This MSc teaches advanced analytical and computational skills for success in a data rich world. Designed to be both mathematically rigorous and relevant, the programme covers fundamental aspects of machine learning and statistics, with potential options in information retrieval, bioinformatics, quantitative finance, artificial intelligence and machine vision.
The programme aims to provide graduates with the foundational principles and the practical experience needed by employers in the area of machine learning and statistics. Graduates of this programme will have had the opportunity to develop their skills by tackling problems related to industrial needs or to leading-edge research.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of two core modules (30 credits), four to six optional modules (60 to 90 credits), up to two elective modules (up to 30 credits) and a research project (60 credits). Please note that not all combinations of optional modules will be available due to timetabling restrictions.
Core modules
Optional modules
Students must choose 15 credits from Group One Options. Of the remaining credits, students must choose a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 60 from Group Two, 15 credits from Group Three and a maximum of 30 credits from Electives.
Group One Options (15 credits)
Group Two Options (30 to 60 credits)
Group Three Options (15 credits)
Please note: the availability and delivery of optional modules may vary, depending on your selection.
A list of acceptable elective modules is available on the Departmental page.
Dissertation/report
All MSc students undertake an independent research project, which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, discussions, practical sessions and project work. Student performance is assessed through unseen written examinations, coursework, practical application and the project assessment process.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Computational Statistics and Machine Learning MSc
There is a strong national and international demand for graduates with skills at the interface of traditional statistics and machine learning. Substantial sectors of UK industry, including leading, large companies already make extensive use of computational statistics and machine learning techniques in the course of their business activities. Globally there are a large number of very successful users of this technology, many located in the UK. Areas in which expertise in statistics and machine learning is in particular demand include: finance, banking, insurance, retail, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, and computer security. Graduates have gone on to further study at, for example, the Universities of Cambridge, Helsinki, Chicago, as well as at UCL. The MSc is also ideal preparation for a PhD, in statistics, machine learning or a related area.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
Scientific experiments and companies now routinely generate vast databases and machine learning and statistical methodologies are core to their analysis. There is a considerable shortfall in the number of qualified graduates in this area internationally. CSML graduates have been in high demand for PhD positions across the sciences. In London there are many companies looking to understand their customers better who have hired our CSML graduates. Similarly graduates now work in companies in, amongst others, Germany, Iceland, France and the US in large-scale data analysis. The finance sector has also hired several graduates recently.
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
The Centre for Computational Statistics and Machine Learning (CSML) is a major European Centre for machine learning having coordinated the PASCAL European Network of Excellence.
Coupled with the internationally renowned Gatsby Computational Neuroscience and the Machine Learning Unit, and UCL Statistical Science, this MSc programme draws on world-class research and teaching talents. The centre has excellent links with world-leading companies in internet technology, finance and related information areas.
The programme is designed to train students in both the practical and theoretical sides of machine learning. A significant grounding in computational statistics is also provided.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Computer Science
96% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
There is a high demand from industry worldwide, including from substantial sectors in the UK, for graduates with skills at the interface of traditional statistics and machine learning. MRes graduates benefit from the department's excellent links in finding employment; this programme is also ideal preparation for a research career.
The programme aims to provide graduates with the foundational principles and the practical experience needed by employers in the areas of computational statistics and machine learning (CSML). Students will have the opportunity to develop their skills by tackling problems related to industrial needs or to leading-edge research. They also undertake a nine-month research project which enables the department to more fully assess their research potential.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of three core modules (30 credits), three optional modules (45 credits) and a dissertation (105 credits).
Core modules
Optional modules
Student select three modules from the following:
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a substantial dissertation.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials and seminars. Lectures are often supported by laboratory work with assistance from demonstrators. Students liaise with their academic or industrial supervisor to choose a study area of mutual interest for the research project. Performance is assessed by unseen written examinations, coursework and the research dissertation.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Computational Statistics and Machine Learning MRes
Graduates have gone on to further study at, for example, the Universities of Cambridge, Helsinki, and Chicago, as well as at UCL. Similarly, CSML graduates now work in companies in Germany, Iceland, France and the US in large-scale data analysis. The finance sector is also particularly interested in CSML graduates.
