Master industry tools including Python, Hadoop, Spark and PyTorch
Put your skills to work with our industry partners during the programme
Study at a university ranked among the top 100 worldwide for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (QS University World Rankings by Subject 2025)
This online programme offers a choice of three start dates each year: September, January and May. The next available start date is September 2025.
Go from academic theory to real-world artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) applications with a career-focused MSc Data Science from Lancaster University. Our curriculum leverages popular tools such as Hadoop, Spark and PyTorch sought by today’s employers. Through practical, hands-on learning experiences, you’ll gain a thorough understanding of foundational and advanced programming, data analysis and mathematical concepts that are crucial to succeed as a data science professional. You’ll showcase your skills through an original data analysis project with your current employer or with one of our industry partners.
As a student in the online MSc Data Science programme, you’ll learn directly from academics at Lancaster’s renowned Data Science Institute (DSI), a leading research institute driving data science and AI innovations across industries in the UK and abroad. Along with DSI, teaching staff from our School of Computing and Communications (SCC), School of Mathematical Sciences and the Security Lancaster institute collaborate to deliver a curriculum that reflects the interconnected and ever-evolving nature of data science. Professional data scientists regularly join classroom sessions as guest lecturers, sharing how they’ve navigated complex projects, overcome challenges and built distinguished careers.
Upon completion of the programme, you will:
The programme consists of 180 credits made up of six taught modules (20 credits each) and a 60-credit project dissertation. The project dissertation comprises a 20-credit foundation element and a 40-credit implementation element. Assignments within modules emphasise working with various applications and programming languages, empowering you to master the foundational, career-essential building blocks of data science. Build a supportive learning community with teaching staff and peers during live sessions, which will take place one hour a week, allowing you to view other lectures and complete independent study when it’s convenient for you.
You will have the opportunity to connect theory to practice during the dissertation and devise an independent industry or research project to solve a real-world data challenge and demonstrate learnings from the modules within the programme. If you are already working within the field, you can complete your project using your place of work as your respective site instead of one of our industry partners.
If you’re interested in the fast-paced world of data science, our career-centric programme will equip you to extract, analyse and articulate complex data and turn it into a competitive business advantage.
Prior experience in computer programming is not strictly required; however, the programme emphasises technical skills and you do need previous exposure to quantitative methods such as statistics or mathematical modelling. Whether you are transitioning from another field or enhancing your existing skill set, our programme puts the tools and techniques into your hands to build a successful data science career.
The Future of Jobs Report 2023 by the World Economic Forum states that AI and machine learning specialists, along with data analysts and scientists, are among the top fastest growing jobs worldwide.2 Employers are continually looking for graduates with the technical, problem-solving and presentation skills to capture, analyse and articulate data to drive transformative organisational change.
One of the guiding principles of our programme is our strong emphasis on career readiness. Through practical coursework, you’ll tackle real-world data challenges like working in fragmented data silos or advising on ethical AI policy, accurately reflecting day-to-day workplace responsibilities of professional data scientists. Whether you are interested in working in technology, healthcare, finance, government or another industry, you’ll gain a broad range of skills and the expertise to pursue a data science career that aligns with your interests.
Some careers you may pursue with a master’s in data science include:
2:2 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in any discipline, provided that you have had exposure to quantitative methods such as statistics or mathematical modelling.
We require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test.
We also consider other English language qualifications.
If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, complete our enquiry form and one of the team will get back to you.
We also have more details on our website about:
Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master's pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master's degrees. Visit INTO Lancaster University for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.
Detailed module information for this postgraduate programme will follow shortly. However, if you have any questions please contact the department.
We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2026/27 entry fees have not yet been set.
Lancaster University alumni are eligible for the Alumni Loyalty Scholarship, a 10% tuition fee discount that can be applied to the online MSc Data Science programme.
The UK government offers a number of loans to UK and some EU national students wishing to study for a Master's degree.
Master's Loan
The information on this site relates primarily to the stated entry year and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.
The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.
More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.
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