Data Science (with integrated year in industry)

Data Science is an exciting new discipline where Computing and Mathematics meet, and graduates with Data Science skills are in great demand. It addresses how we can make sense of the terabytes of information that our computers collect every day. It can be used to predict what people will want to buy, or where we need to put more money into the National Health Service to make it more effective, or the best ways of tackling global warming. Demand is growing rapidly for people who can use computers to analyse and make sense of the data that is now available.

A degree in Data Science is an ideal start to working in this area. Data Science at Aberystwyth University is jointly taught by the Computer Science Department and the Department of Mathematics and gives you a strong grounding in the underlying theory of Data Science as well as the practical skills to be able to apply that theory in real-world data analytics. Data Science provides both the underlying mathematical understanding and the practical computing skills needed to be able to design and carry out analysis of large sets of data and to draw implications from the results.

A Data Scientist needs both mathematical and computing skills so you will divide your time between the two subjects. In the first year, you will be introduced to programming, operating systems, and software development. Students participate in the Software Development Lifecycle module which includes a group project where, taking one of the roles which exist in industry, such as project manager, designer, or quality assurance manager, you will produce a working software product. All this experience is brought together in the final year in a major individual project which should apply all the knowledge of realistic data analysis. You have a fantastic opportunity to take a year out between your second and third year to work in an organisation in the UK or overseas. By the end of your second year, you already have enough knowledge and understanding to make a substantial contribution at work. Most students find they return from their industrial year with much-improved skills, more motivated to learn, and having a better idea of what areas of computing interest them. Industrial year employers are diverse and worldwide, including CERN, Walt Disney and GCHQ.

Studying for a degree with us will equip you with a range of transferable skills which are highly valued by employers. Employability skills are a recurring theme during your degree. Our departmental link careers adviser works closely with us to ensure you have appropriate CV and interview skills training, careers education, and visits from employers and recent graduates to let you know what opportunities await after graduation. The final year project demonstrates your ability to work independently (under supervision), and brings together your technical skills with your knowledge of statistics, applying data science to a practical problem. Finally, you'll also need to describe your work in a final written dissertation report that presents your achievements in a professional manner.

Almost all companies examine the data that their customers provide, and to use it either to improve services or for marketing purposes. It involves finding and interpreting patterns in Big Data and needs an excellent understanding of statistics and good computing skills. The shortage of skilled Data Scientists means that graduates in this area are expected to be in great demand over the next few years - one study estimates that around 200,000 Data Scientists will be needed. Data Science gives an excellent experience of both the Statistics and the Computer Science needed by Data Scientists.