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How to become a data scientist

Data scientists use statistics, programming and machine learning to find patterns in data and help organisations make decisions. Related roles include data engineer and machine learning engineer.

You could work in the NHS, financial services, IT companies, retail or government departments.

There is no licence to practise. Many data scientists have a degree in a numerical subject, but apprenticeships and direct entry with proven skills are also possible.

  • Multiple routes
  • Strong maths helps
  • Earn while learning possible

4 routes into this career

Each route is a real, published way in. None is guaranteed, and requirements vary by employer. Select up to 3 to compare side by side.

  • Route AUniversity

    University degree (and possibly a conversion master's), then a data role

    For those who enjoy maths and statistics and want to study them in depth before working with data.

    Starting requirements

    • Universities set their own entry requirements; the National Careers Service says a degree usually asks for 2 to 3 A-levels or equivalent
    • Relevant subjects include maths, statistics, data science, computer science and operational research; physics, engineering or psychology can also help
    • If your degree is in another subject, you could take a postgraduate conversion master's

    Pathway outline

    1. Study a degree in maths, statistics, computer science, data science or a related subject
    2. Look for an internship or placement
    3. If your degree is unrelated, you could take a conversion master's
    4. Apply for graduate data scientist, data analyst or data engineer roles
    5. Build experience and specialise, for example in machine learning
    Estimated duration
    About 3 years, or 4 with a master's
    How we estimate this

    A typical full-time bachelor's degree in England takes 3 years. A conversion master's adds time; the National Careers Service does not give a length.

    Estimated direct study costs
    £29,370Paid up front by you: £0Up-front figure assumes a Tuition Fee Loan pays the tuition. The loan is repaid from future earnings above a threshold, so it is shown separately as a loan balance.Published fees only, at the lower and upper ends of official ranges. Training provider fees are extra. Change the assumptions in Compare costs.
    When you can start earning
    Usually after graduating, although many students work part-time or take a paid placement.

    Evidence checked 14 Oct 2026 · Availability varies

  • Route BApprenticeship

    Degree apprenticeship: Data scientist (Level 6)

    For those who want a degree in data science paid for by an employer, while earning a wage.

    Starting requirements

    • Employers set their own requirements; the National Careers Service says degree apprenticeships usually ask for 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A-levels or equivalent
    • Strong maths is usually expected — check each vacancy
    • At least 20% of your normal working hours is off-the-job training

    Pathway outline

    1. Apply for a Data scientist (integrated degree, Level 6) apprenticeship
    2. Work in a data team while studying towards a degree
    3. Your employer and the government pay the training costs
    4. Complete the end-point assessment and degree
    5. Work as a data scientist
    Estimated duration
    About 3 years
    How we estimate this

    Find apprenticeship training lists Data scientist (integrated degree) (Level 6) at a typical 36 months.

    Estimated direct study costs
    Up to £19,000 of training (funding band maximum), paid for youPaid up front by you: £0 — training and assessment are fundedApprentices do not pay for training or assessment. Change the assumptions in Compare costs.
    When you can start earning
    From day one — degree apprentices are employees and are paid a wage.

    Evidence checked 14 Oct 2026 · Availability varies

  • Route CApprenticeship

    Data analyst apprenticeship (Level 4), then progress

    For those who want to start working with data sooner, then build towards data science.

    Starting requirements

    • You apply for an apprenticeship job; each employer sets its own requirements
    • At least 20% of your normal working hours is off-the-job training
    • Vacancies are competitive and availability varies by region

    Pathway outline

    1. Apply for a Data analyst (Level 4) apprenticeship
    2. Work and train; your employer and the government pay for the training
    3. Complete the end-point assessment
    4. Build experience as a data analyst
    5. You could progress to a Level 6 apprenticeship, such as Machine learning engineer, or apply for data scientist roles
    Estimated duration
    About 2 years, then experience
    How we estimate this

    Find apprenticeship training lists Data analyst (Level 4) at 24 months and Machine learning engineer (Level 6) at 24 months.

    Estimated direct study costs
    Up to £37,000 of training (funding band maximum), paid for youPaid up front by you: £0 — training and assessment are fundedApprentices do not pay for training or assessment. Change the assumptions in Compare costs.
    When you can start earning
    From day one — apprentices are employees and are paid a wage.

    Evidence checked 14 Oct 2026 · Availability varies

  • Route DCareer change

    Career change: build data skills, then apply directly

    For people already working with numbers — in research, finance, science or analysis — who want to move into data science.

    Starting requirements

    • The National Careers Service says you could apply directly if you have proven data skills and experience
    • Programming and statistics skills are usually expected — employers decide
    • Adults can also apply for data apprenticeships; only some funding, such as Level 7, has age limits

    Pathway outline

    1. Use data more in your current job, if you can
    2. You could take a Skills Bootcamp in data (adults 19+, up to 16 weeks) or a part-time course
    3. Build a portfolio of data projects
    4. Apply for data analyst or data scientist roles, or a data apprenticeship
    Estimated duration
    Varies — a Skills Bootcamp lasts up to 16 weeks
    How we estimate this

    Skills Bootcamps last up to 16 weeks. How long the move takes depends on your existing skills and the roles near you.

    Estimated direct study costs
    Not enough dataPlus: The official Skills Bootcamps page does not state the cost to learners, and private course prices vary. Enter the price from your course listing, if any.Paid up front by you: Not enough dataPublished fees only, at the lower and upper ends of official ranges. Training provider fees are extra. Change the assumptions in Compare costs.
    When you can start earning
    You could keep your current job while you build skills.

    Evidence checked 14 Oct 2026 · Availability varies

Choose “View full journey” on a route to see every step, cost and source.

Good to know

  • The National Careers Service data scientist profile also covers data engineers, machine learning engineers and AI data scientists; it has no separate pay figure for them.Source: National Careers Service, Data scientist job profile (opens in a new tab) · checked 14 Oct 2026
  • Data analyst is a related career in its own right. You do not have to move on to data science.

Questions people ask

Do I need a degree to become a data scientist?

Not always. Many data scientists have a degree, but you could also take a Level 6 data scientist degree apprenticeship, or start as a data analyst and progress. Some employers ask for a postgraduate degree; requirements vary.

Is a machine learning engineer the same as a data scientist?

They overlap. Data scientists focus more on analysis and models; machine learning engineers focus more on building and running AI systems. There is a separate Machine learning engineer apprenticeship at Level 6.

My degree is not in a numerical subject. Can I still get in?

You could take a postgraduate conversion master's in data science, or build skills through a course and apply for analyst roles first.

Sources

Evidence checked 14 Oct 2026. Every fee and requirement on this page links to one of these.

UK reference: median full-time pay for all employees was £39,039 in April 2025 (ONS ASHE, provisional).

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