (DATA 542)
  • Data Collection (DATA 543)
  • Resampling and Regularization (DATA 571)

Winter: January - April

The winter semester includes:

• Block 4:
  • Web and Cloud Computing (DATA 534)
  • Data Visualization I (DATA 550)
  • Supervised Learning (DATA 572)
  • Modelling and Simulation II (DATA 581)
• Block 5:
  • Data Visualization II (DATA 551)
  • Communication and Argumentation (DATA 552)
  • Unsupervised and Semi-supervised Learning (DATA 573)
  • Advanced Predictive Modelling (DATA 583)
• Block 6:
  • Bayesian Inference (DATA 582)
  • Optimization (DATA 585)
  • Advanced Machine Learning (DATA 586)
  • Special Topic (DATA 589)

Spring: May - June

The spring semester includes:

• Capstone Project (DATA 599): A mentored group project based on real data and questions from a partner within or outside the university.

Application Deadlines

Applications for September 2026 are now open, with deadlines as follows:

• International Students (Early Round – MDS Computational Linguistics only): November 30, 2025
• International Students (Early Round – MDS Okanagan only): December 15, 2025
• International Students (all programs): January 31, 2026
• Domestic Students who want to be considered for scholarships (all programs): January 31, 2026
• Domestic/US Students (all programs): April 15, 2026
• Reference Deadline: 7 days after application deadline

Why Study at UBC Okanagan?

The Master of Data Science program at UBC Okanagan offers a unique combination of academic excellence, research opportunities, and industry connections. With a strong focus on practical skills and real-world applications, the program prepares graduates for a successful career in data science. The Okanagan campus provides a smaller, more intimate learning environment, with access to a diverse range of industries and organizations in the region.