Direct answer
The University of Surrey official course page for the MSc Data Science (full-time with placement, September 2026 entry) states a typical offer of a UK 2:2 minimum. The page does not publish a specific Chinese qualification equivalency, nor does it list country-specific grade requirements for Chinese applicants. The overseas fee for the two-year placement route is £27,100. The programme is based in the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering.
What the official page confirms
The course page at www.surrey.ac.uk/postgraduate/data-science-msc sets out the following verified facts for the full-time with placement option starting in September 2026:
- Typical offer: 2:2 minimum.
- Duration: 2 years.
- Overseas fees: £27,100.
- UK fees: £14,100.
- Subject area: Computer science.
- Start date: September 2026.
- Scholarships: Funding available (no further detail is given on this page).
The same page lists a one-year full-time route (September 2026 or February 2027) with overseas fees of £25,900 and a UK fee of £12,900. The placement route is only shown with a September 2026 start.
What the page does not state
The course page does not contain a dedicated section for international qualifications or country-specific entry requirements. It does not publish a Chinese degree classification equivalence, a percentage or GPA threshold for Chinese applicants, or any English language test scores. These details would need to be checked on a separate University of Surrey international admissions or country-specific page, which is outside the scope of this evidence.
Course structure for the placement route
Students on the full-time with placement route follow the same taught modules as the one-year route, with the addition of a year-long work placement. The taught component comprises eight modules across two semesters, plus a dissertation.
Semester 1 compulsory modules:
- Cloud Computing
- Statistical Data Science
- Database Systems and Business Intelligence
Semester 1 optional modules (choose from):
- Computational Intelligence
- Engineering Internet Scale Systems
Semester 2 compulsory modules:
- Research, Ethics, and Security in Data Science
- Business Analytics with Data Visualisation
- Machine Learning for Data Science
Semester 2 optional modules (choose from):
- AI and AI Programming
- Natural Language Processing
- Applied Machine Learning
Across academic years core module:
- MSc Data Science Dissertation
Students starting in September take Semester 1 modules first. The dissertation is worked on part-time during semester time and full-time during the summer period for approximately two-and-a-half months.
Placement year
The course page states that the placement route includes an optional year-long work placement where students can apply their knowledge to industry-relevant challenges and discover the business value of data-oriented research and development. No further details on placement structure, location, or eligibility are provided on this page.
Fees and funding
The overseas fee for the full-time with placement route is £27,100. The page notes that scholarships and funding are available but does not list specific awards, eligibility criteria, or application deadlines. Any scholarship information must be verified on a separate University of Surrey funding page.
Ranking context
The course page highlights that Surrey is ranked 7th in the UK and in the top 75 globally for computer science and engineering in the ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025. This is a departmental ranking, not a ranking specific to the MSc Data Science programme.
What requires live rechecking
Because the official course page does not publish China-specific entry equivalences, the following items cannot be confirmed from this evidence and would require checking a separate University of Surrey international qualifications page or contacting the institution directly:
FAQ
What is the minimum UK degree classification for the MSc Data Science with placement?
The typical offer published on the course page is a 2:2 minimum.
Does the course page list a specific entry requirement for Chinese applicants?
No. The page states only a UK 2:2 minimum and does not provide country-specific equivalences, including for China.
What are the overseas fees for the placement route?
The overseas fee for the full-time with placement route starting September 2026 is £27,100.
How long is the full-time with placement course?
The duration is 2 years, comprising one year of taught study and a year-long work placement.
Are scholarships available for this programme?
The page states that funding is available but does not list specific scholarships or eligibility criteria. You would need to consult a separate University of Surrey funding page for details.
What modules are compulsory on this course?
Compulsory modules include Cloud Computing, Statistical Data Science, Database Systems and Business Intelligence, Research, Ethics, and Security in Data Science, Business Analytics with Data Visualisation, Machine Learning for Data Science, and the MSc Data Science Dissertation.
Official sources
The information in this article is drawn exclusively from the University of Surrey official postgraduate course page for the MSc Data Science, accessed for 2026 entry: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/postgraduate/data-science-msc.
For broader context on UK study, you may also find these resources helpful: University of Liverpool 2026 guide, Australia India 40 student visa UK China, Beijing study abroad agency rankings, and UK study agency considerations.