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Data Science for Cultural Heritage MSc

The Data Science for Cultural Heritage MSc (DSCH) provides an innovative opportunity to study data science through the exciting lens of cultural heritage. It is the first MSc to provide in-depth, practice-based data science training in a cultural heritage context, and aims to broaden the horizons of data science. The MSc will equip you to succeed as data scientist in diverse fields such as marketing, architecture, construction or media, as well as heritage and many more.

Covid-19 programme updates

Due to COVID-19, there may have been updates to this programme for the 2020 academic year. Where there has been an update, these are indicated with a red alert and a link which will provide further information.

Key information

Programme starts

September 2020

Modes and duration

Full time: 1 year
Part time: 2 years
Flexible: up to 5 years

Full-time students study for 37.5 hours per week during term time. Typically, lectures and seminars occur on two days per week. Part-time and flexible mode students normally attend half this amount.

Application dates

Full-time
Open: 1 November 2019
Close: 11 August 2020
Part-time
Open: 1 November 2019
Close: 11 August 2020
Flexible/Modular
Open: 1 November 2019
Close: 11 August 2020
Notification
Due to the large number of applications received, this programme is no longer accepting applications for 2020/21 entry. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Applications for 2021/22 entry will open later in the year.

Tuition fees (2020/21)

UK/EU:
£14,160 (FT)
£7,050 (PT)
Overseas:
£25,900 (FT)
£12,890 (PT)


Note on fees: The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website. Fees for flexible, modular study are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session.

Optional qualifications: This degree is also available as a PG Diploma with fees set accordingly.
Location: London, Bloomsbury and London, Hackney Wick (Here East)

Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class UK Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard is required.

English language requirements

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.

The English language level for this programme is: Standard

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

International students

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below.

Select your country:

About this degree

This programme pioneers a new way of teaching data science through application in a cross-disciplinary context. You will explore the complexities of acquisition, analysis and exploitation of the variety of data that is generated and used in heritage contexts. You will develop advanced data science skills, such as crowd sourced data science, machine learning or imaging data analysis.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits, comprising 120 taught credits and a 60 credit dissertation.

The programme consists of four compulsory modules (75 credits), three optional modules (45 credits) and an individual research dissertation (60 credits). 

A Postgraduate Diploma of four compulsory modules (75 credits) and three optional modules (45 credits) is offered.

Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a MSc in Data Science for Cultural Heritage. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Data Science for Cultural Heritage.

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

Compulsory modules

Students will take three compulsory modules in the first term and a fourth one in the second term. 

  • Sustainability and Value (15 credits)
  • Introduction to Heritage Science (15 credits)
  • Introduction to Statistical Data Science (15 credits)
  • Heritage Data Mapping and Visualization (15 credits)
  • Heritage Data Management (15 credits)

Optional modules

  • Machine Learning for Heritage (15 credits)
  • Heritage Imaging (15 credits)
  • Crowd-sourced and Citizen Data for Cultural Heritage (15 credits)
  • Heritage Building Information Modelling (15 credits)
  • Environmental-Material Interactions (15 credits)
Covid-19 module updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be updates to the modules for your chosen programme of study this year. Some modules may not be available or may need to be moved to a later term or year of study. These updates are relevant for 2020-21 academic year only.  The full list of modules will be available in the module catalogue from late August.  From the first week of September, you will be invited to complete module selection from Portico, our student record system. There may need to be additional updates or changes to modules during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available.

Dissertation/report

Students are required to submit a 10,000-word dissertation (60 credits). The topic of the supervised dissertation is selected by the student in agreement with the programme director. It can be taken from a wide range of subjects related to the main themes of the programme and may be selected to assist career development or because of its inherent interest. Collaboration with industry or the heritage sector for the selection of dissertation projects will be encouraged and facilitated whenever possible.

Covid-19 field trip updates
Due to COVID-19 updates, there may need to be changes to planned field trips for this programme. This will depend on travel restrictions, social distancing measures, and the availability of the relevant venues. Your department will keep you updated if field trips are able to occur and/or any alternative options available.

Teaching and learning

The programme is taught using various strategies including lectures, tutorials, problem-based learning, project work, coursework and reports.

You will get hands-on experience working with realistic data-sets and within heritage contexts, which will include field trips.

Skills-based learning will be delivered through small-group exercises promoting peer-to-peer learning and learning through research.

