MS Applied Data Science at Clarkson

1. Is there any minimum educational qualification required to take this program?

To be eligible for the program, the following criteria need to be fulfilled:
For IIITB:
• Applicants holding a 4-year Undergraduate degree in B.E / B.Tech in (Computer science/IT) with a minimum of 60% marks or above. Maximum backlogs (ATKTs) accepted will be 10.
• Applicants with a 3-year in B.Sc / BCA in (Computer science/IT) degree with a minimum of 60% marks or above. Maximum backlogs (ATKTs) accepted will be 10.
• However, for applicants with a 3-year Undergraduate degree, the awarding University must have a NAAC rating of A or higher in the last four years. Additionally, the Undergraduate degree must be completed with first class.

For Clarkson University:
• An aggregate score of 3.0 CGPA and above in the Advanced Certificate Program in Data Science with a minimum of 3.0 GPA in each course.
• TOEFL iBT (not home edition) >= 80 or IELTS score >= 6.5 or equivalent across all bands or PTE >= 56 or Duolingo >= 115.

2. How do I know if the program is right for me?

If you like finding meaningful insights from data and if you get excited by the prospect of informing business decisions through analysis and have an analytical bend of mind, then this program is meant for you. As long as you can clear the selection test (or are exempt) and are excited about the transition to Data Analyst, this program is meant for you.

3. My current role does not include exposure to data. Does it make sense for me to opt for this program?

Absolutely! Data Analyst is becoming a necessity for all industries and is no more a choice. Hence, there is a critical demand for quality data professionals and because the supply is constrained, this is one of the most lucrative career options across industries.

4. What is the selection process for this program?

upGrad, IIIT B, Clarkson University US, world-renowned faculty, and many industry leaders have committed a lot of time in conceptualising and creating this program to make sure that the learners can receive the best possible learning experience in data analytics. Hence, we want to make sure that the participants of this program also show a very high level of commitment and passion for Data Science. For entry into Clarkson University, students have to successfully complete IIIT Bangalore program with a minimum of 3 GPA.

1. Why should you pursue MS in Applied Data Science from Clarkson University?

- It will allow students to learn how to draw informed decisions and conclusions with data while being attuned to ethical considerations of data use.
- In the digital world, students get a chance to build a solid foundation to work in a gamut of industries.
- Students will get global exposure while pursuing MS in Applied Science from the U.S.
- According to PayScale, the average base salary for MS in Applied Data Science graduates is $80k/year.

2. Can international students work to pay for their educational expenses?

There are limited part-time, on-campus jobs for international students, where the income is sufficient to provide “pocket money.” A part-time job will not generate enough income to pay for all educational expenses. Some internships related to the capstone project may be paid.

3. Will I be supported for TOEFL/IELTS/PTE or other English language exams during this program?

Yes, upGrad will help you prepare for the English proficiency test to establish your current English proficiency to be eligible for the Master's program in the US.

4. When will I go to Clarkson University?

Clarkson University will have two intake for students coming through this route. The first intake of the year will be August (Fall) intake and the next would be January (Winter). Though the application process for Clarkson University will start during the IIITB online program, you will be able to go to Clarkson University in the nearest intake which is at least 3 months away from completion of your IIITB program.

5. When will I get Offer Letter from Clarkson University?

upGrad will apply for you in Clarkson University once all the documents are provided by you (as given in the offer letter issued to you by upGrad). Apart from the documents mentioned in the offer letter of Clarkson University, you will have to give proof of English proficiency for application of admission to Clarkson University. upGrad will support you to get your English proficiency scores within 3 months of the start of a batch to accelerate this process.

1. What is the time commitment expected for the program?

At least 12-15 hours per week of time commitment is expected to be able to graduate from the online program. The on-campus program in the US is full-time and will have an appropriate workload.

2. How will my doubts/questions be addressed in an online program?

Peer-to-peer discussion forum where you can post your queries and your peers/faculty/teaching assistants answer your queries within a day. Regular Q&A sessions with faculty to get clarification on conceptual doubts.

Is there any deferral or refund policy for this program?

