Are you the type of person who excels at data, graphs, relationships, and mathematical equations? Are you interested in learning to communicate with machines rather than humans, that is, machine language and programming? If this is the case, you are almost certainly looking for a job in the rapidly expanding field of data science.
Read on to learn how to become a data scientist, what to study, where to work, and much more.
Who is a Data Scientist
A data scientist is someone who collects, analyses, and interprets large amounts of data.
Data science is a multidisciplinary field that uses scientific methods, procedures, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge and insights from noisy, structured, and unstructured data, as well as to apply data knowledge in a variety of application domains.
Learn more: Career as a Data Scientist
How to become a Data Scientist [4 step guide]
Step 1: Stream Selection
To become a data scientist, you must complete the 10 + 2 with at least 50% marks from any known board in India in the science stream, which includes physics, chemistry, mathematics, and computer science as compulsory subjects.
Step 2: Educational Qualification to become a Data Scientist
Data Science is taught in a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, including Computer Science, Engineering, Business, and Finance. Data Science can be studied as a separate program after the 12th grade. After high school, BTech, BSc, and MTech degrees in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or Big Data specialization are popular.
(I) How to become a Data Scientist after 10th
You can pursue a diploma in data Science only after you have done graduation or post-graduation in the below-mentioned subject.
A postgraduate diploma in data science is a course that lasts 10 months to 2 years and provides specialized training in data science and data analytics, which are used in computational and biological sciences.
Admission to the PG Diploma in data science is based on merit, which is determined by a student’s graduation grade.
Data Science postgraduate diploma courses are available as a specialization in Engineering, Computer Science, and Management. The minimum qualifying criterion is a bachelor’s degree with at least 50 per cent marks in aggregate or equivalent, preferably in Science or Computer Science from a recognized university.
- Top Colleges for Diploma in Data Science
COLLEGE | AVERAGE ANNUAL FEES(INR) |
IIT Chennai | 55,000 |
Chandigarh University | 60,000 |
NIMAS Kolkata | 1,49,000 |
KMV Jalandhar | 1,00,000 |
Kalinga University | 76,000 |
NMIMS Mumbai | 1,60,000 |
(II) How to become Data Scientist after 12th
Graduation in mathematics, computer science, engineering, statistics, data science, or related fields is the general eligibility criteria for pursuing any data science course after the 12th; ideally a diploma/bachelor’s/masters.
Students must have a score of at least 50%. To be eligible for data science courses at top data science colleges like IIT Madras, you must have a minimum of 60% in your graduation.
After 12th grade, you can enroll in various science undergraduate degrees to begin your career as a data scientist.
- Top undergraduate courses for Data Scientists
COURSES | DURATION |
BSc Data Science | 3 years |
BSc Data Science | 4 years |
BTech Big Data Analytics | 4 years |
BSc in Programming and Data Science | 3 years |
Advance program in Data Science | 12 months |
- Top Colleges for Data Science undergraduate courses
COLLEGE | LOCATION |
Indian Institue of Technology | Chennai |
Loyola College | Chennai |
Madras Christain College | Chennai |
Fergusson College | Pune |
Symbiosis Int. University | Pune |
NMIMS | Mumbai |
Vellore Institute of Technology | Vellore |
Gujrat University | Ahemdabad |
Jain University | Banglore |
Also read: Step by Step guide to become a Scientist at NASA
How to become a Data Scientist abroad?
As data science degrees are still in their early stages, the structure and syllabus for each program will differ from college to college. In general, data science combines elements of computer science, statistics, and mathematics.
Data science can be studied as a BSc, which can be completed in three or four years depending on the country.
- Top undergraduate colleges for Data Scientists abroad
COLLEGE | LOCATION |
University of Oxford | England |
Havard University | Cambridge |
Stanford University | Stanford |
Yale University | New Haven |
Columbia University | New York |
Imperial College | London |
University of Toronto | Toronto |
Duke University | Durham |
New York University | New York |
Step 3: Certification Course to become a Data Scientist
A certification course allows you to gain additional exposure and practice all of your skills. It also improves your resume and gives you an advantage in job interviews.
Check out our JuniorMBA Data Analytics program and work with Samsonite to gain industry experience!
Check out a few certification courses available:
COURSE | DURATION |
IBM Data Science | 3-6 months |
Google Data Analytics | 3-6 months |
Introduction to Data Science | 3-6 months |
IBM Data Analyst | 3-6 months |
Applied Data Science | 3-6 months |
Step 4: Job Prep required
- With data science being a new and thriving career, taking a certification course will help you gain exposure and a thorough understanding of the subject and its applications.
- Internships through colleges in various companies will provide a significant boost to your career.
- Mentioning all of your skills, as well as the computer languages you have studied and worked with, will improve your image in the eyes of recruiters.
- To make a good first impression, research the responsibilities of a data scientist as well as the company for which you are applying.
If you want to develop such extraordinary skills and stand out from the crowd, try Clever Harvey’s JuniorMBA program and improve your personality to stand out in the skills you enjoy.
Skills required to become a Data Scientist
- Statistical analysis and computing.
- Processing large data sets.
- Data Visualization.
- Programming
- Machine learning
- Data Wrangling.
- Mathematics
Top recruiters of Data scientists in India
- Flipkart
- Accenture
- Citrix
- Myntra
- Amazon
- Deloitte
- Sigmoid
Top recruiters for Data Scientist Abroad
- Indeed
- Glassdoor
- Internshala
- Job.com
- Monster
Salary of Data scientists in different Countries
Data Scientist salaries in India range from 4.5 Lakhs to 25.2 Lakhs per year, with an average annual salary of 10.6 Lakhs.
We wish you the best of luck in your career, as this new industry is thriving.
That’s all for now, folks; keep an eye out for more of the same.
FAQs about how to become a Data Scientist
What exactly do data scientists do?
A data scientist analyses data to comprehend and explain environmental events and to help businesses make better decisions. It can be intellectually stimulating, analytically fulfilling, and technologically cutting edge to work as a data scientist.
What skills are needed to be a data scientist?
Machine Learning
Statistical Analysis
Processing large data sets
Data wrangling
Do data scientists work in IT?
Data Scientists concentrate on assisting their organization in using data, similar to how most IT positions help their firm use a particular technology. They are skilled at managing massive amounts of data, and they are in charge of generating economic value.
How long does becoming a data scientist take?
A bachelor’s degree in data science, computer science, or a closely related discipline is normally earned over the course of at least four years of full-time study by a data scientist. Many data science specialists pursue master’s degrees for an extra two years while working full-time.
Which degree suits a data scientist the best?
You need an undergraduate or graduate degree in a related field, such as business information systems, computer science, economics, information management, mathematics, or statistics, to work as a data scientist.