- Normally, you should have at least an upper second class (2.1) honours degree in a computing-related subject.
- For applicants without a first or upper second, a lower second class (2.2) honours degree will be considered on a case-by-case basis (particularly for candidates with good relevant industrial experience).
- You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
- We'll consider applications where appropriate work experience can be demonstrated in lieu of, or in addition to, the published academic qualifications in line with the University’s Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) procedures.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Data is rewriting the rules of many professions, and employers from government departments to technology start-ups are scrambling to recruit professionals to help them make sense of it. The demand for workers with specialist data skills is enormous. The global big data analytics market was valued at over US$240 billion in 2021, with significant growth expected in the coming years (3). Organisations from across the economic spectrum seek to recruit people with data science skills, and the opportunities for professionals are exciting. It's worth noting that the average salary for a data scientist in the UK is 55% higher than the national average, with more experienced professionals attracting even higher wages (4).
Our MSc in Data Analytics and Technologies offers a postgraduate route into this in-demand and varied career. It's an ideal bridge into data analysis and technologies if your undergraduate degree is in a computing-related subject area. Additionally, it's an excellent option if you've worked in a relevant field, gaining degree-level knowledge through experience and self-study rather than formal education.
As a graduate of this master's degree, you'll possess an impressive all-around combination of skills and knowledge. In addition to a solid theoretical and practical understanding of data analytics and technologies, you'll be able to demonstrate essential interpersonal and people skills, such as collaboration and teamwork, negotiation and persuasion. You'll clearly understand the contexts in which data analysts work, coupled with commercial awareness and business-relevant knowledge. You'll also possess high-level academic skills in research, critical thinking and curiosity. Not only will all this help you become established early on in your career, but you'll also be primed to take on leadership roles. Moreover, you'll have the lifelong learning, problem-solving and decision-making skills needed to adapt to new challenges throughout your career.
(3) https://www.statista.com/statistics/1336002/big-data-analytics-market-size/ accessed on 31 August 2023
(4) https://uk.jobted.com/salary/data-scientist accessed on 31 August 2023
What can I do with this qualification?
An essential focus of this course is on giving you the confidence to promote yourself effectively by drawing on the most appropriate elements of your expertise and presenting your ideas and work in the correct way. As a graduate of this industry‐focused, hands-on MSc, you'll possess strong skills in data analytics and technologies, along with clear plans for how to use these to progress your career. Depending on your prior qualifications and experience, a wide range of career opportunities will be open to you, as will the option of further study towards a PhD should you choose a career in research or academia.
Data analysts are in high demand across all sectors, and data analytics roles are diverse. You may be involved in looking for trends and patterns to help companies make business decisions, predict demand for goods or services, or check quality control standards in areas like food and drug testing. There are also many roles in marketing and marketing research; for instance, in opinion poll design and analysis, analysing trends in consumer feedback and search engine optimisation for websites.
Organisations in areas such as finance, consulting, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, government and education all need professionals to help mine and analyse large datasets, draw conclusions and present these insights to managers so that they can drive the business forward. Big data has intensified the need for analysts who can create data dashboards, graphs and visualisations to communicate trends to business leaders and other stakeholders. Conversely, small and medium-sized enterprises need consultants to help them make business decisions based on their data on an ad hoc basis, so you could consider starting your own business to support their needs.
Completing this course will open a multitude of doors, and you'll be well prepared to seek employment or promotion, or become self-employed using the enterprise and innovation skills you've developed as part of the course. You'll also be invited to continue your education via the MPhil and PhD degrees available at the University of Bolton.
Alternative career options
Depending on your prior qualifications and experience, after graduation, you can also use this master's degree as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Some possibilities include:
- Leadership and management
- Use of technology in enhancing business and industrial processes
- Solutions driven business and industrial investigation
- Marketing and public relations
- Social media management
- Information systems management
- Cyber security
- Social enterprise
- Policy management
- Education and teaching
- Advising and consultancy
Our academic and professional staff will use various teaching and learning strategies to help you gain and develop appropriate concepts, knowledge and skills. You can expect practice-based enquiry, self-directed study, lectures, seminars, tutorials, presentations and work-based learning. Scheduled sessions will be held in the evening, allowing full-time and part-time students to study together and offering opportunities for those working in professional/industrial environments to present live case studies.
It's important to realise that the time spent with a tutor during formally scheduled activities is only a small part of the learning time identified for a module. You'll also be expected to spend significant time in guided independent study, such as general background reading, preparing for seminar activities and working on assignments. We're committed to supporting you throughout your learning journey. Over time, our guidance will purposefully become less structured and prescriptive. This will encourage you to develop confidence and independence in your studies and take responsibility for managing your learning time as you increase autonomy.
The assessment strategy for the programme is designed to help you achieve the overall aims of the curriculum, as well as the learning outcomes for individual modules. As well as assessing your achievement, it helps to organise and develop your learning. Assessment feedback can help you build your skills and an understanding of your strengths and weaknesses.
The types of assessment you'll be required to complete fall into two general categories: formative and summative. Formative assessments help in learning and developing knowledge and skills. Summative assessments, on which grades are allocated, reflect the quality of the learning that has been achieved. Formative assessment will occur via tutorial discussion, group workshops including peer and tutor review, and guidance on work in progress. Formative feedback will be provided face-to-face via discussion, online or in written form. Summative assessments consist of both practical and applied theoretical work. These will include a range of assessments, including practical projects, written work, presentations and portfolios.
This programme adopts a blended learning and teaching style, including online delivery and engagement where appropriate.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Professional Practice
- Research Methods
- Data Analysis and Visualisation
- Big Data Analytics
- Data Mining and Machine Learning
- Business Analytics
- Health Informatics
- Marketing Analytics
- Project
Assessment methods
| Level | Assesment method |
|---|
| Level one | Coursework 100% |
|---|
Learning activities
| Level | Learning activity |
|---|
| Level one | Guided independent study 83%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 17% |
|---|
Disclaimer
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
