Data Science (including a Foundation Year)
University of Chester
UCAS Code: I246 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
University of Chester
UCAS Code: I246 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
72 UCAS points from GCE A Levels
Access Diploma - Pass overall
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Scottish Higher
T Level
T Level with a Pass grade and D or E on the core
UCAS Tariff
GCSE Grade C or 4 in Maths is also required.
About this course
As data science continues to revolutionise industries, the demand for skilled graduates is soaring. Our Data Science degree ensures you're not just up-to-date with these advancements but ahead of the curve. The course aims to equip you with cutting-edge skills in R, Python, SQL, and Power BI, essential for analysing and modelling data effectively, efficiently, and ethically.
You’ll learn to harness these technologies to drive innovative and informed decisions across diverse sectors, including business, finance, politics, and healthcare. Develop your proficiency in analytical languages and visualisation tools to transform complex data into actionable insights and business plans that are accessible to both management and non-specialists.
Opting for a degree with a Placement Year provides you with the invaluable opportunity to undertake a professional placement at the end of your second year. This immersive experience allows you to apply your academic knowledge in a real-world setting, gain practical insights into the workplace, and build essential connections for your future career.
By integrating hands-on experience with your studies, you’ll enhance your skills, broaden your professional network, and increase your employability, setting you up for success in the competitive data science field.
Foundation Year courses have been designed for students who do not have the necessary academic qualifications needed to enter directly into the first year of a degree but who have the ability and commitment to do so. Once the Foundation Year has been completed successfully, you can then go on to complete your degree.
Modules
The BSc Data Science course contains core modules at each level of study. At level 4, you are introduced to the fundamental and professional skills required to study a computing programme. These fundamental skills are complemented by introductory practical and programming skills, including aspects of user experience.
Level 5 builds on this foundation allowing you to develop your programming skills along with specific skills in data science including machine learning the application of probability and statistics to data science, you will get to put skills into practice in a work-based learning module towards the end of this year. You can also opt to take a year in industry before progressing to level 6.
The final year allows you to include more diversity in your programme by selecting a module from areas such as mathematics, cybersecurity or software engineering. You will also work on a final-year data science project under the supervision an academic staff member.
The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.
Assessment methods
This course is delivered in three terms of ten weeks each. In each term, students study 40 credits comprised of either one or two modules. Scheduled contact hours range between approximately 6 and 12 hours per week depending upon the level of study and the complexity of the material being taught.
This course is delivered primarily through in-person learning supported by online learning materials. Students can expect to take part in labs, workshops, lectures and tutorials. Teaching will be delivered by experienced academics and practitioners in the subject. This will be supplemented by occasional guest lecturers and speakers.
On this course, you should expect to spend an average of 30 – 34 hours per week on independent study which might include following asynchronous learning material on the University’s VLE, using the University’s library, working with peers, and preparing work for assessment.
There will be a broad range of assessment methods so that students are exposed to the different types of tasks they might encounter in the workplace. These will include coursework in the form of programming projects, software artefacts, portfolios of work, written work (e.g. essays) and presentations. In some modules, students will encounter class tests and practical assessments. We continuously review the assessment methods used in order that they adequately prepare students for graduate-level employment.
Tuition fees
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What students say
How do students rate their degree experience?
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Information systems
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Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
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Information systems
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Information systems courses cover a range of areas, including information design, modelling and the finance industry. How well graduates did made a particular difference in 2015 — computing graduates with good grades were much less likely to be out of work after six months. Most students do get jobs, though, and starting salaries are good — particularly in London, and that’s where over a quarter of graduates started work last year. This is also a good degree to take if you want to follow a technical role in the finance or advertising industry. Many jobs for this degree were found in the larger cities last year and opportunities may be more limited outside those areas.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Information systems
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£22k
£23k
£29k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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