Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The M.Sc. Statistics and Data Science program at UPES (University of Petroleum and Energy Studies), Dehradun, is a 2-year full-time postgraduate degree spread across 4 semesters with a total of 87 credits, offered under the School of Advanced Engineering. Designed for the digital era, the program brings together statistics, mathematics, computation, and AI as a transdisciplinary toolkit for real-world problem-solving. It builds strong mathematical, statistical, and computational foundations, enabling students to design models, analyse large-scale systems, and make data-led decisions across domains including finance, healthcare, climate, marketing, and e-commerce. The total academic fee for the 2026-27 batch is approximately Rs. 2,28,200, with hostel charges starting from Rs. 1,74,000 per year. A distinctive feature of this program is its integration with an Optional PhD pathway, allowing high-performing students to transition directly into doctoral research. Admission is based on a Personal Interview, and CUET-PG 2026 scores are also accepted.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic year are currently in progress. Round 3 admissions were open until March 26, 2026, with Personal Interviews held from March 24-27, 2026. The next round (Round 4) is expected to open tentatively in April 2026. Students are advised to check the official UPES admissions portal (admission.upes.ac.in) for the latest updates on upcoming rounds and batch commencement dates.

Key Points

The program is officially titled M.Sc. Statistics and Data Science (Integrated with Optional PhD), offering a direct pathway to doctoral research for high-performing students without a separate entrance process.
The curriculum is transdisciplinary, spanning statistical sciences, data science, AI, machine learning, and computer science, with 87 credits across 4 semesters.
Students receive hands-on training using real datasets from satellite imagery, aviation, finance, environmental studies, e-commerce, healthcare, and social sciences.
Expert talks and academic engagement with professors and researchers from leading institutions including IITs, NITs, IISERs, IIMs, and IISc enrich the learning experience.
Programming is taught in MATLAB, Python, and R, covering the full spectrum of tools used in industry and research.
Elective tracks allow specialization in areas such as Computational Finance, Statistical NLP and LLMs, Environmental and Climate Analytics, Marketing Analytics, and Game Theory.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

UPES Latest Updates and News

18 Feb, 2026 UPES Fee Structure 2026 is out for M.Sc Statistics & Data Science programs. The total academic fee is ₹ 2.72 Lakhs. Check details.

UPES M.Sc Fees

The M.Sc. Statistics and Data Science program at UPES has a total academic fee of approximately Rs. 2,28,200 for the 2026-27 batch, making it one of the more affordable M.Sc. programs at UPES given its advanced curriculum. The fee structure is similar to other M.Sc. programs under the School of Advanced Engineering. Hostel accommodation is optional and not mandatory; students opting for on-campus hostel will incur additional charges starting from Rs. 1,74,000 per year.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Semester 1	Semester 2	Semester 3	Semester 4	Total
Tuition Fee	Rs. 39,100	Rs. 39,100	Rs. 40,900	Rs. 40,900	Rs. 1,60,000
Academic Service Fee	Rs. 16,700	Rs. 16,700	Rs. 17,400	Rs. 17,400	Rs. 68,200
Total Academic Fee per Semester	Rs. 55,800	Rs. 55,800	Rs. 58,300	Rs. 58,300	Rs. 2,28,200
Hostel Fee (Optional)	-	-	-	-	Rs. 1,74,000/year (triple sharing, common washroom)
Total Fees (without Hostel)					Rs. 2,28,200
Total Fees (with Hostel - 2 years)					Rs. 5,76,200

A refundable (interest-free) security deposit of Rs. 20,000 is payable at the time of registration.
Personality Development Course (PDC) fee of Rs. 8,500 is payable at the time of registration (mandatory for PG students).
Training and Certification Fee of Rs. 29,500 (one-time) is payable in the 2nd semester.
Technology Fee of Rs. 3,600 per semester is applicable for the first year.
Alumni Fee of Rs. 2,000 and I-Card Fee of Rs. 500 are one-time charges payable at registration.
Convocation Fee of Rs. 2,000 is payable in the penultimate semester.
Medical Insurance Fee of Rs. 500 is charged at the time of registration.
Hostel fee mentioned is for AY 2025-26; AY 2026-27 hostel fee will be communicated separately.
Hostel is not mandatory; students may opt for off-campus accommodation.
Fee payment schedule: Semester 1 at the time of admission; Semester 2 by January 2, 2027; Semester 3 by July 10, 2027; Semester 4 by January 2, 2028.
Students are advised to verify the exact fee structure for 2026-27 from the official UPES fee structure page (upes.ac.in/admissions/fee-structure) as this is a newer program and fees may be updated.

