Professional Doctorate Data Science at University of Stirling

Programme overview

The Professional Doctorate in Data Science is an industrial doctorate combining academic and commercial expertise, supported by The Data Lab (Scotland's Innovation Centre for Data and AI). The first year is taught from the MSc data science modules, followed by two years of industry-relevant applied research with academic and industrial supervisors.

Duration: Full-time (September start): 36 months; part-time (September start): 72 months; full-time (January start): 45 months | Intake: January 2027, September 2027, January 2028 | Study mode: full-time / part-time | Location: Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom

What you will study

Year one is a taught component with an independent research project (60 credits) including a systematic review and a full doctoral research proposal, assessed by viva and poster. The research phase is industry-led applied research (360 credits at level 12) examined by a doctoral dissertation and viva. Skills include SQL and NoSQL databases, Python, machine learning, R and Hadoop.

Career pathways

Graduates can work in banking and finance, data-driven marketing, sport and fitness, health and medicine, engineering, data journalism, mapping and GIS, and new media, in roles such as data scientist, data analyst, data engineer, business analyst, quantitative model risk analyst and researcher. Graduates include lead data scientists and senior data engineers at employers such as easyJet, Lloyds Banking Group and AXS Europe.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants may come from numerate and computational degrees (computing, mathematics, physics, engineering), or from medical/clinical, business, marketing or economics backgrounds with relevant industrial or commercial experience, or other science and engineering backgrounds. An in-principle or under-discussion agreement with an industrial partner willing to support the research component should be in place. Applicants with a suitable research-oriented Masters in a numerate or computational discipline (or Big Data, AI, data science or financial technology) may be considered for direct entry to year two, case by case. English language (international applicants): IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill. Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill. TOEFL exams taken before 21 January 2026: 80 overall with 18 in reading, 17 in writing, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking. TOEFL exams taken from 21 January 2026: 4 overall with no less than 4 in any band.

Domestic applicants: GBP 21,000 for the whole programme (2026/27). Full course fee, UK and Republic of Ireland students Source

International applicants: GBP 54,300 for the whole programme (2026/27). Full course fee, international (including EU) students Source

Intake: January 2027, September 2027, January 2028

Duration: Full-time (September start): 36 months; part-time (September start): 72 months; full-time (January s

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