MSC Big Data Analytics at Sheffield Hallam University

• Learn to use industry-leading software including SAS and HaDoop.
• Gain hands-on knowledge of data storage, data mining and statistical modelling techniques.
• Study aspects related to the distribution and integration of data with emphasis on the business context.
• Have the opportunity to work abroad — with the possibility of Erasmus funding being available for European placements.
• Prepare for jobs with salaries ranging from £35,000–£80,000.

Big data analysis is essential for companies to understand their customers better, develop new products and cut operational costs. This course has been developed in consultation with our industry contacts to create graduates who can become data scientists capable of working with the massive amounts of data now common to many businesses. This course offers a two year work experience route including a placement of up to 12 months.

Live projects

You will have the opportunity to work on real, work-based projects supplied by an external company or emulated industry case studies. You will utilise your skills and knowledge from earlier studies of topics such as data integration, statistical modelling, big data and distributed systems, to situations of genuine complexity.

Networking opportunities

The teaching team make use of their research and industry connections to facilitate the inclusion of real work scenarios and case studies within many of the modules.

There are many industries that make use of the skills developed on the course once you have graduated, including

• Pharmaceuticals
• Finance
• Marketing
• Retail
• Public Sector (Police, Government, NHS) Organisations such as Amazon, Facebook, UK Ministry of Defence, HSBC and GSK all make use of data management/analytics extensively to help them to better understand their customers and to make informed business decisions. IBM ranked these jobs as one of the most difficult for employers to recruit, due in part to the shortage of skilled data scientists.

Work Placement

You will have the opportunity to go on a work placement for up to 12 months. You are supported in finding placements and can apply for a vacancy as you would like a job. There are dedicated sessions to support you in CV writing, interview skills and job applications.

The placement starts during the summer of your second year and most are paid. Apply for the placement route by selecting the two year course length.

Future careers

This course prepares you for a career in

• statistical analysis and machine learning techniques
• database and programming technologies
• statistical theory
• marketing and insight
• credit risk
• data and technology
• digital analytics
• data science

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for

• the Bank of England
• OCF
• HSBC
• INC Research
• Axis Bank

Some of the associated careers in these fields are

• customer insight analyst
• credit risk analyst
• fraud analyst
• forensic analyst
• big data architect
• business intelligence developer
• digital analyst
• data scientist