The online MSc Applications of Data Science from the University of BirminghamThe online MSc Applications of Data Science from the University of BirminghamThe online MSc Applications of Data Science from the University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham seeks applicants from around the world who are passionate about using data science for good. With our online MSc Applications of Data Science programme, you can earn a data science masters online while gaining skills and experience that prepare you to analyse complex data challenges while collaborating in a diverse, global learning environment.

Please note that fees are the same for UK and non-UK residents alike. The University of Birmingham is committed to providing accessible education pathways, and this fee structure enables international students to more easily access our research-informed, employability-driven courses.

While most online data science masters focus on data science in a more general sense, our online MSc Applications of Data Science blends fundamental and advanced data science techniques and principles with real-world applications across a number of specific disciplines and fields. From classifying data and using statistical models to designing clinical trials and understanding ethical data collection, the programme will give you the skills to make important, data-driven decisions in a variety of contexts.

The programme is designed to encourage participation and connectivity through the use of video lectures, case studies, interactive assignments, digital resources, and peer-to-peer social interaction, and culminates in a dissertation where you will be able to demonstrate your professional competence in a substantial data science task and apply your learning.

The online MSc Applications of Data Science covers the following modules:

• Economics and Finance

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  Assess the state of the economy and policies, using theory, data, and political ideology as you explore methods, models, and empirical studies in economics and finance with an aim to address UN Sustainable Development Goals for poverty eradication, decent work, economic growth, and reduced inequalities. Practice formulating and estimating models, interpreting results, and making predictions using data drawn from international and publicly available sources.

• People and the Earth

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  Explore the nature of data and its analysis, as well as wider contextual frameworks, with a focus on addressing UN Sustainable Goals in areas such as good health, gender equality, clean water, sanitation, affordable energy, and sustainable cities and communities. Examine the ethical and legal frameworks within which data is gathered and disseminated and learn from datasets and case studies from international and publicly available sources.

• Medicine and Healthcare

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  Examine the correlation between health outcomes and human behaviour as well as its challenges, particularly in relation to the UN Sustainable Goals in good health and wellbeing. Analyse datasets and case studies from various sources, including clinical trials, population health records, and clinical data datasets from international and publicly available sources.

• Education for All

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  Analyse the UN Sustainable Goals with regards to quality education, gender equality, and reduced inequalities by examining the role of education in achieving literacy, numeracy, community and culture understanding, life-long equitable opportunity, citizenship, and skills and work with real-world datasets and case studies from international and publicly available sources.

• Industry 4.0 & 5.0

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  Learn how data is crucial for process optimization, smart factories, and resource optimisation in Industry 4.0, while examining how Industry 5.0 aims to minimise waste and environmental impact and promote flexible production systems. Evaluate your learning against UN Sustainable Development Goals in good health and wellbeing, industry, innovation, infrastructure, and responsible consumption and production, analysing examples drawn from datasets and case studies from fields like health and safety, quality control, and testing.

• Science and Research

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  Explore scientific methods, such as experiment design and hypothesis testing in physical sciences, with a focus on social sciences, people, and culture. Work through UN Sustainable Development Goal’s contributions to good health, wellbeing, and quality education by examining datasets and case studies from the fields of physical and social sciences.

• Dissertation for Advanced Data Science

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  Demonstrate your professional competence in a substantial data science task and apply what you have learnt during the programme. Choose a project suggested by staff or develop your own original idea. Depending on the topic you choose, collaborate with a supervisor or co-supervisor across as you complete your dissertation.

Build essential, sustainable data science skills

Prepare for what’s next in data science and join a new generation of data scientists using cutting-edge analytics to help reshape our world for the better.

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Birmingham has been running Distance Learning courses in the UK for over 25 years. As one of the largest providers of distance learning in the UK, we offer you a prestigious online education that matches the on-campus experience, taught by our same expert professors and lecturers. Courses are designed to encourage participation and connectivity through the use of video lectures, case studies, interactive assignments, digital resources, and peer-to-peer social interaction. You have the flexibility to study from wherever you are in the world, control your daily schedule, and still benefit from the academic, wellbeing, and career support as part of our global postgraduate community.

University-provided services that are available to online students include:

University of Birmingham academic staff are forward thinking, diverse, and community-orientated, encouraging bold, independent thinking and empowering students like you to turn ideas into reality.

Our online MSc Applications of Data Science programme will help you understand and analyse significant datasets, and provide advice and solutions that are crucial in the world of big data. As major industry players are in need of data science graduates, you will be well positioned to pursue your unique career goals in data science.

Fields that require data scientists include finance, retail, marketing, social science, research, medicine, and government.

Potential roles that you can explore or pursue include:

As well as career preparation, we offer a range of employability support services including our Careers Network’s dedicated careers and employability team.

When you choose the University of Birmingham, you are choosing to study at an outstanding institution, renowned for changing lives and transforming society.

At Birmingham, we encourage bold, independent thinking and offer a high-quality academic experience to stretch and challenge you. By studying with us, you will be an active part of a diverse university community as you pursue your own interests and develop the career path that’s right for you.

Commonly referred to as ‘the second city’, the city of Birmingham is a vibrant and inspiring place to live, with a rich culture and diverse community. Famous for being the ‘city of a thousand trades’, Birmingham has always been a hub of innovation. For more than a century, the University of Birmingham has been forging a path of similar excellence.

As the UK’s first civic university, we were founded on a vision of social responsibility and equality of opportunity for all. Today, we are a globally ambitious institution prepared to tackle the world’s challenges, to have an international impact, and to equip you to do the same. 

As an online student, you will join a diverse global community that is an integral part of the University, while benefiting from the flexibility online education offers. We are committed to encouraging fresh perspectives, and empowering tomorrow’s leaders to translate ideas into solutions and make a lasting difference to the world. 

This is your time. The future is happening at Birmingham.

1. QS World University Rankings 2025: Top Global Universities. (2025). QS Top Universities. Retrieved 8 January 2025. ↩︎