Postgraduate Study in Applied Data Science Postgraduate Study in Applied Data Science Wananga landing

Are you ready to apply for Applied Data Science study?

10 March 2025

Here's all the information you need to get started — including how to apply for a Postgraduate Diploma or Master of Applied Data Science.

 

HOW TO APPLY

Congratulations on taking the next step towards further study! Applications to enrol into our Postgraduate Diploma or Master of Applied Data Science are now open for our 29 September OR 2 February start-date. If you're interested in studying at a later date, please sign up for enrolment updates.

When you apply to enrol into a programme with Tuihono UC | UC Online you're applying to Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury. This means you'll be part of the University of Canterbury student body, and are eligible for a wide range of support and digital services as detailed here.

Not sure which qualification to choose?

With flexible study options, you can choose to exit early with a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Data Science, or take your learning further with a Master of Applied Data Science. Choose the qualification you think you'll complete in your application, and you can always change your mind as you grow and learn online!

Get your documentation ready


Before you start your application to enrol, you'll need to prepare these documents: 

  • Verified evidence of your identity, such as a certified copy of your birth certificate, or a certified copy of the photo page in your passport. There are additional requirements depending on your visa status, or if you have legally changed your name - for more information view full verification requirements.
  • Proof of your academic qualifications, such as a transcript or your UC student ID number if you studied your undergraduate degree with us. If you graduated with a bachelor's degree from another university, you will need to request a digital copy of your transcript through them.
  • Proof of your professional work history, such as a CV or resume, including the years that you previously studied at tertiary institutes. 
  • For international learners: proof of your English language proficiency.

It's also helpful to have: 

  • Your National Student Number on hand - if you have one. You can locate your number through the NZQA website.
  • Prepared two short paragraphs explaining what interests you about studying applied data science, and what you'd like to achieve with this programme. 

How many courses do I choose?


Want to start learning in February? You do not need to select any courses at this stage. Successful applicants will be contacted later this year to add their courses.

Want to start learning in September? The number of courses you choose depends on if you would like to study full-time or part-time, and how you are financing your study.

Please note: a minimum number of learners is needed for effective interaction and feedback, while a maximum cap of learners ensures high quality learning and support. If the minimum number of enrolments required for a course isn’t met, or the maximum cap is exceeded, learners will be given the option to defer their study or receive a refund.

To complete your studies part-time, you will need to take one course per term (approximately 18.5 hours of study per week). The number of courses you enrol in now depends on how you're financing your study. 

  • Using StudyLink? You’ll need to select both courses listed below to meet StudyLink’s minimum enrolment threshold. We'll be in touch later this year when you can add your 2026 courses. 

  • Self-funding? All courses added to your enrolment must be paid before the first course starts. This means you may prefer to only enrol in your first course for now, to pay one term at a time.

Courses to search and select:

  • MBIS623 - Data Management (29 September - 30 November 2025)
  • COSC480 - Computer Programming (2 February – 5 April 2026)

Please note: the specific course codes to search for are MBIS623 and COSC480. The correct courses to select will then be shown in the course selector as MBIS623-25X4 (O) and COSC480-26X9 (O).

To complete your studies full-time, you will need to take two courses per term (approximately 37.5 hours of study per week).

Courses to search and select:

  • MBIS623 - Data Management (29 September - 30 November 2025)
  • COSC480 - Computer Programming  (29 September - 30 November 2025)
  • We'll be in touch later this year when you can add your 2026 courses

Please note: the specific course codes to search for are MBIS623 and COSC480. The correct courses to select will then be shown in the course selector as MBIS623-25X4 (O) and COSC480-25X4 (O).

Submit your StudyLink application ASAP

If you’re planning on using a StudyLink student loan to finance your study, we recommend applying as soon as possible. StudyLink can take up to a month to process your application, so submitting early gives you the best chance of having everything ready for the start of your learning.

 

Need help with your application?

We recommend allowing up to an hour to complete the application process. If you get stuck along the way, our team are here to help: 

You can also download our handy enrolment guide (PDF) here with screenshots and more detailed instructions for support along the way.

Download enrolment guide (PDF)

Download (application/pdf, 1 MB)
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Let's get started! Begin your application to enrol now


Please complete this form so we can support you if needed. After submitting, you’ll be prompted to log in or create a new account in the Tuihono UC | UC Online enrolment portal. Once logged in, you can choose your qualification and provide your personal details to complete your application.

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