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Overview
The Master of Science (MS) Degree in Health Data Science (MiHDaS) is a two-year, in-person program in which students learn to apply biostatistics, data science and epidemiological thinking in clinical research settings.
The program is intended for:
- Quantitative science learners interested in studying data science with a focus on biomedical applications.
- Biomedical/quantitative scientists interested in applying data science methods in clinical, epidemiological and biological sciences.
Graduates from our health data science programs are prepared for many types of careers, including clinical research, public health, biotechnology, consulting and academia.
On this page you'll find...
Why choose our program?
Health data science is an evolving discipline that responds to the explosion of available and complex data in biomedicine and other health-related fields. It is a rapidly growing field, and much contemporary health science research is being shaped by the contributions of data science. Data scientists are driving advances in genetics, genomics, biomedical imaging and computational biology. Data scientists also play a key role across biomedical specialties and public health by helping design and analyze clinical trials and observational studies; set regulatory policy; and conceive and execute laboratory experiments. New experts in health data science can maximize the benefit of future health-related research and clinical application.
Located in the Bay
The San Francisco Bay Area is a powerhouse location for biotechnology and academia, with a high demand for health data scientists.
Access to Faculty
The teaching faculty are data scientists, biostatisticians and epidemiologists in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and affiliated faculty work across general medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, nursing, clinical pharmacy, and more.
Career prospects
Graduates are poised to work in a variety of research settings, including universities, public health departments, foundations and private industry.
Program Details
Application & Admission
September 2026: Application period opens for the 2027-28 year
January 2027: International student priority deadline (applications received by this date will be reviewed first)
- Applications will be reviewed on a monthly basis following the priority deadline.
April 2027: Final application deadline
Program
Mid-July 2027: Admitted students begin courses
Year 1: Students complete coursework requirements
Year 2: Students complete capstone and educational apprenticeship requirements
Minimum qualifications for admission are:
- A Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) or the equivalent from an accredited institution in a quantitative or biomedical science, or related field, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
- International applicants must also demonstrate proficiency in English.
- Learn more about how to meet this requirement on the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs' International Admission Requirements page.
- Please note that the Health Data Science program minimum internet based TOEFT iBT score is 100.
The following application materials must be submitted to the UCSF Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs' online application:
- Transcripts. Provide transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended after high school.
- Three Letters of Recommendation.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae.
- Statement of Purpose. Describe your reasons for interest in the program.
- Personal History Statement. Share any other information that is not included in your CV or elsewhere in your application that might be relevant for the admissions committee to know
- Application Fee.
- TOEFL or IELTS Scores (see minimum requirements for international applicants from non-English speaking countries in Applicant qualifications)
See our HDS Application & Funding page for complete application requirements.
If you are considering applying to the HDS Master's program, we encourage you to get to know us better by watching our info session, signing up to learn more about our program, and following us on LinkedIn.
Through our program, students learn health data science through courses in biostatistics, epidemiology, and ethical research, combined with hands-on programming in R and Python.
The program emphasizes analyzing complex health data and applying machine learning and statistical methods to clinical and public health research.
View a sample plan of study with all required courses and electives.
Fees
The master’s program is a minimum two-year course of study that requires registration for seven quarters.
Fees for the master’s program are posted on the Office of the Registrar student fees page for the current academic year, and the total fees for the two-year program total approximately $99,000 in academic year 2025-26, inclusive of UC Student Health Insurance premiums.
The fees do not include the cost of books, software, supplies, housing, or personal expenses.
Financial Aid
UCSF Student Financial Services offers opportunities for students to apply for federal loans or federal work-study jobs through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Please note that only US citizens and eligible noncitizens are eligible for Federal Financial Aid. Refer to the Federal Student Aid website for additional information regarding eligibility.
Non-US citizens and non-permanent residents are eligible for private educational loans. Please refer to the UCSF Student Financial Services website if you are an AB 540 student or an international student.
Find more information about program fees & financial aid on the HDS Application & Funding page.
For admissions-related questions, please email [email protected]
For current students and program-related questions, please email [email protected]
To sign up for our mailing list, visit the HDS Hub.
Degree Requirements
Master’s degree students are required to complete a minimum of 36.0 units of coursework and a capstone project over a 2-year period.
