Skip to content
Admission Mantra
Study Abroad course guide

Study Data Science Abroad

Statistics, programming and machine learning to turn data into decisions.

A guide for Indian students · Updated 23 Oct 2026

Subject area

Computing and data

Master's length

1–2 years

Countries compared

13 destinations

Popular destination

United Kingdom

Switch courseBrowse all 18 courses

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

Data Science degree options
ProgrammeDurationTypical entryIdeal for
Bachelor's (BSc Data Science)3–4 yearsClass 12 with mathsStudents after Class 12 who enjoy maths and coding
MSc Data Science1–2 yearsBachelor's with maths, statistics or computingEngineering, maths, statistics and CS graduates
MSc Business Analytics1–2 yearsBachelor's, often with some quantitative contentCommerce, economics and management graduates

Best countries to study Data Science

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.

Data Science: countries compared
CountryBachelor's / yearMaster's / yearPost-study workWhat to know
Flag of United KingdomUK£15,000–40,000≈ ₹18.3 lakh – ₹48.8 lakh£17,000–36,000≈ ₹20.7 lakh – ₹43.9 lakh1–2 yearsGraduate visa: 2 years (18 months if you apply from 1 January 2027) DetailsOne-year taught master's are common.
Flag of AustraliaAustraliaA$30,000–50,000≈ ₹19.5 lakh – ₹32.5 lakhA$32,000–55,000≈ ₹20.8 lakh – ₹35.8 lakh1–2 yearsTemporary Graduate visa (485): usually 2–3 years; Indian graduates up to 3 years after a master's DetailsMany master's are 1.5–2 years; credit for related degrees can shorten them.
Flag of CanadaCanadaC$20,000–60,000≈ ₹13.4 lakh – ₹40.2 lakhC$10,000–50,000≈ ₹6.7 lakh – ₹33.5 lakh1–2 yearsPGWP: up to 3 years, depending on programme length DetailsColleges also offer postgraduate diplomas; check the field-of-study rule for PGWP.
Flag of IrelandIreland€16,000–30,000≈ ₹17 lakh – ₹31.8 lakh€16,000–30,000≈ ₹17 lakh – ₹31.8 lakh1–2 yearsStamp 1G: 12 months, up to 24 months after a master's DetailsMost taught master's take 1 year.
Flag of GermanyGermanyUp to €20,000up to ≈ ₹21.2 lakhUp to €25,000up to ≈ ₹26.5 lakh1.5–2 years18-month job-seeker residence permit DetailsPublic universities charge little or no tuition (Baden-Württemberg and TUM charge non-EU fees). Most bachelor's are taught in German.
Flag of New ZealandNew ZealandNZ$36,000–55,000≈ ₹19.4 lakh – ₹29.7 lakhNZ$40,000–60,000≈ ₹21.6 lakh – ₹32.4 lakh1–2 yearsPost Study Work Visa: up to 3 years after a master's DetailsIncludes 1-year and 1.5–2 year master's.
Flag of NetherlandsNetherlands€9,000–20,000≈ ₹9.5 lakh – ₹21.2 lakh€12,000–30,000≈ ₹12.7 lakh – ₹31.8 lakh1–2 yearsOrientation year: 1 year DetailsResearch universities and universities of applied sciences both teach in English.
Flag of Dubai (UAE)Dubai (UAE)AED 44,000–165,000≈ ₹11 lakh – ₹41.3 lakhAED 42,000–181,000≈ ₹10.5 lakh – ₹45.3 lakh1–2 yearsNo dedicated route: employer work visa or a 60–120 day Job Seeker visa DetailsBranch campuses award the parent university's degree.
Flag of SpainSpain€1,000–27,000≈ ₹1.1 lakh – ₹28.6 lakh€2,700–43,000≈ ₹2.9 lakh – ₹45.6 lakh1–2 yearsJob-search authorisation: 24 months DetailsPublic universities teach mostly in Spanish; English-taught options are mainly at private schools.
Flag of MaltaMalta€7,000–15,000≈ ₹7.4 lakh – ₹15.9 lakh€8,000–20,000≈ ₹8.5 lakh – ₹21.2 lakh1–2 yearsPost-study permit: up to 9 months DetailsEnglish is an official language; small universities and colleges.
Flag of CyprusCyprus€6,800–12,000≈ ₹7.2 lakh – ₹12.7 lakh€4,000–18,000≈ ₹4.2 lakh – ₹19.1 lakh1–2 yearsUp to 12 months after a master's; none after a bachelor's DetailsPublic universities teach mainly in Greek; private universities teach in English.
Flag of LatviaLatvia€3,000–10,000≈ ₹3.2 lakh – ₹10.6 lakh€3,500–12,000≈ ₹3.7 lakh – ₹12.7 lakh1–2 yearsUp to 9 months after a master's or PhD DetailsEnglish-taught programmes at state and private universities.
Flag of LithuaniaLithuania€2,500–10,000≈ ₹2.6 lakh – ₹10.6 lakh€2,300–12,000≈ ₹2.4 lakh – ₹12.7 lakh1.5–2 years12-month job-search permit DetailsEnglish-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

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

English requirements for Data Science
LevelTypical requirement
Bachelor'sIELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall with no band below 5.5–6.0 is typical
Master'sIELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0 is typical
Other testsPTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and Duolingo English Test are widely accepted; check each university's list
Class 12 EnglishSome 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

Data Science career roles and UK salary guides
Job roleUK salary guideSource
Data scientist£25,000–£30,000 starting; £40,000–£60,000 with a few years' experienceProspects job profile (UK), 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Data analyst£28,000–£32,000 starting; £50,000–£65,000+ for experienced analystsProspects 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 yearsProspects 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

Sources

Talk to our counsellor

Tell us about your marks, budget and goals and we'll shortlist Data Science courses and universities for you.

IELTS / PTE status
Best way to reach you

#YouInspireUs

Stories from our students and parents

#StudyAbroadSample
ft. Student nameMSc Data Science · United Kingdom

#1 Student name

MSc Data Science, United Kingdom · Study Abroad

Sample text. A short story in the student's own words: how the counsellor helped them shortlist universities, understand the full cost and prepare their visa file.

Design preview: sample cards show where real stories will appear. They are replaced by real students' stories (with written consent) before launch.

All student stories