Overview
The demand for Data Science graduates is growing rapidly fuelled by advances in technology and the increasing importance of data (Data Science Jobs, 2025).
With the global data science platform market size projected to grow to £600.75 billion ($776.86 billion) by 2032 (Fortune Business Insights, 2024/5) the skills, experience and expertise you’ll gain on the Professional Doctorate in Data Science will be valued by employers in many industry sectors.
Scotland has an exciting future at the heart of the data science revolution. More than £660 million has been invested in turning our capital city, Edinburgh, into the ‘Data Capital of Europe’ (Scottish Development International 2020).
Combine academic and industry expertise to enhance your employability
Our Professional Doctorate in Data Science is the first industrial doctorate of its kind. It combines academic and commercial expertise to produce graduates with the Data Science skills that companies need. The Data Lab - Scotland’s Innovation Centre for Data and AI supports the course and provide resources for students.
Gain cutting-edge data science research and practical skills
Throughout the Professional Doctorate in Data Science, you’ll develop a range of cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research and practical data skills including:
- SQL and NoSQL databases
- Python
- Machine Learning
- R
- Hadoop
Study for three years and graduate with a Masters degree and a Professional Doctorate
The first year is a taught programme, based on modules from our postgraduate data science courses. For the next two years you undertake industry-relevant research supervised by world-leading academics and an industrial data science partner. You'll enhance your employability through your work-based learning.
You must establish a potential collaboration with an industrial partner willing to support your research project. This could be a company for which you are already an employee. We will consider specific projects and collaborations on a case-by-case basis.
Flexible learning
You can take a time off after your first year and graduate with a Data Science Masters degree. You can then start year 2 of the Professional Doctorate in Data Science when you are ready to.
Option to start in Year 2
If you already have a Masters in Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, or Financial Technology from another institution you may be able to start the Doctorate in Data Science in year two.
Stirling offers a range of postgraduate courses in data science (MSc Big Data, MSc Artificial Intelligence, MSc Mathematics and Data Science, MSc Advanced Computing Science with AI and MSc Financial Technology). These may also give you the opportunity to establish a suitable collaboration with an industrial partner and then start in the second year of the Professional Doctorate in Data Science.
If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.
Entry requirements
Students applying may have a variety of backgrounds including:
- numerate and computational degrees (computing, mathematics, physics, engineering)
- medical/clinical, business, marketing or economics background, plus some relevant work (industrial or commercial) experience
Students may also come from other science or engineering backgrounds, to gain applied research and analytical skills that are in high demand in the Scottish job market.
Students with suitable research-oriented Masters degrees in numerate and computational disciplines (computing, mathematics, physics, engineering), will be considered for direct entry to the second year of the Doctoral Training Component, on a case-by-case basis.
An established, in-principle or under-discussion agreement with an industrial partner interested in collaborating and supporting the research component of the programme should be in place.
International entry requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.
Course details
You will undertake a number of taught modules to equip you with the skills required for data science research. These modules are taught through lectures, practical sessions and small group work and are assessed through a variety of course work and exams.
To prepare for the professional doctorate, an independent research project (60 credits) will include a systematic review of an appropriately challenging applied research topic/area, and development of a full Doctorate research proposal as outputs – assessed through an oral viva exam and research poster presentation.
Following the taught component, you will undertake a period of industry-led applied research (360 level 12 credits) by working with experienced academic and industrial supervisors, on original piece(s) of an applied research project. The project could either be a single long project or a portfolio of data-centric projects, depending on the industrial organization’s strategic priority needs. Outcomes will be presented in a doctoral dissertation assessment through a viva examination by internal and external examiners.
Modules
The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the academic year that starts in September 2024. Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.
Course Details
The taught component of the Professional Doctorate spans across the first year and mutates the modules from the various MSc in Data Science, and includes an advanced dissertation project with an assessment of the state of the art and research plan for the next two years.
The research component consists of a period of industry-led applied research, carried out by working with experienced academic and industrial supervisors, on original piece(s) of an applied research project. The project could either be a single long project or a portfolio of data-centric projects, depending on the industrial organisation’s strategic priority needs. Outcomes will be presented in a doctoral dissertation.
Assessment of the taught component of the program follows the standard assessment of MSc modules and may consists of a variety of assessment strategies, including written assignments, exams, individual projects, collaborative and group work, lab work, presentations and reports and a dissertation project.
The doctoral dissertation will be assessed through a viva examination by an internal and an external examiner (as in a PhD viva).
Assessment will be tailored to students’ special needs, where appropriate.
Dr Andrea Bracciali
Fees and funding
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
| UK and Republic of Ireland students | International (including EU) students | |
|---|---|---|
|
Full course fee |
£20,200 | £52,200 |
|
Full-time annual fee (charged years 1-3) |
£6,733 | £17,400 |
| UK and Republic of Ireland students | International (including EU) students | |
|---|---|---|
| Full course fee | £20,600 | £53,200 |
| Full-time annual fee (charged years 1-3) | £6,867 | £17,733 |
This fee is charged as an annual course fee. If you need to extend your period of study or repeat study, you will be liable for additional fees. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Doctoral loans
If you're domiciled in England or Wales you may be eligible to apply for a doctoral loan from your regional body:
- English students can apply for a loan of up to £28,673 from Student Finance England.
- Welsh students can apply for a loan of up to £28,395 from Student Finance Wales.
Funding
Eligible international students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.
Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
Data analyst and scientist roles are in the top 10 global jobs expected to grow fastest between 2023 and 2027 (World Economic Forum survey, 2023).
The Professional Doctorate in Data Science opens many career paths in various sectors such as:
- Banking and finance
- Data driven marketing
- Sport and fitness
- Health and medicine
- Engineering
- Data journalism
- Mapping and GIS
- New media
The average big data engineer salary in the United Kingdom is £65,000 per year. Entry level positions start at £52,500 per year while most experienced workers make up to £85,000 per year (source: UK Talent 2025).
Graduates can find employment in roles such as:
- Data Scientist
- Data Analyst
- Data Engineer
- Business Analyst
- Quantitative Model Risk Analyst
- Researcher
Stirling graduates of the Professional Doctorate Data Science have taken up roles including:
- Lead Data Scientist
- Senior Data Engineer
- Big Data Engineer
Companies that our graduates work for include:
- AXS Europe
- EasyJet Commercial
- Lloyds Banking Group