Students take the majority of their coursework in the first year, allowing for focus on independent research in the second year. Students are welcome to take additional elective courses within the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (DEB). Students are also eligible to enroll in courses through the Stanford Exchange and the SF Consortium programs. Please note that, as a self-supporting program, the University does not allow Health Data Science students to take additional courses outside of DEB.
View a sample plan of study with all required courses and electives.
Students will begin developing a longitudinal capstone project as part of their requirements for the MiHDaS degree. Identification of the project will be encouraged in the first part of the program with the help of their UCSF faculty mentors (i.e. the members of their Graduate Committee), one of whom will be the Graduate Committee Chair, one the data science/biostatistics/bioinformatics faculty and one a clinical faculty member within UCSF.
The required capstone project encompasses four components:
- Submission of abstract for local, regional, national, or international meeting.
- Manuscript:
Option 1: Preparation of a first author peer-reviewed manuscript.
Option 2: Preparation of (1) a background and technological methodology report, plus (2) preparation of a non-first author peer-reviewed manuscript where the student is generally expected to be second or third author. - Compilation of an online code and analysis portfolio.
- Master’s committee defense.
These components were chosen to emphasize the crucial skills necessary to be a successful data scientist that go above and beyond purely technical skills. This includes but is not limited to:
- carefully describing methodology used in a written format,
- presenting work orally, and
- conveying the importance of one’s work in peer-reviewed publications and elsewhere.
This capstone element effectively provides students with an “apprenticeship” of sorts in the field of Data Science for the Health Sciences. By producing a submitted scientific paper approved by their committee, giving a presentation, and writing a methodological report, MiHDaS graduates will be able to clearly demonstrate that they are qualified work in the field as part of a Health Sciences team.
Students in the program will be expected to gain instructional experience for one course during their second year. This experience typically involves leading a weekly small-group discussion section of 10 to 15 students, holding office hours for students and grading homework assignments and projects. This requirement is designed to provide students with a valuable instructional experience without having a significant impact on the time needed for their Capstone project work. In all cases, students will have taken the courses during their first year.
This instructional experience provides students with important skills while working under the guidance of experienced faculty that they can subsequently transfer into the workplace. Even if they are not working in academia, the ability to explain concepts and interpret results for other members of the team are critical skills for a data scientist that they will acquire in their instructional experience.
View the full Health Data Science Bylaws.
Events & Information
Upcoming Events
Events such as information sessions or admissions chats will be posted on our Admissions Events page. Please check there for event information and recordings.
Watch our most recent information session
Frequently Asked Questions
Applications are accepted between September and the April application deadline for commencement in the summer term starting in mid-July.
The UCSF Master of Science (MS) Degree in Health Data Science (MiHDaS) is a two-year, in-person program.
We require a bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) or the equivalent from an accredited institution in a quantitative or biomedical science, or related field. We welcome applicants who come from associated educational and professional backgrounds.
Strengthening your calculus and linear algebra skills is not essential, but with a general/partial understanding in each area you will be more confident in understanding some of the presented methods in a deeper way. Ask about our faculty’s suggested resources by emailing [email protected].
If you completed coursework/degrees outside of the United States, you must submit transcripts translated into English. Additionally, if your university does not issue grades in a 4.0 grade point scale, you will need to convert your grades for the application.
International applicants from non-English speaking countries must also demonstrate proficiency in English. There are several ways to demonstrate proficiency which the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs outlines. Note that the Health Data Science program requires a minimum internet-based TOEFL iBT score of 100.
Yes, students are welcome to take additional elective courses within the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (DEB). Elective courses may be drawn from this list of DEB Individual Courses.
Students are also eligible to enroll in courses through the Stanford Exchange and the SF Consortium programs.
Please note that, as a self-supporting program, the University does not allow Health Data Science students to take additional courses outside of DEB.
See Fees & Financial Aid section under Program Details.
These are the eligibility requirements for financial aid. Further information can be found at Student Financial Services, specifically in the Apply for Aid section of the website. If eligible, you may begin applying for financial aid before even committing to our program. You can also explore the different types of aid available on that website.
The program does not have scholarships or grants available to offer to students.
We advise that students protect ample time in their schedule to devote to class activities and student preparation/homework/study hours for this full-time program. In general, we recommend not working more than part-time (20 hours/week).
Interested in Health Data Science, but not a Master's degree?
We also offer a one-year certificate program (CiHDaS) with condensed coursework and no capstone project experience, best suited for those already working in the biomedical or pharmaceutical industries.