Covid-19 contact hours on campus
In Term One, while campus will be open, all the learning activity for the core content of your modules will take place online – including lectures, tutorials, seminars and assessments. By “core content” we mean everything you need to learn to complete the module successfully. In addition to these online contact hours, we will be offering some face-to-face educational activities for students on campus, and we will provide alternative online activities for those students unable to join us on campus. These activities, which will include contact with academic staff, will be relevant to your programme of study may include seminars, academic and employability skills workshops, small-group or individual tutorials, lab and practice-based teaching. UK Government safety guidelines will limit the amount of ‘in person’ activity we can offer and while it will vary from programme to programme, is likely to be no more than 1-2 hours per week. This will vary across departments, particularly if your programme includes laboratory/practical/studio/workshop sessions. You will be updated with more specific details as they are available and your timetable will indicate which sessions will be on campus and which will be available online.
Covid-19 practical component updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be changes to the availability of the practical components for your chosen programme. Any updates relate only to the 20/21 academic year and may not apply to all students across the programme depending on your year of study.  Your department will keep you updated if the practical component of your programme is able to occur and/or any alternative options available.   There may need to be additional updates or changes to the practical component during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and/or Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available. 
Covid-19 assessment updates
There may be changes to the format of assessments for modules in this programme due to COVID-19. These will be summarised for each module on the module catalogue from 17 August 2020.   If any changes to assessments need to be made during the academic year due to updates in government guidance, these will be communicated to you as soon as possible from your department.    
Communicating further Covid-19 mitigation plans
We are continuing to follow UK Government guidance, as well as the expertise of our researchers, including specialists in health, education, human behaviour and infection prevention, to make sure UCL is as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. If it becomes necessary to make further changes to your programme as a result of new guidance/regulations, UCL and your department will communicate these as soon as this becomes clear. We will keep you up-to-date with our plans throughout term one, so you have the information you need to be able to take decisions that are right for your circumstances. Please ensure that you keep in touch with your department by regularly checking your UCL emails, Moodle courses, the Coronavirus FAQs for Students page and any UCL online groups or social media you follow.

Additional costs

You will require your own laptop. Recommended specifications can be provided on request.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Funding

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

Careers

Data science is in high demand in many and diverse industries. As a graduate of MSc DSCH you will be ideally placed to gain employment as data scientist, in particular in those sectors that foster transdisciplinarity and break barriers between technology and humanities or social sciences. 

The programme has been developed with input from industry leaders from a diversity of sectors, including architecture, heritage, social media or digital technologies. You will gain exposure to real data challenges from these industries and will develop skill set in data science that will be highly transferable across these and many other sectors.

Employability

Transdisciplinarity, an applied focus, an emphasis on innovation and critical thinking are the key qualities that will define the professional character of our graduates and will make you stand out from other data scientists. 

You will develop advanced data science skills, as well as many transferrable skills such as coding, presentation and communication skills, working with different stakeholders, problem contextualization or public engagement techniques.

Why study this degree at UCL?

From historic buildings and sites to museums, cultural heritage provides an exciting setting to learn and apply data science through real applications that combine science and engineering with social sciences and humanities. 

This cross-disciplinary programme will give you a balance of advanced data science skills, active learning experience and valuable cross-cutting and transferrable skills, including communication and interdisciplinary collaboration, which are in high demand in many industries and sectors.

Developed and delivered by leading academics at the UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage, in collaboration with UCL Department of Statistical Science, industry and major national and international heritage institutions.

We are part of The Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources – home to specialist institutes in energy, environment, resources and heritage. The Bartlett is the UK's largest multidisciplinary Faculty of the Built Environment, bringing together scientific and professional specialisms required to research, understand, design, construct and operate the buildings and urban environments of the future.

The QS World University Rankings (2020) places The Bartlett, as the #1 for Architecture/Built Environment studies in the UK and #3 in the World. The Bartlett’s research received the most world-leading ratings for research on the Built Environment in the UK in the most recent Research Excellence Framework.

Department: Bartlett School of Environment, Energy & Resources

Application and next steps

Applications

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

Who can apply?

You will have an engineering, computer science, applied mathematics or science background. Candidates with suitable professional experience or a social science or humanities background can also apply if they have a demonstrable computational or data analysis capability.

Application deadlines

Full-time
11 August 2020
Part-time
11 August 2020
Flexible/Modular
11 August 2020

For more information see our Applications page.

Apply now

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Page last modified on 13 August 2020