Duration
2 years full time / 4 years part time
Mode (Location)
On campus (Parkville)
Intake
March
Key dates
Key dates
Fees
Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available
Learn more
Learn more
Entry schemes
Access Melbourne is available
Learn more
Learn more
Course structure
Overview
The Master of Data Science at the University of Melbourne is a 200-point program delivered over two years, structured across the complementary disciplines of Mathematics and Statistics and Computer Science and tailored to students’ backgrounds. The course includes strong Foundation subjects that provide students with the necessary background in areas such as statistical methods, programming, data management and computational thinking, ensuring they are well prepared to progress into more advanced data science core and specialisation subjects. As students move through the program, they develop deeper expertise in statistical modelling, machine learning, data analysis and computational techniques.
The program also includes a capstone project, which enables students to apply their knowledge and skills to a practical data science problem and demonstrate their ability to integrate statistical and computational approaches in a real-world context.
Course structure
Each subject in the Master of Data Science is worth 12.5 credit points, except for the mathematics and statistics Foundation subjects MAST90105 and MAST90104, which are each worth 25 credit points as they are double-credit subjects.
All students must complete the core subjects worth 75 credit points, as well as a capstone project delivered across two capstone subjects worth 25 credit points. To enrol in the core subjects, students must meet the relevant prerequisites, which can be satisfied either by completing the Foundation subjects or by having completed an equivalent Foundation subject from previous study recognised by a University of Melbourne academic expert. In the latter case, a non-credit exemption for the relevant Foundation subject may be granted.
The Foundation subjects make up the remaining 100 credit points required for the degree and consist of 50 credit points in statistics Foundation subjects and 50 credit points in computer science Foundation subjects. Foundation subjects that are identified and recognised by a University of Melbourne academic expert as having been completed through previous study may be converted into non-credit exemptions and replaced with subjects from a specialisation other than the Foundational Data Science Specialisation.
Specialisations
Foundational Data Science Specialisation
This specialisation is designed for students who have been identified as not having completed the equivalent of any Foundation subjects through previous study, or the equivalent of only one Foundation subject.
Within this specialisation, students complete:
- 50 credit points of Statistics Foundation subjects
- 50 credit points of Computer Science Foundation subjects
- 75 credit points of Core subjects
- 25 credit points of Capstone subjects.
For students who are identified as having completed the equivalent of one Foundation subject, a 12.5-credit non-credit exemption is granted. This exemption may be used towards the selection of a specialisation subject, or a general or internship subject, of the student’s choice.
Statistical Data Science Specialisation
This specialisation is designed for students who have been identified as having completed the equivalent of at least two Foundation subjects in previous study, have received a minimum of 25 credit points of non-credit exemptions, and are interested in developing deeper expertise in statistics.
Within this specialisation, students complete:
- The Foundation subjects other than those recognised by a University of Melbourne academic expert as equivalent to previously completed study
- 75 credit points of Core subjects
- 25 credit points of Capstone subjects
- At least one Statistics Core Discipline subject
- One Statistics Discipline subject.
Computational Data Science Specialisation
This specialisation is designed for students who have been identified as having completed the equivalent of at least two Foundation subjects in previous study, have received a minimum of 25 credit points of non-credit exemptions, and are interested in developing deeper expertise in computer science.
Within this specialisation, students complete:
- The Foundation subjects other than those recognised by a University of Melbourne academic expert as equivalent to previously completed study
- 75 credit points of Core subjects
- 25 credit points of Capstone subjects
- At least one Computer Science Core Discipline subject
- One Computer Science Discipline subject.
Computational and Statistical Data Science Specialisation
This specialisation is designed for students who have been identified as having completed the equivalent of at least four Foundation subjects in previous study, have received a minimum of 50 credit points of non-credit exemptions, and are interested in developing deeper expertise in both statistics and computer science.
Within this specialisation, students complete:
- The Foundation subjects other than those recognised by a University of Melbourne academic expert as equivalent to previously completed study
- 75 credit points of Core subjects
- 25 credit points of Capstone subjects
- At least one Computer Science Core Discipline subject
- One Computer Science Discipline subject
- One Statistics Core Discipline subject
- One Statistics Discipline subject.
Accelerated Program
This is a 150-point program that allows students to complete the Master of Data Science in 1.5 years, rather than the two years required for the standard 200-point program. It is designed for students who have been assessed as having completed the equivalent of all Foundation subjects (100 credit points) through their previous studies. This may apply to students coming from the Graduate Diploma in Foundational Data Science, a University of Melbourne Data Science undergraduate major, or an equivalent qualification.
Within this program, students complete 75 credit points of Core subjects, 25 credit points of Capstone subjects, and either four specialisation subjects or three specialisation subjects plus one general or internship subject, depending on the requirements of their chosen specialisation.
Explore this course
Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this degree.