Course summary
Start making decisions powered by data with this innovative conversion course. This PG Dip Data Science will prepare you to enter this high-demand sector even if you don’t have a computing background. You will develop your ability to collect, analyse and visualise data, and explore a broad range of topics designed to give you a solid grounding across the entire field of study. You will first be introduced to the background context and theoretical concepts within the discipline, from data collection all the way through to using data to support business decisions. Next up, you will cover core mathematical and statistical methods and their real-world applications within this domain. You will go on to explore further topics including: data wrangling with a focus on big data the underpinning concepts for processing and analysing data sets for presentation machine learning and the application of algorithms to learn patterns in data and gain value from it Throughout the course you will develop a number of programs and applications, and the course will focus on the programming languages Python, SQL and R. Towards the end of your studies you will have the opportunity to advance onto a full Masters.
Modules
The Data Professional * (20 credits) Numerical Analysis (20 credits) Deciphering Big Data (20 credits) Visualising Data (20 credits) Machine Learning (20 credits) Research Methods and Professional Practice * (20 credits)
Assessment method
Studying online gives you the freedom to study when and where it suits you – at home, during your lunch hour or anywhere else you have internet access. Our courses are delivered through a virtual learning environment (VLE) instead of a traditional campus. This means you will have access to your study materials 24/7, including: multimedia lecturecasts made up of written content, short videos, animation, audio recordings, infographics, short tests and mini-assignments discussion forums for you to chat about the course content with fellow students live seminar sessions with your tutors a comprehensive eLibrary of textbooks and academic journals support from academic staff and your dedicated Student Support team To ensure you receive the support you need from your tutor, we cap our class sizes at around 20 students. In order to meet the technical requirements for this course, students will need access to a computer with at least 8GB RAM. Assessment methods Our varied assessment methods allow you to demonstrate your understanding of the course content in a wide range of ways. This can be by engaging in discussion forums throughout your modules, completing programming exercises, participating in team projects, completing reflective journal entries and an e-portfolio, by submitting longer written pieces or by undertaking timed open-book tests at home, without the need to travel to an assessment centre. We are committed to providing frequent and transparent feedback through the following ways: Our assessment criteria are designed to be simple and transparent. You will always be aware of your current provisional grade, right from the start of the programme. You will be able to view your marks clearly in your gradebook whenever you log onto the learning platform. There is a 7-day turnaround for marking and feedback of assessed work. You will have regular contact with your Student Support team, with whom you can discuss any concerns as soon as they arise. Study duration Our PG Dip Data Science has an indicative study duration of 16 months, which is a guide to how long your course will take to complete. The actual duration may be longer or shorter depending on your speed of study, study options chosen and module availability. It’s possible to complete your studies faster than the indicative course duration by doubling up on modules at certain times; however, minimum study durations do apply. Our academic year is organised into modules, typically with a one- or two-week break between modules and a structured three-week break for the Christmas period. Students will receive a course timetable during the application process. All of our courses have regular start dates throughout the year. On successful completion of your course, you will be invited to attend a graduation ceremony at the University of Essex, Colchester Campus.
Entry requirements
We know that many people from non-traditional backgrounds would succeed on our courses! That’s why we offer two different entry routes, taking into account your prior work experience and relevant qualifications. You will also need to meet our English language requirements. As part of the application process, you will be asked to take a short aptitude test which is designed to test your ability to handle the intellectual and practical demands of the course. Please note that we will consider your performance in the aptitude test as part of your overall application, so if you don’t pass the test you may still be accepted onto the course. Additionally, you will need to pass your first assignment set within your two-week induction period of the course in order to continue your studies. Academic entry route In order to satisfy the academic entry route requirements for our PG Dip Data Science, as a minimum you must have an undergraduate degree from an approved institution, equivalent to a UK Honours degree, or a relevant professional qualification. Work experience entry route In order to satisfy the work experience entry route requirements for our PG Dip Data Science, you must have at least three years’ relevant work experience in IT or computer science. English language requirements As our courses are delivered in English, a high proficiency with English is required. If English is not your first language, your English ability should be equivalent to an IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5. Don’t worry if you don’t hold an IELTS or equivalent qualification – we offer a free online English test to assess your proficiency.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
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
Fees for the 25/26 cycle are yet to be confirmed.
Provider information
University of Essex Online
West One
114 Wellington Street
Leeds
LS1 1BA