Master of

Data Science
Be the power behind business decisions.
Be a true data scientist.
CRICOS Provider Code 00098G

Master of Data Science

Graduate Diploma in Data Science
Graduate Certificate in Data Science
Contents
Learn at UNSW. A World Leader. 01

Master of Data Science 02

Program overview 03

The UNSW Online experience 05

Program details 06

Entry requirements 07

Get in touch 09

Course descriptions 10

2 Master of Data Science

UNSW.
A World Leader.
Global top 50 university Highest research funding
UNSW is ranked 44th overall in the world. In 2020, UNSW received more funding than
QS World University Rankings, 2021 any other Australian University from the
Australian Research Council (ARC).

Top three for Top earner

graduate employability UNSW full-time postgraduates are in the
UNSW is ranked in the top three top 5% for starting salaries and earn the
universities in Australia for graduate highest median salary in Australia three
employability, and is 27th in the world. years after graduation.
QS World University Rankings by Graduate Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2019
Employability, 2020

Offering some of Australia’s

top five subjects
UNSW is ranked in the top five universities
in Australia for Engineering and
Technology, Mathematics, Economics and
Econometrics, and Computer Science and
Information Systems.
QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2020

Five Stars Plus

UNSW is the first university in the
world to be awarded the maximum
QS Five Star Plus rating for
teaching, research, employability,
facilities and innovation.
QS Stars University Ratings, 2020*

*Awarded in 2012 as a world first and UNSW

has maintained this ranking every year since.

1 Master of Data Science

Master of
Data Science
Be the power behind the decisions

It takes sophisticated thinking to find simple answers that lie beneath layers of increasingly complex,
interwoven webs of data. More and more, businesses are turning to people with the advanced technical and
mathematical skills to unpick complexities and make sense of the numbers.

The demand for a true data scientist has never been greater.

A Master of Data Science from UNSW Online explores more ways to organise, identify, analyse and ultimately
use data to inform strategies, redefine ambiguous questions and find answers that make a genuine impact.

From advanced statistics and machine learning, programming and database systems, to strategic decision
making, the skills you develop in this program apply across all fields and industries.

Get your LinkedIn profile to the top of the search results

Ranked in the top five universities in Australia for Engineering and Technology, Mathematics, Economics
and Econometrics, Computer Science and Information Systems1, UNSW Online provides a flexible yet
academically rigorous way to study a Master of Data Science.

Combining the faculty’s intellectual strength and commercial experience with the acknowledged
benefits of online learning, students of this program graduate sooner with the skills and knowledge industry
is demanding.

UNSW full-time postgraduates are in the top 5% for starting salaries and earn the highest median salary in
Australia three years after graduation2. Combine this with the fact that data scientists with the right skills
can expect to earn an average salary well into six figures3, and it is evident that a postgraduate qualification
in Data Science from UNSW will be well worth the effort.

Create business and personal opportunities

This program has been designed to deliver skills that are in the highest demand and the most difficult to find.
Depending on where you wish to direct your career, you can specialise in areas such as machine learning,
database systems or statistics. Regardless of what you choose to specialise in, the foundational skills you
will learn before you specialise are as broad as they are deep. You will be in demand for diverse
roles (even those yet to be imagined) and across industries, creating a career that is dynamic and filled
with potential.

1
QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2020.
2
Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2019.
3
Payscale, 2020.

2 Master of Data Science

Program
overview
The Master of Data Science comprises 12 courses – six compulsory and six electives. There is also the option
to study the Graduate Certificate in Data Science or the Graduate Diploma in Data Science, separately. The
Masters program includes the content of the Graduate Certificate and the Graduate Diploma, together with
further electives and a capstone course.

COURSES AT A GLANCE

Electives
Masters
1. Big Data Management
Capstone: Data Science Project 2. Data Visualisation and Communication
Choose 6 of 9 Electives 3. Multivariate Analysis for Data Scientists
4. Neural Networks, Deep Learning
5. Database Systems
Graduate Diploma
6. Decision Making in Analytics
Data Mining & Machine Learning 7. Data and Ethics
Regression Analysis for Data Scientists 8. Strategic Decision Making
Choose 2 of 9 Electives 9. Bayesian Inference and Computation

Graduate Certificate
Principles of Programming 1. Database Systems
Foundations of Data Science 2. Strategic Decision Making
Statistical Inference for Data Scientists
Choose 1 of 2 Electives

Prerequisites
Certain courses (denoted by or or ) require corresponding prerequisites below.

