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Data Science at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

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

Open days

18Jan
Birkbeck, University of London - Undergraduate open day
Undergraduate

Course summary

Our BSc Data Science will give you a strong foundation in mathematics, statistics and computer science and the skills and knowledge 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 you a balance between learning current skills, which are 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 course, you will uncover valuable insights from data, a skill highly sought after by employers across all sectors of the economy including business, finance, manufacturing and the public sector.
  • You will also consider social, professional and organisational issues that play a key role in understanding how data science contributes to and shape the future of businesses and organisations.
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 today. How you will learn Teaching may include formal lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical classes, while the Foundation Year is composed of group work, individual tutorial work and practical lab work. 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. This course has an evening timetable with classes taking place in the evening. It is available to study full- or part-time. 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
  • Our world-class research activity informs our teaching and we provide a stimulating teaching and research environment for both part-time and full-time students.
  • Birkbeck established one of the first computing departments in the UK in 1957 and was a pioneer in data science studies, database technologies and eCommerce.
  • Our high-quality teaching and research foster our interactions with business, public and third sector organisations, offering our students unique opportunities in their studies.
  • We have 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, you will have gained important transferable skills, including:
  • problem-solving
  • analytical thinking
  • developing effective communication
  • teamwork
  • project management.
Graduates can pursue career paths as data scientists, programmers or software engineers. Job opportunities exist in software companies, healthcare, banking, insurance, policing and tech companies as, for example:
  • analytics associates/data scientists
  • quantitative analysts
  • machine learning engineers for artificial intelligence software
  • graduate software developers.

Modules

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

Assessment method

Assessment on this course is through coursework, written examinations and a project proposal and final report.

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

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

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. If you have no previous formal qualifications you will need to complete an admission test including English comprehension and mathematical knowledge. FOUNDATION YEAR DEGREES Our 'with Foundation Year' route is full-time only and provides you with an additional year of supported study. This is an ideal route if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied this subject, or if you did not achieve the grades you need for a place on this degree. Once you successfully complete your Foundation Year studies, you will automatically advance onto the main full-time degree.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.

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

To be confirmed
Data Science at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS