Data Science, MSc

100% world-leading and internationally excellent ratings for research impact

Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021

Student working in the maker Lab

Course Overview

The MSc in Data Science gives you a solid grounding in data science concepts and technologies for extracting information and constructing knowledge from data.

This course focuses on three core technical themes of data mining, machine learning, and visualisation.

You study computational principles, methods, and systems for a variety of real-world applications that require mathematical foundations, programming skills, critical thinking, and ingenuity.

Our £32.5m Computational Foundry lies at the heart of this course. Sophisticated teaching and research equipment include a Vision and Biometric Lab, a Maker Lab, a Theory Lab, a Cyber Security/Networking Lab, a User Lab and a Visualisation Suite.

With large data sets now available across almost all industry sectors, there is an increasingly high demand for innovative new technologies and skilled data scientists.

Please note, Data Science, MSc, is not appropriate for those who do not have an undergraduate degree in Computer Science (or equivalent - please see entry requirements below). Please see Applied Data Science, MSc, where you do not require an undergraduate degree in Computer Science or Mathematics (or equivalent) to study this Masters.

Did you know?

Computer Science at Swansea University is widely acknowledged as a leading UK department, with rankings reflecting teaching and research excellence. 

  • Top 150 in the World Computer Science and Engineering (Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024), Top 201-250 in the world (THE World University Rankings 2025)
  • 201-250 in the World for Computer Science and Information Systems (QS World University Rankings 2025)
  • 100% world-leading and internationally excellent ratings for research impact - Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
  • 90% of our research is world-leading and internationally excellent - Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021

You will be taught by inspiring computer science experts such as Professor Matt Jones, widely recognised as a leader in the empowerment of rural digital communities in the UK and across the developing world.

Your Data Science Experience

You first take a series of 15-credit modules, a number of which will be compulsory and others you will choose. The next stage of the MSc is shaped by a 60-credit project module.

Developing research skills is an essential element of the course, enabling you to bring a critical perspective to current data science discipline, and apply it to future developments.

You learn how to mine structured data and unstructured data, gaining practical data mining experience alongside a systematic understanding of complex and heterogeneous data.

Conventional and state-of-the-art machine learning techniques will be taught through the application of methods and techniques to synthesise solutions.

By the end of the course you will be confident in applying concepts in data visualisation, information visualisation, and visual analytics to support data process and knowledge discovery.

Over the course of this degree you will be taught by staff from internationally renowned research groups. Their knowledge of constant developments in computer science helps to keep your learning fresh and relevant to the wider industry.

Our commitment to keeping up with the technological curve is also reflected in the hardware you will be working with every day.

Laboratories at Swansea are continually upgraded to ensure equipment is never more than three years old, and rarely more than two. Currently in use are three fully networked laboratories. One runs Windows, another runs Linux, and a third project laboratory contains specialised equipment.

The Computational Foundry on our Bay Campus is the nucleus of a vibrant community for world-class research leaders in computer science.

Data Science Employment Opportunities

Completing this MSc considerably enhances your data science career prospects. Our graduates often progress to rewarding employment within esteemed organisations. Below are a number of their recent destinations.

  • Workflow developer, Irwin Mitchell
  • Programmer, Evil Twin Artworks
  • Web developer & web support, VSI Thinking
  • Software developer, Wireless Innovations
  • Associate business application analyst, CDC Software
  • Software developer, OpenBet Technologies
  • Software developer, BMJ Group

Modules

The first part of this MSc contains six 20-credit modules exploring in-depth subjects like visual analytics, big data, machine learning, and optimisation.

The second part of the programme is where you get to do some independent learning. You’ll be working on a 60-credit research project.