Foundations of Data Science Statistical Inference for Data Scientists

Principles of Programming

3 Master of Data Science

Knowledge areas
The masters is split into three core pillars of
knowledge and skill development:

Business and strategy

Understanding the business context in which you operate and how you can add value to strategic
decision making is crucial to your success. Therefore, the program includes core courses such
as Strategic Decision Making, Data and Ethics, and Data Visualisation and Communication. You
will develop your strategic decision-making skills, a comprehensive understanding of ethical data
analytics practices and how organisations and industry influence behaviours. You will also learn
the skill of good data storytelling – an essential tool for any good data scientist.

Statistics and machine learning

The core skill that will see a data scientist last through technological advances is statistics. In
addition to this capability and increasingly in demand are machine learning skills. Therefore, built
into the core Master of Data Science program are courses that introduce you to probability and
distribution theory and statistical inference, regression analysis using R, and data mining and
machine learning techniques and technology.

You can then choose to enhance your knowledge with electives such as Multivariate Analysis and
Bayesian Inference, Neural Networks and Deep Learning and/or Optimisation for Data Scientists.

Programming and database systems

Complementary to the statistical and machine learning skills are those in programming and
database systems. The core courses introduce you to the most common programming language,
Python, learning program design, techniques, data structures, algorithms, debugging, testing
and simulation, database systems and modelling, relational database management systems and
architecture, and database application design and implementation.

You can then continue to build skills in this area by selecting the Big Data Management and
Information Retrieval and Web Search electives.

4 Master of Data Science

The UNSW
Online experience
Supporting you every step of the way

To help you graduate from one of the world’s leading universities, we’re
here to support you, every step of the way. The design of our online
learning environment seamlessly fits into your busy lifestyle. You’ll have
access to course resources on any device, at any time.

Our academics are some of the best in the world, and although you’ll
be studying online, your learning experience will meet the same high
standards as our face-to-face programs.

Throughout your study journey, you’ll be able to turn to your Student

Success Advisor (SSA), who is committed to assisting you at every
stage, from enrolment through to graduation. Your SSA is on hand to
help with all non-academic queries by phone or email.

5 Master of Data Science

Program details
Indicative domestic program fees^

Master of Data Science Program code: 8646 12 courses $51,840*

Graduate Diploma in
Program code: 5646 8 courses $33,360*
Data Science
Graduate Certificate in
Program code: 7446 4 courses $16,740
Data Science

^All prices are listed in Australian dollars.

*Master of Data Science and Graduate Diploma in Data Science prices are subject to choice of elective course.

Go to our Fees page for up-to-date information. Fees apply for 2021 only.
Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.

Program intakes (Hexamesters) Program duration

Six intakes annually Each course is seven weeks long. UNSW Online
advises a minimum of 15-20 hours of study per
January, March, May, July, September, October week. The program can be completed in as little
as two years.

Nested qualifications

The Master of Data Science also includes a Graduate Certificate in Data Science and Graduate Diploma
in Data Science, both of which are entry and exit points. For those who do not qualify for direct entry
into the masters program, you may be eligible for entry into the Graduate Certificate and can articulate
from this into the masters program (upon completion of the Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma).
Alternatively, if, for any reason, you choose not to continue to complete the masters program you can exit
with a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma.

Graduate Certificate Graduate Diploma Masters

4 Courses +4 Courses +4 Courses

or continue studying or continue studying

6 Master of Data Science

Entry requirements
UNSW’s Admission Entry Calculator
To assist us in assessing your previous study and eligibility for this course, we recommend using
the UNSW Admissions Entry Calculator as a guide. This calculator converts and scales the grading
schemes across the world into a percentage that applies to UNSW entry requirements.

To be eligible for the Master of Data Science, you must have either:

1. Completed the Graduate Diploma in Data Science with a WAM of 65 or higher OR

2. Completed an undergraduate degree in Data Science or cognate discipline (e.g., Computer Science, Economics,
Mathematics, Statistics) AND have sufficient Data Science background as indicated by an average mark of 70 or above
across three Level III courses in Mathematics and/or Statistics and/or Computer Science and/or Econometrics.
Advanced standing or exemption can be granted in the program for cases where core courses were completed in a prior program.

Alternative Entry Pathways

Earn a 65% average mark and above in the Graduate Diploma in Data Science (Online) 5646.

To be eligible for the Graduate Diploma in Data Science, you must have either:

1. Completed the Graduate Certificate in Data Science with a WAM of 65 or higher OR

2. Completed an undergraduate degree in Data Science or cognate discipline (e.g., Computer Science, Economics,
Mathematics, Statistics) AND have sufficient Data Science background as indicated by an average of 65 or above across
three Level III courses in Mathematics and/or Statistics and/or Computer Science and/or Econometrics. OR
3. Completed a degree in a non-cognate discipline AND have sufficient Data Science background as indicated by at least five
years of experience in a data science or data analytics role.
Advanced standing or exemption can be granted in the program for cases where core courses were completed in a prior program.

