Course summary

Data science plays a vital role in all aspects of the modern world. Our programme will ensure you have a strong foundation in this rapidly expanding, highly in-demand field to achieve your career aspirations. Our programme delivers a broad yet rigorous grounding in computer science and statistics, adopting both theoretical and practical learning approaches. You will gain cutting-edge knowledge and skills through state-of-the-art equipment and excellent teaching offered by both the School of Computing and Communications and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. This engaging programme, and our reputation for excellence in research, means that you will receive high quality teaching delivered by academics who are experts in their field. Throughout the three years, you will develop a range of discipline specific skills and gain specialist knowledge that will prepare you for your chosen career. During your first year, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles of computer science, and will simultaneously develop your knowledge and understanding of mathematical methods and concepts. Bringing these two fields together into data science fundamentals, you will also enhance your data analysis, problem-solving and quantitative reasoning skills. In the second year, you will further deepen your knowledge in linear algebra, probability and statistics, as well as your foundational understanding, programming, and software design skills. While studying these topics, you will complete our Project Skills module, which will provide you with the chance to enhance your research and employment skills through individual and group projects designed for data scientists. This will give you experience of approaching a data science problem in the real-world. You will study in your third year at one of our overseas partner universities, building your global outlook and connectivity. You will choose specialist Data Science and Computing modules as well as modules from across the host institute, allowing you to gain cultural and personal skills as well as expanding your professional network. You will study the equivalent of 120 credits of which 30 credits of subject-specific modules will contribute credit towards your Lancaster degree. Your final year will also give you the opportunity to specialise in a range of enriching research-informed optional modules, as well as undertaking a substantial data science individual project. In this project you will work closely with one of our academics, expand your problem-solving abilities, and draw upon the skills and knowledge that you have gained throughout your degree. This will be great experience for you to draw upon in an interview and in your career. Lancaster University will make reasonable endeavours to place students at an approved overseas partner university that offers appropriate modules. Occasionally places overseas may not be available for all students who want to study abroad or the place at the partner university may be withdrawn if core modules are unavailable. If you are not offered a place to study overseas, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent standard degree scheme and would complete your studies at Lancaster. Lancaster University cannot accept responsibility for any financial aspects of the year abroad. We are working to satisfy the emerging requirements for Data Science accreditation as defined by the appropriate professional bodies (such as the British Computer Society, Royal Statistical Society).