After 6 years working in the NHS, Sherin decided it was time to put his passion to work and study MSc Data Science at the University of Salford. We caught up with him to see how his course is going, and to find out more about why he chose Salford to take the next step in his career.

Hi, Sherin. Could you please tell me a bit about what made you want to study your course?

I decided to study MSc Data Science to fulfil a lifelong ambition of pursuing a career as a Data Scientist. Over the past 6 years in my NHS career, and prior to that as a Business Intelligence Developer, data analytics and visualisation have always been my passion. I derive a lot of job satisfaction from seeking out opportunities to use data to support clinical and analytics colleagues in improving outcomes for the people we care for.

I wanted to further develop my skills in data science for advanced analytics. Over the past year, this course has given me the opportunity to learn more and build confidence. I am keen to learn new approaches and always research new or better ways of solving problems. By studying this course, I knew it would greatly benefit me by developing new skills and acquiring knowledge relevant to Data Science, which will challenge me and ultimately prepare me to make a significant contribution to the NHS sector.

Why did you choose Salford? What made us stand out to you?

My primary motivation for selecting the University of Salford is the quality of teaching and the topics covered by the course. I conducted extensive research on the faculty, ethos and facilities available at the institution, while also considering practical factors such as the university’s proximity to my home and future employment prospects. The opportunities that Salford offers to upskill and empower professionals in areas like applied statistics, data mining and big data analytics are incredibly promising.

How did you learn on the course?

There was a mix of practical labs, and lectures, in addition to that i am currently undertaking a live project with an NHS organisation.

Have you undertaken a placement? If so, tell us a bit more about your experience

As part of the course, I am required to complete a dissertation, which I am currently working on with a local NHS trust. The project involves a classification problem focused on predicting patient-driven cancellations. So far, it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made, as it offers the opportunity to work with real data and apply the theoretical knowledge gained during the course to a practical, real-world problem.


Collaborating with a local NHS trust has provided valuable experience in working with healthcare data science professionals, understanding the complexities of healthcare data, and navigating the challenges of a classification problem.

What’s been the best part of your degree so far/what have you enjoyed the most?

Predominantly, I have gained valuable knowledge and experience from my placements. Additionally, I have made meaningful connections with lecturers and experts in this field, which I will cherish and carry forward in my career.

What support is on hand for your studies? What are the teaching staff/technicians/school staff like?

I am working full-time as a BI Developer while completing this course on a full-time basis. From my perspective, the experience I have gained in my job has been immensely helpful for the course. The teaching and supportive staff have been excellent in explaining the subject matter, making it easier to apply my professional experience to the academic content.

What do you want to do once you’ve graduated and how does Salford / your course help with this?

The NHS collects such a rich dataset which can be used to proactively plan care for service users, efficiently design new services and ensure the quality-of-care people receive is to the highest standard. I believe that MSc Data Science degree programme helped me so far to accomplish my goals in terms of learning new skills. I am eager to continue contributing to the NHS Trust by working on impactful projects that can make a meaningful difference in healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

Tell us something about studying at Salford that a prospective student would want to know.

Enjoy as much as you can while learning new skills. Being at university is one of the best experiences you can have so enjoy it!

What’s your one piece of advice for someone studying at Salford?

Make contacts with relevant professionals, by attending webinars, and experts within the Data science community which will help in the long term.

What would you say to someone thinking about studying your course at Salford?

You are not alone, and don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek help when you need it. The course at Salford is challenging but incredibly rewarding, and there is a strong support network of faculty and fellow students ready to assist you. Embrace the learning process, take advantage of the resources available, and don’t hesitate to dive into real-world projects—these experiences will be invaluable as you build your skills and confidence in data science.

In a constantly evolving digital world, how do you think your degree will help to prepare you to navigate this new environment?

From experience, the program has provided me with a strong foundation in machine learning, and statistical modelling, which are critical in understanding and leveraging the vast amounts of data generated in today’s digital landscape especially within the NHS. The ability to analyse data, draw meaningful insights with scientific proof, and make data-driven decisions will be invaluable as technology continues to advance and shape the future. And I think this degree has also instilled in me a mindset of continuous learning, which I think its crucial in staying current with emerging trends and tools in the digital world.

Tell me about your live project – what is it, what did you do, was it a project you set up yourself or in collaboration with someone else/a company?

My live project involves generating a high probability model to predict patient derived appointment cancellations, enabling the NHS to proactively offer new appointments to those more likely to cancel and reassign their slots to other patients. The goal is to inform the Trust’s operational strategy and help it better manage cancellations, and reduce the administrative burden.