Alternative Entry Pathways

Earn a 65% average mark and above in the Graduate Diploma in Data Science (Online) 7446.

Applicants with a degree from a non-cognate area (with an average mark of 65% or greater) who have at least five years
experience in a data science or data analytics role may also be considered for entry to the program.

To be eligible for the Graduate Certificate in Data Science, you must have either:

1. Completed at a minimum an undergraduate degree in Data Science or cognate discipline (e.g., Computer Science,
Economics, Mathematics, Statistics). OR
2. Completed an undergraduate degree in a non-cognate discipline AND have sufficient Data Science background as indicated
by an average of 65 or above across three Level III courses in Mathematics and/or Statistics and/or Computer Science and/
or Econometrics. OR
3. Completed a degree in a non-cognate discipline AND have sufficient Data Science background as indicated by at least two
years of experience in a data science or data analytics role.

7 Master of Data Science

Entry
requirements
English Language
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 and this is why UNSW requires a minimum English
language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you will need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you will
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

English waivers

8 Master of Data Science

 9

Get in touch
Our Student Enrolment Advisors are here to help you with all
your program and enrolment queries.

studyonline.unsw.edu.au

1300 974 990

future-student@studyonline.unsw.edu.au

Have a question?
Book a 15-minute chat with Schedule a call
a Student Advisor

9 Master of Data Science

Course
descriptions

10 Master of Data Science

Foundations of
Data Science
Course overview

This course covers the fundamentals of data science as it is applied in computer science, economics
and mathematics and statistics. The course will provide an introduction to topics such as databases,
data analytics, data mining, Bayesian statistics, statistical software, econometrics, machine learning
and business forecasting. The course also aims to indicate the relevance of the courses that follow in
the program (including electives) and their place in data science and its applications.

Principles of
Programming
Course overview

This course provides an introduction to programming in Python and covers the following essentials:

Program design and implementation in a high-level language, with procedural and object-oriented
constructs and some functional features.

Fundamental programming techniques, data structures and algorithms.

Debugging and testing.

Simulation.

Applications in different areas, including those involving graphical user interfaces and animations.

11 Master of Data Science

Statistical Inference
Course overview

This course provides an introduction to probability and distribution theory and introductory
statistical inference. Students will learn the fundamental principles of inference: sufficiency,
likelihoods, ancillary statistics, equivariance, maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods.
Estimation, confidence set construction and hypothesis testing, and computationally intensive
methods such as the bootstrap method are also discussed.

Database Systems
Course overview

This course takes a deep dive into data models, application and management, including:

Data models: entity-relationship, relational, object-oriented.

Relational database management systems: data definition, query languages, development tools.

Database application design and implementation.

Architecture of relational database management systems: storage management, query processing,

transaction processing.

Lab: design and implementation of a database application.

12 Master of Data Science

Strategic
Decision Making
Course overview

This course covers the fundamentals of Game Theory and its applications. Game Theory is a
revolutionary way of analysing strategic interactive situations. It is basic to the understanding of
market competition among large firms, the designing of incentive contracts, bidding at auctions,
bargaining, and other similar problems central to economics and business. This course covers
simultaneous and sequential games and their solution concepts, games of imperfect information,
repeated games, and a selection of applications and case studies.

Data Mining and

Machine Learning
Course overview
Increasingly, organisations need to analyse enormous data sets to determine useful structure in them. In
response to this, a range of statistical methods and tools have been developed in recent times to allow
accurate and quick analysis of these sets. Machine learning is the algorithmic approach to learning from
data. This course covers the key techniques in data mining technology, gives their theoretical background and
shows their application.

Topics include:

decision tree algorithms evaluating the performance of machine learning

algorithms
regression and model tree algorithms
Bayesian learning and model selection
neural network learning
algorithm-independent learning
support vector machines
ensemble learning
rule learning (such as association rules)
kernel methods
lazy learning
unsupervised learning (such as clustering) and
version spaces inductive logic programming (relational learning).

13 Master of Data Science

Regression Analysis
Course overview

Regression is a set of statistical techniques widely used to analyse relationships between several
variables. The topics covered in this course include: linear regression; weighted least squares;
generalised linear models; tting GLMs and diagnostics; Poisson, binomial regression; analysis
of variance; penalised regression methods; splines; penalised splines; thin plate splines; variable
selection; generalised cross-validation; local likelihood; kernel smoothing; generalised additive
models; multinomial logit analysis and ordinal logistic regression. The lectures will be complemented
with worked examples using the R data analysis and statistical programming software.

Multivariate Analysis
for Data Scientists
Course overview

The course gives a methodological background in Multivariate Analysis as a backbone of Applied

Statistics. It introduces multivariate techniques including principal component analysis; canonical
correlation analysis; cluster analysis; factor analysis; and discriminant analysis. Computing and data
analysis features prominently in this course.

