Data Science and Data Analytics

Data Science and Data Analytics are related subjects but they have distinct differences. Data Science is a broad term for developing and using scientific methods, processes and algorithms to analyse large sets of raw and structured data such as big data. Data scientists look for answers to questions that businesses and organisations don’t know, or establish solutions to problems that haven’t yet been thought of. Data Analytics is more focused and concentrates on carrying out statistical analysis on existing data sets. It can be used to measure events in the past, present, or future. Data Analytics tends to be slightly more business and strategy focused.

Core skills needed in Data Science and Data Analytics include programming, machine learning, statistics and statistical analysis. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is also becoming important due to advances in data driven AI.

Hear from Dr Kevin Swingler, Senior Lecturer, explaining how the University of Stirling’s Data Science courses will equip you to play a vital role in the future of data.

Data Science and Data Analytics courses

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Graduate careers in Data Science and Data Analytics

Demand for workers with specialist data skills like data scientists and data engineers has more than tripled over five years (+231%), according to a labour market analysis commissioned for Dynamics of data science skills (Royal Society May 2019).

As a graduate in Data Science or Data Analytics you’ll be equipped for roles such as Data Analyst, Data Scientist, Data Engineer, Enterprise Architect, Machine Learning Scientist and Business Intelligence Developer. A wide range of sectors need data specialists including:

  • ecommerce and retail
  • digital technologies
  • robotics
  • healthcare
  • financial technology (Fintech)
  • legal technology (Lawtech)
  • automotive (self-driving cars)
  • cyber security
  • energy and utilities
  • public sector

Partnerships and industry

We are a member of The Data Lab, which is an Innovation Centre with the aim of developing data science talent and skills required by the industry in Scotland. We also work with the Scottish Informatics and Computing Science Alliance (SICSA).

Our MSc Data Science for Business degree is endorsed by The Data Lab and is the first in Scotland to be developed with inputs from SAS, a global leader in business analytics solutions, leading financial services organisation HSBC and The Data Lab to ensure it meets industry needs

Data Science and Data Analytics research

Our team of academics from the department of Computing Science and Mathematics are involved in research in areas including complex systems modelling, computer vision, machine learning, optimisation and artificial intelligence.

90 percent of our research in Computing Science and Mathematics is graded as 'Internationally Excellent', with the top five percent judged to be 'World-leading' (Research Excellence Framework 2014).

See more about our Data Science and Intelligent Systems research.

Postgraduate research opportunities

Our Professional Doctorate in Data Science is the first industrial doctorate of its kind, and is supported by The Data Lab. See our PhD and MPhil opportunities in: