BSc Data Science

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Exeter

Program Overview

This degree is a three-year course (or four years if you choose the industrial placement option) that blends mathematics, computer science, and real-world data applications. It’s perfect for students who enjoy both theory and practice: if you like programming, building models, and using data to solve problems in industry or society, this course could be a great match for you.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
Your first year is all about building strong foundations. You’ll gain key programming skills through modules like Programming and Object-Oriented Programming, explore Data Structures and Algorithms, and develop your mathematical toolkit with Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science and Computational Mathematics. You’ll also get an early introduction to Machine Learning and think about the ethical and social issues that come with modern computing. By the end of this year, you’ll have the essential building blocks for more advanced study.

Year 2
In second year, you move into more complex theory and applied work. Core modules cover Statistical Modelling and Inference, Database Theory and Design, Software Development, and Machine Learning and Data Science. You’ll also study Data Science in Society, which helps you see how the field connects with real-world issues. Alongside these, you can pick optional modules such as Computational Intelligence or AI and Applications. A group project gives you the chance to collaborate and put your skills into practice in a more open-ended setting.

Placement Year (Optional)
If you take the industrial placement option, you’ll spend your third year working in a real business or industry setting. This is a paid year where you apply your data science skills to live projects, work with professional tools and datasets, and get a strong sense of how the field works outside the classroom.

Final Year
The final year is about specialisation and independent work. You’ll complete a major project or literature review and study Data Science at Scale. Beyond this, you can choose from specialist modules like Probabilistic Machine Learning, Computer Vision, High-Performance Computing, or Bayesian Statistics. This flexibility allows you to tailor the degree to your career goals or personal interests.

Focus Areas

Machine learning
Statistical modelling and inference
Computational mathematics
Algorithms and data structures
Ethics and the societal role of data
Applied tools and software for data science
Large-scale data handling
Optional pathways in advanced topics (e.g. computer vision, HPC, Bayesian statistics)

Learning Outcomes

By graduation, you’ll be able to design and build data-driven systems, apply computational and statistical methods to real datasets, and critically evaluate how data is used in society. You’ll also have experience in managing projects, working in teams, and specialising in advanced areas that suit your career path.

Professional Alignment

This programme has been shaped with strong input from industry, so you’ll be using modern methods, platforms, and datasets throughout your studies. While it doesn’t currently list a specific external accreditation, the industrial placement year and partnerships with employers mean the degree is closely aligned with what businesses are looking for.

Reputation & Employability

The University of Exeter is ranked 18th in the UK for Computer Science (Complete University Guide 2026) and is in the top 15 nationally for graduate prospects, with 94% of Computer Science graduates going on to employment or further study. The university is also home to the Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and works with leading organisations like IBM and the Met Office — giving students strong connections and excellent career pathways.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Exeter's BSc Data Science is genuinely built around doing, not just learning about doing. The course was developed in collaboration with industry, using current methods, platforms, software, and real data so what you learn matches exactly what employers use day to day. You'll work with dedicated computer science labs, get over 15 hours of direct contact time a week across lectures, workshops, and tutorials, and take on a research project in every single academic year using real-world datasets under the guidance of an academic supervisor. Individual and group project work run throughout the degree, so by graduation you've already built the technical and teamwork skills employers are actively looking for. Here's what that looks like in practice:

Purpose-built computer labs: the Babbage lab, seating 60 students, and the Lovelace lab, seating 120, are sensory-friendly, quieter environments with fold-down monitors on every desk and shared display screens for group teaching and collaborative work.
Industry-designed curriculum: modules use the methods, platforms, software, and data of partner employers, so teaching reflects real workplace practice rather than theory alone.
Group project work: the Team Project module and group-based research projects in every year of the degree give students hands-on experience solving real problems as a team.
Real-world datasets: research projects across all three years use actual real-world data, guided by an academic supervisor, rather than simulated exercises.
Optional industrial placement: the four-year route gives students a full paid year embedded in a company, working on a substantial live project.
Optional vacation placement: three-year students can take the paid Commercial and Industrial Experience module over a vacation period, earning credit while gaining real work experience.
Independent research project: in the final year, the Individual Literature Review and Project lets students research, design, and build a substantial piece of independent work.
Institute partnership: Exeter is a partner to the Alan Turing Institute and is home to its own Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
Industry partnerships: the course was developed with partner employers including IBM, the Met Office, South West Water, Black Swan, and Oxygen House.
Virtual learning environment: an interactive, computer-based platform hosts all module details, learning outcomes, and discussion forums.
Breakout and collaboration spaces: a dedicated breakout space next to the Babbage lab, with wraparound whiteboards, is set up specifically for seminars and group discussion.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Exeter's BSc Data Science graduates step into one of the most in-demand fields in the job market today, with strong market demand for suitably skilled data scientists across finance, retail, and healthcare. It's a degree that leads into roles like Data Scientist, Machine Learning Engineer, Business Intelligence Analyst, and Data Architect, giving graduates real versatility across sectors actively competing for this talent:

Career support services: individual and group project work built into every academic year prepares students to apply their skills to solve real-world problems, giving them a genuine head start heading into the job market.
Employment stats and salary figures: data science skills are increasingly sought by finance and accounting industries, supermarkets, online retailers such as Amazon, and the NHS, reflecting strong and growing demand for graduates.
University-industry partnerships: the course was developed with partner employers including IBM, the Met Office, South West Water, Black Swan, and Oxygen House, with modules using their real methods, platforms, software, and data.
Long-term reputation value: Exeter is ranked Top 20 in the UK for Computer Science, 17th in the Complete University Guide 2027, with Computer Science graduate prospects ranked joint 9th in the UK, and the university is a partner to the Alan Turing Institute and home to its own Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
Graduation outcomes: graduates leave as outstanding, dynamic problem solvers with excellent technical skillsets, prepared for a wide range of professions requiring genuine data science expertise, backed by the soft skills in communication, presentation, and teamwork that employers consistently ask for.

Further Academic Progression: Students who want to keep building their data science expertise have a natural next step at Exeter through the integrated MSci Data Science route, allowing them to specialise further at masters level before entering the workforce or research. The strong foundation in mathematics, computer science, and applied data science built during the degree also leaves graduates well positioned to pursue further postgraduate study in the field.