Choosing the Right Master's Program in Data Science as an International Student: Seek

I am an international student planning to apply for a master’s program in Data Science. It has been a year since I graduated from university, and I am aiming to apply next year.
So far, my experience includes working as a teaching assistant for a semester in the computer science department and completing a semester-long internship at an AI company. However, my practical experience is relatively limited.

Currently, I am considering two options for a master’s program:
1. 1-year full-time taught master’s course

2. 2-year full-time course with a placement year
As an international student, I find the second option appealing because it offers a placement opportunity and an additional 1-year visa.

Questions
1. How does the IT job market look for master’s graduates? Is it more advantageous to find a job after graduation, or would securing a placement during the course be more beneficial?

2. Are there challenges international students typically face in securing a placement during a 2-year master’s program? (I’ve heard some students end up spending a year without a placement.)

My ultimate priority is finding a job after graduation. I want to make the most of the 2-year post-study work visa to gain valuable experience as a data scientist in the UK.
Thank you for taking the time to read my message, and I would greatly appreciate your advice to help me make an informed decision.

Reply 1

JT_AI

I would suggest the best thing to do now is to sharpen your skills in data science, get more internship or research role in this year

I think the biggest fear for international student is unemployment after graduating. So make sure you have strong profile/have secure job offer before applying oversea master. Many of my friends ended up coming back to home country after graduation