14 Master of Data Science

Big Data Management
Course overview
This course introduces the core concepts and technologies involved in managing Big Data.

Topics include:

characteristics of Big Data and Big Data analysis

storage systems (e.g. HDFS, S3)

techniques for manipulating Big Data (e.g. MapReduce, streaming, compression)

programming languages (e.g. Spark, PigLatin)

query languages (e.g. Jaql, Hive)

database systems (e.g. noSQL systems, HBase)

typical applications (e.g. recommender systems, dimensionality reduction, text analysis).

Data Visualisation and

Communication
Course overview

Data visualisation and communication is increasingly important as a complement to the study of

analytics. The ability to present visual access to the huge amounts of data that business creates is an
essential skill for any analyst. The creation of easily digestible visuals graphics is often the simplest
and most powerful tool to enable communication of business insights gained from data.

This course will introduce statistical and visualisation tools for the exploratory analysis of data.
Students will learn what makes an effective data visualisation and how to create interactive data
visualisations. Visualisation in R, Tableau and other tools including cutting-edge graphical, immersive
techniques will be used. There will be a strong focus on developing the skill of data storytelling —
where students will learn to combine data, its visualisation and a narrative to create a powerful story to
drive change.

15 Master of Data Science

Neural Networks,
Deep Learning
Course overview

This course aims to introduce students to the main topics and methods in the field of neural networks and
deep learning, ranging from traditional neural network models to the latest research and applications of deep
learning.

Topics will be chosen from: perceptrons, feedforward neural networks, backpropagation, deep convolutional
networks for image processing; geometric and complexity analysis of trained neural networks; recurrent
networks, language processing, semantic analysis, long short-term memory; deep reinforcement learning;
Hopfield and Kohonen networks, restricted Boltzmann machines and autoencoders; designing successful
applications of neural networks and recent developments in neural networks and deep learning.

Bayesian Inference
and Computation
Course overview

After describing the fundamentals of Bayesian inference, this course will examine the specification
of prior and posterior distributions, Bayesian decision theoretic concepts, the ideas behind Bayesian
hypothesis tests, model choice and model averaging, and evaluate the capabilities of several common
model types, such as hierarchical and mixture models. An important part of Bayesian inference
is the requirement to numerically evaluate complex integrals on a routine basis. Accordingly, this
course will also introduce the ideas behind Monte Carlo integration, importance sampling, rejection
sampling, Markov chain Monte Carlo samplers such as the Gibbs sampler and the Metropolis-Hastings
algorithm, and use of the WinBuGS posterior simulation software.

16 Master of Data Science

Data and Ethics
Course overview
Data analytics takes place within an information supply chain comprising upstream sources and downstream
uses of data. Within this supply chain are multiple participants, interests and power relationships, yet firms
that collect and analyse data are often invisible to users. The use of data by firms and other organisations
has already given rise to a range of practices and outcomes that were clearly harmful to individuals or
groups, leading to broad public concerns and legal ramifications.

It is therefore incumbent on data professionals to consider the ethical implications of their data generation
and use. This includes questions such as:

what questions should be asked about data and its sources?

how do downstream users of data protect or impact individuals and groups?

what are the rights of various stakeholders including consumers?; and

who owns data, particularly within secondary markets?

Consideration of these implications gives rise to questions around the ethics of data (how data is generated,
recorded and shared), the ethics of algorithms (how data is interpreted) and the ethics of practices
(responsible data analytics).

This course will consider these issues and provide students with a set of thinking tools with which they
can navigate ethical dilemmas and guide decisions and behaviours. The role of organisation and industry
cultures in shaping ethical (or unethical) data analytics practices will also be considered.

17 Master of Data Science

Decision Making
in Analytics
Course overview

Businesses deal with an ever-increasing array of data, in terms of volume and sources. This presents
businesses with opportunities to harness insights from this data to support decision making. This course
will introduce students to a range of decision-making techniques and strategies, drawing on leading
business practices. Using an applied approach, a range of business problems and decisions in areas such as
marketing, human resources, and finance will be considered.

Students will be shown how to design and implement application systems to support evidence-based
decision making in organisational contexts. It will include a range of business intelligence and analytics
solutions based on online analytical processing (OLAP) models and technologies. Students will also evaluate
a number of contemporary modelling approaches and their integration.

Data Science
Project (Capstone)
Course overview
This inquiry-based course exposes students to research methods by having them apply data science
techniques to a research project. The course serves as a capstone in the masters program. Students
will be required to apply and demonstrate their learning from the courses in the program, and to
present their work in visual and verbal forms, including a presentation.

18 Master of Data Science