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What is Data Science?
Quick read
- Data science combines statistics, programming and machine learning with knowledge of a business or research area.
- Most master's expect maths and programming in your bachelor's degree; some offer a conversion route.
- Business analytics programmes are a less technical alternative for commerce and management graduates.
- UK junior data scientists start around £25,000–£30,000, rising to £40,000–£60,000 with experience (Prospects, 2025).
- Projects with real data sets and a strong portfolio help you stand out.
Data science is about collecting, cleaning, analysing and modelling data to answer questions and make predictions. Courses teach statistics, Python or R, databases, machine learning, visualisation and the ethics of using data.
Programmes differ in how technical they are. Data science and machine learning master's are maths-heavy; business analytics master's focus on using data for decisions in companies.
Why study Data Science abroad
Industry projects
Many programmes end with a project using real data from a company or public body.
Choice of focus
You can lean towards statistics, computing, health data, finance or business analytics.
Demand across sectors
Banks, retailers, health services, governments and tech firms all hire data professionals.
Short master's
One-year programmes in the UK and Ireland keep costs down.
Specialisations you can choose
- Machine learning
- Business analytics
- Big data engineering
- Statistics
- Health data science
- Financial analytics
- Data visualisation
- Natural language processing
Degree options
| Programme | Duration | Typical entry | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's (BSc Data Science) | 3–4 years | Class 12 with maths | Students after Class 12 who enjoy maths and coding |
| MSc Data Science | 1–2 years | Bachelor's with maths, statistics or computing | Engineering, maths, statistics and CS graduates |
| MSc Business Analytics | 1–2 years | Bachelor's, often with some quantitative content | Commerce, economics and management graduates |
Best countries to study Data Science
United KingdomOne-year data science and business analytics master's.Study in the UK
IrelandMany data roles in Dublin's tech and finance sectors.Study in Ireland
AustraliaData science master's with industry projects and post-study work rights.Study in Australia
CanadaStrong AI and data ecosystem in Toronto and Montreal.Study in Canada
GermanyEnglish-taught data science master's at public universities.Study in Germany
Data Science: costs and work rights in 13 countries
The table compares typical international tuition per year in each country (a range across subjects, from our country guides), how long a master's usually takes, and the post-study work route. Notes specific to Data Science are added where they matter.
| Country | Bachelor's / year | Master's / year | Post-study work | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £15,000–40,000≈ ₹18.3 lakh – ₹48.8 lakh | £17,000–36,000≈ ₹20.7 lakh – ₹43.9 lakh1–2 years | Graduate visa: 2 years (18 months if you apply from 1 January 2027) Details | One-year taught master's are common. | |
| A$30,000–50,000≈ ₹19.5 lakh – ₹32.5 lakh | A$32,000–55,000≈ ₹20.8 lakh – ₹35.8 lakh1–2 years | Temporary Graduate visa (485): usually 2–3 years; Indian graduates up to 3 years after a master's Details | Many master's are 1.5–2 years; credit for related degrees can shorten them. | |
| C$20,000–60,000≈ ₹13.4 lakh – ₹40.2 lakh | C$10,000–50,000≈ ₹6.7 lakh – ₹33.5 lakh1–2 years | PGWP: up to 3 years, depending on programme length Details | Colleges also offer postgraduate diplomas; check the field-of-study rule for PGWP. | |
| €16,000–30,000≈ ₹17 lakh – ₹31.8 lakh | €16,000–30,000≈ ₹17 lakh – ₹31.8 lakh1–2 years | Stamp 1G: 12 months, up to 24 months after a master's Details | Most taught master's take 1 year. | |
| Up to €20,000up to ≈ ₹21.2 lakh | Up to €25,000up to ≈ ₹26.5 lakh1.5–2 years | 18-month job-seeker residence permit Details | Public universities charge little or no tuition (Baden-Württemberg and TUM charge non-EU fees). Most bachelor's are taught in German. | |
| NZ$36,000–55,000≈ ₹19.4 lakh – ₹29.7 lakh | NZ$40,000–60,000≈ ₹21.6 lakh – ₹32.4 lakh1–2 years | Post Study Work Visa: up to 3 years after a master's Details | Includes 1-year and 1.5–2 year master's. | |
| €9,000–20,000≈ ₹9.5 lakh – ₹21.2 lakh | €12,000–30,000≈ ₹12.7 lakh – ₹31.8 lakh1–2 years | Orientation year: 1 year Details | Research universities and universities of applied sciences both teach in English. | |
| AED 44,000–165,000≈ ₹11 lakh – ₹41.3 lakh | AED 42,000–181,000≈ ₹10.5 lakh – ₹45.3 lakh1–2 years | No dedicated route: employer work visa or a 60–120 day Job Seeker visa Details | Branch campuses award the parent university's degree. | |
| €1,000–27,000≈ ₹1.1 lakh – ₹28.6 lakh | €2,700–43,000≈ ₹2.9 lakh – ₹45.6 lakh1–2 years | Job-search authorisation: 24 months Details | Public universities teach mostly in Spanish; English-taught options are mainly at private schools. | |
| €7,000–15,000≈ ₹7.4 lakh – ₹15.9 lakh | €8,000–20,000≈ ₹8.5 lakh – ₹21.2 lakh1–2 years | Post-study permit: up to 9 months Details | English is an official language; small universities and colleges. | |
| €6,800–12,000≈ ₹7.2 lakh – ₹12.7 lakh | €4,000–18,000≈ ₹4.2 lakh – ₹19.1 lakh1–2 years | Up to 12 months after a master's; none after a bachelor's Details | Public universities teach mainly in Greek; private universities teach in English. | |
| €3,000–10,000≈ ₹3.2 lakh – ₹10.6 lakh | €3,500–12,000≈ ₹3.7 lakh – ₹12.7 lakh1–2 years | Up to 9 months after a master's or PhD Details | English-taught programmes at state and private universities. | |
| €2,500–10,000≈ ₹2.6 lakh – ₹10.6 lakh | €2,300–12,000≈ ₹2.4 lakh – ₹12.7 lakh1.5–2 years | 12-month job-search permit Details | English-taught programmes at state and private universities. |
Ranges are typical yearly international tuition across subjects; lab-based and professional courses often sit at the upper end. Living costs, visa and health cover are extra. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Not sure which country suits Data Science?Share your marks, budget and goals and we'll compare countries and universities for you.
