What Qualifications Do I Need To Study Data Science?

Are you looking to start your journey into the world of data science? 

Whether you are a student, or a professional wanting to make a career switch, you may be wondering what qualifications you need to study data science.

THIS ARTICLE COVERS:

• The diverse skills you need for data science
• Who can learn data science?
• What you need to be eligible to study
• How requirements vary:
  • Postgraduate diploma in data science
  • Masters programmes in data science
  • Doctorate in data science
• A world of opportunity in data science

The diverse skills you need for data science

Data science is highly focused on the value of approximation, the results of data analysis, and understanding their consequences. Like software engineers, data scientists aim to optimise algorithms and manage the trade-off between speed and accuracy in distilling information that forms a fit basis for business decision-making.

This fascinating, fast-growing field requires diverse skills, from software engineering and mathematics to communication and business acumen. It combines analytics, computer science, information technology, and mathematics, making it an ideal choice for those looking to enter the tech sector. In addition, with the proliferation of data in the modern economy, data scientists are becoming ever more essential for businesses to understand and leverage their data for success. 

The field requires both hard and soft skills, and knowing where to start can be challenging. Let’s look at some of the data science qualifications available, and the skills you need to study them.

Who can learn data science?

Anyone with a basic understanding of mathematics, statistics, and computer science can learn data science. Although having a degree in these domains will help, it is not always necessary. Many data scientists started their careers with a nontechnical background and then went on to acquire the necessary skills.

The most important thing to understand about data science is that it is an iterative process. Data scientists spend most of their time exploring and analysing data. Then they use various techniques, such as machine learning, natural language processing, and data visualisation to uncover insights from large datasets.

What you need to be eligible to study

There is no need for coding experience to take a data science course. However, being from a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) background will give you an advantage, as the knowledge of these subjects will help you grasp data science concepts more easily. That said, basic knowledge of computer programming is an additional advantage.

How requirements vary

Entrance criteria vary depending on the kind and level of course you wish to join.

If you are starting your data science studies with a short course, rather than an academic qualification, you may not need official qualifications to sign up. However, if enrolling for a diploma in data science directly after matric, you should at least have basic maths, computer science, and statistics knowledge, and total aggregate marks of 50%.

Postgraduate diploma in data science

To enrol in a postgraduate diploma in data science, you need a Bachelor of Engineering (BE), Bachelor of Technology (BTech), Master of Computer Applications (MCA), or a Master of Science (MSc) degree with statistics, computer science, or programming as core subjects, and a total aggregate of 50% or more.

Masters programmes in data science

To pursue an MSc, MTech, or MCA in data science, you need a Bachelor of Computer Applications, a Bachelor of Engineering, or a BTech degree in statistics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, technology, or any other discipline with a minimum of two years of learning mathematics or statistics from a recognised institution.

Doctorate in data science

Most universities require marks of at least 55% to 60% from your master’s programme to consider accepting you for a doctorate in data science. Students with higher grade point averages are likely to be given priority when faculty members consider applications. 

A world of opportunity in data science

There are many data science courses available if you are interested in learning data science or upgrading your data science skills to the next level. With the right skills and training, you can open up a world of opportunity in the data science domain.
If you are interested in becoming a data scientist and want to get started immediately without doing a full academic qualification, enrol to learn next-gen skills with Digital Regenesys’  data science online course and data science short courses. They’ll provide the skills and knowledge to help you become a data scientist.