Employability
Scientific experiments and companies now routinely generate vast databases, and machine learning and statistical methodologies are core to their analysis. There is a considerable shortfall in the number of qualified graduates in this area internationally, while in London there are many companies looking to understand their customers better who have hired CSML graduates. Computational statistics and machine learning skills are in particular demand in areas including finance, banking, insurance, retail, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, and computer security. CSML graduates have obtained PhD positions both in machine learning and related large-scale data analysis, and across the sciences.
The Centre for Computational Statistics and Machine Learning (CSML) is a major European Centre for machine learning, having co-ordinated the PASCAL European Network of Excellence which represents the largest network of machine learning researchers in Europe.
UCL Computer Science graduates are particularly valued by the world’s leading organisations in internet technology, finance, and related information areas, as a result of the department’s strong international reputation and ideal location close to the City of London.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Computer Science
96% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
The Machine Learning MSc at UCL is a truly unique programme and provides an excellent environment to study the subject. It introduces the computational, mathematical and business views of machine learning to those who want to upgrade their expertise and portfolio of skills in this domain.
Students develop an understanding of the principles underlying the development and application of new techniques in this area, alongside an awareness of, and ability to analyse the range and scope of algorithms and approaches available, and design, develop and evaluate appropriate algorithms and methods for new problems and applications.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of one core module (15 credits), five to seven optional modules (75 to 105 credits), up to two modules (30 credits) from electives, and a research project (60 credits).
Core modules
Optional modules
Students must choose 15 credits from Option Group One and a minimum of 60 credits from Option Group Two. Students must choose a further 30 credits from either Option Group Two or approved electives.
Option Group One (choose 15 credits)
Option Group Two (choose 60 to 90 credits)
Please note: the availability and delivery of optional modules may vary, depending on your selection.
Students may select up to 30 credits from elective modules
A list of acceptable elective modules is available on the departmental website.
Dissertation/report
All MSc students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words in the form of a project report.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, class discussions and project supervision. Student performance is assessed though a combination of unseen written examination, coursework (much of which involves programming and/or data analysis), practical application, and the research project.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Machine Learning MSc
Graduates from this programme have an excellent employment record. Substantial sectors of UK industry, including leading, large companies already make extensive use of intelligent systems techniques in the course of their business activities, and the UK has a number of very successful developers and suppliers of the technology. Students also benefit from strong corporate and academic connections within the UCL Computer Science alumni network.
Graduates have taken machine learning research degrees in domains as diverse as robotics, music, psychology, and bioinformatics at the Universities of Basel, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Nairobi, Oxford and at UCL. Graduates have also found positions with multinational companies such as BAE Systems and BAE Detica.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
Scientific experiments and companies now routinely generate vast databases and machine learning and statistical methodologies are core to their analysis. There is a considerable shortfall in the number of qualified graduates in this area internationally. Machine Learning graduates have been in high demand for PhD positions across the sciences. In London there are many companies looking to understand their customers better who have hired our graduates. Similarly graduates now work in companies in Germany, Iceland, France and the US, amongst other places, in large-scale data analysis. The finance sector has also hired several graduates recently.
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
UCL Computer Science is recognised as a world leader in teaching and research, and our Master's programmes have some of the highest employment rates and starting salaries.
We take an experimental approach to our subject, enjoy the challenge and opportunity of entrepreneurial partnerships and place a high value on our extensive range of industrial collaborations.
This MSc is one of the few leading Master's programmes entirely dedicated to machine learning. It combines a rigorous theoretical academic framework along with specific knowledge of a variety of application fields to fast-track your commercial career or to prepare for PhD research.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Computer Science
96% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
Data Science brings together computational and statistical skills and machine learning for data-driven problem solving. This rapidly expanding area includes deep learning, large-scale data analysis and has applications in e-commerce, search/information retrieval, natural language modelling, finance, bioinformatics and related areas in artificial intelligence.
The programme comprises core machine learning methodology and an introduction to statistical science, combined with a set of more specialised and advanced options covering computing and statistical modelling. Projects are offered both within UCL Computer Science and from a range of industry partners.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of three compulsory modules (45 credits), four optional modules (75 credits) and a dissertation/report (60 credits).
Core modules
Optional modules
Students must choose 30 credits from Group One options. For the remaining 45 credits, students may choose up to 30 credits from Group Two options or up to 45 credits from Electives.
