The MSc in Data Science is aimed at providing opportunities for students who wish to establish expertise and employment in data-centric, largely quantitative areas within a broad range of professional disciplines and areas of employment. A cross-disciplinary approach is therefore central to the delivery of the programme. According to Hal Varian, Google's Chief Economist, "The ability to take data - to be able to understand it, to process it, to extract value from it, to visualise it, to communicate it - that's going to be a hugely important skill in the next decades." It is these skills and the knowledge that underpins them that are the focus of this programme.This course gives you the opportunity to look at data across a wide range of subjects and sources, including finance, business, crime, health, education, planning, community, natural environment, and social media.You will gain hands-on experience in handling data through your coursework and projects. Recent students have been analysing crime data, drawing on material similar to that used for research undertaken by our course leaders for the Metropolitan Police and Essex Police.This programme includes four taught modules and a research dissertation and is available in full-time and part-time modes. Delivery of taught modules is by block and blended learning.The advantage of studying this programme is that it will uniquely qualify students in a field that is increasingly recognised as being central to most professional areas and for which job opportunities have been rising exponentially. Holders of an MSc in Data Science will have an advanced qualification in this area and it will prepare them for a professional or research career. Holders of this qualification will be eligible to apply for membership of the Royal Statistical Society.