Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
Artificial intelligence and data science together address two of the most transformative technological developments of our era. AI is concerned with building systems that can perform tasks requiring intelligence, from recognising images and understanding speech to making decisions and generating text. Data science provides the methods to collect, clean, and analyse the large volumes of information that modern AI systems depend on, drawing on statistics, programming, and domain knowledge to extract insight from data.
Together, the two disciplines are reshaping every sector of the economy and creating strong demand for graduates who can work at their intersection.
At the University of Northampton, this four-year programme includes a foundation year designed to build the mathematical, computational, and academic foundations needed before engaging with degree-level content in AI and data science. The foundation year is particularly suited to students who have the curiosity and motivation to succeed in a technical subject but who need additional preparation before entering the main programme. From the main programme onwards, you will study the core principles of both AI and data science, developing understanding of machine learning algorithms, statistical modelling, data visualisation, programming, and the application of these techniques to real problems.
You will build practical skills in working with data and in implementing and evaluating AI systems alongside the theoretical grounding that supports long-term professional development.
Graduates from programmes combining AI and data science are in strong demand across a wide range of sectors, including technology, finance, healthcare, retail, public services, and research. Roles in data analysis, machine learning engineering, business intelligence, and software development are all natural destinations. The foundation year broadens the programme's accessibility, and the four-year structure gives you the time to develop the depth of capability that these technically demanding fields require.
Further postgraduate study in AI, data science, or computing is also a well-established pathway.