Students around the globe will be able to experience world-class expertise from the University of Leeds - as it launches a new fully-online course.
The Master of Science (MSc) in Data Science (Statistics) will equip students with in-demand skills and prepare them for careers in healthcare, environmental science, and other data-driven STEM fields.
The course has been developed in collaboration with the School of Mathematics and the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (LIDA), and will be delivered by online learning platform Coursera.
The online MSc allows students to participate remotely in an interactive and engaging learning experience. Students can connect with faculty and peers through live and online content, such as discussions, activities, and tutoring.
“Remove boundaries”
Professor Jeff Grabill, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Education, said: “This is a fantastic example of our investment in digital technologies and commitment to grow our fully online education portfolio to benefit students around the world.
“We have an ambitious strategy to transform learning for students, and by offering fully-online courses like this MSc in Data Science, we can give people who would never be able to step foot on campus the opportunity to experience our high-level teaching and research.
“Our aim is to remove boundaries to learning, and digital education allows us to engage with the world in a different way - and adds to the already outstanding learning opportunities already available at the University of Leeds.”
High demand
Data science related professions are already in high demand and likely to increase further over the next few years. In fact, it’s estimated that the global data analytics industry will grow more than 500% by 2030.
Those with technical skills and qualifications, such as the MSc in Data Science from the University of Leeds, will be well positioned for the future labour market.
The Master's offers both foundational data science courses and specialised statistics courses. Students will develop a range of skills, including proficiency in key programming languages, the ability to analyse large datasets, and an understanding of data handling.
The course includes practical projects, allowing students to demonstrate their skills to potential employers, and prepare for senior roles in business, government, and non-profit sectors.
Sought-after skills
Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer at Coursera, said: “This degree program offers a great opportunity for learners to acquire the highly sought-after skills that are indispensable in today’s data-centric workforce.
“By bringing this degree online we have opened it up to all our learners worldwide and enabled more people to gain a world-class education. This program offers a transformative educational experience that is not only accessible but also adaptable to the evolving demands of the industry."
The program also allows students to try open courses related to the degree before applying, with any progress made counting toward the full degree.
Programming for Data Science will introduce learners to the programming skills required for data science and help them familiarise with Python, one of the most important programming languages required for data analysis.
Exploratory Data Science – Data analysis and how to bring data to life is a sought-after skill in every industry. In this course, you will learn how to analyse and investigate data sets and explore ways to visualise data.
Applications for the MSc are now open, with the first cohort beginning in January 2024.
Further information
More information about the Data Science (Statistics) MSc can be found on the course website.
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For media enquiries, please contact University of Leeds corporate communications officer Rebecca Pascoe on r.pascoe@leeds.ac.uk.