What will I study?

To accelerate your learning, you will be exposed to theories, methods, tools, and technologies (including SPSS and Tableau software packages; MySQL, Python, R language or similar) relating to the design, development and testing of data science applications for business intelligence.

You will train and deploy distributed machine learning models using a cloud-based platform such as Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure or AWS or similar and machine learning technology using TensorFlow. You will also be exposed to the fundamental concepts, principles, technologies, and techniques of big data analytics.

You will be able to apply this knowledge and skill in your context, and critically analyse the implementation and recommend future improvements. Recognising that information governance and cyber security are critical to the adoption and use of computing systems in businesses and organisations, you will also cover fundamental concepts, principles, techniques and tools of information governance and cyber security.

How will I be taught and assessed?

• Teaching is delivered through lectures, workshops and tutorials totalling between 10-13 hours per week
• You’re expected to engage in independent study, around 30-32 hours per week
• Assessment includes coursework, critical report writing, practical exercises, individual, group and research project work.
• Taught by experienced lecturers and academics who use their industry experience to demonstrate how theories translate into real-life situations.
• Technology-enhanced learning is embedded throughout the course to guide your preparation for seminars and independent research
• Benefit from weekly academic support sessions designed to build your ability and confidence as an academic learner
• You will be assigned a guidance tutor at induction who you will meet with regularly during your studies

Careers and further study

This Master’s programme has been designed to ensure that graduates will be equipped to work in a variety of careers in the IT industry or to progress to academic or research-orientated careers. Indeed, the qualification is designed to accelerate your skills and competence in a range of job roles, including roles in leadership and management such as:

• Machine Learning Engineer
• Data Engineer
• Business Analyst
• Data and Analytics Manager
• Business Intelligence Analyst
• AI Cloud Architect
• Data Architect

Furthermore, this programme will prepare you to meet the educational requirements of the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of meeting the further learning academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.

Upon successfully completing your course, you may undertake further professional development and training through Professional Pathways programmes. These are offered to our graduates for free, from our partner, QA. Find out more information on Professional Pathways and your eligibility.

Advanced Practice stage

The Advanced Practice version of this course offers you a valuable opportunity to secure a work placement, complete a group consultancy based on a real organisational issue or work with a research team on a research project. Successful completion of this Advanced Practice stage will provide you with experience of the workplace environment or live computing issues and an excellent way to put your learning into practice.

This stage of the programme will take place between your second and final semester and is a semester-long (15 weeks) in duration. Internships as part of the Advanced Practice stage may be paid or unpaid. The alternative research module allows you to work with an academic or applied research team within the university on a range of research topics. Whether you choose the Internship, Group Consultancy Project or the Research Project, you will successfully develop your business or research skills and further enhance your employability.

• September start dates:  your programme will last for up to 21 months. You will have a summer break after Semester 2, and commence your Advanced Practice stage in September.
• January start dates: your programme will run for 24 months. You will commence the Advanced Practice stage of the programme in January following your taught stage and summer break. Please note that there are two summer breaks included in this programme for those starting in January.
• May start dates: your programme will run for a total of 16-18 months. Please note that there is no summer break included in this programme for those starting in May. Your Advanced Practice stage will commence in January.

Academic requirements

• Minimum 2:2 honours degree, or above, or equivalent in any subject

English language requirements

• IELTS 6.5, with no single element below 5.5, or equivalent.

If you don’t meet the academic requirements

Applicants who are not graduates and do not hold professional qualifications of equivalent standing can also be considered for entry if they show evidence of strong motivation and capability for academic study and personal development (e.g. evidence of attendance at short courses) and/or suitable experience of working in areas which involve a significant amount of Information Technology.

Please note that if your qualifications are not in English, we might need certified translations in order to proceed with your application.