Data Science: Master of Science (MScDS) is a master's degree in Data Science & Analytics programme taught at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, Canada. The programme runs for 2 years, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 1,433 per credit (CAD 861 per credit for local students).
The Master of Science in Data Science (MScDS) is a graduate degree offered on campus in Kamloops, BC. Full-time students typically complete the 32-credit program over two years (four semesters), though some may finish in three semesters if granted course exemptions. The curriculum consists of four mandatory core courses covering statistical design, linear models, database management, and machine learning, together with elective courses and either a thesis or a project component, along with seminars and work-experience opportunities. Students learn data investigation techniques such as data cleaning, sampling, management, and exploratory analysis, alongside visualization, computational methods, machine learning, optimization, and statistical modelling, and are trained to communicate analytical results clearly to technical and non-technical audiences alike. Applicants are expected to have a strong background in both statistics and computer science coursework. The project/course-based option suits students aiming for non-academic data science, engineering, or analyst roles in industry, while the thesis option suits those planning to pursue further research or doctoral study. The program prepares graduates for data-focused careers across a range of sectors.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:3.00 / 4.33
Admission Requirements: Applicants need an acceptable four-year bachelor's degree or equivalent in science or a related discipline, with strong backgrounds in statistics and computing science (ideally a major in one and a minor in the other, or several dedicated undergraduate courses in each, such as calculus, linear algebra, introductory statistics and programming). The project option requires a minimum GPA of B (3.00/4.33) in the last 60 credits, and the thesis option requires B+ (3.33/4.33). Applicants whose degree was not from an English-language university need IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0, TOEFL 570 (paper, TWE 4.5+) or 88 iBT with no section below 20, or CAEL 70 with no subset below 60. Two academic or professional reference letters and a Knowledge Mapping Form are required. The program has a single intake, in January, with no admission deferral offered.
Application Details
Start Date:January
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants (Canadian citizens and permanent residents) apply directly to TRU: for the September (Fall) intake the deadline is 1 May, for January (Winter) it is 1 September, and for the May (Summer) intake it is 1 January; applications for most programs open 1 October, and a deadline falling on a weekend or statutory holiday moves to the next working day. International applicants follow the same intake structure with deadlines of 1 May (September), 1 October (January) and 1 February (May); TRU still reviews later applications where space remains, though high-volume programs can close early, so admission runs on a rolling basis around these published cut-offs for the 2027 entry cycle. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