Group One Options (30 credits)
Group Two Options (up to 30 credits)
Electives (up to 45 credits)
Please note: the availability and delivery of modules may vary, based on your selected options.
A list of acceptable elective modules is available on the Departmental page.
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered though a combination of lectures, seminars, class discussions and project supervision. Student performance is assessed through a combination of unseen written examination, coursework (much of which involves programming and/or data analysis), practical application, and the research project.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Data Science and Machine Learning MSc
Data science professionals are increasingly sought after as the integration of statistical and computational analytical tools becomes more essential to organisations. This is a very new degree and information on graduate destinations is not currently available. However, MSc graduates from across the department frequently find roles with major tech and finance companies including:
Employability
Students gain a thorough understanding of the fundamentals required from the best practitioners, and the programme's broad base enables data scientists to adapt to rapidly evolving goals.
UCL received the highest percentage (96%) for quality of research in Computer Science and Informatics in the UK's most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2014).
UCL Computer Science staff have research interests ranging from foundational machine learning and large-scale data analysis to commercial aspect of business intelligence. Our extensive links to companies provide students with opportunities to carry out the research project with an industry partner.
The department also enjoys strong collaborative relationships across UCL; exposure to interdisciplinary research spanning UCL Computer Science and UCL Statistical Science will provide students with a broad perspective of the field. UCL is home to regular machine learning masterclasses and big data seminars.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Computer Science
96% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
Machine learning has already revolutionised the user experience of millions of web users the world over, and yet the discipline is still comparatively young. In time, this form of artificial intelligence will have an even more profound impact on the way we use software and interact with computer technology. Study Machine Learning at Royal Holloway, University of London and you’ll equip yourself with a set of crucial skills to assist in the development of the next generation of search and analysis technologies.
You’ll study in one of the UK’s leading research departments, and contribute to our renowned research culture with your own Independent Project. You’ll benefit from cutting-edge research-led teaching, with the department’s research strengths including Algorithms and Applications, Machine Learning, Bioinformatics and others.
Royal Holloway’s location close to the M4 corridor – otherwise known as ‘England’s Silicon Valley’ – gives you the chance to benefit from networking and placement opportunities with some of the country’s top technology organisations. This flexible programme is also available with a year in industry option, helping you to gain invaluable skills and experience to take into your future career.
You’ll graduate with a highly desirable Masters qualification in a rapidly expanding sector with excellent graduate employability prospects. The skills and knowledge you’ll develop will be in high demand by employers including Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Yahoo, and you'll be well prepared to pursue a rewarding career.
Core modules
Optional modules
In addition to these mandatory course units there are a number of optional course units available during your degree studies. The following is a selection of optional course units that are likely to be available. Please note that although the College will keep changes to a minimum, new units may be offered or existing units may be withdrawn, for example, in response to a change in staff. Applicants will be informed if any significant changes need to be made.
Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including coursework and a dissertation. The placement is assessed as part of your degree.
A Masters in Machine Learning at Royal Holloway, University of London offers students excellent graduate employability prospects. You’ll develop practical skills in Machine Learning Techniques, making you an attractive candidate to employers. You’ll also be well-placed to pursue PhD study, should you choose to progress your studies further.
Our recent alumni have gone on to enjoy rewarding careers in a variety of computer science-related roles, including network systems design and engineering, web development and production. Our proximity to the M4 corridor technology hub – dubbed ‘England’s Silicon Valley’ – gives students the chance to enjoy excellent networking and placement opportunities with some of the country’s top technology organisations.
Machine Learning has already revolutionised the user experience of millions of web users the world over, and yet the discipline is still comparatively young. In time, this form of artificial intelligence will have an even more profound impact on the way we use software and interact with computer technology. Study Machine Learning with a Year in Industry at Royal Holloway, University of London and you’ll equip yourself with a set of crucial skills to assist in the development of the next generation of search and analysis technologies.
You’ll study in one of the UK’s leading research departments, and contribute to our renowned research culture with your own Independent Project. You’ll benefit from cutting-edge research-led teaching, with the department’s research strengths including Algorithms and Applications, Machine Learning, Bioinformatics and others.
By electing to spend a year in business you will also be able to integrate theory and practice and gain real business experience. In the past, our students have secured placements in blue-chip companies such as Centrica, Data Reply, Disney, IMS Health, Rolls Royce, Shell, Sociéte Générale, VMWare and UBS, among others.
