BCS-Accredited Data Science MSc in the UK: What It Means and How to Check

TL;DR: A BCS-accredited data science MSc is a UK master's that BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, has checked against its professional standards. For most master's courses this counts as partly meeting the academic requirement for Chartered IT Professional (CITP) status, not full chartership. Check the exact course title and your intake on the BCS accreditation search. Several accredited courses accept graduates from non-computing degrees, with published international fees from about £18,600 to £31,700.

Many UK data science master's look alike online. BCS accreditation is one of the few outside checks that separates them. For a graduate funding a year abroad, it is a useful filter, but it means less than some course adverts suggest. This guide explains what a BCS-accredited data science MSc gives you, how to check a course yourself, and which routes are open if your first degree is not in computing.

Not sure whether your degree and maths background fit an accredited data science MSc? Check your eligibility with Prosper.

What BCS accreditation actually means

BCS is the UK's professional body for IT. It says accredited degrees lead towards professional registration such as Chartered IT Professional (CITP), Chartered Engineer (CEng), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Registered IT Technician (RITTech).

Most accredited master's courses are listed as partially meeting the academic requirement for CITP. Queen Mary University of London and City St George's, University of London both use exactly that wording for their data science MSc. You still need work experience and a BCS application to become chartered.

BCS also says programmes accredited for full CITP are recognised under the Seoul Accord, an international agreement on computing degrees. Do not assume a one-year MSc carries that.

How to check a course on the BCS search

BCS runs a public academic accreditation search. Use it before you apply.

1. Search by university name and find the exact programme title. Two similar titles at one university can have different status.
2. Check the award. Note whether it says partial CITP, CEng or both.
3. Check the intakes covered. BCS guidelines say accreditation lasts for a maximum of five intakes and can be backdated to cover students already on the course. Make sure your start date falls inside the accredited period.
4. Match it to the course page. If the two disagree, ask admissions in writing.

Want a second view on which accredited courses match your degree before you spend on applications?

Check your eligibility ›

Accredited courses we verified, and who they accept

Each of these course pages states BCS accreditation. Fees are the published full-time international fee for the current intake.

Salford and Kingston already list higher fees for the following year, so budget for a rise.

Entry routes for graduates

Computing or IT graduates. Most courses above are open to you. A strong second-class degree and some Python or R experience put you in range for Reading, Bath and Queen Mary.

Maths, science, engineering or economics graduates. Bath and Reading name these subjects directly. Show your calculus, linear algebra, statistics and any programming modules on your transcript.

Business, arts or other non-computing graduates. Look at courses built for you. Kingston's conversion MSc is designed for non-computing graduates, and Salford and Wolverhampton accept any subject with evidence of maths. Ask whether your school maths result is accepted as the maths evidence, since equivalents vary by university. Our guide to UK psychology conversion master's explains how conversion courses work more broadly.

English. Published IELTS requirements range from 6.0 overall at Salford to 6.5 with no band below 6.0 at Bath and Queen Mary.

What it costs on top of tuition

GOV.UK lists these Student visa costs from outside the UK:

• Visa application: £558.
• Immigration Health Surcharge: £776 for each year of your visa. Your visa runs longer than your course, so check the total before you pay.
• Living costs to show: £1,171 a month outside London or £1,529 in London at the time of writing, for up to nine months, held for 28 days.

Our article on UK student visa maintenance funds tracks changes to those figures.

Applying from Sri Lanka

Ask each university whether your O/L or A/L Maths result is accepted as the maths evidence. Equivalents vary by university.

Frequently asked questions

Is a BCS-accredited MSc better than a non-accredited one? Not automatically. Accreditation shows the course meets BCS standards and helps towards CITP. Course content, placement options and cost still matter.

Does a BCS-accredited MSc make me a Chartered IT Professional? No. Most master's courses partly meet the academic requirement. Chartership also needs experience and a BCS application.

Can I do a data science MSc with a business degree? Yes, on courses built for it. Kingston's conversion MSc targets non-computing graduates, and Salford and Wolverhampton accept any subject with maths evidence.

Where do I check if a course is BCS accredited? Use the academic accreditation search on the BCS website and match the exact course title and intake.

How long is a data science MSc in the UK? Usually 12 months full-time. Wolverhampton's course runs 15 months, and some universities offer a placement year.

PS: Accreditation narrows a long list, but the right course still depends on your degree, your maths and your budget. If you want a clear view of which accredited data science courses fit your profile, check your eligibility with Prosper.

Check your eligibility ›