Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £12,120 for the course
International/EU: £19,225 for the course -
How long will I study?
2 Years
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
September 2025
January 2026
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Placement year available?
Yes
Course summary
- Learn how to use industry relevant software.
- Explore SAS, R, Python and the Apache Hadoop Ecosystem.
- Gain knowledge of how to store, mine and statistically model data.
- Understand how to use machine learning and AI to analyse large datasets.
- Study topics related to the management, distribution and integration of data.
On this course, you’ll undertake a complete end-to-end business intelligence process within big data analytics. This includes data mining, transforming and reporting on data – with a focus of interpreting the information in a business context – preparing you to pursue a career in a sector with high demand for workers.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on the application of knowledge. You’ll engage with the Hallam community and beyond, collaborating with experts in your areas of interest, and being challenged to think in new ways – all in a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
On this course you’ll gain key skills and knowledge in data collection, storage, processing, analysis and visualisation. Through lectures and practical tutorials, you’ll learn how to apply big data tools and systems to different data tasks and problems – as well as how to analyse and communicate data effectively.
The main aim is to prepare you for employment in big data analytics, so we keep a close eye on industry developments while carefully choosing the topics and technical content of the modules you’ll study. While consulting with our industry partners and connections, we work with subject matter experts to understand the latest industry trends and needs.
As part of the course, you’ll also develop your research skills, preparing to undertake your own significant piece of work in the field as a dissertation project. This allows you to develop and tailor your understanding of a specific data-related topic that’s relevant to your career aspirations. You’ll be supported by a dissertation supervisor who is a subject matter expert.
You learn through:
- Lectures
- Hands-on lab sessions and tutorials
- Regular feedback
- Teamwork and group-based learning
- Practice-based applied learning
- Discussions
- Self-study
Key themes
The MSc in Big Data Analytics course emphasises mastering industry-relevant software like SAS, R, Python, and Hadoop. You’ll learn to apply machine learning and AI techniques to large datasets and tackle real-world problems through hands-on projects.
You’ll learn through practice – starting by understanding the organisational data and developing business questions around the ’who, what, where and when’ principles. You’ll then bring together multiple real-time datasets to develop a decision-support system, making recommendations by interpreting the data with Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) tools.
The course also focuses on business intelligence processes, teaching you to interpret data in a business context and make informed decisions. Ethical considerations and effective communication of data insights are integral – you’ll be gaining the skills and knowledge you’ll need for high-demand roles in today's data-driven industries.
Course leaders and tutors
Richard Wilson
Senior LecturerRichard Wilson is the course leader for the MSc in Big Data Analytics within the College of Business, Technology and Engineering, department of computing, and the Ma … Read more
Applied learning
Work Experience
You’ll have the opportunity to go on a work placement for up to 12 months, where you’ll apply academic theory and your skills in a real-world setting. This hands-on experience will enhance your professional development and help you to make informed career choices after graduation. We’ll support you to source a placement that is relevant to your course. Throughout your placement, you’ll be supported to reflect on your experience and contribution to the organisation you work for. You'll also share your progress and achievements with your Placement Academic Supervisor as part of your final assessment.
Students from this course have been to work placement with companies such as:
- HSBC bank
- Frasers Group
- Parexel
- EDF Energy
- Office of National Statistics
In addition, the transformative impact that a placement can have on personal and professional development can be further enhanced through the completion of Sheffield Hallam’s Applied Professional Diploma. The Applied Professional Diploma is an award that demonstrates the learning you have gained from the placement, and it is undertaken while on placement not during the normal academic class time.
On the Work Experience route, you’ll complete an additional placement preparation program that introduces you to the UK employment landscape and prepares you for the recruitment and assessment activities you will experience when applying for placement opportunities.
Live projects
You’ll use your skills and knowledge to solve data-related problems by working on real-world projects with online data.
For example, you could produce a month-by-month breakdown of flight delays, by destinations, airlines and weather, for a specific date range, to help airports better understand how to make their operations more efficient. Or you could be working with data in relation to policing, energy or road traffic accidents – creating data-driven solutions for everyday real-world challenges.
Networking Opportunities
Throughout the course you’ll have numerous networking opportunities to help you with your career – from career fairs and workshops, to employer presentations and visits, as well as guidance from professional advisers.
Sheffield Hallam University is an SAP Student Academy and a founding member of the SAP University Alliance.
Future careers
Our MSc in big data analytics is designed to enhance your data analysis skills – providing new personal insights and skill development to help you advance your career. You’ll gain the skills, knowledge and experience that modern organisations seek from their data analysts.
Previous graduates have gone on to develop successful careers in senior roles – in a wide range of opportunities across the world, in fields such as:
- Customer insight analysis
- Credit risk analysis
- Fraud analysis
- Forensic analysis
- Big data architecture
- Business intelligence development
- Digital analysis
- Data science
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:
- The Bank of England
- HSBC
- Tata Consultancy Services
- HM Revenue and Customs
- Axis Bank
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
You’ll engage in learning across our Extended Campus – which includes flexible physical and digital spaces to support applied learning, working, teaching and collaboration. On campus, our Computing Department will be your home space, with areas to take part in course activities and meet students, staff and employers.
On this course you work with:
- Specialist platforms like Azure
- Specialist software like Python, R Studio, SAS and Tableau
- Specialist data management applications like Hadoop EcoSystem
Entry requirements
All students
A good honours degree in computing, computer science, maths or statistics or other relevant areas or equivalent.
We consider your application if you do not have a relevant degree but have at least one year's direct work experience in computing or a relevant area. You may also be able to claim credit points which can reduce the amount of time it takes to complete your qualification at Sheffield Hallam.
Non-native speakers of English need an IELTS score of 6.0 with 5.5 in all skills (or equivalent). If your English language skill is currently below an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English level.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules studied may differ depending on when you start your course.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
Modules studied may differ depending on when you start your course.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Advanced Data Management Project
Data Analytics: Tools And Techniques
Introduction To Programming For Big Data
Postgraduate Work Experience Applied Professional Diploma
Research Skills For Computing
Final year
Compulsory modules
Advanced Programming For Big Data
Computing Research Project
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £12,120 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. For this work experience route, your fees will be payable over two years, divided into two annual payments based on credits studied. The fee includes dedicated employability support to help you prepare for and secure work experience. It does not guarantee you a placement and if a placement is not secured the work experience fee will still be charged. If a placement is not secured you will transfer to the standard version of the course to complete your remaining credits, where the balance of your course fees will be due in year one in line with completing the course.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £19,225 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. For this work experience route, your fees will be payable over two years, divided into two annual payments based on credits studied. The fee includes dedicated employability support to help you prepare for and secure work experience. It does not guarantee you a placement and if a placement is not secured the work experience fee will still be charged. If a placement is not secured you will transfer to the standard version of the course to complete your remaining credits, where the balance of your course fees will be due in year one in line with completing the course.
Postgraduate student loans
Up to £12,471 is available in 2024/25 for home students on most masters courses.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for School of Computing and Digital Technologies (PDF, 131.3KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
