Applied Data Analytics MSc
Course code I260
What is special about this course?
Are you interested in making an impactful and effective contribution to business through data science? If so, this new MSc Applied Data Analytics will allow you to develop your skills and knowledge in data analytics techniques and evaluate their relevance and validity.
You will learn key data science skills using freely available software. Core subjects will cover fundamental theories, ethical considerations and industry-standard techniques, while optional modules will allow you to focus on specific applications.
The range of options include business, computational, and environmental themes. As part of the environmental options, you will gain experience with GIS software and spatial analysis, while in the business-themed options the focus is on business decisions and company culture – can you help it move toward data-driven decision-making? The computational theme has an emphasis on data engineering and machine learning.
This part-time course is delivered online, allowing you the flexibility to fit your studies around your personal and professional commitments and tailor your option choices to suit your specific areas of interest.
This course may also be of interest to companies wishing to use it as continuing professional development for their employees.
Further information on the course, including more detail about the individual modules, can be found in the student handbooks, which are frequently updated.
Please see the course handbook for more information.
Special features
- Flexible optional themes (business, computational and environmental)
- Learn to apply a wide range of data analytics techniques and evaluate their relevance and validity
- Make an immediate and effective contribution to an organisation through data science
- Study current ethical issues in data science and their application to an organisation
Entry requirements
- 2:2 honours degree or above in a numerate subject, or in any other subject with relevant work experience
- Applicants with an ordinary degree or equivalent qualification plus relevant work experience, at a suitable level and for an appropriate length of time, will be considered on an individual basis
- Qualifications from an approved professional body will also be taken into account
Funding opportunities are currently available - please see our fees tab for further information.
PgCert
Core modules are:
- Ethics and data science
- Introduction to R and data visualisation
- Statistics 1
PgDip
You will study the following core module:
- Statistics 2
You will also choose one module from the first semester list:
- Business option - Success and culture: the importance of organisational culture
- Computational option - Data analytics on the web
- Environmental option - Applications of GIS
And one module from the second semester list:
- Business option - Information decision making
- Computational option - Data modelling on the web
- Environmental option - Advanced GIS and remote sharing
MSc
To achieve the award of MSc Applied Data Analytics, you must successfully complete a research dissertation.
How will I study my course?
- Part-time
- Part-time modular (standalone modules)
- This course is mainly delivered online with scheduled sessions and tutorials
- For most modules there are one or two hours of taught video class per week. These classes take place online, in the evening but the specific times depend on the individual module
- You will have the option to take part in an online, evening induction in September or January, according to your chosen start date, via our video meeting software
How long will my course last?
- Part-time: 2-3 years @ approximately 15-20 hours per week
- Part-time (modular): 14 weeks per module @ approx 14 hours a week
Number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours you should dedicate to the course, which includes time spent in lectures and your own time spent on individual study and research.
Where can I study my course?
- Inverness
- This fully online course can be studied from anywhere in the world. You will be enrolled and supported by staff at UHI Inverness
Start date
- September
- January
Fees
For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
This includes
- EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
- EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
- EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
| Per module (20 credits) | £584 | £610 |
| Postgraduate certificate (3 modules, 60 credits) | £1,752 | £1,830 |
| Postgraduate diploma (6 modules, 120 credits) | £3,504 | £3,660 |
| Masters degree (6 modules + dissertation) | £5,256 | £5,490 |
Rest of UK students
For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man), studying this course on-campus or online from their home, the following fees apply:
| 2024-25 (on-campus | 2024-25 (online) | 2025-26 (on-campus) | 2025-26 (online) | |
| Per module (20 credits) | £792 | £780 | £855 | £840 |
| Postgraduate certificate (3 modules, 60 credits) | £2,376 | £2,340 | £2,565 | £2,520 |
| Postgraduate diploma (6 modules, 120 credits) | £4,752 | £4,680 | £5,130 | £5,040 |
| Masters degree (6 modules + dissertation) | £7,128 | £7,020 | £7,695 | £7,560 |
EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK
Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. These students will get an automatic fee scholarship.
This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| 2025-26 | On-campus study (term-time address in Scotland) | With scholarship | Online study (from home country) | With scholarship |
| Per module (20 credits) | £1,800 | £1,350 | £1,200 | £900 |
| Postgraduate certificate (3 modules, 60 credits) | £5,400 | £4,050 | £3,600 | £2,700 |
| Postgraduate diploma (6 modules, 120 credits, 180 credits) | £10,800 | £8,100 | £7,200 | £5,400 |
| Masters degree (6 modules + dissertation, 180 credits) | £16,200 | £12,150 | £10,800 | £8,100 |
| 2024-25 | On-campus study (term-time address in Scotland) | With scholarship | Online study (from home country) | With scholarship |
| Per module (20 credits) | £1,666 | £1,250 | £1,110 | £833 |
| Postgraduate certificate (3 modules, 60 credits) | £4,998 | £3,750 | £3,330 | £2,499 |
| Postgraduate diploma (6 modules, 120 credits, 180 credits) | £9,996 | £7,500 | £6,660 | £4,998 |
| Masters degree (6 modules + dissertation, 180 credits) | £14,994 | £11,250 | £9,990 | £7,497 |
International students
For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union, studying on-campus or online, the following fees apply:
| Qualification | On-campus study (term-time address in Scotland) | Online study (from home country) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
| Per module (20 credits) | £1,666 | £1,800 | £1,110 | £1,200 |
| Postgraduate certificate (3 modules, 60 credits) | £4,998 | £5,400 | £3,330 | £3,600 |
| Postgraduate diploma (6 modules, 120 credits, 180 credits) | £9,996 | £10,800 | £6,660 | £7,200 |
| Masters degree (6 modules + dissertation, 180 credits) | £14,994 | £16,200 | £9,990 | £10,800 |
Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.
A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international postgraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.
Funding
Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying full-time can access loans up to £11,500 from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). This comprises a tuition fee loan up to £7,000 and a non-income assessed living cost loan of £4,500.
Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying part-time can apply for a tuition fee loan from SAAS. You must be intending to complete the course in no longer than twice the length of time it would take for a full-time student. For example, if your course is available to full-time students as a one-year programme, you will be funded for a maximum of two years' part-time study. If your course does not have a full-time option, you must complete within three years. You can apply for a tuition fee loan up to £7,000, which will be paid pro-rata for each academic year of study.
Full details can be found on the SAAS website. Applications for loans open in April.
Students from the rest of the UK who meet the eligibility requirements may be able to apply for a loan from the Student Loan Company.
Data Lab funded spaces
We have been awarded some funded spaces through the Data Lab MSc programme, including funding by the Scottish Funding Council. These scholarships are available for students who have received an unconditional offer for the MSc and meet the Scottish Government’s Residency conditions. Please refer to SAAS.gov.uk guidance for clarification. EU students with settled or pre-settled status may be eligible.
If you are interested in a funded place, or have any questions, please contact: data.science.ic@uhi.ac.uk. For any further information please visit The Data Lab.
There are also scholarships that may be available to individual students through the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre. For more information, please visit their website or contact the team on data.science.ic@uhi.ac.uk
If you are an international applicant, you can find further information at our international section.
What can I do on completion of my course?
On successful completion of the course you will be well suited for any role with a strong emphasis on data analysis or data science. You might also like to take dual roles within a business, marrying your underlying subject knowledge with your data science skills.
Can I progress into further study?
You may progress on to any data focussed MRes or PhD project that also makes use of your underlying subject knowledge gained through experience or undergraduate qualifications.
Is there more information available online?
You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.
After a 25 year career in Engineering I was looking for a career change and after doing some research, a career in Data grabbed my attention. UHI Inverness Campus was the perfect choice for my studies, which was a combination of the right course in the right location.
The support has been excellent and being part of a course with a smaller class has meant we have had more personalised teaching with the lectures being flexible to adapt to what we may need more help with on a week-by-week basis.
I have undertaken a paid placement for the Scottish Government, and already I can see many opportunities opening up both locally and across the country. There are more opportunities out there than graduates to fill them!
If you are considering UHI, I would say go for it! The campus at UHI Inverness is such an excellent place to study with its spacious new open planned building within an open parkland environment. I have noticed it’s a very supportive and inclusive environment to study, with a warm and welcoming community. Learning at UHI has been a life changing experience!
Colin Stevenson is studying the MSc Applied Data Science at UHI Inverness.
I chose UHI due to the ability to study online and part time. The course gave the option to choose different pathways and in particular, the environmental route using Geographic Information Systems, which wasn’t a feature of other data analytics courses I’ve looked at.
The lecturers and tutors have all been excellent. They are all enthusiastic about the modules they teach and that comes across to the students. Andrew Duncan, the Programme Leader keeps us up to date with the course and regularly checks in to make sure everything is progressing okay.
My favourite thing about UHI is that it has reignited a love of learning and given me an increased confidence in my data analytical skills. I also really value the ability to undertake the course remotely and on a part time basis, as I have been able to work while studying.
Joy Nicolson is studying the MSc Applied Data Science at UHI Inverness.
Apply for Applied Data Analytics MSc
We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.