Master of Data Science and Decisions
- Commencing Terms
- Term 1 & 3
- Duration
- 2 Year(s)
- Delivery Mode
- Face-to-face (includes blended)
- Campus
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Kensington
- Codes
- Program code 8959
- CRICOS code 0101866
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Commonwealth Supported Places are available for this program2024 Indicative CSP first year fee
- $8,500*
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2024 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $18,000*
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2024 Indicative first year full fee
- $54,000*
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2024 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $112,500*
Fees
Fees
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Top 20 university
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Industry connections
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Accelerate your career
International application pause for 2025 intakes
Applications for international students to study at UNSW in 2025 are currently paused. Please submit your expression of interest to join our application waitlist so we can contact you.
- Overview
- Entry requirements
- What will I study?
- Future careers
- How to apply
- Fees & Scholarships
Overview
Our world contains an unimaginably vast amount of digital information. Extracting meaning from this data can drive business forward, enable next-generation scientific breakthroughs and produce benefits that make a positive difference in our world. But it’s a challenging task which requires strong skills and training.
Data scientists are the people with that expertise, which explains why they have become key players in today’s job market. From industries as varied as health, defence, finance, transport and logistics, to agriculture, media and technology, there’s a growing reliance on data science professionals to deliver meaningful business insights. There's a range of reasons to study data and technology.
Prepare yourself for excellent employment opportunities in this fast-growing field with the Master of Data Science and Decisions. Your study will explore programming languages, problem-solving and processing/interpreting/presenting data using qualitative and quantitative techniques.
Key features
- Suitable for launching or accelerating your career
This degree is designed for STEM graduates who are looking to enter the field and professionals who are looking to upskill. If you've recently graduated with a Bachelor of Mathematics, a Bachelor of Science (with a major in mathematics, statistics or computer science) or a Bachelor of Data Science and Decisions, this degree is a great next step on your professional journey. If you have industry experience in computer science, statistics or business analytics, this master’s program will expand your skills and knowledge to position you as a leader in your field.
- Foundational skills, specialisations and project work
This program will consolidate your skills across three key areas: mathematics and statistics, computer science and economics. You’ll gain deeper knowledge in your area of interest by pursuing a specialisation in computational, business, behavioural or quantitative data science and decisions. You’ll also develop research and communication skills in data science through project work.
Why study this degree at UNSW?
Learn with the best
- We’re ranked #1 in Australia and #44 in the world for Mathematics.*
- We’re ranked #1 in Australia and #31 in the world and 1st in Australia for Engineering & Technology.*
- We're ranked #3 in Australia and #37 in the world for Economics and Econometrics.*
Harness the expertise of three schools
You’ll benefit from the expertise of educators across three different schools at UNSW: Mathematics and Statistics, Computer Science and Engineering and Economics.
Leverage our industry connections
Advance your career with industry relevant skills and experience. Tap into our network of 400+ industry and research partners to expand your professional connections.
Join a supportive student community
At UNSW, equity, diversity and inclusion are integral to our success. We’re also committed to inspiring women to pursue an enriching career path in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
Want to see more from UNSW Science?
Entry requirements
For entry into this degree, you must have one of the following:
- a Bachelor of Mathematics
- a Bachelor of Science with a major in mathematics, statistics or computer science
- a Bachelor of Data Science and Decisions
- an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline as determined by the program authority
You also need to have a sufficient background in mathematics and/or statistics and/or data science, as indicated by an average of 70 or above in appropriate level III university courses.
In addition, you must have permission of the Head of School or Nominee to be admitted into the program.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
For entry into this degree, you must have one of the following:
- a Bachelor of Mathematics
- a Bachelor of Science with a major in mathematics, statistics or computer science
- a Bachelor of Data Science and Decisions
- an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline as determined by the program authority
You also need to have a sufficient background in mathematics and/or statistics and/or data science, as indicated by an average of 70 or above in appropriate level III university courses.
