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Data Science and Computing with Foundation Year at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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Birkbeck, University of London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Course summary

Our BSc Data Science and Computing will give you a strong foundation in mathematics, statistics and computer science and the skills to tackle real-world problems. You will learn cutting-edge techniques for collecting, storing, analysing and visualising data, and how to extract information to inform decision-making across various organisations, essential for a career as a data scientist or data-driven software developer. Why choose this course?

  • This course offers a balance between learning current skills, essential in today's marketplace, and a deep understanding of the fundamentals, which provide a solid basis for long-lasting professional success.
  • Whilst studying this degree you will uncover valuable insights from data, a skill highly sought after by employers across business, finance, manufacturing and the public sector.
  • You will consider social, professional and organisational issues that play a key role in understanding how data science and computing contribute to the future of businesses and organisations.
  • The degree is accredited by the British Computer Society, the professional body for computing in the UK, which supports IT professionals and promotes the ethical and responsible use of technology.
What you will learn Data science combines data analytics, applied statistics, computer science and software engineering. You will gain a broad knowledge of computing and mathematics and acquire strong programming and data analysis skills using Python, R and Java - the most popular programming languages used by data scientists. How you will learn Teaching may include formal lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical classes. Many computing modules include laboratory-based exercises. All lectures are recorded and materials are made available online. For the majority of the programming modules we adopt a 'flipped classroom' approach, where you watch short videos and perform appropriate reading before the class, making this an active rather than passive learning experience. Foundation Year If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. Highlights
  • Birkbeck was ranked in the top 25 universities in the UK for its Computer Science and Informatics research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
  • Birkbeck established one of the first computing departments in the UK in 1957. Today, we provide a stimulating teaching and research environment for both part-time and full-time students.
  • Our world-class research in data science, data analytics and software engineering at the Birkbeck Institute for Data Analytics (BIDA) informs our teaching and our interactions with business, public and third-sector organisations.
  • We have four modern computing laboratories, with a total of 133 workstations. The labs have projection facilities and are air-conditioned. Our wide range of software runs on a number of platforms including Unix, Windows and Linux. The local area network is a switched gigabit/10gigabit ethernet. Our computers are connected to the SuperJANET academic network.
Careers and employability On successfully graduating from this BSc Data Science and Computing, you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including:
  • problem-solving
  • analytical thinking
  • communication
  • teamwork
  • project management.
Graduates can pursue careers as programmers, data scientists or software engineers. Job opportunities exist in software companies, healthcare, banking, insurance, policing and tech companies as, for example:
  • machine learning engineers for artificial intelligence software
  • analytics associates/data scientists
  • quantitative analysts
  • graduate software developers.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

A combination of coursework, in-class tests, examinations and a final-year project.

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
I266
Institution code:
B24
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
50%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
80%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
International £18060 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Data Science and Computing with Foundation Year at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS