MSc in Data Science
- Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom
- Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 19,300 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* there is no application deadline for postgraduate courses
** for international full-time | international part-time: 10,615 GBP/year | home full-time: 12,400 GBP/year | home part-time: 6,820 GBP/year
Key Summary
The International Success Support Award provides £2,500 towards tuition fees if you are an international student starting in January 2026 or September 2026 on an eligible course
Data Science is one of the most rapidly expanding areas of employment globally, due to fast-paced and ongoing developments in computer systems and data gathering.
At our Penrhyn Road campus, you will have access to a modern environment with the latest equipment, including:
- dedicated postgraduate computing laboratories, fully equipped with fold-flat LCD screens, data-projection systems and high-spec processors
- industry-standard development software and tools, such as Python, Scikit, Learn and Tensorflow
- the learning resources centre, offering subject libraries, online database subscriptions and resource materials
Our dedicated IT technicians support our labs and are always on hand to provide assistance.
Plus, Kingston is just a 30-minute train journey from central London, where you can access a wealth of additional libraries and archives. These include the British Library and the Institute of Engineering and Technology.
Why choose this course?
Large data sets are widespread in business, science and government. Consequently, there is an increasing demand for data-savvy professionals, both in industry and in research, who are able to make sense of complex datasets, build models and apply them to the solution of relevant problems.
This course builds on the established strengths of the Mathematics and Computer Science programmes at Kingston and develops a multidisciplinary approach to the computational analysis of data. You will get the opportunity to develop your skills in a way which will prepare you for a variety of careers in this fast-growing and exciting area. You will also get to take advantage of opportunities for exposure to cutting-edge examples and exercises.
Like many MSc courses in the School of Computer Science and Mathematics, Data Science benefits from a diverse community of learners. You will study in week-long blocks that can fit around different work/study patterns.
If you’re coming from a non-computing or mathematics discipline, we also offer a conversion course. This was designed to support the government's response to the shortage of data science and artificial intelligence specialists in the UK. Please visit the Data Science Conversion MSc page for more information.
Accreditation
This degree has been accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS), the Chartered Institute for IT. Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by BCS. An accredited degree entitles you to professional membership of BCS, which is an important part of the criteria for achieving Chartered IT Professional (CITP) status through the Institute.
Some employers prefer to recruit from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords. This degree is accredited by BCS for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.
For students interested in studying Data Science MSc at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support:
- The Kevin Walsh Scholarship
- Inspire the Future Scholarship
- International scholarships
- Progression Scholarship
- Discounts for Kingston University alumni
Course content
The multidisciplinary nature of data science is reflected in this MSc programme. The combination of modules in data management, analysis, modelling, visualisation and artificial intelligence (AI), are taught by a cross-disciplinary team. The team's collective expertise encompasses mathematics, statistics, AI and machine learning, information management, and user experience design.
For a student to go on placement, they are required to pass every module first time with no reassessments. It is the responsibility of individual students to find a suitable paid placement. Students will be supported by our dedicated placement team in securing this opportunity.
Modules
The programme is made up of four modules each worth 30 credit points plus an individual project worth 60 credits. The optional Professional Placement can be undertaken following completion of the other modules. The optional Professional Placement taken during an additional year will give 120 credits.
Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.
Core modules
- Databases and Data Management
- Data Analytics and Visualisation
- Applied Data Programming
- Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
- Project Dissertation
Professional placement
- Professional Placement
Graduates from this course go on to pursue careers contained within the more generic data science umbrella. For example, they may become data engineers, data analysts and machine learning engineers.
Work placement scheme
This course, like many postgraduate courses at Kingston University, enables students to integrate a 12-month work placement into their course. You are responsible for finding and securing your own professional placement, which can be highly competitive but also incredibly rewarding. It is very important to prepare yourself if this is the route you wish to take. Employers look for great written and oral communication skills and an excellent CV/portfolio. As the work placement is an assessed part of the course, it is covered by a Student Route visa.
We work with a variety of employers such as hospitals, community health care, NHS foundation trusts, academic publishers, and pharmaceutical companies. Many of which also offer professional experience opportunities for the students on this course.
Careers and recruitment advice
The Faculty has a specialist employability team. It provides friendly and high-quality careers and recruitment guidance, including advice and sessions on job-seeking skills such as CV preparation, application forms and interview techniques. Specific advice is also available for international students about the UK job market and employers' expectations and requirements.
The team runs employer events throughout the year, including job fairs, key speakers from the industry and interviews on campus. These events give you the opportunity to hear from and network with employers in an informal setting.