Course outline

The aim of this programme is to provide a theoretical and applied knowledge and skills required at postgraduate level. In completing the programme, students will be able to demonstrate understanding of research methods and methodologies; critical and creative thinking and analytical skills in the production of written and oral assignments, to develop the prescribed level of inter-disciplinary language competence. Students will examine a range of research approaches, techniques, and methodologies, and manage their personal development enhancing their intellectual and practical skills, that build a set of transferable skills as appropriate for continuing at postgraduate level. 

In this Pre Masters you will take the following four core modules:

Interactive Learning Skills and Communication

To develop: a range of academic and communication skills necessary for successful study at postgraduate level; a range of transferable communication skills (written and oral) to prepare students for professional life; independent learning tactics and strategies and, encourage students to take responsibility for their personal, academic, and professional development. 

Critical and Creative thinking

The Critical and Creative Thinking module has been designed to assist learners in developing a range of critical and analytical thinking skills necessary for successful study at postgraduate level. This will be achieved by learners gaining an understanding of concepts used in critical thinking; interpreting the arguments of others and developing effective arguments of their own whether in spoken or written form. 

Research Methods

The Research Methods module has been specifically designed for students who are required to demonstrate appropriate research and study skills at Masters level at the University.  Successful completion of this module indicates that students have obtained a good understanding of and ability to apply the requisite skills involved in demonstrating their understanding of, and ability to conduct research, evaluate relevant literature, and report research findings.  

This module is designed to assist students in developing a critical awareness of and familiarity with research methods; and provide students with underpinning knowledge and understanding of research methods and methodologies and a solid grounding for the more advanced research skills required in postgraduate study.

Applied Concepts

This module has been designed to guide students through the key activities and concepts, which need to be undertaken and applied in the production of a written report at postgraduate level. The students are encouraged to reflect upon their approach whilst constructing their report, through continual feedback in tutorials, developing skills that will help in the re-evaluation of the decisions they make, drawing upon theory and its relation to practice.  The students will be required to present their work during the semester to receive timely feedback on their submitted drafts. This module will enable students to apply concepts which they have studied in the complementary modules on the Generic Pre-Masters programme element.

This pathway leads to the following Brunel University London Master's degrees:

• Data Science and Analytics MSc
• Digital Service Design MSc
• Artificial Intelligence MSc

Careers and your future

Data Science and Analytics MSc

Your MSc in Data Science and Analytics from Brunel will equip you to work in leading data science organisations. The roles that our graduates are typically recruited to within these organisations include analytics consultant, big data engineer/scientist, business analyst, clinical data scientist, data design specialist, data scientists, developer/ development engineer, enterprise/technical architect, forecast analyst, marketing/customer and/or insight analyst, quantitative analyst and web analyst.

Companies seeking to employ our data science graduates include Accenture, AstraZeneca, AXA Insurance, British Airways, Capgemini, Experian, FICO, GE Healthcare, HSBC, nPower, Orange, PayPal, Sopra and Waitrose.

The course is run in conjunction with SAS, a market leader in business analytics software and services, and the largest independent vendor in the business intelligence market. Brunel’s course is unique in being the only current MSc programme that is fully integrated with SAS, providing the SAS base certification.

The practical aspects of many of the modules will allow you to gain hands-on experience of several commercial SAS tools (e.g. SAS BASE, Enterprise Guide, Enterprise Miner and Visual Analytics). This experience is designed, in part, to develop skills in preparation for the SAS certification part of the programme. You will have the opportunity to obtain an SAS certificate such as SAS Base Programming, which is a recognised industry qualification, following a two-week SAS certification ‘boot camp’.

Digital Service Design MSc

Your MSc in digital service design from Brunel will equip you to work in leading digital design organisations. On completion of the course graduates go onto roles such as, app development, copywriting and content design, digital service design, digital product design, digital project management, front-end development, information architecture, interaction design, product management, research, service design, strategy, user experience design, UX architecture.

Brunel’s MSc course in Digital Service Design prepares you for roles in the fast-growing digital industry by providing a course led by industry experts and practitioners.

Artifical Intelligence MSc

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the scientific study that enables machines to mimic cognitive functions of human mind, such as learning and problem solving. It has enjoyed a resurgence following the advances of computational power, the availability of large amount of data and the development of theoretical understanding.

Built on Brunel's strong international research profile in intelligent data analysis, the aim of our Artificial Intelligence MSc course is to provide you with a solid awareness of the key concepts of artificial intelligence. You will develop a critical understanding of the state-of-the-art in this area and the practical skills to create value in its applications to business, scientific and social domains.

The programme offers a wide range of study areas that cover data analysis, various intelligent techniques, machine learning, deep learning, data visualisation, and ethics and governance.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to develop a broader set of skills including study skills, research skills, employment skills and capability skills through group projects, guest lectures or workshops from industry, and dissertation projects with industrial collaborations.