In addition, you must have permission of the Head of School or Nominee to be admitted into the program.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
Check the specific English language requirements for this program
Program structure
This Master of Data Science and Decisions explores the methods for organising, modelling and analysing large and complex data for business, governments or other organisations. You’ll study core foundational knowledge combined with a specialisation in quantitative, computational, business or behavioural data science and decisions. You’ll also develop research and communication skills in data science through project work.
Full program structure
The Master of Data Science and Decisions can be completed in two years of full-time study. It can also be studied part-time. The program is made up of 16 courses, including 11 core courses, four courses from your chosen specialisation and one elective course from another specialisation.
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- Database Systems
- Data Visualisation
- Data Science and Decisions Project A
- Data Science and Decisions Project B
- Fundamentals of Data Science
- Business Economics
- Economics of Strategy
- Multivariate Analysis
- Statistical Inference
- Foundations of Computer Science or Principles of Programming
- Machine Learning and Data Mining or Data Mining and its Business Applications
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- Computational Data Science and Decisions
Specialise in computational methods to manipulate, understand and predict data.
Find out more - Behavioural Data Science and Decisions
Specialise in interpreting, understanding and predicting data for use in business.
Find out more - Business Data Science and Decisions
Specialise in methods of interpreting, understanding and predicting data for use in business.
Find out more - Quantitative Data Science and Decisions
Specialise in mathematical and statistical methods to interpret, understand and predict data.
Find out more
- Computational Data Science and Decisions
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The graduate certificate and graduate diploma provide an articulation pathway into the Master of Data Science and Decisions.
Future careers
The era of Big Data
With quintillion bytes of data generated each day, it’s safe to say that we’re in the era of big data. Social media, the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning and artificial intelligence are driving the trends in data and influencing the role of data scientists.
As the big data boom rolls on, your skills will be central to a range of roles in information-rich industries including:
- internet search
- fraud detection
- targeted advertising
- logistics planning
- speech recognition
- image analysis
- genetic risk prediction
- virtual reality
- customer loyalty
- product development
- autonomous vehicles.
What does a career in this field look like?
Data science is a multidisciplinary field of study that blends mathematical methods, statistics, computing, business decisions and communication. Data scientists translate user data into insights that help companies understand their audience and personalise their products or services. Uncovering new insights and predicting trends has become vital in the retail, environmental, not-for-profit, IT and professional services sector.
Career opportunities in data science span across many industries from start-ups to established corporations including Coles, AirBnB, Spotify, Netflix and Greenpeace, to name a few. As a data scientist, you might be asked to calculate the price of new products for the market, determine warehouse or retail employee schedules, make predictions of environmental phenomena and model the spread of new diseases.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted through our Apply Online portal. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term. Some high-demand programs and Faculties with limited places may have an earlier application deadline or commencement date. Find out more.
Ready to start your application?
For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.
Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For more information visit our international applicant information page.
Ready to start your application?
Fees & Scholarships
$8,500*
$18,000*
All places within this degree are Commonwealth supported. This means that if you receive an offer from UNSW Sydney as a domestic student, you will have a substantial proportion of your fees subsidised by the Australian government. Start your application today with our guide on how to apply.
*The indicative Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) fees are an estimate based on the relevant student contribution band/s for a Commonwealth Supported Place undertaking a standard full-time load of 48 units of credit per year (1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load/1 EFTSL). To find out more about Commonwealth Supported Places visit Postgraduate Commonwealth Support.
Indicative fees are a guide only and have been calculated based on the typical enrolment patterns of students undertaking the degree/program. The indicative fee listed here is an estimate for tuition only and excludes non-tuition fees and charges. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year of enrolment, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (48 units of credit (UOC) per year).
You should not rely on indicative fees as fee increases are assessed when required and may exceed the indicative figures listed here. Actual fees are calculated on enrolment. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only, other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).
Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.
Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.
Scholarships
At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.
QS World University Rankings, 2025.
AFR Top 100 Future leaders Award.
#1 Australian uni attended by start-up founders.
UNSW has a strong focus on industry collaborations with opportunities for students to network.