Universities to consider for Data Science
Universities on our list known for Data Science & AI, ordered by global ranking, with no more than two per country. Entry rules and fees differ by course, so check the university page or ask us.
Technical University of MunichMunich, GermanyQS 2027: 25
Monash UniversityMelbourne, AustraliaQS 2027: 31
The University of EdinburghEdinburgh, UKQS 2027: 35
University of AmsterdamAmsterdam, NetherlandsQS 2027: 60
University of AlbertaEdmonton, CanadaQS 2027: 96
University of SouthamptonSouthampton, UKQS 2027: =111
University of WaterlooWaterloo, CanadaQS 2027: =113
Utrecht UniversityUtrecht, NetherlandsQS 2027: =113
Kaunas University of TechnologyKaunas, LithuaniaQS 2027: =696
University of Technology Sydney (UTS)Sydney, Australia
Admission requirements
Bachelor's
- Class 12 with maths
- Minimum marks set by each university
- English test or accepted Class 12 English mark
Master's
- Bachelor's with maths, statistics or programming
- Minimum grade set by each university
- Some programmes ask for evidence of programming experience
Documents you will usually need
- Mark sheets and certificates
- Statement of purpose
- CV
- References
- English test score report
English test scores
| Level | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall with no band below 5.5–6.0 is typical |
| Master's | IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0 is typical |
| Other tests | PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and Duolingo English Test are widely accepted; check each university's list |
| Class 12 English | Some universities accept a high Class 12 English mark instead of a test for some courses |
Typical ranges; each university and course sets its own scores. Prepare with our IELTS and PTE classes.
Skills you will build
- Python or R
- SQL
- Statistics and probability
- Machine learning
- Data visualisation
- Data cleaning
- Communicating results
- Domain knowledge
Careers and salaries after Data Science
| Job role | UK salary guide | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Data scientist | £25,000–£30,000 starting; £40,000–£60,000 with a few years' experience | Prospects job profile (UK), 2025 (opens in a new tab) |
| Data analyst | £28,000–£32,000 starting; £50,000–£65,000+ for experienced analysts | Prospects job profile (UK), 2025 (opens in a new tab) |
| Machine learning engineer | £33,000–£39,000 for graduates; up to about £81,000 after 3–5 years | Prospects job profile (UK), 2025 (opens in a new tab) |
UK salary guides are shown so all courses use the same comparison. Pay elsewhere differs, and a job offer abroad is never guaranteed.
Planning a career in Data Science?Our counsellor can map courses to the jobs and countries you're aiming for.
Study Data Science abroad: FAQs
Can commerce graduates study data science abroad?
Usually through a business analytics master's, which needs less maths. Pure data science master's normally ask for maths or programming in your degree.
Data science or computer science?
Computer science is broader and focuses on building software; data science focuses on analysing data and building models. Choose based on the work you enjoy.
Do I need to know programming before applying?
For most data science master's, yes. Learning Python before you start makes the first semester easier.
Is a one-year data science master's enough?
It gives you the core skills. Projects, internships and continued learning after the course matter for getting hired.
Is GRE needed?
Rarely for UK, Irish, Australian and European programmes. Some North American programmes ask for it.
Explore other courses
Business and finance
Computing and data
Engineering and architecture
Health and life sciences
Hospitality and social sciences
Sources
- Prospects: data scientist job profile (opens in a new tab)
- Prospects: data analyst job profile (opens in a new tab)
- Prospects: machine learning engineer job profile (opens in a new tab)
Researched 23 Oct 2026. Fees, rules and salaries change; confirm with the university or official source before you apply.