Career opportunities

Data science is a catalyst for innovation in health and social care. The current pace of technological change has highlighted the lack of digital skills required among Health and Social Care professionals. To contribute to reducing this skills gap, we have developed our online programme in Data Science for Health and Social Care.

There is a global shortage of healthcare workers. The  World Health Organisation estimates there will be a healthcare workforce gap of around 14.5 million by 2030. Link to WHO research paper

1.48 million people currently work in the social care sector. Because of the increasing number of disabled younger adults living longer and of older people needing care, adult social care is growing and the sector needs at least another half a million jobs, and people to do them, by 2030. 

Our data-driven programme will equip you with the data skills, capabilities, and competencies that will allow you to realise the value of data in your current role, and open opportunities and new career paths as they arise across the Health and Social Care sector (HSC).  

There are over 350 job roles in HSC. From art therapists to anaesthetists, and from social workers to surgeons, the opportunities to apply data science in HSC are endless. 

Here are some examples of the many career profiles in HSC where a qualification in data science could improve your job role and prospects:

• Social Care - residential or in the home
• Allied Health Professionals - Allied health professionals (AHPs) is the collective term for used for a group of 14 occupations including art therapists, physiotherapists, operating department practitioners and speech and language therapist
• Midwives and nurses
• Doctors and dentists
• Management and non-clinical roles
• Healthcare science and health informatics
• Public health
• Medical associate professionals
• Pharmacy
• Psychological professionals

The University of Edinburgh Career Services

The University of Edinburgh provides an excellent career service advice to all our students. As an online student you will have access to all the following resources and more: