- Degree awarded
- Master of Science (MSc)
- Duration
- 1 year
- Entry requirements
-
High 2:1 honours degree (or overseas equivalent)
You are expected to have a degree with a substantial proportion of social science content; as a minimum you should have completed two degree level units on topics from any of the following: sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, history, human geography, political science, public health.
The following includes other skills/experience that would increase the chances of being selected:
- Evidence of applying statistical modelling to social sciences
- Non-academic experience with the application of statistical models to social issues
- Experience working on public policy issues or similar
In your application, you should demonstrate aptitude, knowledge and/or interest in three areas:
- data analytics and/or statistics;
- computational subjects; and
- pathway specific requirements.
These can be demonstrated by course units taken at undergraduate level and high school level, or professional experience.
Please see our application and selection page for more detailed information.
- How to apply
- Apply online
Course options
| Full-time | Part-time | Full-time distance learning | Part-time distance learning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSc | Y | N | N | N |
Course overview
- Study a master’s in Data Science at a university ranked top 10 in the UK for maths, statistics and computer science (Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, 2025).
- Study within a uniquely interdisciplinary programme that brings together expertise from across Manchester’s facilities, giving you both strong foundations in the field and the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines to tackle local and global challenges.
- Gain hands-on experience analysing real-life data using a variety of programming languages for data analysis, including R, Python, and SQL among others.
- Develop highly desirable professional skills to pursue a career in diverse areas such as policy, business, research and more.
- Graduate from one of the UK’s most targeted universities by top employers (High Fliers, The Graduate Market Report 2024).
- Seamlessly transition from master's to PhD study through a fully-funded 1+3 pathway with our prestigious ESRC North West Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP).
Open days
The University holds regular open days, where you will have the opportunity to find out more about our facilities and courses.
On this day, you will find out more about the School of Social Sciences, our resources, and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have.
For more information, see open days and visits .
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2026, the tuition fees are as follows:
-
MSc (full-time)
UK students (per annum): £17,300
International, including EU, students (per annum): £35,200
Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.
All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for international students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit postgraduate fees .
Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
For information on available scholarships please visit: Master’s Fees and Funding
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Social Sciences
- Contact name
- School of Social Sciences Admissions Office
- Telephone
- +44 (0) 161 306 5500
- pg-soss@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- https://www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/social-statistics/
- School/Faculty overview
-
See: School Subjects
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Regulated by the Office for Students
The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.
You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.