UPES M.Sc Admission 2026

Admissions to the M.Sc. Statistics and Data Science program at UPES for AY 2026-27 are conducted in multiple rounds. Round 3 admissions closed on March 26, 2026, with Personal Interviews held from March 24-27, 2026. The next round is expected to open in April 2026. CUET-PG 2026 scores (minimum 120) are also accepted as part of the selection process. Students are encouraged to apply early as seats are limited and filled on a rolling basis.

UPES Admission Dates

Event	Date
Admission Timeline (Round 1 and 2)	January 15, 2026 - February 25, 2026
Round 3 Application Deadline	March 26, 2026
Personal Interview (Round 3)	March 24 - March 27, 2026
Round 4 Application (Tentative)	April 2026
Batch Commencement (Tentative)	July/August 2026
Semester 2 Fee Payment Deadline	January 2, 2027

CUET-PG 2026 Exam Dates

Event	Date
Application Start Date	December 14, 2025
Application End Date	January 25, 2026
Admit Card Release	March 3, 2026
Exam Dates	March 6 - March 27, 2026
Result Declaration	May 6, 2026

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Minimum 50% marks in Class 10th and 12th (PCM/B).
Minimum 50% marks in graduation in a relevant subject (Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Computer Science, Economics, or related disciplines).
CUET-PG 2026 score of 120 or above is accepted; Personal Interview is the primary selection criterion.

Admission Process

Register and apply online at admission.upes.ac.in.
Submit academic documents and CUET-PG scorecard (if applicable).
Appear for a Personal Interview conducted by UPES.
Receive admission offer letter upon selection.
Pay the offer acceptance fee within the stipulated timeline to confirm admission.
Complete registration formalities and pay Semester 1 fees at the time of joining.

UPES M.Sc Scholarships 2026

UPES offers a comprehensive range of scholarships for M.Sc. Statistics and Data Science students, covering merit-based, need-based, domicile, sports, and special category scholarships. In AY 2023-24, UPES awarded Rs. 46 Crore in scholarships benefiting over 6,844 students. The most relevant scholarships for M.Sc. Statistics and Data Science students are listed below.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship Name	Eligibility	Benefit
Entry Level Scholarship (CUET-PG based)	CUET-PG score 95.01 percentile and above	100% on tuition fee (1st year)
Entry Level Scholarship (CUET-PG based)	CUET-PG score 90.01 - 95%	40% on tuition fee (1st year)
Entry Level Scholarship (CUET-PG based)	CUET-PG score 85.01 - 90%	25% on tuition fee (1st year)
Domicile Scholarship	Uttarakhand domicile students	25% on tuition fee per semester
Jyoti Scholarship (Freeship)	Merit-cum-need based; family income below Rs. 8 LPA; min. 80% in 10th and 12th	100% on semester fees (all components except security deposit)
Vijay Scholarship (Sports)	National/International level sports achievers	35% to 100% on tuition fee
Academic Performance Scholarship	CGPA 8.5 and above from 2nd year onwards (top 10% of batch)	10% to 20% on tuition fee
Alumni Scholarship	UPES alumni (graduated 2021 onwards)	50% on tuition fee for full PG duration
Student Financial Support	Students who lost an earning parent after joining UPES	Rs. 50,000 relaxation on tuition fee per semester

Scholarships are applicable on tuition fee only unless specified otherwise.
A student is eligible for only one scholarship at the time of admission; the highest applicable scholarship is awarded.
Academic Performance Scholarship can be clubbed with Domicile, Sports, Alumni, Employee Ward, and similar scholarships.
Jyoti Scholarship is limited to 51 seats across all programs; upper age limit for PG is 25 years.
Domicile Scholarship requires submission of a valid Uttarakhand domicile certificate at the time of admission.
Scholarship once discontinued cannot be revived; renewal is subject to CGPA, attendance, and disciplinary conditions.

