Data scientist career

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Data scientists analyse and interpret data using digital tools and techniques. They extract meaning from datasets and create data reports.

Data scientists analyse and interpret data using digital tools and techniques. They extract meaning from datasets and create data reports.

What would you do as a Data scientist?

Data scientists

  • usually work regular business hours
  • usually work in offices and may travel nationally
  • need to be accurate, logical and identify and solve problems

Tasks

  • collect and organise data
  • assess data quality
  • find trends, patterns and insights from data
  • use computer programming code to analyse data
  • build statistical models
  • prepare data reports
  • create graphs, charts and infographics
  • present information to others
  • teach others how to process data

How can you become a Data scientist?

You usually need experience and a qualification to become a data scientist.

You may need

  • experience in similar work
  • a bachelor's degree in mathematics and statistics, software engineering and computer science or similar area
  • a Graduate Diploma in Applied Statistics or similar
  • a postgraduate certificate or diploma in mathematics and statistics or similar area

If you're in school

You usually need University Entrance to do the study or training for this job.

Qualifications

View all qualifications

Build your foundation with a Data Analytics or Computer Science major in our Bachelor of Science, or with our Bachelor of Computer Science. Like all our undergraduate degrees, these include work-integrated learning.

Many data scientist roles expect postgraduate study. Our Master of Data Science suits students with or without a data background, and lets you choose an endorsement in areas such as artificial intelligence, geographic information systems or mathematics.

View all qualifications

Data scientist FAQs

Scholarships

A range of scholarships are available to help with the cost of studying at Waikato. Options are available across a wide range of subjects and study levels, including scholarships for new students, current students and specific areas of study.

Find a scholarship

Australian Computer Society Accreditations

Australian Computer Society accredited

Accredited by the Australian Computer Society under the Seoul Accord, recognising Waikato computing qualifications against global ICT standards.