Postgraduate study
Edinburgh: Extraordinary futures await.

Data Science for Health and Social Care (Online Learning) MSc, PgCert, PgDip, PgProfDev

Awards: MSc, PgCert, PgDip, PgProfDev

Study modes: Part-time, Part-time Intermittent Study

Online learning

Funding opportunities

Data is revolutionising the way health and social care is delivered.

The demand for health and social care professionals with data science skills is unprecedented.

This flexible online programme is aimed at:

  • people currently working in health and social care or computational roles who wish to develop expertise in the field of data science
  • those interested in starting a career in data science in the context of health and social care
  • graduates who are seeking to develop data science skills that can be applied in health, social and care services

What you will learn

By studying the degree you will:

  • gain knowledge of the fundamentals of data science
  • develop expertise in accessing, interpreting and integrating data-intensive research into practice
  • build the knowledge and skills to engage effectively with data-driven approaches to health and social care
  • learn a range of skills, tools and understanding to use the transformational power of data to improve health and wellbeing and the management of care systems locally and globally

Why Edinburgh

By choosing to study with us you will:

  • be joining one of the top 20 universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023)
  • benefit from our strong track-record of Data-Driven Innovation (DDI)
  • become a student of the prestigious Usher Institute (part of the University), which is a world leader in DDI and one of five DDI hubs in Edinburgh and South East Scotland
  • be able to customise your learning experience by selecting optional courses delivered by our world-renowned experts and leaders across the University
  • have access to modern, intuitive fully accessible and responsive technology tools and systems
  • join our vibrant, evidence-led cross-disciplinary community of academics and researchers
  • be part of a cohort of international students focused on shaping the future of health and social care

About the Usher Institute and the DDI programme

At The Usher Institute public, private and third sectors collaborate to enable data-driven advances in health and social care.

Our DDI programme develops innovative and financially sustainable models of health and social care that improve lives, through the application of data science.

The Institute draws on:

  • Scotland’s world-leading health data assets
  • well-established governance and data-sharing protocols developed in partnership with the National Health Service and the Scottish Government

The Usher Institute has also become well-recognised for its contribution to the COVID-19 response, which includes:

  • conducting research
  • advising the Scottish and UK governments
  • providing global public health advice and data

You can read more details on the Usher Institute and DDI programme websites.

Online learning is a way for you to study an internationally recognised qualification without needing to attend classes on campus.

This is an ideal option if you wish to study for a postgraduate qualification alongside work or other commitments.

Online programmes are of equal value to on-campus programmes. The only difference is that the programme is delivered online, rather than on campus.

As an online student you have access to the University's excellent resources. We use the latest in educational technology tools and systems.

Our online learning platform enables you to communicate with our highly qualified teaching staff from the comfort of your own home or workplace, making this an ideal option for our many international students.

The platform has a modern, intuitive, fully accessible and responsive interface. It delivers a powerful teaching and learning experience on any device with an internet connection, anytime, anywhere.

Studying online at Edinburgh

The programme is delivered fully online with a study commitment of 10-12 hours per week.

It has been designed to embrace the role that technology can play to enhance teaching, learning and assessment. We offer a flexible approach that caters to different ways of learning.

Each student will be supported as an active member of a vibrant global online community where the learning is facilitated by tutors, tasks and materials that foster active, relevant and collaborative learning.

Find out more about studying an online degree by visiting our Online Learning webpage.

The MSc in Data Science for Health and Social Care is a part-time, online programme taught over 3 years.

You can exit the programme after:

  • Year 1 with a Certificate award
  • Year 2 with a Diploma, or
  • Year 3 with a MSc degree

Alternatively, you can also study stand-alone courses as postgraduate professional development (PPD).

All teaching is delivered online and you will be expected to use self-directed learning, peer-discussion boards, tutorials, peer presentations and other similar online learning activities to help engage with and get the most from the course materials.

Year 1

This year you’ll study 60 credits worth of classes.

You will take one compulsory course: Introduction to Data Science in Health and Social Care. This is worth 20 credits and is taught over 10 weeks.

You will also take 40 credits worth of courses. See the table below for details of all compulsory and optional courses.

Year 2

You will study for 60 credits of courses. See the table below for details of all compulsory and optional courses.

Please note Research Design in Data Science for Health and Social Care is a compulsory element if students wish to complete the dissertation year.

Year 3

In order to complete the MSc programme, you must select and complete one of the following course options:

  • Dissertation (60 credits)
  • Work-based placement with industry or public sector organisation (60 credits)
  • Student-Led Individually Created Course (20 credits) plus 40 credits of elective courses

See the table below for details of all compulsory and optional courses.

Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) option

PPD is aimed at working professionals who want to advance their knowledge through a postgraduate-level course(s), without the time or financial commitment of a full Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate.

You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses over two years through our PPD scheme. These lead to a University of Edinburgh postgraduate award of academic credit.

Alternatively, after one year of taking courses you can choose to transfer your credits and continue on to studying towards a higher award on a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme.

Although PPD courses have various start dates throughout the year, you may only start a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme in the month of September.

Any time spent studying PPD will be deducted from the amount of time you will have left to complete a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme.

Contact us for more information about available courses and start dates.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScData Science for Health and Social Care3 YearsPart-timeProgramme structure 2023/24
PgCertData Science for Health and Social Care1 YearPart-timeProgramme structure 2023/24
PgDipData Science for Health and Social Care2 YearsPart-timeProgramme structure 2023/24

After completing the MSc Data Science for Health and Social Care programme you will be able to:

  • demonstrate a critical understanding of the principles and methods, governance and implications of data science in health and social care
  • create, identify and evaluate data-driven solutions to solve complex problems in healthcare and social services contexts
  • demonstrate the skills and capacity to analyse facts and situations and apply creative and inventive thinking to develop appropriate solutions
  • articulate and effectively explain information and to adapt communication styles for different people, situations and audiences
  • work collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary environment to deliver data-driven solutions

You will also develop:

  • observational, analytical, evaluation and synthesis skills that will provide you with a critical understanding of the principles and methods, and governance and implications of data science in health and social care
  • research and inquiry skills that will allow you to create, identify and evaluate data driven solutions in order to solve complex problems in health and social care contexts
  • personal skills and intellectual autonomy that will give you the capacity to analyse facts and situations and apply creative and inventive thinking to develop appropriate solutions
  • communication skills that will allow you to articulate and effectively explain information and to adapt their communication style for different people, situations and audiences
  • leadership and time management skills, and emotional intelligence that will allow you to work collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary environment to deliver data driven solutions
  • technical skills that will allow you to proactively extract knowledge and insights from data in new ways to drive innovation in health and social care

Our suite of data-driven courses will:

  • equip you with the data skills, capabilities, and competencies that will allow you to realise the value of data in your current role
  • open opportunities new career paths and promotion opportunities as they arise across the health and social care sector

Graduates from health and social care backgrounds

If your background is in health and social care you will be highly competitive for post-graduate training schemes in health service research and practitioner training positions. You will also be highly competitive for leadership positions in your area of health or social care.

Graduates from computational backgrounds

If your background is computational work or study you will be highly competitive for post-graduate training schemes in data science, data scientist roles and advanced practitioner training positions within the health and social care sector.

Entrepreneurial opportunities

Entrepreneurial graduates will have the commercial awareness and venture creation skills needed to take up opportunities to work for or grow the next generation of data-driven health and social care companies.

Examples of job roles

Some examples of job roles include:

  • health and social care data scientists and knowledge engineers
  • health and social care data management
  • management information system developer
  • software developer
  • information security manager
  • data analysts
  • senior clinical positions
  • civil service, government
  • social care, health policy and leadership
  • health and social care positions
  • data science in health and social care entrepreneurs
  • health economists

Join our data driven health and social care community. View a recent testimonial from one of our current students.

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a health-related degree or in a relevant subject appropriate to the programme of study such as life sciences, social sciences, mathematics, statistics, engineering, computer science or other related discipline.

We may also consider your application if you have a minimum of 3 years' relevant work experience; please contact the programme team to check before you apply. You may be admitted to certificate level only in the first instance.

Students from China

This degree is Band D.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScData Science for Health and Social Care3 YearsPart-timeTuition fees
PgCertData Science for Health and Social Care1 YearPart-timeTuition fees
PgDipData Science for Health and Social Care2 YearsPart-timeTuition fees
PgProfDevData Science for Health and Social CareUp to 2 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyTuition fees

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

  • your programme
  • the duration of your studies
  • your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

UK government and other external funding

(Revised 18 March 2024 to remove 'Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships' information) 

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • Usher Institute of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences
  • Old Medical School
  • Teviot Place
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9AG
Programme start date Application deadline
9 September 2024 23 August 2024

We strongly recommend you submit your completed application as early as possible, particularly if you are also applying for funding or will require a visa. We may consider late applications if we have places available.

You must submit one reference with your application.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • Usher Institute of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences
  • Old Medical School
  • Teviot Place
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9AG