Integrated Master in Science: Mathematics and Data Science

Data is the lifeblood of our society and mathematics is the language that underpins the science of understanding that data. From medicine to government offices, and market research to the environment, the collection and analysis of data is crucial to understanding how to improve, create and guide products and services across the globe. The techniques we use to model and manipulate data guide the political, financial and social decisions that shape our modern society and are the basis of growth of the economy and success of businesses. Technology is growing and evolving at incredible speed, and the rate of growth both of data we generate and the devices we use to process it can only increase.

Our MSci Mathematics and Data Science is an Integrated Masters course that covers key skills in mathematics and data science, allowing you to apply theory and methods to real world problems. You will foster your understanding of mathematics, develop skills to use smart devices efficiently, and use statistical techniques and methods to interpret and exploit big data.

Programming skills are crucial to managing processes and databases, analysing data sets, and developing data processing pipelines. This course introduces you to Python and R for statistical analysis and data visualisation. In the latter years of your degree, you will undertake a Capstone project, applying the techniques you've learned to a data science topic of your choice.

Topics include:

• mathematical skills including applied mathematics, pure mathematics and optimisation
• computer science and programming
• statistics and operations research
• artificial intelligence, databases and information retrieval
• ethical issues around the use and processing of data
• specialist skills in the areas of big data, data analytics and data science

Our Integrated Masters gives you the opportunity to fast-track your degree and complete your final year in nine months, compared to a regular MSc which usually takes twelve months. Combining your undergraduate and postgraduate study in one degree gives you a strong theoretical background as well as specialist expertise through independent research. This combination makes graduates from our course attractive candidates for many employers.

Our interdisciplinary research recognises that mathematics, including what can be very abstract mathematics, is an essential part of research in many other disciplines. You can therefore gain an exceptional range of knowledge and skills that are currently in demand in mathematically-oriented employment:

• business
• commerce
• industry
• government service
• education
• wider economy

Our expert staff

We are also home to many of the world's top scientists, and our staff are driven by creativity and imagination as well as technical excellence. We conduct world-leading research in areas such as explorative data analysis, classification and clustering, evolutionary computation, data visualisation and financial forecasting. As well as being world-class academics, our staff are award-winning teachers. Many have won national or regional awards for lecturing, and many of them are qualified and accredited teachers – something which is very rare at a university.

Our School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science is committed to providing you with the academic support you need to succeed. Our flexible policy means some staff are always available, whilst others maintain regular drop-in times. Staff are always happy to arrange appointments for longer discussions, and no issue is too big or too small.

Specialist facilities

• In addition to teaching, we have a Maths Support Centre which offers help to students on a range of mathematical problems. Throughout term time, we can chat through mathematical problems either on a one-to-one or small group basis.
• We have a dedicated social and study space for maths students, situated in the STEM Centre.
• We host regular events and seminars throughout the year.
• We have six laboratories that are exclusively for computer science students. Three are open 24/7, and you have free access to the labs except when there is a scheduled practical class in progress.
• We also have specialist facilities for research into areas including non-invasive brain-computer interfaces, intelligent environments, robotics, optoelectronics, video, RF and MW, printed circuit milling, and semiconductors.

Your future

Demand for skilled graduates in the areas of mathematics, big data and data science is growing rapidly in both the public and private sector, and there is a predicted shortage of data scientists with the skills to understand and make commercial decisions based on the analysis of big data.

A successful career in data science requires you to possess truly interdisciplinary knowledge, so we'll ensure you graduate with a wide-ranging yet specialised set of skills in this area. You are taught mainly within our School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science and our School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, but also benefit from input from our Essex Business School, and our Essex Pathways Department. Mathematicians and data scientists are required in every sector, carrying out statistical analysis or mining data on social media, so our course can open the door to almost any industry, from health, to government, to publishing.

Essex is bridging the gap between academia and business, and we are at the forefront of helping the UK grasp the big data opportunities to get ahead in the global race. Our graduates in data science have been very successful in finding employment in the public sector, consulting, technology, retail, and utilities, while a number have gone on to postgraduate study or research.

We have a large pool of external contacts, ranging from companies providing robots for the media industry, through vehicle diagnostics, to the transforming of unstructured data to cloud-based multidimensional data cubes, who work with us and our students to provide advice, placements and eventually graduate opportunities.

We also work with our University's Student Development Team to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Clearing entry requirements

We currently have places available in Clearing across a range of courses, with most offers at BBC–CCD (112–88 UCAS tariff points) or equivalent. Grade requirements may be lower in some cases, and some courses may also have subject specific requirements. We consider each application individually so get in touch if your grades are below those outlined here. .

English language requirements

English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall, or specified score in another equivalent test that we accept.

Details of English language requirements, including component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here

If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.

English language shelf-life

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.

Pre-sessional English courses

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Pending English language qualifications

You don’t need to achieve the required level before making your application, but it will be one of the conditions of your offer.

If you cannot find the qualification that you have achieved or are pending, then please email ugquery@essex.ac.uk .

Requirements for second and final year entry

Different requirements apply for second and final year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a visa to study in the UK. Details of English language requirements, including UK Visas and Immigration minimum component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here

Additional Notes

If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to this degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College

Course structure

We offer a flexible course structure with a mixture of core/compulsory modules, and optional modules chosen from lists.

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The course content is therefore reviewed on an annual basis to ensure our courses remain up-to-date so modules listed are subject to change.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Teaching

• Undergraduate students in the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science typically attend three taught hours per module per week. This varies by module, e.g. two hours of lectures and one class/lab.
• A significant amount of practical lab work will need undertaking for written assignments and as part of your learning.
• Take a mathematics careers and employability module, where you compile a portfolio of skills and experience.

Assessment

• Your final mark is a weighted combination of coursework and summer examinations.
• Your first year of study does not count towards your final degree class.
• You receive regular feedback through in-term tests.