MSC DATA SCIENCE
Course Brochure
ABOUT THE MSC DATA SCIENCE
The Details
Indicative duration: 2 years
Qualification: MSc
Entry Requirements
As a minimum applicants must have an undergraduate degree from an approved institution,
equivalent to a UK Honours degree, or a relevant professional qualification. For the work experience
entry route, applicants must have at least three years’ relevant work experience.
Data science is a growing career field and employers seek candidates with the skills to help their
business grow further. Our MSc Data Science will equip you with the ability to extract, analyse, interpret
and present data to help you make informed decisions.
You’ll delve into a range of topics – including key ethical and professional responsibilities, mathematics,
statistics for data science, artificial intelligence, the foundations of research methods, and an
introduction to programming languages Python, SQL and R.
By the end of your course, you’ll have developed a range of transferable skills, such as time
management, analytical and organisational skills. And as there’s a significant skills shortage, gaining this
degree will put you in good stead for your career prospects.
You could also choose to study the shorter, 16-month PG Dip Global Data Science (120 credits) or the
eight -month PG Cert Data Science (60 credits).
Teaching and Assessment
Teaching methods and style
Unlike a traditional university environment, our online degrees utilise a Virtual Learning Environment
(VLE), providing you with immediate access to learning materials, wherever you are.
Student support
You’ll be supported throughout your studies by a dedicated Student Adviser and regularly interact with
fellow students and your tutor.
Methods of assessment
Instead of exams, we adopt an assignment-based approach to assessment, which are based on real-life
work experience and carried out by tutors on an ongoing basis.
SYLLABUS
The MSc Data Science is made up of the following modules and equal to a total of 180 credits.
Level 7 modules
MODULE MSc PGDip PGCert
The Data Professional (20 credits) ▲ ▲ ▲
Numerical Analysis (20 credits) * * *
Deciphering Big Data (20 credits) * * *
Visualising Data (20 credits) * *
Machine Learning (20 credits) * *
Research Methods and Professional Practice (20 credits) ▲ ▲
MSc Computing Project (60 credits) ▲
* Compulsory module
▲ Core module (must be passed in order to achieve the award)
LEVEL 7
MODULES
THE DATA PROFESSIONAL
Module code: TDP_PCOM7E NQF level: 7
Credit value: 20 Study duration: 12 weeks
About the module
Explore the discipline of data science in this module. As you progress through your study, you’ll gain the practical skills
required to be able to analyse data sets, and design and implement a solution using suitable programming languages, such
as Python. You’ll also become aware of the ethical and professional responsibilities of the data professional.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you’ll be able to:
• demonstrate a critical awareness of the roles and responsibilities of a data science professional.
• critically analyse architecture, design, development methodology, querying and the lifecycle of managing large-scale
datasets.
• distinguish between and critically reflect on the solutions of various data analytics approaches which support business
decision making process.
• apply and evaluate the various methods, tools, technologies and success factors applied to a data science project to
develop an effective plan and delivery of solutions to a business problem.
Syllabus
• Data scientist roles, perspectives and challenges
• Data lifecycle management, including data governance and ethics
• Programming paradigms for data preparation and analysis
• Database design and implementation
• Tools and techniques applied in data science projects, including project evaluation methodology
• Emerging technologies and trends in data science
Learning and teaching methods
This module will be delivered via learning materials on the VLE and supported by lecturecasts, readings and weekly live
seminars – which will include live coding and full demonstrations of practical elements of the syllabus. Tutor support will also
be available via phone, Zoom/Skype and email.
Description of unit Duration Submission date Weighting
assessment
Collaborative discussion
600 words total Units 3 and 8 20%
summaries
Data analytics – data processing,
1,500 words Unit 9 40%
pipeline and evaluation
Data analytics implementation 2,000 words equivalent Unit 12 40%
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
Module code: NA_PCOM7E NQF level: 7
Credit value: 20 Study duration: 12 weeks
About the module
This module will equip you with a range of analytical skills, as it introduces you to the key aspects of mathematics and
statistics for data science and artificial intelligence. You’ll build a foundation for analysing and solving problems in both
principles and gain an understanding of real-world applications.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you’ll be able to:
• gain a systematic understanding of the key mathematical and statistical concepts and techniques which underpin
mechanisms in data science and AI.
