MSc in Big Data Management and Analytics
Course Overview
Take the next step in your career and become an independent, critically minded big data specialist
This specialist Level 9 MSc in Big Data Management and Analytics aims to equip students with the necessary skills and analytic mindset to pursue a career in a dynamic data analytics industry.
Why Study Big Data at Griffith College?
Designed specifically to address a growing need in the industry, the MSc in Big Data Management and Analytics at Griffith College is a 1-year programme that aims to build upon students' knowledge of computing science and create big data specialists. Delivered on a full-time basis, as a graduate of this course, you will:
- Obtain specialist knowledge and skills essential for a career in Big Data Management and Analytics.
- Understand the advantages of concurrent & parallel programming systems along with developing the skill to write concurrent and parallel programmes to solve real-world problems.
- Gain a practical understanding of appropriate design and implementation strategies used in the development of Big Data solutions.
- Develop the skills to implement an end-to-end Big Data storage system using the most current technology available.
- Build on the foundations of analysis theories to explore the range of contemporary practices surrounding the ever-developing field of big data analysis.
- Fantastic job prospects in a high-demand industry.
Course Highlights
- Emerging discipline with huge job opportunities
- Develop highly sought-after skills
- Fully aligned with industry needs
- Access to innovative tools and technologies
- A dedicated experienced lecturing team
Intake Dates
- Dublin - Full-Time - September 2025
What Our Students Say
I found the course to be both challenging and rewarding as it gave me the opportunity to acquire a valuable accreditation whilst enhancing my computer expertise. The modules on the course are extremely interesting and beneficial, knowledge of which will prove useful in the IT marketplace.
MSc in Computing
Course Details
This programme contains eight taught modules and a final Dissertation / Dissertation by Practice. Four modules are taught per semester; so learners complete eight taught modules over two semesters and then complete a project over twelve weeks. The overall programme is one calendar year long.
Learners who complete eight taught modules and do not wish to submit their dissertation may decide to exit with an award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Big Data Management and Analytics (60 ECTS, level 9).
Modules
This module aims to equip the learner with a range of most relevant topics that pertain to contemporary analysis practices, and are foundational to the emerging field of big data analytics. Learners are guided through the theoretical and practical differences between traditional datasets and Big Data datasets. An overview of the initial collection of data will be explored for multiple data sources. A formal grounding in analytical statistics is a major part of the module curriculum. Learners are expected to apply principles of statistical analytics to solve problems and inform decision-making. Learners achieve this through developing knowledge and understanding of statistical analytics techniques and principles while applying these techniques and principles in typical real-world scenarios.
This module introduces the learner to the concepts of information retrieval (IR) and web search. They encounter various techniques used in IR and means of evaluating their performance. Learners also gain exposure to the practical design of large-scale IR systems that are commonly used in the web search domain. Current trends in IR, such as collection and data fusion are introduced through the use of academic papers.
The future of microprocessor development is based around multiprocessor multicore architectures that will deliver the performance required for future application demands. The difficulty for software developers is to write programmes that harness the power of these new architectures. As a result, the fundamental aim of this module is to teach the learner how to write software for these machines.
The general module aims are to provide the learner with an understanding of the need for, and advantages of, concurrent and parallel systems; to master a new programming paradigm that is different from that of the single-threaded one; a description of how processes and threads are managed in multiprocessor, multi-core machines. The learner will achieve an understanding and mastery of the many classical problems arising with concurrent and parallel tasks; an awareness of the need for such issues as fairness, process synchronisation, deadlock avoidance, etc.; the ability to write concurrent and parallel programmes to solve real-world problems; an understanding of multi-core architectures and their significance for the implementation of parallel systems; a mastery of notations to express solutions to parallel problems.
This module aims to introduce the learner to the concept of cloud computing and how it differs from the client-server model of computation that is seen on the web today. Cloud computing applications are charged on a per-use basis i.e. clients only pay for what they have used. Many companies are using cloud computing to offload some of their work onto these clouds as a means of saving on software and hardware costs.
Due to this new model of computation, we require new methods of developing and creating software. At the end of this module, the learner will be able to understand the different models of cloud applications (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) and determine which is the right one for the task they need and will also understand the role virtualisation plays in the cloud and how it will impact their applications. Learners will also be able to develop basic web applications and deploy them to the cloud.
This module aims to equip the learner with the skills to implement, from the batch to the speed layer, an end-to-end Big Data storage system using the most current technologies. As a grounding to the subject area, the learner will be guided through an overview of the traditional approach of data storage and access, with all theories grounded in real-world technological examples. As technologies have progressed, the availability of data has increased dramatically. The volumes of data dealt with in modern systems are far beyond what traditional systems can handle.
During this module, the main failure points of traditional systems with regard to this level of data will be explored. Each layer of the Lambda Architecture will be explored in detail from theory through to implementation via current technologies. At the lowest layer, the module will demonstrate how to store Big Data in the fact-based model in a distributed file system, namely Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS). This layer is then connected to a read-oriented database, such as MongoDB or ElephantDB, depending on the data type stored, to create the Serving Layer of the Lambda Architecture. Finally, this will be connected to a lightweight database that can handle high-volume reads and writes to implement the high-level Speed Layer of the Lambda Architecture. All practical work will be done on real-world data to emphasise the need for Big Data systems.