Royal Holloway’s location close to the M4 corridor – otherwise known as ‘England’s Silicon Valley’ – gives you the chance to benefit from networking and placement opportunities with some of the country’s top technology organisations. This flexible programme includes a rewarding year in industry, helping you to gain invaluable skills and experience to take into your future career.
You’ll graduate with a highly desirable Masters qualification in a rapidly expanding sector with excellent graduate employability prospects. The skills and knowledge you’ll develop will be in high demand by employers, and you'll be well prepared to pursue a rewarding career in the field of your choosing.
Core modules
Year 1
Year 2
You will spend this year on a work placement. You will be supported by the Department of Computer Science and the Royal Holloway Careers and Employability Service to find a suitable placement. This year forms an integral part of the degree programme and you will be asked to complete assessed work. The mark for this work will count towards your final degree classification.
Optional modules
In addition to these mandatory course units there are a number of optional course units available during your degree studies. The following is a selection of optional course units that are likely to be available. Please note that although the College will keep changes to a minimum, new units may be offered or existing units may be withdrawn, for example, in response to a change in staff. Applicants will be informed if any significant changes need to be made.
Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including coursework and a dissertation. The placement is assessed as part of your degree.
A Masters in Machine Learning with a Year in Industry at Royal Holloway, University of London offers students excellent graduate employability prospects. You’ll develop practical skills in machine Learning Techniques, making you an attractive candidate to employers and gain invaluable skills, experience and connections during your year in industry. You’ll also be well-placed to pursue PhD study, should you choose to progress your studies further.
Our recent alumni have gone on to enjoy rewarding careers in a variety of computer science-related roles, including network systems design and engineering, web development and production. Our proximity to the M4 corridor technology hub – dubbed ‘England’s Silicon Valley’ – gives students the chance to enjoy excellent networking and placement opportunities with some of the country’s top technology organisations.
Intelligent and autonomous systems are increasingly important in all areas of human life and activity from medicine and space exploration to agriculture and entertainment.
Understanding and developing autonomous systems involves a range of skills and knowledge including designing interactive systems with both human and machine elements, and modelling and building systems that can sense and learn.
Machine learning is at the heart of autonomous and intelligent systems, including computer vision and robotics. It also underpins the recent developments in data analytics across many fields.
You will learn to use new knowledge to solve complex machine learning and autonomous systems problems. You’ll develop a range of skills including the theory of machine learning, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems design and engineering, and the implications for humans of interacting more and more with intelligent and autonomous systems.
You will be taught by academics from the Department of Computer Science with expertise in machine learning, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction. This course has been designed in collaboration with the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering who offer expertise in robotics.
You will study in a research-led department with a supportive postgraduate community. You’ll learn in our bespoke computer laboratory and be exposed to the latest ideas and technology. The department has strong links to industry both nationally and internationally.
With machine learning and autonomous systems forming an essential part of a number of key industries, our MSc graduates will be highly sought after by employers.
You’ll gain the knowledge and transferable skills for a career in a wide range of industries, or for further study at PhD level. Graduates from the department have gone on to work in a wide variety of sectors, including IT consultancy, software development, banking and education.
This degree provides in-depth training for students interested in a career in industry or in research-oriented institutions focused on image and video analysis, and deep learning.
State-of-the-art computer-vision and machine-learning approaches for image and video analysis are covered in the course, as well as low-level image processing methods.
Students also have the chance to substantially expand their programming skills through projects they undertake.
Read about the experience of a previous student on this course, Gianmarco Addari.
This programme is studied full-time over 12 months and part-time from 24 to 60 months. It consists of eight taught modules and a standard project.
Example module listing
The following modules are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that not all modules described are compulsory and may be subject to teaching availability and/or student demand.
This programme in Computer Vision, Robotics and Machine Learning aims to provide a high-quality advanced training in aspects of computer vision for extracting information from image and video content or enhancing its visual quality using machine learning codes.
Computer vision technology uses sophisticated signal processing and data analysis methods to support access to visual information, whether it is for business, security, personal use or entertainment.
The core modules cover the fundamentals of how to represent image and video information digitally, including processing, filtering and feature extraction techniques.