UPES M.Sc FAQs

Ques. What is the Optional PhD pathway in UPES M.Sc. Statistics and Data Science? How does it work?

Ans. The M.Sc. Statistics and Data Science program at UPES is officially titled "Integrated with Optional PhD," meaning high-performing students can transition directly into a PhD program after completing their M.Sc. without going through a separate entrance process. This pathway is facilitated through the faculty's research expertise and collaborations with national labs and institutions. Students interested in the PhD pathway should discuss their research interests with faculty during or after the M.Sc. program. This makes the program particularly attractive for students with strong research aptitude who want to pursue academic or research careers.

Ques. What programming languages and tools are taught in M.Sc. Statistics and Data Science at UPES?

Ans. The program covers programming in MATLAB, Python, and R, which are the three most widely used tools in data science and statistical computing. Python is used for machine learning, data engineering, and deep learning; R is used for statistical analysis, regression, and biostatistics; and MATLAB is used for numerical computing and optimization. Students also learn database management, data visualization, and work with real datasets from diverse domains including satellite imagery, aviation, finance, and healthcare.

Ques. How is M.Sc. Statistics and Data Science at UPES different from an M.Sc. Data Science or M.Tech. Data Science program?

Ans. The key difference is the strong statistical and mathematical foundation. While M.Sc. Data Science programs at many universities focus primarily on machine learning and programming, the UPES M.Sc. Statistics and Data Science program places equal emphasis on rigorous statistical theory (Bayesian inference, stochastic processes, multivariate analysis, time series) alongside AI/ML and data engineering. This makes graduates more versatile, capable of both industry analytics roles and research/academic positions. The Optional PhD pathway further distinguishes it from purely industry-oriented data science programs.

Ques. What career roles can M.Sc. Statistics and Data Science graduates from UPES pursue?

Ans. Graduates can pursue a wide range of roles including: Data Scientist and Machine Learning Engineer (in tech companies, startups, and enterprises), Quantitative Analyst and Financial Analyst (in banks, hedge funds, and fintech), Business and Marketing Analyst (in FMCG, e-commerce, and consulting), Data Engineer and Big Data Specialist (in cloud and data infrastructure roles), AI and Deep Learning Specialist (in AI research labs and product companies), Statistician (in government agencies, research organizations, and pharma), and Academician and Research roles (via the Optional PhD pathway). The program's domain-focused analytics tracks (finance, climate, health, marketing) allow students to target specific industry verticals.

Ques. Does UPES M.Sc. Statistics and Data Science have industry projects or internships?

Ans. Yes, the program is project-oriented with industry-oriented projects, internships, and dissertation work built into the curriculum. Project-I in Semester 3 (4 credits) and Project-II in Semester 4 (10 credits) form a significant part of the program, ensuring students work on real-world problems. The program uses real datasets from satellite imagery, aviation, finance, environmental studies, e-commerce, healthcare, and social sciences for hands-on training. Expert talks from IIT, NIT, IISER, IIM, and IISc faculty also provide exposure to cutting-edge research and industry applications.

Ques. Is M.Sc. Statistics and Data Science from UPES suitable for students from a non-CS background (e.g., Mathematics or Statistics graduates)?

Ans. Yes, the program is specifically designed for students from Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Economics, and related quantitative backgrounds, not just CS graduates. The eligibility criteria require graduation in a relevant subject with 50% marks, and the curriculum starts with foundational courses in Statistical Programming (R/Python), Mathematics for Data Science, and Probability, making it accessible to students without a CS background. In fact, the program's emphasis on statistical theory and mathematical rigor makes it particularly well-suited for Mathematics and Statistics graduates who want to transition into data science careers.