• apply and evaluate the use of mathematical and statistical methods in these fields, explaining how statistical analysis
and numeric interpretation of results help in
• decision making process.
• critically appraise and present results of a statistical analysis to a diverse audience.
Syllabus
• Introduction to mathematical and statistical modelling and challenges in practical data analyses
• Vectors and matrices
• Differential calculus and numerical integration
• Probability
• Statistics
Learning and teaching methods
This module will be delivered via learning materials on the VLE and supported by lecturecasts, readings and weekly live
seminars – which will include live coding and full demonstrations of practical elements of the syllabus. Tutor support will also
be available via phone, Zoom/Skype and email.
Description of unit Duration Submission date Weighting
assessment
Mathematics test 90 minutes Unit 7 25%
Statistical analysis presentation 20 minutes Unit 12 50%
Reflective piece 1,250 words equivalent Unit 12 25%
DECIPHERING BIG DATA
Module code: DBD_PCOM7E NQF level: 7
Credit value: 20 Study duration: 12 weeks
About the module
This module will help you to discover the concepts and skills of data wrangling, with an emphasis on big data. Throughout
the module, you’ll have the opportunity to use various software and programming languages, such as Plotly and Python.
You’ll also gain the ability to present data in an engaging format.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you’ll be able to:
• identify and manage challenges, security issues and risks, limitations and opportunities in data wrangling.
• critically analyse data wrangling problems and determine appropriate methodologies, tools and techniques to solve
them.
• design, develop and evaluate solutions for processing datasets and solving complex problems in various environments
using relevant programming paradigms.
• systematically develop and implement the skills required to be an effective member of a development team in a virtual
professional environment, adopting real-life perspectives on team roles and organisation.
Syllabus
• Introduction to big data, technologies and data management
• Data types and formats
• Data collection from the web and other sources
• Data cleaning and transformation
• Data exploration, analysis and presentation
• The future of big data analytics
Learning and teaching methods
This module will be delivered via learning materials on the VLE and supported by lecturecasts, readings and weekly live
seminars – which will include live coding and full demonstrations of practical elements of the syllabus. Tutor support will also
be available via phone, Zoom/Skype and email.
Description of unit Duration Submission date Weighting
assessment
Project report 1,000 words Unit 6 20%
Executive summary 2,000 words Unit 11 40%
Individual module e-portfolio 2,000 words equivalent Unit 12 40%
VISUALISING DATA
Module code: VD_PCOM7E NQF level: 7
Credit value: 20 Study duration: 12 weeks
About the module
Gain data visualisation and presentation skills through this module. It unveils various techniques for visualisation and how
they’re applied using common programming languages and tools, such as Python, R and PowerBI. Throughout the module,
you’ll develop an appreciation of the challenges, limitations and opportunities in data visualisation.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you’ll be able to:
• critically evaluate and apply data visualisation grammar and idioms to the whole of the visualisation process and
• resulting presentations.
• consider the capabilities of different visualisation tools and programming languages to support the discovery and display
of critical and valuable answers in different types of datasets.
• systematically implement key analysis and visualisation techniques using realistic data sources from disparate
• disciplines.
• effectively use the most appropriate visualisation tools to effectively present and communicate complex information and
facilitate informed decision making.
Syllabus
• Introduction to data visualisation, including pitfalls and best practices
• Techniques and design choices for data visualisation
• Grammar and idiom of data visualisation
• Data visualisation with various tools
• Dashboards for decision making
• Domain-specific applications
Learning and teaching methods
This module will be delivered via learning materials on the VLE and supported by lecturecasts, readings and weekly live
seminars – which will include live coding and full demonstrations of practical elements of the syllabus. Tutor support will also
be available via phone, Zoom/Skype and email.
Description of unit Duration Submission date Weighting
assessment
Individual programming exercise 1,500 words equivalent Unit 8 30%
Dashboard presentation 10 minutes Unit 12 40%
Reflective piece 1,000 words Unit 12 30%
MACHINE LEARNING
Module code: ML_PCOM7E NQF level: 7
Credit value: 20 Study duration: 12 weeks
About the module
In this module, you’ll delve into real-world cases related to data analytics and gain an understanding of the theories and
practices involved in machine learning. You’ll explore various topics, starting with underlying mathematical concepts, a
framework of learning models and paradigms and algorithms.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you’ll be able to:
• articulate the legal, social, ethical and professional issues faced by machine learning professionals.