An important aspect of the programme is the software implementation of such processes. Students will be able to tailor their learning experience through selection of elective modules to suit their career aspirations.
Key to the programme is cross-linking between core methods and systems for image and video analysis applications. The programme has strong links to current research in the Department of Electronic Engineering’s Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing.
To support your learning, we hold regular MSc group meetings where any aspect of the programme, technical or non-technical, can be discussed in an informal atmosphere. This allows you to raise any problems that you would like to have addressed and encourages peer-based learning and general group discussion.
We provide computing support with any specialised software required during the programme, for example, Matlab. The Faculty’s student common room is also covered by the University’s open-access wireless network, which makes it a very popular location for individual and group work using laptops and mobile devices.
Specialist experimental and research facilities, for computationally demanding projects or those requiring specialist equipment, are provided by the Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing (CVSSP).
Computer vision specialists are be valuable in all industries that require intelligent processing and interpretation of image and video. This includes industries in directly related fields such as:
Studying for Msc degree in Computer Vision offers variety, challenge and stimulation. It is not just the introduction to a rewarding career, but also offers an intellectually demanding and exciting opportunity to break through boundaries in research.
Many of the most remarkable advancements in the past 60 years have only been possible through the curiosity and ingenuity of engineers. Our graduates have a consistently strong record of gaining employment with leading companies.
Employers value the skills and experience that enable our graduates to make a positive contribution in their jobs from day one.
We draw on our industry experience to inform and enrich our teaching, bringing theoretical subjects to life. Our industrial collaborations include:
This course gives an excellent preparation for continuing onto PhD studies in computer vision related domains.
We often give our students the opportunity to acquire international experience during their degrees by taking advantage of our exchange agreements with overseas universities.
In addition to the hugely enjoyable and satisfying experience, time spent abroad adds a distinctive element to your CV.
Data is the driving force behind today's information-based society. There is a rapidly increasing demand for specialists who are able to exploit the new wealth of information in large and complex systems.
The programme focuses on modern methods from machine learning and database management that use the power of statistics to build efficient models, make reliable predictions and optimal decisions. The programme provides students with unique skills that are among the most valued on the labour market.
The rapid development of information technologies has led to the overwhelming of society with enormous volumes of information generated by large or complex systems. Applications in IT, telecommunications, business, robotics, economics, medicine, and many other fields generate information volumes that challenge professional analysts. Models and algorithms from machine learning, data mining, statistical visualisation, computational statistics and other computer-intensive statistical methods included in the programme are designed to learn from these complex information volumes. These tools are often used to increase the efficiency and productivity of large and complex systems and also to make them smarter and more autonomous. This naturally makes these tools increasingly popular with both governmental agencies and the private sector.
The programme is designed for students who have basic knowledge of mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics and computer science and have a bachelor’s degree in one of these areas, or an engineering degree.
Most of the courses included in the programme provide students with deep theoretical knowledge and practical experience from massive amounts of laboratory work.
Students will be given the opportunity to learn:
The programme contains a wide variety of courses that students may choose from. Students willing to complement their studies with courses given at other universities have the possibility to participate in exchange studies during the third term. Our partner programmes were carefully selected in order to cover various methodological perspectives and applied areas.
During the final term of the programme, students receive help in finding a private company or a government institution where they can work towards their thesis. There they can apply their knowledge to a real problem and meet people who use advanced data analytics in practice.
The Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation (IANC) is a world-leading institute dedicated to the theoretical and empirical study of adaptive processes in both artificial and biological systems. We are one of the UK’s largest and most prestigious academic teams in these fields.
We foster world-class interdisciplinary and collaborative research bringing together a range of disciplines.
Our research falls into three areas:
In machine learning we develop probabilistic methods that find patterns and structure in data, and apply them to scientific and technological problems. Applications include areas as diverse as astronomy, health sciences and computing.
In computational neuroscience and neuroinformatics we study how the brain processes information, and analyse and interpret data from neuroscientific experiments
The focus in the computational biology area is to develop computational strategies to store, analyse and model a variety of biological data (from protein measurements to insect behavioural data).
You carry out your research within a research group under the guidance of a supervisor. You will be expected to attend seminars and meetings of relevant research groups and may also attend lectures that are relevant to your research topic. Periodic reviews of your progress will be conducted to assist with research planning.
