
Professional Development
Online Courses
Take the next step toward your goals with our flexible online courses
We offer a range of self-paced, online learning courses through our online learning platform, and in partnership with top international organisations. Our online courses will help you take the next step toward your personal and professional learning goals.
Get transferable skills to help you progress in your career, enhance your data literacy and knowledge, and learn how data can help your organisation become more innovative, effective and profitable.
Is online learning right for me?
Our online courses are designed for individuals in any industry and at any stage of their learning journey. They explore data at an introductory level and are not industry specific.
We also fund the development of data courses by universities and industry partners. While many of these courses focus on a specific subject area, the skills taught apply to many audiences and are easily transferable.
For online courses offered directly by The Data Lab, we use Canvas by Instructure, the world’s number one learning software. This software ensures your learning engages with everything you need in one platform for easy and flexible learning.
Why study with The Data Lab?
The Data Lab is hosted by the University of Edinburgh and funded through Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Government. We are a respected and trusted provider of professional development, business support and innovation within Scotland, the UK and beyond.
Our trainers and associates are leaders in their fields. They are highly experienced at helping teams see how data science can help them to do their jobs more effectively and to meet their strategic goals.
We also partner with industry and academia to offer other courses through their platforms to make learning as accessible as possible.
Our online course catalogue
Please follow the course links below for further information and to register through our online learning platform. Register to explore our catalogue of dynamic and engaging learning experiences or check out one of our trial courses to try before you buy.

Driving Value From Data
Our online Driving Value from Data course takes you through the growth opportunities presented by data. It will help you to champion data as a business opportunity to realise your company’s full potential. You’ll gain confidence to add value through better data use and be equipped with a complete data readiness assessment to integrate your learning.
Format: | Online course |
Date: | On-demand |

People Power Data
People Power Data is our online course designed for leaders, managers and HR professionals to help develop an understanding of their own data skills needs. This course is a must-have in your professional development journey if you work with employees or teams who use data.
Format: | Online course |
Date: | On-demand |

Data-Driven Entrepreneurship
This online course by The Data Lab and Edinburgh Innovations focuses on the entrepreneurial journey, giving insights into what it takes to be successful and the role that data and AI can play in supporting that success.
Format: | Online course |
Date: | Coming soon |

Driving Value From AI
Our Driving Value from AI course pulls together thought leadership, experienced practitioners and engaging activities that you need to work responsibly and ethically with AI.
You’ll gain the confidence and credibility to make a real impact with AI for your organisation, customers, employees and stakeholders.
Format: | Online course |
Date: | Coming soon |
Online courses funded by The Data Lab
We fund the development of data courses by universities and industry partners. While many of these courses focus on a specific subject area, the skills taught are applicable to a wide range of audiences and are easily transferable.

Data Science for Ecologists and Environmental Scientists
Overcome “code fear” and “statistics anxiety” in this free online course developed by Coding Club and the University of Edinburgh. Funded by The Data Lab.
Format: | Online course |
Date: | On-demand |

Breeding Programme Modelling with AlphaSimR: free short online course
Do you wonder how we sustainably feed an ever-increasing population? Interested in how data science can help manage crops and livestock? This free course, led by world-class experts, will give you hands-on practice with key breeding operations using AlphaSimR. Developed by The University of Edinburgh and funded by The Data Lab.
Format: | Online course |
Date: | Rolling deadlines, find out more in course info |

Multi-modal Data Science For Digital Health
The aim of this course is to provide students with the knowledge to critically appraise and develop decision-support systems for digital health. Funded by The Data Lab.
Format: | Online course |
Date: | Rolling deadlines, find out more in course info |

Computer Vision for The Energy Sector
The aim of this course is to provide students with knowledge of techniques in machine learning and computer vision applied to the complex and time-consuming task of image/video analysis. Funded by The Data Lab.
Format: | Online course |
Date: | Rolling deadlines, find out more in course info |

Data Science in Stratified Healthcare and Precision Medicine
This online course, created by the University of Edinburgh in collaboration with leaders in the field of precision medicine, explores some of the different types of data and computational methods involved in stratified healthcare and precision medicine. Funded by The Data Lab.
Format: | Online course |
Date: | On-demand |

Using Data in the Tourism Industry
Discover how data can be used to drive business decisions in the tourism industry through this course created by Edinburgh Napier University and Scottish Enterprise. Funded by The Data Lab.
Format: | Online course |
Date: | On-demand |

Data Science for Colleges
This six-module free course, developed by the College Development Network (CDN) and the University of Stirling introduces teaching staff in colleges to the basics of data science. Funded by The Data Lab.
Format: | Online course |
Date: | On-demand |
Speak to one of our team to find out more about our online courses
Case studies showing what’s possible with data:
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Driving Value from Data Case Study: NatureScot Supporting a Net-Zero Future
Biodiversity and nature play a key part in meeting climate change and net zero goals. NatureScot is Scotland’s nature agency responding to the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. They work to protect and restore nature by inspiring everyone to value our natural world. Philippa Vigano, Innovative Technologies Programme Manager, recently completed our […]
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Data Leaders Case Study: Social Bite
Beginning life as a small café in Edinburgh in 2012, Social Bite has become an internationally renowned charity, supporting people facing homelessness or facing barriers to employment. In the last decade, it has also established several programmes, such as The Social Bite Village, free food provision, and globally renowned campaigns including Sleep in the Park. […]
News about Professional Development:
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Scottish Labour leader sees pioneering AI solution for epilepsy diagnosis
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar had the opportunity to view a pioneering AI software solution that could transform the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy during his visit to the William Quarriers Scottish Epilepsy Centre (WQSEC). The research was undertaken at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), thanks to funding from The Data Lab and the William Quarriers […]
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New English partnership extends reach of The Data Lab
The Data Lab, Scotland’s innovation centre for AI and data science, has signed its first partnership agreement south of the Border. It will work with The Data Shed – a leading Leeds-based data engineering consultancy focused on delivering data transformation projects that reduce business risk and on understanding the potential of data. The partnership will […]
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The data of Zelda and the future of the gaming industry
By Marta Monellini, Marketing and Communications Assistant From Hogwarts to Hyrule – the entertainment industry has a new king! Until last week Hogwarts Legacy held the crown for the biggest boxed video game release of 2023, despite active boycott pledges and controversy. However, on Friday, Nintendo released Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, bringing the crown […]
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