MSc Big Data Analytics

Year of Entry 2024/25
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MSc

Big Data Analytics

Full-time Computing

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...

  • Pound sign

    What is the fee?

    Home: £10,310 per year (£1,500 for placement year)
    International/EU: £17,205 per year (£1,500 for placement year)

  • Time

    How long will I study?

    1 Year

  • Location

    Where will I study?

    City Campus

  • Date

    When do I start?

    September 2024
    January 2025


Work Placement Route

For international students wishing to undertake a placement as part of this course, you must apply to the work experience route. Click here to go to the MSc Big Data Analytics course page. Transferring to the work experience route later will not be possible due to visa restrictions.

Course summary

  • Learn to use industry-leading software including SAS, R, Python and the Apache HaDoop Ecosystem.
  • Obtain knowledge of data storage, data mining and statistical modelling techniques.
  • Study aspects related to the distribution and integration of data.
  • Gain up to twelve months real-world experience through the two-year work experience route.

This 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.


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How you learn

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

  • Deaching 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.

Course leaders and tutors

Richard Wilson
Richard Wilson
Senior Lecturer

Richard Wilson is the course leader for the MSc in Big Data Analytics within the College of Business, Technology and Engineering, department of computing, and the Ma … Read more

Your lecturer's view
Watch lecturer Dharmendra Shadija talk about this course.

Applied learning

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.


Future careers

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

Where will I study?

You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

City Campus

City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.

City Campus map | City Campus tour 


City Campus map
Location

Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB

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Adsetts library

Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.

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Learn more about your department

Computing facilities tour

Take a look around the facilities and equipment in the Department of Computing at Sheffield Hallam University.

Computing

Equipment and facilities

On this course, you will work with

  • SAS Enterprise Guide
  • SAS Enterprise Miner
  • Python
  • HaDoop Ecosystem
  • R Programming\R Studio
  • Tableau

Entry requirements

All students

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.

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.

Additional information for EU/International students

If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.

For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.


Modules studied may differ depending on when you start your course.

Modules

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.

Modules studied may differ depending on when you start your course.

Final year

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Advanced Data Management Project
Credits 45
Assessment Coursework(20%) , Practical(80%)
Data Analytics: Tools And Techniques
Credits 30
Assessment Coursework(40%) , Practical(60%)
Dissertation For Computing
Credits 45
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Industrial Expertise
Credits 15
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Programming Concepts And Practice
Credits 15
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Research Skills For Computing
Credits 15
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Study Skills And Project Management
Credits 15
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2024/25 is £10,310 for the course without work experience placement or £11,810 with work experience placement.

If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.

International students

Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2024/25 is £17,205 for the course without work experience placement or £18,705 with work experience placement.

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Postgraduate student loans

Up to £11,222 available for Home students on most masters courses.

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Additional course costs

This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

Additional costs for Computing courses (PDF, 197.9KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.

 

How do I apply?

You apply for this course via our online application form.

You can also use the application form above to apply for future years of entry.

Not ready to apply just yet?

Why not come to our next open day? Open days are the perfect place to talk to staff and students, visit our campuses and get all the information you need. Alternatively, feel free to ask us a question.

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Why choose us?

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Teaching

We are Gold rated in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) for the outstanding quality of our teaching and student outcomes

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Accommodation

We guarantee to find you an affordable place to live that’s close to campus and comes with all bills included

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Employment

95% of our UK graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating (2020/21 Graduate Outcomes Survey)

Where next?

Find out more about Sheffield Hallam's postgraduate opportunities and community.

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Information for international students

Information for international students including entry requirements by country and funding.

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