Master of Science in Data Science & Analytics
- Entry Requirements
- Bachelors degree in a STEM field or STATISTICS or ECONOMICS (STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics)
- Registration: All UCU Study Centers (program offered 70% online)
- Mode of delivery: Blended (70% online)
Overview
Data science, artificial intelligence, and human-computer interaction are transforming how companies do business. At Uganda Christian University, we’re researching breakthrough technologies and techniques that harness complex data sets and turn them into meaningful insights.
Admission Requirement
The admission criteria to the Master of Science in Data Science and Analytics consists of the following;
- Applications may be submitted by students who attained at least a second-class lower Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines from a recognized higher institution.
Students with a degree in any other discipline other than STEM disciplines, who have completed a postgraduate diploma in Data Science and Analytics, Computer Science, or Engineering with at least a second-class upper.
Applicant must have passed Mathematics, Statistics, or Applied Mathematics at their previous levels of study. Computer programming experience is also an advantage.
To qualify for admission, a candidate must fulfill the general Uganda Christian University entry requirements for a Postgraduate Diploma, and in addition, the candidate must be a holder of either;
Bachelor‘s Degree in Computer Science/Information Technology/Systems, Computer/Software Engineering or Engineering or any other computing-related area.
or other STEM-related degree from a recognized higher institution of learning with a strong background in computer programming and mathematics.
Any other degree with evidence of having passed acceptable Courses in mathematics or statistics or economics or computer programming.
The minimum class of a bachelor’s degree is second class and above or its equivalent from a recognized University in a program relevant to the program applied for.
Tuition fees
The 2023 tuition fees for the Master of Science in Data Science and Analytics are UGX 2,345,000 for Ugandan applicants and UGX 3,517,000 for international applicants. Note: The stated fees are provisional to help you plan accordingly. The actual fees for the application year will be stated in your admission letter.
MSc Data Science and Analytics (Plans and Configurations)
The MSc Data Science & Analytics program is offered in two configurations (here referred to as plans):
A) Master of Science in Data Science and Analytics by Research (Plan A)
This program configuration consists of an extended, self-guided computer science research project leading to a thesis. Plan A emphasizes the student’s own independent research study and contribution to the Computer Science body of knowledge over taught instruction. A candidate pursuing a Master of Science in Data Science and Analytics by Research may not receive any structured instruction apart from the crosscutting courses and selected discipline-related courses that are tailor-made to the candidates’ research work. Most of the time is devoted to research resulting in a dissertation.
Publication requirement for plan A students
Through the research modules, Plan A students may be required to make a contribution to the Computer Science body of knowledge. This contribution may be measured by either a journal paper accepted for publication in a reputable journal in a relevant Computer Science discipline or two conference publications in a related Computer Science discipline.
B) Master of Science in Data Science and Analytics (by Coursework or Plan B)
This program configuration will consist of at least 75% taught modules and a short project undertaken as a self-guided project or an internship in the field of Data Science and Analytics with a short project report as a final output. The Master of Science in Data Science and Analytics by Coursework and Project Report configuration shall consist of taught courses and a project report. This Data Science and Analytics program configuration offers advanced taught courses constituting at least 75% of the entire workload. At the end of the taught part, the candidate is required to apply the acquired knowledge and skills in a project/industrial training/field attachment.
Course Curriculum
MSc Data Science & Analytics (Plan A)
| Code | Module Name | Type | CU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory (Cross – Cutting) Modules | |||
| CSC8101 | Object Oriented Programming with Python | C | 5 |
| TST8131 | Advanced Christian Ethics | C | 5 |
| RSM8101 | Research Methods and Publications | C | 5 |
| Elective/Audited Modules | |||
| CSC8204 | Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning | E | 5 |
| DSC8305 | Business, Management & Financial Data Analytics | E | 5 |
| DSC8307 | Data Mining, Modeling and Analytics | E | 5 |
| DSC8306 | Data Engineering and Cloud Computing | E | 5 |
| CSC8307 | Data Privacy and Security | E | 5 |
| SYE8304 | Data Intensive Systems | E | 5 |
| DSC8203 | Data Science Lifecycle | E | 5 |
| MTH8201 | Mathematics for Data Science | E | 5 |
| CSC8203 | Applied Machine Learning | E | 5 |
| DSC8202 | Data Analysis and Visualisation | E | 5 |
| DSC8201 | Big Data Analytics | E | 5 |
| Research and Projects Modules | |||
| DSC8410 | Data Science Seminars and Practicum | C | 5 |
| DSC8409 | Data Science Thesis | C | 40 |
MSc Data Science & Analytics (by Coursework/Plan B)
| Code | Module Name | Type | CU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Modules | |||
| DSC8203 | Data Science Lifecycle | C | 5 |
| MTH8201 | Mathematics for Data Science | C | 5 |
| CSC8203 | Applied Machine Learning | C | 5 |
| DSC8202 | Data Analysis and Visualisation | C | 5 |
| DSC8201 | Big Data Analytics | C | 5 |
| Compulsory Modules | |||
| CSC8101 | Object Oriented Programming with Python | C | 5 |
| TST8131 | Advanced Christian Ethics | C | 5 |
| RSM8101 | Research Methods and Publications | C | 5 |
| CSC8204 | Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning | E | 5 |
| DSC8305 | Business, Management & Financial Data Analytics | E | 5 |
| DSC8307 | Data Mining, Modeling and Analytics | E | 5 |
| DSC8306 | Data Engineering and Cloud Computing | E | 5 |
| CSC8307 | Data Privacy and Security | E | 5 |
| SYE8304 | Data Intensive Systems | E | 5 |
| Research and Projects Modules | |||
| DSC8410 | Data Science Seminars and Practicum | C | 5 |
| DSC8408 | Data Science Project Report | C | 5 |
Postgraduate Diploma in Data Science and Analytics (PGDDS)
The PGD in Data Science and Analytics is a one-year program (First-year milestone), embedded within MSc of Data Science and Analytics Program. The PGD Data Science and Analytics is achieved upon successful completion of cross-cutting modules (15 credits), core modules (25 credits), and a Postgraduate Diploma project (5 credits).
PGDDS Course Curriculum
Postgraduate Diploma in Data Science and Analytics
| Code | Module Name | Type | CU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Modules | |||
| DSC8203 | Data Science Lifecycle | C | 5 |
| MTH8201 | Mathematics for Data Science | C | 5 |
| CSC8203 | Applied Machine Learning | C | 5 |
| DSC8202 | Data Analysis and Visualisation | C | 5 |
| DSC8201 | Big Data Analytics | C | 5 |
| Compulsory (Cross – Cutting) Modules | |||
| CSC8101 | Object Oriented Programming with Python | C | 5 |
| TST8131 | Advanced Christian Ethics | C | 5 |
| RSM8101 | Research Methods and Publications | C | 5 |
| Research and Projects Modules | |||
| DSC8411 | Data Science PGD Project Report | C | 5 |
Upgrading from Postgraduate Diploma in Data Science and Analytics to MSc Data Science and Analytics Within two years of completion, a PGD Data Science and Analytics holder may apply to upgrade to MSc Data Science and Analytics by accumulating twenty-five (25) additional credits as guided by the Department of Computing and Technology.
To upgrade to MSDS ( Plan A), a PGDDS holder will undertake at least one year of independent research, within which they MUST satisfy all the requirements for the MSDS plan A.
The student may apply for an exemption from the relevant modules already passed during the PGDDS study.
Career Prospects
N/A
How to Apply?
You can apply either online (recommended) or download and fill out application forms and submit them physically at any of our campuses in Kampala, Mukono, Kabale, Mbale or Arua.