Refund Policy:

• Students must pay an applicable Caution Amount for the enrollment to the Program. This Caution Amount will be adjustable against the total Program fee payable by the student.
• Once the student has made a partial or full payment of Program fee, such student can claim a refund for this amount at any time before the cohort commencement date by raising a refund request through ‘My applications’ page on our website (www.upgrad.com), stating the specific reason for the refund. The refund shall be subject to a deduction of INR. 20,000/- towards processing fee. If less than INR. 20,000/- have been paid in total, students shall not be eligible for any refund in such a case.
• Students shall not be eligible for a refund (under any circumstances) if the refund request is raised post-program/Batch Start Date. In such a case, the student will continue to pay the EMI of his loan (if applicable), as the loan cannot be canceled. This is also applicable to students who could not complete their payment and could not get enrolled in their opted cohort. However, the student can request a Pre-Program deferral as per the policy defined below for the same.
• Student shall not be eligible for refund of any amount paid towards the Program in case any discrepancy is identified between your application and self-attested documents including but not limited to wrong details about your grades or any other incorrect information provided in your application.
• In case of a valid refund request post obtaining the loan from a third party credit facility provider, we would like to clarify that the responsibility of canceling the loan will lie with the student as upGrad is not privy to such arrangements between the student and the third party credit facility provider.
• If students do not provide documents as per the timeline mentioned in the offer letter, they will be deferred to the next batch but they will not be eligible for any refunds.
• You shall not be eligible for refund of any amount paid towards the Program in case any discrepancy is identified between your application and self-attested documents including but not limiting to wrong details about your grades or any other incorrect information provided in your application.

Deferral Policy: (Pre- Program Commencement)

• If a student, due to unavoidable circumstances is unable to commence with the cohort and requests for a deferral before the cohort starts, we provide the opportunity for the student to defer to another batch. However, if a student is deferring from his assigned cohort batch mentioned in the offer letter, the student will not be eligible for any refund post the deferral.
• However, the student will be required to pay 50% of the total course fee amount (inclusive of taxes) before the deferral can be approved. Till this is completed, the student will be assumed to be continuing in the same cohort.
• A student can request for deferral only once and to either of the scheduled cohorts to start in the next 1 year from the batch start date of the initial batch the student enrolled for.
• The student has time till the current cohort launch date to make the payment of the 50% program fee, post which the deferral request will expire. Once the deferral window expires and the student now asks for a refund, the above-mentioned applicable refund policy will apply.
• The fee applicable to the deferred student will be as per prevailing fee for the batch student as opted to defer to (No additional deferral fee is required to be paid).

Deferral Policy: (Post Program Commencement)

• If a student is facing severe issues in dedicating time to the course, we provide the opportunity for the student to defer to another batch.
• A student can request for deferral only once and to either of the scheduled cohorts to start in the next 1 year from the batch start date of the initial batch the student enrolled for.
• The student will be required to pay deferral fees of 10% of the total course amount fee + Taxes if any along with the differential program fees between the two cohorts.
• The deferral request will be approved once the deferral fee is paid.
• Till this is completed, the student will be assumed to be continuing in the same cohort.
• The student has 7 days (including holidays and weekends) from the date of deferral request to make the payment of the deferral fee post which the deferral request will expire, and the student will continue as part of the current cohort.
• If the student completes the deferral payment, the student’s login will be disabled, the student will leave the deferred cohort and the student will start learning on the new cohort from the point of the last assignment that was graded in the deferred cohort. All grades and progress till that point will be carried forward as it is to the new cohort. For clarification, the grades of the graded assignments will be carried forward, whether the student had submitted these grading during the initial stage.
• The deferral can only be requested during the batch for which the student has enrolled is ongoing. Once the batch has been completed, deferral requests shall not be entertained. For clarification, the batch completion here shall mean the “last grace deadline” as communicated by upGrad.

Deferral policy applicable only for International Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore (“IIIT Bangalore”)
• The first deferral request to any program offered by IIIT Bangalore (pre-program commencement or post-program commencement) shall be free for one time.

• The Executive Post Graduate Program learners should complete the course in a maximum duration of 3 years from the initial batch start date.
• The Advanced Certificate Program learners should complete the course in a maximum duration of 2 years from the initial batch start date.
• The Professional Advanced Certificate Program learners should complete the course in a maximum duration of 2 years from the initial batch start date.