MSc Data Science in UK for International Students
Studying Data Science, or Data Analytics, in the UK is gaining popularity among international students. It is an essential part of the IT industry. It focuses on recording, storing, and analysing data to extract meaningful insights and manage data sets. According to a study, Data Science skills are the most demanded among the other jobs in the UK. It is one of the most rapidly growing fields offering job opportunities to student graduates of MSc Data Science.
Table of Contents
- Benefits of Studying MSc Data Science in UK?
- Best Universities to Study MSc Data Science in UK
- Cost of Studying MSc Data Science in UK
- Tuition Fees
- Cost of Living in UK
- Eligibility Criteria to Study MSc Data Science in UK
- Scholarships to Study MSc Data Science in UK
- How to Apply for MSc Data Science in UK?
- MSc Data Science Jobs in UK
Benefits of Studying MSc Data Science in UK?
- Data Science is essential for the functioning of any organisation. Whether it is a small or large company, its strategies and marketing tactics are always based on data-driven insights.
- The demand for data specialists is increasing, yet the supply remains low. This situation creates excellent job opportunities for those who are within the field.
- Great salaries are offered to data analytic professionals. Entry-level salaries can go between 24,000 and 25,000 GBP, while those on the management level can have 60,000 GBP and above.
- A graduate of MSc Data Science in the UK can work in various industries, including Business Intelligence, Marketing, Sales, Finance, Data Assurance, Data Quality, and higher education.
- Data specialists can become a part of the company's decision-making team.
- This is a unique and important role and an enriching career.
- It offers many freelancing opportunities. The job in Data Science is mainly IT-based, so a specialist can do work from any part of the world, widening one's sources of income.
- The UK is one of the best countries to study MS in Data Science. Many UK universities offer Data Science courses to international students, and the quality of education is very high.
- Graduates of Data Analytic courses in the UK can improve their statistical learning techniques, giving them a sound knowledge of applied data.
Best Universities to Study MSc Data Science in UK
- Cardiff Metropolitan University
- University of Liverpool
- University of Southampton
- University of Glasgow
- University of Leeds
- University of Warwick
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- University College London
- University of Edinburgh
- Imperial College London
- University of Birmingham
Cost of Studying MSc Data Science in UK
Suppose you plan to study MSc Data Science in the UK. In that case, you need to be prepared for three expenses: the Pre-Arrival cost, which you need to spend for various applications and exams before you arrive in the country. These costs include IELTS registration, UK student visa fee, airfare, and others. The second and third expenses would be the tuition fees and the cost of living in the UK as an international student.
Tuition Fees
Name of University |
Course |
Duration |
Tuition Fee |
Cardiff Metropolitan University |
MSc Data Science |
12 -18 months |
20,000 GBP |
University of Liverpool |
MSc Business Analytic and Big Data |
1 year |
25,050 GBP |
University of Southampton |
MSc Data & Decision Analytics |
1 year |
28,000 GBP |
University of Glasgow |
MSc Data Analytics |
1 year |
25,750 GBP |
University of Leeds |
MSc Data Science & Analytics |
1 year |
25,000 GBP |
University of Warwick |
Masters in Data Analytics |
1 year |
10,430 GBP |
London School of Economics & Political Science |
MSc in Data Science |
1 year |
32,200 GBP |
University College London |
MSs Data Science |
1 year |
29,400 GBP |
University of Edinburgh |
MSc Data Science |
1 year |
32,500 GBP |
Imperial College London |
MSc Statistics (Data Science) |
1 year |
35,000 GBP |
Cost of Living in UK
As a foreign student, you need to book your accommodations, and you must have enough funding in place before you arrive at the university and start your course of study. Besides your tuition fees, you need to prepare for living expenses such as accommodations, books/stationery, social costs, etc.
Below is an estimate of the minimum monthly amount you should expect for living in the UK as an international student.
