Department of Natural Sciences | Master of Data Science

Master of Data Science (MDS) at Durham University

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Designed by experts in the field, the MDS develops the specialist skills you will need to manage and analyse different types of data efficiently. This advanced understanding of complex data will give you a head start in this dynamic field.

Are you keen to find out more about the field of data science and learn the latest techniques used in the sector? The Durham MDS provides training in contemporary data science in a supportive environment, learning from practicing researchers who are making a difference across a range of industries.

From security cameras and satellite transmission to our mobile devices, homes, cars, and in the workplace, we are surrounded by data. At the same time, developments in technology have made the field of data science more accessible than ever, creating new opportunities to gain insight into  the interactions between people and their environment. This has led to a significant increase in demand for skilled data scientists, and this demand is predicted to further grow.

Drawing on this, we have created the Master of Data Science, a conversion course that opens up a future in data science even if your first degree is in a non-quantitative subject (including the social sciences, the arts and humanities). The course equips you with the  skills to access, clean, analyse, and visualise complex data, and to apply this knowledge to practical situations.

The course begins with a range of introductory modules before progressing to more advanced contemporary techniques such as neural networks and deep learning to expand your knowledge and understanding. We offer an extensive range of optional modules which allows you to focus on an area of interest.

The MDS culminates in the research project, an in-depth investigation into an area of specific interest in which you apply the skills learned during the course to a research problem in an area of your choice.

The course is part of a suite of courses which share some common modules, you can choose the general route or take one of the specialist pathways in:

• Bioinformatics & Biological Modelling
• Digital Humanities
• Earth & Environment
• Health
• Social Analytics

The skills and knowledge that constitute a Masters qualification in Data Science are widely sought by employers around the globe. In today’s data-driven society, the ability to capture, analyse and communicate information and trends from the data generated by business, governments and their agencies, communities and organisations is highly prized.

It follows that Data Science is a rapidly expanding career sector with opportunities for stimulating and rewarding work in many sectors including the areas of science, humanities, health, environmental and social where understanding and expertise in data is leading to transformations in the way people live and work.

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