Master of Science - Data Science and its Applications

The University of Essex MSc Data Science and its Applications is a conversion course specifically designed for students wanting to be part of their fast-growing digital economy but do not have the sufficient programming and statistics skills. This course will place students at the core of data science with the application of theory and methods to real-world problems, specifically to use and exploit big data.

At the University of Essex, the techniques they use to model and manipulate data guide the political, financial and social decisions that shape modern society and are the basis of growth of the economy and success of businesses. The course introduces students to programming with the R language and as well as text analytics. Relational databases and SQL are developed and used for relevant applications from humanities, life sciences, linguistics, marketing and social science. The course encourages statistical thinking by data visualizations and guides students to develop their creativity within a scientific framework. Students will cover topics such as: • Modelling experimental data • Machine learning and decision making • Applied statistics • Combinatorial optimisation • Statistical methods • Stochastic processes

The leading department on this course, the Department of Mathematical Sciences, is genuinely innovative and student-focused. The research groups are working on a broad range of collaborative areas tackling real-world issues. The Department of Mathematical Sciences and the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering are working together with other departments across the University Of Essex to deliver optional modules and summer projects with Essex Business School, the Department of Language and Linguistics, the School of Life Sciences, the School of Philosophy and Art History, and the Department of Psychology. The course also benefits from many Knowledge Transfer Partnerships which support students through placements and an interdisciplinary outreach culture. The University of Essex is committed to transformational education and inclusion, focused on learning opportunities for every student, responsive to the students’ needs and aspirations. The MSc Data Science and its Applications course reflects this by supporting every student, from every background, and removing the barriers to their education. This course is developed in collaboration with industry partners and public sector organisations, which include BT, Profusion, Essex County Council, Essex Police, and Suffolk County Council. The active links with industry can broaden students' employment potential and offer placement opportunities.