A programme of transferable skills courses facilitates broader professional development in a wide range of topics, from writing and presentation skills to entrepreneurship and career strategies.
The School of Informatics holds a Silver Athena SWAN award, in recognition of our commitment to advance the representation of women in science, mathematics, engineering and technology. The School is deploying a range of strategies to help female staff and students of all stages in their careers and we seek regular feedback from our research community on our performance.
The award-winning Informatics Forum is an international research facility for computing and related areas. It houses more than 400 research staff and students, providing office, meeting and social spaces.
It also contains two robotics labs, an instrumented multimedia room, eye-tracking and motion capture systems, and a full recording studio amongst other research facilities. Its spectacular atrium plays host to many events, from industry showcases and student hackathons to major research conferences.
Nearby teaching facilities include computer and teaching labs with more than 250 machines, 24-hour access to IT facilities for students, and comprehensive support provided by dedicated computing staff.
Among our entrepreneurial initiatives is Informatics Ventures, set up in 2008 to support globally ambitious software companies in Scotland and nurture a technology cluster to rival Boston, Pittsburgh, Kyoto and Silicon Valley.
The research you will undertake at ANC is perfectly suited to a career in academia, where you’ll be able to use your knowledge to advance this important field. Some graduates take their skills into commercial research posts, and find success in creating systems that can be used in everyday applications.
AI is rapidly changing the way we live, work and learn. Both governments and industry have recognised the need for strategic development of AI -- technology giants such as Google, Microsoft and Facebook have each established their own AI research institutes, and the UK government recently announced its £75 million investment in the November 2017 Budget.
There is however a real shortage of AI talents worldwide, both to serve the industry and drive future research. AI jobs are amongst the best paid in industry nowadays – an AI Specialist typically earns among the highest salaries (New York Times, 22nd Oct 2017), while having a solid AI background is strongly desired in multiple research disciplines.
MSc Artificial Intelligence importantly recognises such need for training cutting-edge AI talents, and is specifically designed to maximise student employability on AI-specific jobs.
The programme brings together our teaching, research and industrial contacts to allow students to mix the different AI topics that best suits their personal requirements and future plans. Students will be offered lectures that explain the fundamental AI concepts, universal machine learning tools essential for any AI job profile, and specific practical and research skills on all five of the AI topics. Students will gain experience with cutting-edge tools such as Deep Neural Networks (DNN), Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN), and Deep Reinforcement Learning (Deep RL) via regular exercises and practical labs. Students will be taught by world-renowned academics in their specific subject areas, and have regular contacts with them throughout the duration of the programme.
The industrial placement consists of 8-12 months spent working with an appropriate employer in a role that relates directly to your field of study. The placement is currently undertaken after you have completed, passed the taught component of the degree and submitted your MSc project. The placement will provide the opportunity to apply key technical knowledge and skills gained from your taught modules and will enable you to gain a better understanding of your own abilities, aptitudes, attitudes and employment potential. The module is only open to students enrolled on a programme of study with integrated placement.
In the event that you are unable to secure a placement, we will transfer you onto the 1 year FT taught programme without the Industrial Experience. This change will also apply to any student visa you hold at the time.
MSc Artificial Intelligence is currently available for one year full-time study or two years part-time study.
Semester 1: Four modules that operate on a 3+1 scheme
3 core modules that cover the foundational machine learning techniques and introduction of Artificial Intelligence for Games (e.g., AlphaGo); and 1 optional module to select from three other AI topics (vision, music and language).
Semester 2: Four modules themed around all five AI topics offered
The module selection allows students to focus on topic-specific research or industry applications for AI. More importantly, these module options allow students to gain advanced and up-to-date knowledge on selected AI topics.
Semester 3:
Students carry out a large project on the AI topic that they want to specialise in, after agreeing on a specific topic with an academic supervisor in the first semester, and completing the preparation phase over the second semester.
Undertaking a masters programme is a serious commitment, with weekly contact hours being in addition to numerous hours of independent learning and research needed to progress at the required level. When coursework or examination deadlines are approaching independent learning hours may need to increase significantly. Please contact the course convenor for precise information on the number of contact hours per week for this programme.
