About this course
Advance your expertise in statistics, machine learning and responsible AI for healthcare innovation. Our MSc Data Science & AI for Health Innovation prepares you to tackle real-world healthcare challenges using advanced statistical methods, machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Introduction
Please note, this programme is currently undergoing revalidation as part of our Curriculum 2027 review and may be subject to changes.
Healthcare is being transformed by data science, artificial intelligence and digital technologies. From electronic health records and wearable devices to AI-driven diagnostics and public health surveillance, healthcare systems now generate vast amounts of data with enormous potential to improve patient care and health outcomes.
The ability to analyse and interpret this data is becoming increasingly important across healthcare, industry and research. Predictive analytics can help identify at-risk populations, machine learning models can support earlier and more accurate diagnosis, and data-driven approaches are shaping everything from personalised treatment strategies to global public health interventions.
This programme combines advanced statistical analysis, machine learning, artificial intelligence and computational methods to explore how health data science can drive meaningful healthcare innovation.
Designed around flexibility and student choice, the programme allows you to tailor your studies around your own interests and career ambitions. Students can specialise in areas such as prediction modelling, artificial intelligence, machine learning, casual inference and healthcare evaluation while developing highly valued analytical, computational and professional skills.
The programme also has strong links with the Civic Health Innovation Labs (CHIL), an internationally recognised multidisciplinary research centre based at the University of Liverpool. CHIL brings together experts from academia, the NHS, local government, charities and industry to develop responsible approaches to data use and AI for health and society.
Students have opportunities to engage with dissertation projects linked to areas such as healthcare data analytics, digital health, public health informatics and community health innovation, contributing to cutting-edge research with real-world impact.
Graduates from the programme are well placed for careers across healthcare, industry and academia. Demand for professionals with expertise in data science and AI continues to grow rapidly both within the UK and internationally, creating exciting opportunities across healthcare analytics, digital health, research and innovation.
Why study this programme?
Tailor your learning to your ambitions
One of the strengths of the programme is its flexibility. Optional module pathways allow you to shape your studies around your own interests, whether focused on applied statistics, prediction modelling, machine learning, artificial intelligence or causal inference.
This flexibility helps students develop distinctive skill sets aligned with their future career or research goals.
Grow personally and professionally
Alongside advanced technical training, you will develop highly valued transferable skills in communication, consultancy, coding and critical thinking.
The programme is designed not only to build analytical expertise, but also to prepare students to work confidently across interdisciplinary healthcare, research and industry environments.
Learn from experts who care
You will study within a welcoming and collaborative academic community supported by approachable staff with expertise across statistics, health data science, artificial intelligence and healthcare research.
Teaching is enriched by guest lecturers and research collaborations connected to organisations including the NHS, industry and the Civic Health Innovation Labs (CHIL), helping connect your learning to current real-world challenges and innovation.
Who is this course for?
This programme is designed for students with prior quantitative experience who wish to develop advanced expertise in health data science and artificial intelligence.
Applicants may come from backgrounds including:
- Statistics
- Mathematics
- Computer science
- Data science
- Biomedical sciences
- Psychology
- Public health
- Health sciences
- Clinical research.
The programme is also suitable for professionals seeking to strengthen their analytical and computational skills for careers in healthcare, research and innovation.
Specifically, this master’s programme is suitable for you if you hold a 2.2 degree from a UK University (or equivalent). Your first degree could be in any subject, as long as you are able to evidence previous experience of quantitative skills (for example, at least one module in your degree in statistics, computer science or mathematics).
This programme is also open to intercalating students on clinical programmes.
Our postgraduate Health Data Science portfolio also includes specialist pathways tailored to different backgrounds and career ambitions.
Applicants without previous quantitative training may be interested in the MSc Data Science & AI for Health Innovation (Conversion), which provides a supportive route into health data science and artificial intelligence for students from a wide range of backgrounds.
For applicants seeking a more research-intensive experience, the MRes Data Science & AI for Health Innovation combines advanced methodological training with a substantial independent research project, making it excellent preparation for PhD study and research-focused careers.
What you'll learn
The curriculum combines core foundations in health data science with flexible specialist pathways in statistics, machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Students develop expertise in:
- Understanding how health data can be used to better understand disease and improve healthcare
- Applying data science approaches to real-world healthcare challenges
- Statistical modelling, inference and prediction
- Machine learning and artificial intelligence for healthcare innovation
- Causal inference and healthcare intervention evaluation
- Collecting, managing, analysing and interpreting complex health data
- Computational and programming methods for health research
- Responsible and ethical approaches to AI and healthcare data use
- Communicating analytical findings effectively to a range of audiences
- Collaborative and interdisciplinary working
- Designing and completing an independent health data science research project.