Health Data Science Induction

A welcome message from Programme Director Vesna Vuksanovic

Dear Students,

Welcome to the MSc in Health Data Science at Swansea University Medical School. I am delighted that you have chosen to join us at one of the UK’s leading medical schools, where you will start an intellectually stimulating and highly relevant postgraduate programme.

Health Data Science is a rapidly evolving discipline at the intersection of healthcare, data analytics, and computational modelling. As the volume and complexity of health data continue to grow, so does the demand for professionals equipped with the expertise to extract meaningful insights and drive data-informed decision making. This programme is designed to provide you with a strong practical experience alongside basic theoretical foundation in statistical analysis, data linkage, predictive modelling, and machine learning.

Earning a postgraduate qualification in this field requires dedication, analytical thinking, and perseverance. However, the rewards are significant — graduates of this programme are well-positioned for careers in research, healthcare, and industry where data-driven solutions are transforming patient care and public health. Our alumni frequently return to share their success stories, reaffirming the value and the role of our programme in their career.

If you have any questions about the course structure, content, or expectations, please do not hesitate to contact me at vesna.vuksanovic@swansea.ac.uk

I look forward to meeting you, and supporting you on this academic journey!

Best wishes

Vesna

None of the following books are essential for the course, but reading any of these would add useful knowledge which would support your learning.

For programming in R:

Check out free online resources to help you pick up programming in R. If you would like to get started early, send me an email and I can send you some initial installation and getting started resources. If you want a book, pop into the Bay Campus library or check out the various books available for one you enjoy reading. For example:

Michael Crawley. (2e, 2012). The R Book. Wiley.

 For R and modelling (available in the Bay Campus library):

Michael Crawley. (2e, 2014). Statistics: an introduction using R. Wiley

For statistics:

Martin Bland. (1987 (1e) – 2015 (4e)). An introduction to medical statistics. Oxford University Press.

For epidemiology:

Leon Gordis. (1996 (1e) – 2014 (5e)). Epidemiology. Saunders.

Throughout our degree programmes we work to provide our students with opportunities in and around your School, the city with our industry partners and sign-post for international opportunities available to you. Our focus is to ready you for the world of work. To find out about the opportinities you will have in your School check out our student enterprise and employability webpage.

As a student at Swansea University, you will have the opportunity to engage with industry, take on placement opportunities and complete work experience, so that you are fully equipped for the world of work when you leave us. This process is facilitated by the Careers and Employability team who aim to provide careers advice and employment opportunities all under one roof.