Part-time study options often mean that the number of modules taken is reduced per semester, with the full modules required to complete the programme spread over two academic years. Teaching is generally done during the day and part-time students should contact the course convenor to get an idea of when these teaching hours are likely to take place. Timetables are likely to be finalised in September but you may be able to gain an expectation of what will be required.
· Computational Intelligence and Games
· Machine Learning
· Data Mining
· MSc Project module
· Introduction to Computer Vision
· Machine Learning for Visual Data Analysis
· Deep Learning and Computer Vision
· Music Perception and Cognition
· Music and Speech Modelling
· Music Analysis and Synthesis
· Natural Language Processing
· Advanced Natural Language Processing
· Artificial Intelligence
· Information Retrieval
· Advanced Robotics Systems
· Multi-platform Game Development
*All new courses are required to undergo a two-stage internal review and approval process before being advertised to students. Courses that are marked "subject to approval" have successfully completed the first stage of this process. Applications are welcome but we will not make formal offers for this course until it has passed this second (and final) stage.
Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study Data Science at Swansea University - 'Welsh University of the Year 2017' (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017).
MSc in Data Science aims to equip students with a solid grounding in data science concepts and technologies for extracting information and constructing knowledge from data. Students of the MSc Data Science will study the computational principles, methods, and systems for a variety of real world applications that require mathematical foundations, programming skills, critical thinking, and ingenuity. Development of research skills will be an essential element of the Data Science programme so that students can bring a critical perspective to current data science discipline and apply this to future developments in a rapidly changing technological environment.
The MSc Data Science programme focuses on three core technical themes: data mining, machine learning, and visualisation. Data mining is fundamental to data science and the students will learn how to mine both structured data and unstructured data. Students will gain practical data mining experience and will gain a systematic understanding of the fundamental concepts of analysing complex and heterogeneous data. They will be able to manipulate large heterogeneous datasets, from storage to processing, be able to extract information from large datasets, gain experience of data mining algorithms and techniques, and be able to apply them in real world applications. Machine learning has proven to be an effective and exciting technology for data and it is of high value when it comes to employment. Students of the Data Science programme will learn the fundamentals of both conventional and state-of-the-art machine learning techniques, be able to apply the methods and techniques to synthesise solutions using machine learning, and will have the necessary practical skills to apply their understanding to big data problems. We will train students to explore a variety visualisation concepts and techniques for data analysis. Students will be able to apply important concepts in data visualisation, information visualisation, and visual analytics to support data process and knowledge discovery. The students of the Data Science programme also learn important mathematical concepts and methods required by a data scientist. A specifically designed module that is accessible to students with different background will cover the basics of algebra, optimisation techniques, statistics, and so on. More advanced mathematical concepts are integrated in individual modules where necessary.
The MSc Data Science programme delivers the practical components using a number of programming languages and software packages, such as Hadoop, Python, Matlab, C++, OpenGL, OpenCV, and Spark. Students will also be exposed to a range of closely related subject areas, including pattern recognition, high performance computing, GPU processing, computer vision, human computer interaction, and software validation and verification. The delivery of both core and optional modules leverage on the research strength and capacity in the department. The modules are delivered by lecturers who are actively engaged in world leading researches in this field. Students of the Data Science programme will benefit from state-of-the-art materials and contents, and will work on individual degree projects that can be research-led or application driven.
Modules for the MSc Data Science programme include:
- Visual Analytics
- Data Science Research Methods and Seminars
- Big Data and Data Mining
- Big Data and Machine Learning
- Mathematical Skills for Data Scientists
- Data Visualization
- Human Computer Interaction
- High Performance Computing in C/C++
- Graphics Processor Programming
- Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
- Modelling and Verification Techniques
- Operating Systems and Architectures
The Department of Computer Science is well equipped for teaching, and is continually upgrading its laboratories to ensure equipment is up-to-date – equipment is never more than three years old, and rarely more than two. Currently, our Computer Science students use three fully networked laboratories: one, running Windows; another running Linux; and a project laboratory, containing specialised equipment. These laboratories support a wide range of software, including the programming languages Java, C# and the .net framework, C, C++, Haskell and Prolog among many; integrated programme development environments such as Visual Studio and Netbeans; the widely-used Microsoft Office package; web access tools; and many special purpose software tools including graphical rendering and image manipulation tools; expert system production tools; concurrent system modelling tools; World Wide Web authoring tools; and databases.