Expenses |
Estimated Amount (in GBP) |
Accommodation (halls of residence, usually Including bills) |
400 - 600 |
Private accommodation (bills not included) |
320 - 530 |
Bills (electric/gas/water) |
40 - 50 |
Food/Housekeeping |
160 - 200 |
Mobile Phone |
15 - 50 |
Clothes/Shoes |
25 |
Leisure/Sport |
10 - 20 |
Books/Stationery |
21 |
Socialising/Going Out |
120 |
Travel & Transport (student’s bus pass) |
32 |
Eligibility Criteria to Study MSc Data Science in UK
Applying international students should:
- Have a background in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, or Data Sciences.
- Undergraduate degree or equivalent in a relevant area with a classification of a minimum of 2:2
- IELTS score of 6.5 standards is required
- 2:1 Honours degree in Engineering, Science, Management and related disciplines, or equivalent.
- 2:1 Bachelor's degree with quantitative training (like computer science, Engineering, Economics, Math, and Physics.
- Have at least 50% marks in the entrance exam, IIT JAM, ITM NEST, IPU CET. You can apply online for these exams.
- Subjects should include Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. If you have Computer Science as an additional subject of study, this is an advantage.
- Above 17 years of age at the time of admission.
Scholarships to Study MSc Data Science in UK
It could be a daunting task for international students to fund education in the UK. However, it is good news that universities offer plenty of scholarships and grants to help them with their financial needs. Some of these scholarships are listed below, together with eligibility requirements and the offered amount.
Name of University |
Scholarship |
Eligibility |
Award Amount (in GBP) |
University of Edinburgh |
John Fisher High Performance (HPC) |
60% or above in Bachelor’s Enrollment in School of Informatics Master’s Prog. |
50% or tuition fee waiver |
King’s College of London |
King’s International Scholarship |
Enrollment in Post-graduate |
25,000 |
University of Bristol |
Think Big Postgraduate Scholarship |
Enrollment in Postgraduate |
5,000 – 20,000 |
University of Glasgow |
College of Science & Engineering Scholarship |
Enrollment in Postgraduate |
10,000 |
University of Birmingham |
Birmingham Master’s Scholarship Scheme |
Enrollment in Master’s |
Tuition fee waiver |
Lancaster University |
University’s Master Scholarship |
Enrollment in taught Master’s Program |
5,000 |
University of Sussex |
Chancellor’s International Scholarship |
Enrollment in Master’s Program |
Tuition Fee Waiver |
How to Apply for MSc Data Science in UK?
The UK student visa is a point-based system. As a student, you need a score of 40 points. It is a simple process to apply for a student visa;
You need to follow the following steps.
- Check your eligibility. Tier 4 Visa or the Student Route visa is a requirement. It enables international students to come to the United Kingdom and grab the opportunity for a first-class education.
- Arrange your documents. Examples are photos as proof of identity, medical examination report/s, and proof of previous travels. Also required are evidence of your place at the university and an updated English proficiency score.
- Apply online on the UK visa website, and pay the application fee. After registering yourself, you can request an interview schedule.
- You will need to appear at the designated Visa Application Centre for a facial photograph and fingerprints.
- Wait for the approval of your student visa.
It is a simple process, or it seems to be. You would not know how and where to start as a new applicant. This is where AECC Global Sri Lanka comes into the picture. We are a study abroad consultant. We will be thrilled to help students get into some of the most prestigious universities in the UK.
Our experienced counsellors, who were international students themselves, are experts in the education system in the UK. They can provide you with accurate and assured advice about the application process, from the time of your application till the end.
MSc Data Science Jobs in UK
The UK is an ideal place to work if you want to be hired in a data scientist job or any related job. There are many job opportunities to find, and some of the world's best AI firms are domiciled in the United Kingdom. The salaries are also higher than in the other industries.
Job Profile |
Salary in GBP |
Jr. Data Specialist |
60,000 - 65,000 |
Associate Data Scientist |
28,000 - 35,000 |
Data Scientist |
60,000 - 70,000 |
Research Data Scientist |
34,000 - 57,000 |
Data Scientist & Advance Analyst |
50,000 - upwards |
Analytics Manager |
70,000 |
Data Systems Developer |
65,000 - 80,000 |
Functional Analyst |
40,000 - upwards |
So if you are feeling quite uncertain about your options and actions to take for your study abroad goal, contact AECC .