Durham University
Master of Data Science (Earth and Environment) MSc
Durham University

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews for 15 graduates of Master of Data Science (Earth and Environment) MSc at Durham University for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Anthropology.

Overall student satisfaction
79 /100
15 total respondents
The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Anthropology

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Anthropology at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £26500 £27000 £33000
25-75 percentile range £22000 - £32500 £21000 - £32000 £23000 - £45500


Salary of all UK Graduates of Anthropology

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £25000 £22450 £26876
25-75 percentile range £21000 - £28000 £16925 - £28392 £20314 - £34845

Course Description

As part of a suite of Data Science Masters this course is targeted at Geographers, Earth and Environmental Scientists who want to learn how to work with managing natural resources and spatio-temporal information flows. These courses are designed to equip students with the key skills and interdisciplinary knowledge to address the challenges of utilising the streams of data produced in modern industry, science and government.

The advantage of taking one of these Masters at Durham is that you will be part of a cohort of Masters students who will work together throughout the 12 month course. Included with the Masters course your research project could be carried out in conjunction with a range of partners across industry, regulators and policy-makers building on Durham’s significant strengths in delivering world-leading and world changing research.

To equip you for your career all of the students on the suite of Data Science Masters courses share core modules. These shared modules mean you will be carrying out team building activities, present case studies and carry out both formative and summative assessments with students from all four faculties of Durham University ensuring that you learn how to represent not just your own discipline but listen and the integrate views and skills from other disciplines.

All around us, massive amounts of increasingly complex data are being generated and collected, for instance, from mobile devices, cameras, cars, houses, offices, cities, and satellites. Business, research, government, communities, and families can use that data to make informed and rational decisions that lead to better outcomes. It is impossible for any one individual or group of individuals to keep on top of all the relevant data: there is simply far too much. Data science enables us to analyse large amounts of data effectively and efficiently and as a result has become one of the fastest growing career areas.

Previously, data science was the province of experts in maths and computer science, but the advent of new techniques and increases in computing power mean that it is now viable for non-experts to learn how to access, clean, analyse, and visualize complex data. There is thus a growing opportunity for those already in possession of knowledge about a particular subject or discipline, and who are therefore able to grasp the full meaning and significance of data in their area, to be able to undertake data analysis intelligently themselves. The combination of primary domain knowledge with an expertise in extracting relevant information from data will give those with this ‘double-threat’ a significant employment advantage.

The Master of Data Science programme is a course with a hard-core of data science, intended to provide Masters-level education rich in the substance of data science for students who hold a first degree that is not highly quantitative, including those in social sciences, the arts and humanities. Introductory modules are designed to bring students with non-technical degrees up to speed with the background necessary for data science. This is done on a need-to-know basis, focusing on understanding in practice rather than abstract theory. Core modules then introduce students to the full range of data science methods, building from elementary techniques to advanced modern methods such as neural networks and deep learning. Optional modules allow students to focus on an area of interest.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Master of Data Science (Earth and Environment) MSc at Durham University

35% Sales occupations
15% Teaching Professionals
10% Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation
10% Business and public service associate professionals
10% Elementary occupations
10% Artistic, literary and media occupations
10% Administrative occupations
10% Welfare and housing associate professionals

Grading & Study Time

The Master of Data Science is research-oriented. Data Science is a driving force behind many subject specialisations today and aspects are delivered within the context of an active and varied research culture as is demonstrated via the associated academics and researchers within the Institute for Data Science (www.durham.ac.uk/idas/people). Students are also encouraged, through a range of modules, to develop research methods, skills and ethics reflecting the wide range of methods used by the research active staff. Research methodologies are actively taught through many other modules and assessments. They are also developed through innovative teaching practices such as simulations. Overall students are encouraged and guided to be ‘research minded’ in all modules, and to develop these critical skills for the future. All modules taught on this programme are underpinned by research, and embed elements of research training both in the delivery and in the assessment.

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 6.5
    • All other courses
    • 4.5
    • Foundation
    • 6.5
    • Graduate Degrees
    • 6.5
    • Undergraduate Degrees

If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take a pre-Masters pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre.

For further information see the course listing.
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Master of Data Science (Earth and Environment), MSc, if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

A UK first or upper second class honours degree or equivalent in a Geography, Earth or Environmental Sciences degree and excluding degrees in Mathematics and Physics and Computer Science.

Costs

Tuition Fees Master of Data Science (Earth and Environment) MSc

England UK £13500 year 1
Northern Ireland £13500 year 1
Scotland £13500 year 1
Wales £13500 year 1
Channel Islands £13500 year 1
EU £31500 year 1
International £31500 year 1
Ireland £31500 year 1

Additional fee information

The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

University Rankings

Positions of Durham University in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of Durham University in related subject specific rankings.

Computer Science

    • #4 
    • #4 
    Computer Science
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]
    • #33 
    • #301 
    Computer Science
    THE World University Rankings by Subject
    [Published 26 October, 2022]
    • #28 
    • #451 
    Computer Science
    NTU Rankings by Subject
    [Published 11 July, 2023]

See all 37 university rankings of Durham University

About Durham University

Founded in 1832, Durham University (DU) is located in the cathedral city of Durham, North East England. DU takes pride in having numerous subject fields ranked among the best in the world according to QS, as well as having an exceptionally large course catalogue without compromising the quality that students can expect. Apart from the impressive academic opportunities on offer, students can also participate in numerous sports, music, and art-based extracurricular activities on-site.

List of 211 Bachelor and Master Courses from Durham University - Course Catalogue

Student composition of Durham University

undergraduates:
17140
postgraduates:
4365
Total:
21505
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Where is this programme taught

Durham University
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