Data Science — careers, salary and study routes
Turning messy real-world data into evidence, predictions and decisions.
Check your fit for Data Science →What Data Science is about
Data scientists collect and clean data, explore it, build statistical and machine-learning models, and explain what the results mean for a business, hospital or government department. The job sits between statistics, programming and a particular domain, and communicating uncertainty honestly is as important as the model itself.
It suits students who like maths, enjoy puzzles and can write code. The field is popular and entry-level roles are competitive; many employers still hire from CSE, statistics or economics and look for projects, internships and portfolios. A dedicated data science degree helps most when it is rigorous in statistics and programming rather than a light set of tool tutorials.
What you'll study
- Probability, statistics and statistical inference
- Linear algebra and calculus for machine learning
- Programming in Python and R, and SQL databases
- Data cleaning, wrangling and visualisation
- Machine learning and deep learning
- Big-data tools and cloud platforms
- Experiment design, causal inference and ethics of data
- Domain projects in business, health or social data
Studying Data Science in India
B.Tech programmes need PCM and admit through JEE Main, JEE Advanced or state CETs. B.Sc programmes usually need maths in Class 12 and admit on marks or through CUET-UG at central universities. The IIT Madras online BS is open to students from any stream who studied maths and English in Class 10 and passed Class 12, with admission through its own qualifier process rather than JEE.
Typical degrees
- B.Tech in Computer Science (Data Science) or AI and Data Science (four years)
- B.Sc in Data Science or Statistics and Data Science (three or four years)
- BS in Data Science and Applications, IIT Madras (online, flexible exits up to four years)
- M.Sc or M.Tech in Data Science (two years)
Entrance exams
- JEE Main
- JEE Advanced
- CUET-UG
- MHT CET
- KCET
Routes in the US and UK
United States
US universities offer BS and BA degrees in data science, often built from statistics and computer science courses; there is no licensure, and many practitioners hold a master's in data science, statistics or analytics.
United Kingdom
UK universities offer BSc degrees in data science or mathematics and statistics with data science, some accredited by the Royal Statistical Society; placement years and one-year MSc conversion courses are common routes in.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need maths in Class 12 for data science?
For almost every serious programme, yes. Statistics, linear algebra and calculus are the backbone of the subject. If you did not take maths, you would need to build it up before a master's in the field.
Is a data science degree better than CSE for data jobs?
Not necessarily. CSE with electives in machine learning and statistics is equally valued. What matters is strong statistics, clean code and projects that show you can answer real questions with data.
Careers this major opens
The US Department of Education maps Data Science, General (CIP 30.7001) to 8 Standard Occupational Classification codes. Salary and employment figures come from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics via O*NET; the AI-durability signal is our own composite score.
Sources: NCES CIP-2020 → SOC-2018 crosswalk · US Bureau of Labor Statistics (via O*NET) · WhatTNext Ai AI-durability score. Careers ranked by US employment volume.