This module aims to give learners a thorough understanding of different data mining techniques, algorithms, and tools necessary to infer information from large datasets. The learners will understand the underpinning concepts and principles that make these algorithms work. The learners will encounter and implement various data mining techniques.
The learners will be expected to take different sets of data and apply the appropriate data mining techniques to them to infer information. From this, they should be able to hypothesise information about their datasets and test those hypotheses in a controlled scientific manner.
This module aims to introduce the learner to the fundamental principles of data science and equips them with “data-analytic thinking” necessary for extracting useful knowledge and business value from the relevant datasets. The module introduces the learner to the principles underpinning the processes and strategies necessary to solve real-world problems through data science techniques. The module focuses on data science concepts as applied to practical real-world problems and aims to teach learners the underlying concepts behind data science and most importantly how to approach and be successful at problem-solving. Problem-solving and information discovery strategies will be developed via in-depth analysis of existing Big Data implementations and case studies. As most of the information discovered from large datasets is of direct use to business decisions, both reporting and visualization are an important element of this module.
This module serves to significantly deepen the learner's research skills, both in relation to the module-related assignments and later in the completion of a dissertation/dissertation by practice. Specifically, it extends the ability of self-directed learners by equipping them with the appropriate vocabulary for reflecting on, critiquing, and evaluating their work and that of others. Throughout the module, learners are required to engage in a number of research methodologies and current research issues and trends in computing science. The module also addresses the need for good project management skills and techniques for the successful delivery of any project.
Timetables
Timetables will be made available closer to the starting date.
How to Apply
Entry Requirements
Candidates applying for this course should have a 2.2 Level 8 honours degree in Computing Science or a 2.2 Higher Diploma in Computing or related discipline or international equivalent and/or relevant work experience.
English Language
Griffith College is accepting the online Duolingo English Test (DET) as valid proof of English proficiency. For more information, please visit here.
How to Apply
To apply for the MSc in Big Data Management and Analytics please submit an online application.
A member of our admissions team will then be in contact with you to request the following documents:
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A copy of your undergraduate degree transcripts
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A copy of your passport or driving licence
Fees
For purposes of fee calculation, residence is counted from the time of the application.
Please note that not all study modes may be offered at all times. For confirmation, refer to the intake dates in the Overview tab.
Tuition Fees
Study Mode: Full-Time
Dublin: EUR 7,900.00
Study Mode: Full-Time
Please refer to the Irish/EU Living Abroad Fees.
Study Mode: Full-Time
Please refer to our Non-EU Tuition Fees section.
Non-EU students: a Student Services and Administration fee of EUR200 is payable each academic year in addition to the fees quoted below.
An Academic Administration Fee of €250 is payable each September at the start of term. For students starting in the January/February term, €125 is payable in February, and then €250 will be payable each September from then onwards.
A 2% Learner Protection Charge is applicable each academic year in addition to the fees quoted. The fees above relate to Year 1 fees only.
Flexible payment options
Students wishing to pay their fees monthly may avail of our direct debit scheme. Please view our Fees information page for more information and assistance.
Sponsorship
Is your company paying for your course?
They will need to complete a Griffith College Sponsorship Form and send this to the Student Fees Office:
- Post: Student Fees, Griffith College Dublin, South Circular Road, Dublin 8
- Email: accounts@griffith.ie
2% Learner Protection Charge
All QQI accredited programmes of education and training of 3 months or longer duration are covered by arrangements under section 65 (4) of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 whereby, in the event of the provider ceasing to provide the programme for any reason, enrolled learners may transfer to a similar programme at another provider, or, in the event that this is not practicable, the fees most recently paid will be refunded.
QQI Award Fee
Please note that a QQI Award Fee applies in the final year of all QQI courses. To find the relevant fee for your course level, please see the Fees page.
Progression
Academic Progression
On completion of the Level 9 MSc in Big Data Management and Analytics, students may progress onto a range of Level 10 Doctoral programmes on the National Qualifications Framework. The Postgraduate QQI validation means that your qualification is recognised not only in Ireland and Europe but throughout the world.
Career Progression
Through the MSc in Big Data Management and Analytics, you will have gained valuable professional experience, specialised in a key emerging field, and developed many technical skills. There is a wide range of career options for our graduates including:
- Data Analytics
- Business Intelligence Analyst
- Big Data Solutions Lead Engineer
- Technical Product Manager
- Big Data Architect
- Data Analytics Consultant
- Video Analytics and Data Scientist
- Data Science Expert
- Multimedia Systems Developer
- IT Operations Manager
FAQs
FAQs
The course duration is 1 year for full-time students and 2 years for part-time students.
The MSc in Big Data Management and Analytics course is available in both full-time and part-time study modes.
Graduates of the programme can pursue careers in a wide range of industries, such as finance, healthcare, retail, and technology. Potential job roles include data analyst, data scientist, big data engineer, machine learning engineer, and business intelligence analyst, among others.
The fees for the programme can be found on the Griffith College website. As fees may change over time or vary depending on factors like nationality or study mode, it is advisable to check the course page or contact the admissions office for the most up-to-date information.
Griffith College typically offers various payment options for tuition fees, such as payment in full, payment by instalments, or payment through a sponsor. It is recommended to contact the admissions office or the finance department for specific details regarding payment options
Griffith College offers a variety of services to support learners on campus, including access to computer labs, a library, study spaces, and Wi-Fi. Additionally, students have access to academic support services, career services, counselling services, and various clubs and societies to enhance their overall learning experience.
