MSc Data Science and Advanced Computing

If you're looking to become an expert at the intersection of two of the most in-demand fields in technology, the MSc Data Science and Advanced Computing at the University of Reading is designed to give you a powerful and practical skill set. This programme uniquely blends advanced computational principles with sophisticated data science techniques, ensuring you graduate with the ability to not only manage large-scale data but also to build the complex systems that process it. You'll be based in our Department of Computer Science, which has strong research groups in data analytics and intelligent systems, providing a fantastic environment for cutting-edge, hands-on learning.

Your learning is built around applying advanced computational methods to complex data challenges:

• High-Performance Computing (HPC) Resources: You will have the opportunity to utilise the University's High-Performance Computing cluster, which is vital for processing large datasets and running the complex computations and simulations that are central to modern data science.

• Industry-Standard Data Science Software & Tools: You will gain extensive, hands-on experience with the essential tools of the data professional. This includes programming languages like Python and R, data manipulation libraries like Pandas, machine learning frameworks like TensorFlow and scikit-learn, and platforms for big data processing.

• Research-Led Teaching & Projects: You'll be taught by academics from research groups like Biomedical Image Analysis and Data Science and Advanced Computing. A core part of your experience will be practical projects that tackle real-world, data-intensive problems, from analysing large-scale genomic data to developing intelligent predictive models.

• Collaborative Data Challenges: The programme includes team-based projects where you'll collaborate to clean, analyse, and derive insights from complex datasets, developing the teamwork and communication skills vital for a successful career in data science.

• Substantial Individual MSc Project: The programme culminates in a significant individual research project. This is your opportunity to work deeply on a specialist topic of your choice, often using real-world datasets, to create a substantial and impressive piece of work for your professional portfolio.

• Extensive University Resources: You will have full access to the University of Reading’s library services, which offers an extensive collection of computing and data science databases, e-journals, and academic texts, alongside 24/7 access to computing facilities.

This programme is your gateway to becoming a dual-threat specialist. You'll graduate not just with theoretical knowledge, but with the proven, practical ability to both engineer advanced computing solutions and extract meaningful insights from data, making you a highly competitive candidate for top-tier roles in data engineering, machine learning, and advanced analytics.

Graduates of Reading’s MSc Data Science and Advanced Computing typically take on roles such as Data Scientist / Machine Learning Engineer, Data Engineer, AI Specialist, or Analytics Consultant. Because of strong computing and research components, many are also positioned to move into R&D roles or continue academic / PhD-level study.

Progression & Future Opportunities:

Here are the concrete strengths of this programme, what supports are in place, what employers expect, and likely long-term value:

• Which university services will help students to employ:

  • The programme is accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS), adding to its professional recognition. 

  • Students have access to excellent facilities: Reading Academic Computing Cluster (RACC) with ~500 CPU cores and GPU nodes; labs, VR headsets, Raspberry Pi / mobile devices; specialist environments for project and presentation work.

  • Close ties with industry via an Industrial Advisory Board including organisations such as Microsoft, IBM, Sony, Oracle, etc. These contribute to course design and often offer guest lectures, networking, etc. 

• Employment stats and salary figures:

  • According to the latest available data, the unemployment rate for graduates (those neither working nor studying 15 months after finishing) is 0% for this programme. 

  • Tuition fees for UK/Home students are around £12,550-£13,100 (full-time), and for international students are significantly higher (around £26,950-£31,650) depending on year. 

  • Because this is a postgraduate degree, salaries are highly dependent on your prior experience, location, employer role and domain. Reading doesn’t publish a precise average graduate salary for this programme in the sources I found.

• University–Industry Partnerships:

  • The Industrial Advisory Board (Microsoft, IBM, Sony, Oracle, etc.) ensures the curriculum stays relevant to job market demand. 

  • Reading is located in a tech-rich region (Thames Valley / M4 corridor), with many digital tech organisations nearby, giving students opportunities for connections, meet-ups, part-time work, internships, etc. 

• Long-Term Accreditation Value:

  • The BCS accreditation means this MSc meets professional industry credentials, which helps with employability and credibility with employers. 

  • Strong research reputation: in REF 2021, the Computer Science & Informatics department at Reading received 100% of its research impact rated “outstanding” or “very considerable” (i.e. 4* or 3*). That adds prestige and shows you’re being taught by leading researchers. 

• Graduation Outcomes:

  • Graduates are working across sectors: finance (e.g. investment banking, insurance), government / public sector, consultancies, tech companies. Some alumni have taken technical roles at multinationals; others have moved into research or algorithmic roles. 

  • The project/dissertation component gives you a substantial piece of work to show employers: ability to do end-to-end development, analysis, possibly even handling deployment or larger datasets. It helps you stand out.

Further Academic Progression:

If you complete the MSc in Data Science and Advanced Computing at Reading and want to go further, here are logical next steps:

• PhD / Doctoral Study in areas such as machine learning, AI, computer vision, data security, cloud computing, computational analytics. Because Reading has active research groups in these areas and the MSc has a research project component, you’ll be well prepared.

• Specialised Certifications / Continued Learning: After graduation, obtaining certifications in cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), data engineering, big data tools (Spark, Hadoop), or advanced ML frameworks can enhance your employability.

• Industry R&D or Technical Specialist Roles: With the computing + data skills plus project experience you gain, you’ll be competitive for roles in R&D labs, analytics teams, or specialist technical roles in industries working with big data, AI, or digital transformation.

• Leadership / Data / Tech Strategy Roles: Over time, as you accumulate experience and perhaps specialise, roles like Data Architect, Analytics Lead, AI Strategy Consultant become possible, especially given the growing importance of data in business decisions.

• Teaching / Academic or Policy Roles: If you lean toward academia or advising / policy in tech/data ethics etc., this degree gives good grounding. You might assist in teaching, supervise student projects, or collaborate on interdisciplinary research combining computing with other fields (e.g. environment, business, health).