Big Data Analytics

MSc

PostgraduateComputing

Develop skills in big data technologies, analytics and industry-standard software to work at the forefront of this rapidly expanding industry.

Everything you need to know…
  • What is the fee?

    International/EU: £17,205 per year (£1,500 for placement year)

  • How long will I study?

    1 Year / 2 Years

  • When do I start?

    2024.September|January

  • Placement year available?

    Placement Available

Course summary
Develop skills in big data technologies, analytics and industry-standard software to work at the forefront of this rapidly expanding industry.
Learn to use industry-leading software including SAS, R, Python and the Apache HaDoop EcosystemObtain knowledge of data storage, data mining and statistical modelling techniquesStudy aspects related to the distribution and integration of dataGain up to twelve months real-world experience through the two-year work experience routeThis course has been developed in consultation with industry to produce graduates equipped to work with the large amounts of data now common to many businesses.
How you learn

Work placements

You will have the opportunity to go on a work placement for up to 12 months starting during the summer of your second year. You are supported in finding placements and can apply for a vacancy as you would a job. There are dedicated sessions to support you in CV writing, interview skills and job applications. Previous students secured placements in roles such as

  • data analysts
  • business analysts
  • credit risk analysts
  • data scientists
  • digital data analyst
  • data engineer
  • management information analyst. 

Live projects

You will have the opportunity to work on real work-based projects supplied by an external company or emulated industry case studies. You apply the skills and knowledge gained from your studies in topics such as data integration, statistical modelling, big data and distributed systems to situations of genuine complexity.

Networking opportunities

The teaching team make use of their research and industry connections to facilitate the inclusion of real work scenarios and case studies within many of the modules.

There are many industries that make use of the skills developed on the course once you have graduated, including:

  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Finance
  • Marketing
  • Retail

Public and Private Sector organisations such as: Police, Government, NHS, Amazon, Facebook, UK Ministry of Defence, HSBC and GSK all make use of data management/analytics extensively to help them to better understand their customers and to make informed business decisions. IBM ranked these jobs as one of the most difficult for employers to recruit, due in part to the shortage of skills in this area.

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

This course explores statistics, computing and management to help put you at the forefront of this vitally important field. You will gain an insight into Data Analytics, including Statistical Modelling and Data Mining, Big Data and Distributed Systems, Data Integration, Programming Concepts and Practice, and the core skills around professionalism, project management and research.

Our partnerships with business inform the course design, ensuring the content is relevant, up-to-date and meets the needs of industry. These partnerships also enable the inclusion of cutting-edge software such as SAS, Python, RStudio and others.

You learn through

  • teaching sessions
  • learning materials
  • recommended readings
  • problem-based learning
  • group projects
  • contemporary software platforms

This course is delivered face-to-face over three semesters - teaching is scheduled based on the length of your course and the academic calendar.

Future career

This course prepares you for a career in

  • statistical analysis and machine learning techniques
  • database and programming technologies
  • statistical theory
  • marketing and insight
  • credit risk
  • data and technology
  • digital analytics
  • data science

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for the following companies

  • Bank of England
  • OCF
  • HSBC
  • INC Research
  • Tata Consultancy Services
  • HM Revenue and Customs
  • Axis Bank

Some of the associated careers in these fields are

  • customer insight analyst
  • credit risk analyst
  • fraud analyst
  • forensic analyst
  • big data architect
  • business intelligence developer
  • digital analyst
  • data scientist
Entry requirements

A good honours degree in computing, computer science, maths or statistics or other relevant areas or equivalent.

We consider your application if you do not have a relevant degree but have at least one year's direct work experience in computing or a relevant area. You may also be able to claim credit points which can reduce the amount of time it takes to complete your qualification at Sheffield Hallam. Find out more

Non-native speakers of English need an IELTS score of 6.0 with 5.5 in all skills (or equivalent). If your English language skill is currently below an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English level.