Graduate Certificate in Data Science and Decisions
- Commencing Terms
- Term 1 & 3
- Duration
- 0.7 Year(s)
- Delivery Mode
- Face-to-face (includes blended)
- Campus
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Kensington
- Codes
- Program code 7959
- CRICOS code 0100702
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2024 Indicative first year full fee
- $19,500*
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2024 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $19,500*
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2024 Indicative first year full fee
- $27,500*
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2024 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $28,000*
Fees
Fees
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Interdisciplinary teaching
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Industry connections
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Real-world skills
International application pause for 2025 intakes
Applications for international students to study at UNSW in 2025 are currently paused. Please submit your expression of interest to join our application waitlist so we can contact you.
- Overview
- Entry requirements
- What will I study?
- Future careers
- How to apply
- Fees & Scholarships
Overview
There's plenty of reasons to study data and technology, it's a rapidly growing field that spans all industries. The Graduate Certificate in Data Science & Decisions produces professionals who are skilled in the manipulation and interpretation of large amounts of data. It has been developed to train scientists to meet the strong and ongoing demand for data scientists and data analysts.
Graduates will have broad and advanced knowledge and skills in data science across the three areas of mathematics and statistics, computer science, and economics. This graduate certificate opens up a range of career opportunities in this ever-growing space.
Why study at UNSW?
Learn with the best
- We’re ranked #1 in Australia and #44 in the world for Mathematics.*
- We’re ranked #1 in Australia and #31 in the world and 1st in Australia for Engineering & Technology.*
- We're ranked #3 in Australia and #37 in the world for Economics and Econometrics.*
Harness the expertise of three schools
You’ll benefit from the expertise of educators across three different schools at UNSW: Mathematics and Statistics, Computer Science and Engineering and Economics.
Leverage our industry connections
Advance your career with industry relevant skills and experience. Tap into our network of 400+ industry and research partners to expand your professional connections.
Join a supportive student community
At UNSW, equity, diversity and inclusion are integral to our success. We’re also committed to inspiring women to pursue an enriching career path in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
Want to see more from UNSW Science?
Entry requirements
For entry into this degree, you must have one of the following:
- a Bachelor of Mathematics
- a Bachelor of Science with a major in mathematics, statistics or computer science
- a Bachelor of Data Science and Decisions
- an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline as determined by the program authority
You also need to have a sufficient background in mathematics and/or statistics and/or data science, as indicated by an average of 70 or above in appropriate level III university courses.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
For entry into this degree, you must have one of the following:
- a Bachelor of Mathematics
- a Bachelor of Science with a major in mathematics, statistics or computer science
- a Bachelor of Data Science and Decisions
- an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline as determined by the program authority
You also need to have a sufficient background in mathematics and/or statistics and/or data science, as indicated by an average of 70 or above in appropriate level III university courses.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
Check the specific English language requirements for this program
Full program structure
This Graduate Certificate in Data Science and Decisions will teach you the skills for the manipulation and interpretation of large amounts of data. You'll graduate with a broad and advanced knowledge and skills in Data Science across the three areas of mathematics and statistics, computer science, and economics.
Core courses include:
- Foundations of Computer Science
- Principles of Programming
- Business Economics
- Economics of Strategy
- Multivariate Analysis
- Statistical Inference
- Fundamentals of Data Science
- Introduction to Statistics and Statistical Computations
Future careers
The era of Big Data
With quintillion bytes of data generated each day, it’s safe to say that we’re in the era of big data. Social media, the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning and artificial intelligence are driving the trends in data and influencing the role of data scientists.
As the big data boom rolls on, your skills will be central to a range of roles in information-rich industries including:
- internet search
- fraud detection
- targeted advertising
- logistics planning
- speech recognition
- image analysis
- genetic risk prediction
- virtual reality
- customer loyalty
- product development
- autonomous vehicles.
What does a career in this field look like?
Data science is a multidisciplinary field of study that blends mathematical methods, statistics, computing, business decisions and communication. Data scientists translate user data into insights that help companies understand their audience and personalise their products or services. Uncovering new insights and predicting trends has become vital in the retail, environmental, not-for-profit, IT and professional services sector.
Career opportunities in data science span across many industries from start-ups to established corporations including Coles, AirBnB, Spotify, Netflix and Greenpeace, to name a few. As a data scientist, you might be asked to calculate the price of new products for the market, determine warehouse or retail employee schedules, make predictions of environmental phenomena and model the spread of new diseases.
Potential careers
- Business and Systems Analysts
- Programmers, Statistician
- Computer Network Professionals
- Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists
How to apply
Applications must be submitted through our Apply Online portal. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term. Some high-demand programs and Faculties with limited places may have an earlier application deadline or commencement date. Find out more.
Ready to start your application?
For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.
Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For more information visit our international applicant information page.
Ready to start your application?
Fees & Scholarships
*Fees are subject to annual review (or when required) by the University and may vary accordingly.
Indicative fees are a guide only and have been calculated based on the typical enrolment patterns of students undertaking the program. The indicative fees listed here is an estimate for tuition only and excludes non-tuition fees and charges. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year of enrolment, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (48 units of credit (UOC) per year).
You should not rely on indicative fees as fee increases are assessed when required and may exceed the indicative figures listed here. Actual fees are calculated on enrolment. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only, other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).
Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.
Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.
Scholarships
At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.
QS World University Rankings, 2025.
AFR Top 100 Future leaders Award.
#1 Australian uni attended by start-up founders.
UNSW has a strong focus on industry collaborations with opportunities for students to network.
