Data Science Degree Apprenticeship

Key Information

Institution code	H36
School of study	School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science (SPECS)
Course length	Full Time, 3 Years
Location	College Lane Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield
Start Date	23 September 2024
Intake per year	1

Entry requirements

UCAS points	A level	BTEC	Access Course Tariff	IB requirement
120 - 128	BBB-ABB with a minimum of grade B in maths	DDM – Applied Science AND A level Maths grade C	Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits of which 15 must be in maths at a minimum of Merit	IB 120-128 points must include maths at HL grade 4 or above

The University of Hertfordshire is committed to welcoming apprentices with a wide range of qualifications and levels of experience to the Data Science Apprenticeship. We have a flexible approach to admissions and each application will be considered on an individual basis. Individuals with a minimum of two years’ work experience will be considered on an individual basis. A full Initial Needs Assessment (INA) will be carried out at the start of the apprenticeship to identify and discuss prior knowledge.

Additional requirements

GCSE: Grade 4/C in English Language and 4/C in Mathematics.

Employment: In order to be eligible for an apprenticeship, an applicant must:

be nominated by their employer and have a permanent or fixed-term contract for 30 hours per week or more, that is long enough for apprentices to successfully complete the apprenticeship
be employed in a role that provides them with exposure to a range of relevant business areas. This will ensure that apprentices can complete all elements as required by the standard.
be able to spend at least 20% of their normal working hours (six hours per week) for off-the-job training over the planned duration of the apprenticeship practical period. (See the ESFA Apprenticeship Funding Rules 2024-25.)

All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.

If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.

For more details on the University of Hertfordshire's entry requirements, please visit our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page.

About the course

Final award: BSc Honours Data Science (work-based)

Our Data Scientist Degree Apprenticeship has been developed by the University of Hertfordshire in partnership with leading employers and subject experts to meet growing global demand for data science talent and prepare apprentices for successful careers as data scientists.

Apprentices will develop the skills and expertise to interrogate data, systems and approaches to unlock insights, improve organisational processes and inform decision making.

Why choose this course?

Our degree apprenticeship programme offers a tailored, work-based learning experience that equips apprentices with the skills and expertise to effectively manage and analyse large datasets within your organisations. The programme empowers apprentices to bridge the gap between theory and practice, enabling you to contribute effectively to your organisation's data-driven decision-making processes and drive meaningful business outcomes.

Apprentices will undergo comprehensive training in specific data analysis techniques and data science problem-solving skills, including statistics, mathematical modelling, algorithm design, and computer programming. You will also develop essential business skills, such as presentation and communication, teamwork, and workload management, ensuring apprentices graduate as well-rounded professionals capable of addressing diverse challenges in the workplace.

One of the unique features of our programme is the emphasis on practical application. Throughout the apprenticeship, apprentices are encouraged to identify and explore opportunities, data, and business questions within your organisation, where you can apply the techniques learned. By integrating real-world work experiences into your projects, the programme enables you to contextualise your learning, making it more relevant and impactful.

What will I study?

The course will develop the knowledge and skills required to collect, organise and study data to provide new business insight. Apprentices will develop understanding of the context of data science and the ethical, legal and social issues relating to data science, and their implication on your work and organisation.

The course will consist of blended learning: mix of lecture, tutorial, discussions and group work, as well as directed independent study.

Year one (Level 4)

Semester A (30 Credits)
Data Science Programming This module will enable students to understand and write basic computer programs in Python and to integrate these with online data repositories and establish ‘good practice’ in code development.

Semester B (60 Credits)
Data Science Principles & Maths This module will enable students to understand the data engineering steps and basic mathematics required to take on a data science project and develop an appreciation of the ethical responsibilities as data scientists.
Data Science Computation & Statistics This module will enable students to understand basic statistics within the context of data science and the fundamental concepts in computing (including operating systems, programming languages and data storage/transfer).

Semester C (30 Credits)
Data Handling & Presentation This module introduces the principles of data handling and visualisation so that students can proficiently analyse data and communicate outcomes clearly and comprehensively.

Year two (Level 5)

Semester A (30 Credits)
Machine Learning for Data Scientists This module introduces recent advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence, with a particular emphasis on neural networks. The module will cover both the theoretical underpinnings of neural networks, and practical aspects of design, implementation, and interpretation.

Semester B (60 Credits)
Big Data & Cloud Computing This module will enable apprentices to make use of high-performance computing facilities and use them to process large datasets. Apprentices will evaluate cloud vs on-premise deployment, scale-up a system, and determine value-for-money.
Information Theory & Data Security This module will enable apprentices to analyse complex data using statistical modelling and information theory, and understand concepts in data security, basic cryptography and blockchain technology.

Semester C (30 Credits)
Professional Teamwork for Data Scientists This module develops professional working practices as a team and within an organization by identifying real-world data analysis problems related to your work environment and gather the requirements across your organization.

Year three (Level 6)

Semester A (30 Credits)
Advanced Data Science Analysis This module introduces concepts related to advanced and predictive analytics and machine learning techniques and includes topics such as computer vision, natural language processing (NLP) and time series analysis.

Semester B (30 Credits)
Data Science Professional Project This module will enable apprentices to design and conduct a major data science investigative project related to your place of work, that will be used as the basis for the End Point Assessment Report.

Semester C (60 Credits)
End Point Assessment (EPA) This module prepares the apprentices for the End Point Assessments. Apprentices will take all required End Point Assessments, the success of which completes the apprenticeship and BSc programme.

Careers

After successfully completing the degree apprenticeship programme, you will have developed the knowledge, skills and behaviours to work in industry as a data scientist.

Further career opportunities include the following roles:

Data scientist
Data analyst
Data engineering
Data architect
Technology professional

The University’s careers service provides a range of support to help apprentices develop skills attractive to employers. Visit our careers pages for more information.

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Data Science Degree Apprenticeship

About the course

Why choose this course?

What will I study?

Careers