Health Data Science University of Aberdeen

Overview

Why Health Data Science at University of Aberdeen?

The University of Aberdeen is ranked 12th in the UK according to the Guardian University Guide 2025 and 15th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025. This prestigious university is renowned for its interdisciplinary approach, combining health research, statistics, and computing sciences. The programme is delivered by the Aberdeen Centre for Health Data Science (ACHDS), which has established a global reputation by forging partnerships with NHS, industry, and public sectors. Students benefit from state-of-the-art facilities located on the Foresterhill Health Campus, one of Europe's largest clinical complexes, which includes the Medical School and a Clinical Research Facility.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

- Domestic Students: £11,100 per year - International Students: £23,000 per year Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The MSc in Health Data Science comprises several stages, each with compulsory and optional courses designed to build a robust foundation in health data analysis. The structure is as follows:

• Stage 1 - Compulsory Courses:
  • Applied Statistics
  • Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen
  • Introduction to Health Data Science
• Stage 1 - Optional Courses: Select two from:
  • Epidemiology
  • Database Systems and Big Data
  • Fundamentals of Research Design
  • Health Economics
  • Designing Real-World Trials
• Stage 2 - Compulsory Courses:
  • Health Informatics
  • Machine Learning for Healthcare
• Stage 2 - Optional Courses: Select two from:
  • Data Science: from Data to Insight
  • Systematic Reviewing
  • Work-Based Placement in Applied Health Sciences
  • Health Systems and Policy Research
  • Understanding and Applying Regression Models
• Stage 3 - Optional Courses: Choose either a 60 credit course or two 30 credit courses:
  • Masters Research Project (60 credits)
  • Professional Placement in Health Data Science (60 credits)
  • Evaluating Policy Effects in Practice (30 credits)
  • Extended Work-Based Placement in Applied Health Sciences (30 credits)

Careers with Health Data Science

The demand for skilled professionals in Health Data Science is rapidly growing, with significant shortages identified both nationally and internationally. Graduates of this programme are well-equipped for diverse careers across academia, the NHS, and various industries that require data analysis and interpretation skills. Notably, students achieving commendation or higher may also qualify for PhD opportunities in the field. The programme's strong industry links facilitate engagement with potential employers, enhancing students' employability through partnerships with organisations such as the NHS and Opportunity North East (ONE).