1. Industrial experience helps but is not a requirement (I don't have any). Machine Learning is essentially mathematics (linear algebra, probabilities/statistics, some differentiation/integration) and some basic programming more easily done in Matlab. The only vaguely related subjects I had on my transcipt when I applied were a course on pattern recognition and another one on neural networks (they don't emphasize much on the latter). Other than that we covered a lot of maths on my undergraduate (engineering).
I had good references and what I consider a nice personal statement explaining them why I want to study Machine Learning and why in UCL in particular, but also mentioning my other interests and last but not least stressing my mathematical and Matlab programming skills (I do an Electronics & Computer Engineering degree and Matlab is widely used especially in Telecommunications/ Signal Processing courses). My referees also emphasized on these skills in their letters.
2.By all means, NO. (I don't see my university in any list of 'top X universities in the world', with X ranging from 1 to 100000...yet they accepted me anywhere I applied but in Imperial). 'Top universities' are hard to define and all the 'lists' are ''cooked'' one way or the other. To be frank, personally I consider any Computer Science/ Informatics degree from India (where there is a focus in mathematics and very high competition) more demanding than (at least the vast majority of) its british counterparts (where the focus is on the use of tools, perfect to get a job later, not so good to do research). At least in mathematical/scientifical background that is. And in the end of the day that is the focus of machine learning: applied maths. People working in universities know this and thus the high number of international msc students one sees in machine learning courses.
And in case people think my comments are unfounded or personal views or anything, my source is:
a professor of the UCL machine learning msc programme himself...Finally, do not worry. There is much hype in British MSc degrees and to be honest I was awed first when I applied, but the facts are:
1)You (or someone else, e.g. a scholarship foundation) pay for them so they want you as a client (of course they won't accept ANYBODY, but you get the point).
2) They work on ''first-come-first-served'' basis in most things including the application process. This means I, having applied a month earlier than you, got accepted more easily than you and you will be more easily than someone that applies now.
3)I presume (and -believe me- they will, too) that you have an adequate mathematical background. This is what matters in this programme.
4)Also, this programme is not as competitive as others, where the screening process is presumably tougher (in my link you also see some reasons why).
However, it would be wise to also apply to other similar programmes (eg. in Imperial, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol) and not put all your hopes in one.
Personally, I am probably going to Edinburgh, mainly because the city is much cheaper than London and an acquaintance of mine also goes there.
I hope this helps! At least this is what I
learned from my experience. (pun intended).