Data Scientist Qualification: Courses, In India, Salary 2026

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Ahana Bhaduri

Content Writer | Updated 3+ months ago

Data Scientists are skilled professionals who are responsible for researching, collecting data, writing algorithms, coding & decoding and analyzing data to form solutions which will help in the better functioning of an organization. They construct new algorithms, use machine learning to build models, and write programmes. In addition to comprehending the issue, data scientists are also responsible of creating tools that offers solutions.

In order to Become a Data Scientist, candidates must clear their 10+2 board exams followed by pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate Data Science Courses in any relevant discipline such as Business Information System, Computer Science, Economics and Information Management. Candidates must also complete relevant certification programs in order to get advanced knowledge about programming and coding language. To become Data Scientists, candidates will be required to clear various Engineering Entrance Exams such as JEE Main, JEE Advanced and BITSAT. The average course fees range between INR 50000 - 4,50,000. The Average Salary of a Data Scientist is INR 10 LPA with starting salary of INR 4 LPA - 6 LPA. 

Data Scientist Qualification

The job of a Data Scientist can be very complicated and interesting at the same time. There are many courses that can be pursued to become a Data Scientist. Some of the these courses have been mentioned below for your reference:

  • Data Science: Data Science is one of the emerging courses offered by many top universities. This program guides and provides in-depth knowledge about various specializations such as machine learning, Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics or Big Data. This course teaches scientific methods to understand patterns and big data. 

According to upGrad, by 2026, the understanding of big data and the skills of a Data Scientist will increase by 27.6%. There are several courses related to data science such as certification courses offered by coursera, udemy, edX, simplilearn.There are also other undergraduate courses or post graduate courses. 

  • Computer Engineering: Computer Engineering is one of the top choices among the candidates who want to have a career in data science. This course provides a deeper understanding about Data Structure, Algorithm, Computer Architecture, Database Management, detailed study of coding language, programming language such as C, C++, Java and Python etc. 

There are various courses related to computer engineering such as BCA, B.Tech Computer Engineering, B.Sc in Computer Science etc. The duration of the course ranges between 3 - 4 years. 

  • Statistics: Statistics also has a very wide scope and covers all the subjects that are required to develop skills such as data visualization, analyzing data, data distribution, joint probability, hypothesis testing, conditional probability, sampling, decision analysis etc. This will help the candidates to develop all necessary skills which will help the candidates to make effective decision making. 

There are a number of short term and long term courses, certification courses, diploma courses, undergraduate courses or postgraduate courses such as B.Sc in Statistics, Diploma in Statistics, etc. 

  • Business Analytics: Business Analytics is a branch of management that helps in exploration and analyzing data to promote and execute business strategies and goals. This course provides a deeper understanding of descriptive analytics, diagnostic analytics, predictive analytics, etc. This course helps in gaining knowledge about optimizing operations, ways to increase revenue, customer relations etc. 

Some of the courses related to business analytics are BBA in Business Analytics, MBA Business Analytics, post graduate diploma in business analytics etc. 

  • Information Management: Information Management is a highly specialized course which is designed with the purpose of providing a deeper understanding of the IT sector in business management. This course provides knowledge about business analytics, data warehousing, cyber security management etc. Some of the courses related to information management are BBA in information management, master in information management etc.

Top Data Science Institutes

There are many Data Science institutes in India. Some of them are private, some are government and some are deemed as well. The top data science institutes of the country have been mentioned below for your reference.

Name of the Colleges Average Fees (INR)
Vellore Institute of Technology 3,00,000 - 9,00,000
Jain University 2,00,000
Chandigarh University 1,62,000
IIT Madras 2,21,000 - 3,51,000
IIM Kolkata 4,70,000
Christ University 2,89,000
Symbiosis Centre for Information Technology 13,20,000
NMIMS University 4,56,000
IIT Indore 12,00,000
Loyola College 4,00,000

Data Scientist Required Skills

Skills and understanding play a very important role in being a Data Scientist. Candidates can take undergraduate and postgraduate courses in order to learn the technical skills that are required to become a Data Scientist. 

Some of the top skills that are required to become a Data Scientist are as follows. 

Knowledge of programming language Mathematics Data Visualization
Data Wrangling Database Management Data Manipulation

Data Scientist Salary

The average salary of a Data Scientist according to Glassdoor is around INR 10 LPA. However, this salary depends on a lot of factors like qualifications, skills, experience, location, designation, etc. There are many factors that determine the salary of a Data Scientist. Data Scientists can be government employees as well. There are job opportunities for Data Scientists in the government and private sector and salary and benefits vary accordingly. 

Tabulated below is the average salary of a Data Scientist as per their skill sets.

Designation Average Salary (INR)
Machine Learning Scientists 15.00 L
Statistician 7.61 L
Actuarial Scientist 6.10 L
Mathematician 9.35 L
Data Engineers 8.00 L
Software Programming Analysts 6.00 L
Digital Analytics Consultant 19.00 L
Quality Analyst 4.87 L

Data Scientist Qualification: FAQs

Ques. Can I become a Data Scientist after completing class 12th?

Ans. Yes, candidates who have completed class 12th from Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics stream can enroll into B.Sc. Data Science or B.Tech. Data Science to become Data Scientists. 

Ques. What are the entrance exams to enroll into B.Tech. Data Science?

Ans. The entrance exams to enroll into B.Tech. Data Science are:

  • IIT JEE
  • SUAT
  • UPESEAT
  • CUCET

Ques. What is the average salary of a Data Scientist?

Ans. According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a Data Scientist is INR 10 LPA.

Ques. What are the colleges that offer B.Sc. Data Science?

Ans. Some of the colleges that offer B.Sc. Data Science are:

  • Loyola College
  • IIT Madras
  • NMIMS University
  • Galgotias University

Ques. Is B.Sc. Data Science a good course?

Ans. Yes, B.Sc. Data Science is a good course since commercial businesses and e-commerce industries are heavily dependent on data for marketing research and knowledge. Also, Data Scientists earn a lucrative salary and have a very stable job. In the process, people also learn a lot about various techniques involved in the process. 

Ques. Which courses can I pursue to become a Data Scientist?

Ans. The courses that candidates can pursue to become a Data Scientist are:

  • B.Sc. Data Science
  • BCA Data Science
  • B.Tech. Data Science
  • M.Tech. Data Science

Ques. Is B.Sc. Data Science better or BCA Data Science?

Ans. BCA Data Science is supposed to be better than B.Sc. Data Science since BCA is more focused on computer programming and software development whereas B.Sc. is more focused on science. The average salary that a candidate earns is more after completing BCA than B.Sc. 

Ques. What are the employment sectors for a Data Scientist?

Ans. The employment sectors for a Data Scientist are:

  • Digital Marketing
  • Healthcare
  • Media & Entertainment
  • Software development

Ques. Are there any government jobs for Data Scientists?

Ans. Yes, there are many government jobs for Data Scientists in the Police, Intelligence Bureau, government banks, science research centers, etc. 

Ques. What is the highest salary of a Data Scientist?

Ans. The highest salary of a Data Scientist is around INR 27 LPA. 

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