Key information
- Level
- Postgraduate Taught
- Delivery type
- Full Time, Part Time
- Degree qualification
- MSc
- Mode of delivery
- On-Campus
- Duration
- 1 year
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Start date
- September, January
- Next intake
- September
Our MSc in Data Science provides you with the expertise to extract, analyse, and communicate meaningful insights from vast and complex datasets, making students invaluable across a wide range of industries.
This programme is aimed at graduates or those already in the industry with a background in computing or related disciplines, the programme blends rigorous theoretical foundations with practical, hands-on skills essential for managing and analysing large-scale data.
Heriot-Watt University is home to four world-leading Global Research Institutes (GRIs) with over 50 years of research, specialising in robotics, AI, healthcare and wellbeing, environmental sustainability, and earth and marine science, designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and tackle some of the most pressing global challenges of our time.
Reasons to study:
- Excellence in Rankings: We take pride in our ranking as the 1st in Scotland and 6th in the UK, according to Daily Mail University League Table 2025.
- Industry-Driven Employability: To ensure your success, we've actively collaborated with industry experts to understand precisely what employers are seeking in data scientists. We've meticulously integrated these insights into our programme, giving you a competitive edge during job interviews and setting you up for success from day one.
- Mastery of Essential Tools: In today's competitive job market, proficiency in key software tools like Python, R, SQL, and data visualisation is essential for data scientists. Our programme will equip you with mastery of these indispensable tools.
- State-of-the-Art Labs: To facilitate hands-on learning, we have created state-of-the-art labs based in the Robotarium as well as at the GRID; including the Games & Design studio and the universities first VR labs. These resources are instrumental in providing students with a practical, real-world experience when working with authentic datasets and AI models.
- Cutting-Edge Research: The university is actively involved in data science research, contributing to the development of new techniques, tools, and strategies to combat emerging threats. This research informs the curriculum and keeps it up to date.
- Professional accreditation: Accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS), meeting the academic requirements for Chartered IT Professional (CITP) status.
Academic Excellence Scholarship
To recognise the academic excellence of our applicants, Heriot-Watt is offering a scholarship in the form of a £2,000 tuition fee reduction to the student/s deemed to have met the highest academic criteria in their application for MSc Data Science.
Learn moreYour student experience
- Heriot-Watt University boasts a distinguished history of over five decades dedicated to the research and teaching of Computer Science.
- World-Leading Faculty: Heriot-Watt University is known for its strong academic reputation, and this extends to its data science programmes. In fact, many of our academics are qualified data scientists, with many years of experience working in this field.
- State-of-the-Art Labs: To facilitate hands-on learning, we have created state-of-the-art labs based in the Robotarium as well as at the GRID; including the Games & Design studio and the universities first VR labs. These resources are instrumental in providing students with a practical, real-world experience when working with authentic datasets and AI models.
- Cutting-Edge Research: The university is actively involved in data science research, contributing to the development of new techniques, tools, and strategies to combat emerging threats. This research informs the curriculum and keeps it up to date.
Course content
September Intake - Edinburgh
Year 1
Mandatory September
- Data Mining and Machine Learning
- Statistical Modelling and Analysis
Optional September
- Biologically Inspired Computation
- Computer Network Security
- Industrial Programming
- Software Engineering Foundations
- Databases and Information Systems
- Introduction to Natural Language Processing
Mandatory January
- Big Data Management
- Data Visualisation and Analytics
- Research Methods and Project Planning
Optional January
- Advanced Software Engineering
- Digital and Knowledge Economy
- Data Engineering Pipelines
- Distributed & Parallel Technologies
Mandatory May
- Masters Project and Dissertation
January Intake - Edinburgh
Year 1
Mandatory January
- Big Data Management
- Data Visualisation and Analytics
Optional January
- Advanced Software Engineering
- Digital and Knowledge Economy
- Data Engineering Pipelines
- Distributed & Parallel Technologies
Mandatory September
- Research Methods and Project Planning
- Data Mining and Machine Learning
- Statistical Modelling and Analysis
Optional September
- Biologically Inspired Computation
- Computer Network Security
- Software Engineering Foundations
- Industrial Programming
- Introduction to Natural Language Processing
Mandatory Second January
- Masters Project and Dissertation
Disclaimer
The courses mentioned above may change between now and the time that you study. For more information, please view our Terms and Conditions.
Programme Video
Study MSc Data Science at Heriot‑Watt University
Fees and funding
| Status | Full Time | Part Time |
|---|---|---|
| UK | £12,584 | £6,292 |
| International | £26,296 | £13,148 |
- Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.
- International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above).
Scholarships and bursaries
Postgraduate scholarships and bursaries
We aim to encourage well-qualified, ambitious students to study with us and we offer a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries to achieve this. Over £6 million worth of opportunities are available in fee and stipend scholarships, and more than 400 students benefit from this support.
Entry requirements
We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.
Year 1
Admission requires a second class honours degree or non-UK equivalent that includes substantial components of computer science and programming.
Applicants that do not meet the computer science or programming requirements for the one year programme may be eligible for entry onto the 2 year programme. Please note: entry onto the 2 year programme is only available for the September intake.
We welcome applications from international students and accept qualifications from around the world. Please refer to the entry requirements for your country for more details.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability.
The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5.
If you do not have IELTS 6.0, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies.
Please see our detailed English language requirements.
Why Heriot-Watt
We have been producing career-ready graduates since 1821. With our roots as the world’s first Mechanics Institute, Heriot-Watt is a pioneering university with a global reach.
At Heriot-Watt, learning goes beyond the lecture theatre. We tackle real world challenges through extraordinary research – from climate change to protecting our oceans, to advancing life-saving medical breakthroughs and shaping the next generation of AI. We are also committed to developing forward-thinking design and sustainable business practices that impact industries worldwide. On our campuses you’ll find some of the world’s most advanced facilities, while our strong industry links set you up for career success. This is why almost 90% of our graduates are in employment or further education (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024).
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