Online: September 2025—December 2025
On campus (courses): February 2026—November 2026
On campus (project): November 2026—February 2027
Duration
18 months
Fees
Online: NZ$2,250 per 15 points
Normally $5,500. Discounted 50% for students enrolling in September 2025.
On campus: NZ$5,175 per 15 points
These fees are indicative only based on revision each year and does not include additional costs such as course materials, insurance, and levies. Prices include GST where applicable.
Student Services Levy (SSL)
Insurance for International students
Student loans, allowances, and scholarships
Overview
Data science has become the world’s fastest growing profession as organisations recognise the value of ‘Big Data’ – the vast amounts of data generated and collected by people and organisations every second that can reveal patterns, trends, and associations on a large scale.
Start your Master of Applied Data Science online in September, then transition to Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) campus in February to complete your degree.
Our Online to On Campus programme for international students offers a 50% saving on your first semester of study.
To apply for the Online to On Campus programme you will need to start your degree online in September 2025 and transition to on campus in Semester 1, 2026.
You will need a bachelor's degree in a subject other than Data Science with a B Grade Point Average in your 300-level courses, or have evidence of achievement at postgraduate level.
You will also need to meet our English language requirements.
The Online to On Campus programme has three parts that take place across the 18-month degree:
- Online (two courses): September 2025—December 2025
- On campus Semester 1 and 2 (seven courses): February 2026—November 2026
- On campus summer (project): November 2026—February 2027
Online courses
To begin the Master of Applied Data Science Online to On Campus, you will complete the following two courses online, starting in September and finishing in December 2025:
On Campus courses
Upon successful completion of the above courses, you will travel to Aotearoa New Zealand and complete an additional seven courses across two semesters on campus at UC, starting in February 2026.
All students take the following courses (unless the Programme Director approves a substitution):
- DATA420 Scalable Data Science
- DIGI405 Texts, Discourses and Data: the Humanities and Data Science
- STAT448 Big Data
- STAT462 Data Mining
If DATA401 Introduction to Data Science is required, you must also enrol in this course in Semester 1.
The remaining courses will be any relevant 400 or 600-level courses chosen from the following subjects:
- Biological Sciences
- Computer Science
- Digital Humanities
- Economics
- Environmental Science
- Finance
- Geography
- Geology
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology
- Statistics
With approval, you may substitute these courses with courses from other relevant subjects.
Data Science Project
Following successful completion of the above seven courses, you will remain on campus during the summer, between November 2026 and February 2027, to complete one of the following projects:
Graduates of the Master of Applied Data Science will have the following skills:
- advanced knowledge in data science
- using data to inform workplace solutions
- planning and implementing data-informed projects
- working in multidisciplinary teams
- an understanding of what programming can offer.
Graduates may apply their skills to a range of industries including government, corporates, the IT sector, market research and finance, agriculture, and transport, to meet an international skills shortage in data-savvy professionals.
Work while you study
Your student visa will also allow you to work part-time while you study, and also do full-time work hours over university breaks and during the summer months.
Our UC Careers Team offers support, job listings, and workshops to get you career ready.
Stay and work in New Zealand after graduating
You can apply for a Post Study Work Visa after you finish your degree to stay in New Zealand and work full-time for a duration.
In our latest survey, 65% of our international student graduates chose to remain in New Zealand.
Ready to start?
Hear from our Master of Applied Data Science students
Study at UC in Christchurch offers many benefits for you, your family, and your career.
With a thriving tech sector, a vibrant, welcoming community, and an innovative mindset, living and studying in Christchurch allows you to build a brighter future while enjoying a peaceful, balanced lifestyle amongst the natural beauty of New Zealand.