As part of the expansion of the Department of Computer Science, we are building the Computational Foundry on our Bay Campus for computer science and mathematical science.
- Data Analyst
- Data mining Developer
- Machine Learning Developer
- Visual Analytics Developer
- Visualisation Developer
- Visual Computing Software Developer
- Database Developer
- Data Science Researcher
- Computer Vision Developer
- Medical Computing Developer
- Informatics Developer
- Software Engineer
This programme is for students who have a numerate first degree or can demonstrate numerate skills. Students are often at the early stages of their careers in diverse professions including economics, statistics and computer science.
Students will have a curiosity about data, and will want to learn new techniques to boost their career and be part of exciting current industry developments. The MSc in Data Science includes some complex programming tasks because of the applied nature of the course, so many students have a mathematics or statistics background and enjoy working with algorithms.
The demand for data scientists in the UK has grown more than ten-fold in the past five years *. The amount of data in the world is growing exponentially. From analysing tyre performance to detecting problem gamblers, wherever data exists, there are opportunities to apply it.
City’s MSc Data Science programme covers the intersection of computer science and statistics, machine learning and practical applications. We explore areas such as visualisation because we believe that data science is about generating insight into data as well as its communication in practice.
The programme focuses on machine learning as the most exciting technology for data and we have learned from our own graduates that this is of high value when it comes to employment within the field. At City, we have excellent expertise in machine learning and the facilities students need to learn the technical aspects of data analysis. We also have a world-leading centre for data visualisation, where students get exposed to the latest developments on presenting and communicating their results – a highly sought after skill.
Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of fully meeting the further learning academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional, and on behalf of the Science Council for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Scientist and a Chartered Engineer.
MSc Data Science students can participate in our professional internships programme, which is supported by the Professional Liaison Unit. This will enable you to undertake your MSc project in an industrial or research internship over an extended period compared to regular projects. For example, the individual project can be carried out as a 6-month internship in one of the companies with which City has a long-standing relationship and history of collaboration in the big data and data science area.
Examples of company placements internships taken by our Data Science students in the recent past include: Google, SagePay, Reward, Black Swan.
The teaching and learning methods we use mean that students’ specialist knowledge and autonomy increase as they progress through each module. Active researchers guide your progress in the areas of machine learning, data visualization, and high-performance computing, which culminates with an individual project. This is an original piece of research conducted with academic supervision, but largely independently and, where appropriate, in collaboration with industrial partners.
Taught modules are delivered through a series of 20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of tutorials/laboratory sessions. Lectures are normally used to:
Tutorials help you develop the skills to apply the concepts we have covered in the lectures. We normally achieve this through practical problem solving contexts.
Laboratory sessions give you the opportunity to apply concepts and techniques using state-of-the-art software, environments and development tools.
In addition to lectures, laboratory sessions and tutorial support, you also have access to a personal tutor. This is an academic member of staff from whom you can gain learning support throughout your degree. In addition, City’s online learning environment Moodle contains resources for each of the modules from lecture notes and lab materials, to coursework feedback, model answers, and an interactive discussion forum.
We expect you to study independently and complete coursework for each module. This should amount to approximately 120 hours per module if you are studying full time. Each module is assessed through a combination of written examination and coursework, where you will need to answer theoretical and practical questions to demonstrate that you can analyse and apply data science methods and techniques.
The individual project is a substantial task. It is your opportunity to develop a research-related topic under the supervision of an academic member of staff. This is the moment when you can apply what you have learnt to solve a real-world problem using large datasets from industry, academia or government and use your knowledge of collecting and processing real data, designing and implementing big data methods and applying and evaluating data analysis, visualisation and prediction techniques. At the end of the project you submit a substantial MSc project report, which becomes the mode of assessment for this part of the programme.
From health to retail, and from the IT industry to government, the Data Science MSc will prepare you for a successful career as a data scientist. You will graduate with specialist skills in data acquisition, information extraction, aggregation and representation, data analysis, knowledge extraction and explanation, which are in high demand.
City's unique internships, our emphasis on machine learning and visual analytics, together with our links with the industry and Tech City, should help you gain employment as a specialist in data analysis and visualization. Graduates starting a new business can benefit from City's London City Incubator and City's links with Tech City, providing support for start-up businesses.
Career & Skills Development Service at City, University of London
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