Why study this course?
Looking to pursue a career in Data Science, but don’t yet have the qualifications or experience to begin our three-year course? Our Data Science (including foundation year) BSc route is the perfect opportunity for you to meet the necessary entry requirements to join our traditional three-year degree course. Completing the foundation year will see you join the students from our Data Science BSc, meaning you’ll graduate with the same title and award as those who studied the three-year course.
More about this course
With modules covering mathematics, programming, an introduction to cyber security and more, this foundation year will put you well on the way to a career in this fascinating field.
Designed with your interests and future in mind, you’ll acquire practical data science skills, often developed by external organizations, which will prepare you for employment. Throughout your four years studying on the course you’ll also be trained in the use of up-to-date software tools and environments currently used by the industry sector. This includes tools such as Spark, Kafka, Hadoop, Oracle, SQL Server, Linux, Apache Airflow, RStudio, Python – Jupyter, Tableau, and D3 technology. You will also find opportunities to learn from real-life case scenarios.
Accreditation of Prior Learning
Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course.
Modular structure
The modules listed below are for the academic year 2022/23 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.
Year 0 modules include:
Cyber Security Fundamentals (core, 30 credits)
Introduction to Robotics and Internet of Things (core, 30 credits)
Mathematics (core, 30 credits)
Programming (core, 30 credits)
Year 1 modules include:
Data Analysis and Financial Mathematics (core, 30 credits)
Fundamentals of Computing (core, 15 credits)
Introduction to Information Systems (core, 15 credits)
Logic and Mathematical Techniques (core, 30 credits)
Programming (core, 30 credits)
Year 2 modules include:
Data Analytics (core, 15 credits)
Data Engineering (core, 15 credits)
Databases (core, 15 credits)
Professional Issues, Ethics and Computer Law (core, 15 credits)
Programming with Data (core, 15 credits)
Smart Data Discovery (core, 15 credits)
Statistical Methods and Modelling Markets (core, 30 credits)
Year 3 modules include:
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (core, 15 credits)
Big Data and Visualisation (core, 15 credits)
Project (core, 30 credits)
Academic Independent Study (option, 15 credits)
Advanced Database Systems Development (option, 30 credits)
Artificial Intelligence (option, 15 credits)
Cryptography and Number Theory (option, 15 credits)
Ethical Hacking (option, 15 credits)
Financial Modelling and Forecasting (option, 30 credits)
Formal Specification & Software Implementation (option, 30 credits)
Work Related Learning II (option, 15 credits)
Where this course can take you
This course will prepare you to work in the field of data analytics, data programming, data visualisation, IT data consultation, big data solution designing or data solution development. This degree award can put you in a position to apply to companies such as Facebook, Mastercard, Amazon, Microsoft or the BBC for roles such as Junior Data Scientist, Data Science Operational Officer or Associate Data Analyst.
This course is also excellent preparation for further study or research.