• understand the applicability and challenges associated with different datasets for the use of machine learning
• algorithms.
• apply and critically appraise machine learning techniques to real-world problems, particularly where technical risk and
uncertainty is involved.
• systematically develop and implement the skills required to be an effective member of a development team in a virtual
professional environment, adopting real-life perspectives on team roles and organisation.
Syllabus
• Fundamental concepts of machine learning
• Unsupervised learning – clustering
• Supervised learning - decision tree and random forest; linear regression and classification
• Reinforced learning – neural net and deep learning
• Evaluation and optimisation of models
• Designing a machine learning system
• Latest developments in machine learning
Learning and teaching methods
This module will be delivered via learning materials on the VLE and supported by lecturecasts, readings and weekly live
seminars – which will include live coding and full demonstrations of practical elements of the syllabus. Tutor support will also
be available via phone, Zoom/Skype and email.
Description of unit Duration Submission date Weighting
assessment
Project report 1,000 words equivalent Unit 6 20%
Project presentation 20 minutes Unit 11 40%
Individual module e-portfolio 2,500 words equivalent Unit 12 40%
RESEARCH METHODS AND PROFESSIONAL
PRACTICE
Module code: RMPP_PCOM7E NQF level: 7
Credit value: 20 Study duration: 12 weeks
About the module
In this module, you’ll gain vital skills needed to conduct research in practical settings. The module explores essential
research tools and techniques, while highlighting professional, legal, social, cultural and ethical issues related to computing
projects. You’ll demonstrate your strengths by maintaining an e-portfolio of reflections and evidence.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you’ll be able to:
• appraise the professional, legal, social, cultural and ethical issues that affect computing professionals.
• consider the principles of academic investigation, applying them to a research topic in the applicable computing field.
• critically evaluate existing literature, research design and methodology for the chosen topic, including data analysis
processes.
• produce and evaluate a research proposal for the chosen topic.
Syllabus
• Scientific investigations, ethical considerations and risk management
• Defining and refining the problem
• Critical literature review
• Research design – theoretical framework and hypothesis development
• Data collection – interviews, observation, questionnaires
• Measurement of variables and sampling
• Quantitative data analysis
• Qualitative data analysis
• Research reporting
Learning and teaching methods
This module will be delivered via learning materials on the VLE and supported by lecturecasts, readings and weekly seminars
– which will include live coding sessions and full demonstrations of practical elements of the syllabus. Tutors will also be
available via phone and email.
Description of unit Duration Submission date Weighting
assessment
Literature review 2,000 words Unit 7 30%
Research proposal presentation 15 minutes Unit 10 30%
Individual module e-portfolio 2,500 words equivalent Unit 12 40%
MSC COMPUTING PROJECT
Module code: CSPROJ_PCOM7E NQF level: 7
Credit value: 60 Study duration: 30 weeks
About the module
Demonstrate your skills for planning, executing, writing and fending a dissertation for a research project on a topic of your
choice. Throughout this module, you’ll undertake independent work to help develop key skills – including investigation,
interpretation, evaluation and critical thinking. The chosen topic will be agreed with a superviser before you begin.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, you’ll be able to:
• systematically identify research problems within a suitable research topic involving computing.
• carry out, structure and effectively present a focused critical and analytical reading and synthesis of accessed
• information on the chosen topic.
• articulate the professional, legal, ethical and social issues related to the chosen topic and follow relevant professional
codes of conduct.
• critically evaluate the research conducted and present the resulting artefact as a form of a defence of the research.
Syllabus
• Requirements and structure of a dissertation project
• Choice of topic and the research process
• Reviewing the literature
• Project managing the research
• Self-organisation
• Ethical considerations
• Academic style
• Dissertation defence
Learning and teaching methods
The learning process for this project will be project-based and supported by reading materials and lecturecasts on the VLE.
Dissertation supervisers will be available via phone and email, and will conduct regular formal supervision forums throughout
the module.
Description of unit Duration Submission date Weighting
assessment
Dissertation 13,000 words Unit 28 80%
Artefact presentation and online
10 minutes Unit 30 20%
Conference
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