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Machine Learning and Data Science (Online)
Develop an in-depth understanding of machine learning models and learn to apply them to real-world problems.
Develop an in-depth understanding of machine learning models and learn to apply them to real-world problems
Benefit from flexible learning over 24 months on a fully online course
Build a portfolio and showcase your skills for a future career in mathematics, data or statistics
Course key facts
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Qualification
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MSc
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Duration
2 years
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Start date
October 2023
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Study mode
Part-time
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Fees
£16,200 per year Home
£16,200 per year Overseas
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Delivered by
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Location
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Online
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Minimum entry standard 2023
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2:1 in statistics, mathematics, engineering, physics or computer science
Course overview
Accelerate your career in engineering or data science on this online and part-time Master's course.
Via hands-on projects, you'll build a portfolio in everything from probabilistic modelling and deep learning to unstructured data processing and anomaly detection.
This programme will enhance your analytical abilities in relation to mathematics and statistics. You'll gain expertise in tackling complex data by implementing scalable solutions using industry-standard tools, including PySpark.
You'll also consider the ethics and limitations of machine learning, and learn how to ethically apply these techniques to your work.
All learning is delivered online.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
You’ll take all of these core modules
Core modules
Investigate the ethical implications of the new capabilities offered by data science and artificial intelligence.
Learn how to support the implementation, test and deployment of machine learning algorithms, and become fluent in using R and Python.
Gain familiarity with statistical and mathematical tools that will be used in later modules.
You'll explore topics including basic probability, optimisation techniques and modes of convergence.
Discover how to produce convincing narrative summaries and informative visualisations for a variety of complex datasets.
Become familiar with the framework of supervised learning and advance your understanding of linear models.
Build on your existing knowledge of ethics in data science and artificial intelligence and explore real-world issues.
Specialise in distributed programming, Spark and statistical analysis at scale and establish when it is appropriate to use Big Data technology to perform data analysis.
Examine subjective probabilities and the Bayesian paradigm for making coherent individual decisions in the presence of uncertainty.
Explore the building blocks of deep learning models, and how to design network architectures for specific applications.
Assess the different challenges of unsupervised learning, exploring topics including clustering, factor analysis and dimensionality reduction.
Complete your studies examining the ethical implications of data science and artificial intelligence.
Learn how to handle "unstructured' data and develop methods for converting unstructured data to a more familiar "structured" form.
Develop expertise for taking machine learning beyond the prediction process to formal decision-making processes.
You’ll also carry out an extensive research project focused on machine learning and data science.
This will see you undertake training in research on open-ended problems and demonstrate material taught over the programme.
Research projects may be theoretical, methodological or applied depending on your interests. Work will be assessed by a written report and an oral examination.
Teaching and assessment
Balance of teaching and learning
Key
- Lectures and tutorials
- Independent study
Year 1
- 22% Lectures and tutorials
- 78% Independent study
Year 2
- 15% Lectures and tutorials
- 85% Independent study
Teaching and learning methods
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Virtual learning environment (Coursera)
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Lectures
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Tests
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Tutorials
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Coding exercises
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Reading
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Discussion boards and prompts
Assessment methods
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Coursework
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Multiple choice tests and online quizzes
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Research project
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Oral examination
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Written report
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply online
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.
Application deadlines – Friday 26 May 2023
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course:
- £80 for all taught Master's applications excluding those to the Imperial College Business School
- £100 for all MSc applications to the Imperial College Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to the Imperial College Business School
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas or research courses, such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
The deadline for completed applications and references is Friday 26 May 2023, to be considered for September 2023.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
Important information for applicants fom Iran, Sudan, Crimea, Cuba, Syria and North Korea
The programme is delivered fully online via our in-house platforms. However, some computational labs will be accessible via the Coursera platform. United States export control regulations prevent Coursera from offering services and content to users in certain countries or regions.
More information about which countries or regions are affected can be found on Coursera’s website.
Coursera must enforce these restrictions in order to remain in compliance with US law and, for that reason, we advise that all interested applicants check this information before applying to the programme.
As a result, we are not able to consider applications for the programme for those who wish to study the programme from within these countries.
If any interested applicants have any queries regarding the above, please contact: ml-online-msc@imperial.ac.uk
You cannot register/enrol for more than one award at the same time. This includes awards at Imperial and other universities or institutions. You would need to de-register from your current course before starting. Read more about this in the Imperial College General Academic Regulations (Section 5.5).
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Tuition fees
Home fee
2023 entry
£16,200
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For 2022-23 entry, the maximum amount is £11,836. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Overseas fee
2023 entry
£16,200
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For 2022-23 entry, the maximum amount is £11,836. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Your future career
Prepare for advanced engineering roles in areas such as AI, data science and machine learning.
With specialised knowledge, you'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors.
These include data scientists, machine learning engineers or computational statisticians.
Further links
Contact the department
- Email: ml-online-msc@imperial.ac.uk
Course Director: Professor Nick Heard.
Visit the Department of Mathematics website.

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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications