Mathematics and Data Science (Taught)

Mathematics and data science are closely connected. Data science methodologies are built on mathematical principles. Understanding them is crucial for aspiring data scientists (source: Institute of Data 2023).

The demand for graduates in this field is growing rapidly fuelled by advances in technology and the increasing importance of data (Data Science Jobs, 2025). Employers seek individuals with computing skills to manage data and mathematical skills to analyse it. This involves identifying patterns, building models, and making predictions.

Our Masters degree in Mathematics and Data Science emphasises the practical application of mathematics for data science. You’ll develop skills that are highly sought after in the data industry.

Gain practical maths and data science experience
On our Mathematics and Data Science MSc, you get the opportunity to work with academics on commercially relevant research projects. You can also take part in projects with industry or technology providers. Past projects include:

Intergen: Data driven forecasting of UK electricity market imbalances
Natwest: Building enterprise scale machine learning ops - model monitoring toolkits
Scottish National Investment Bank: The decarbonisation of heat in Scotland
SportScotland Institute of Sport: Analysis of swimming race data
Streamba Ltd: Assessing methods for robust data preparation of heterogeneous sources
Eden Court Highlands: Live audience analysis
National Records of Scotland: Seasonal adjustment of mortality
BBC World Service: Analysis of shifts in political/public opinion using time series analysis and natural language processing tools
Learn cutting edge skills which are in demand from employers
You'll gain hands on industry standard skills and knowledge from lecturers with research expertise in mathematical modelling, data science and AI. The course covers:

statistical analysis of large datasets and data in network form, e.g. social media networks;
basic and advanced programming using R, Matlab and Python;
building and analysing mathematical models of real-life systems;
probability, stochastic optimisation and artificial intelligence;
data analytics and machine learning;
relational and non-relational databases;
cluster computing.
Engage with the data science industry
This data science and mathematics Masters degree offers a great chance to build your professional network with peers and industry leaders.

You’ll benefit from our strong ties with The Data Lab innovation centre who offer networking opportunities.

You’ll also engage with industry through guest lectures and local industry career events. Recent speakers include Huawei, Bigspark, Red Star (AI for healthcare), Virtonomy, KBC Group, and Leonardo UK.