Data Science with Year of Professional Experience

Data science has emerged as one of the defining professional disciplines of the twenty-first century. It combines statistical analysis, machine learning, programming, and domain knowledge to extract insight and value from large and complex datasets, enabling organisations across every sector to make better decisions, develop new products, and understand their customers, operations, and environments in depth. The addition of a year of professional experience to this programme gives you the opportunity to apply your skills in a real working environment before you graduate, substantially strengthening your employability.

At Queen's University Belfast, this four-year, full-time programme provides a deep and current education in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. You will develop comprehensive knowledge of the fundamental principles underpinning these fields alongside advanced practical skills in data engineering, analysis, machine learning pipelines, and the design and deployment of AI systems. The programme is designed to ensure that the foundational knowledge you acquire remains applicable as technology continues to evolve, complementing enduring principles with the latest tools and techniques.

The year of professional experience is embedded in the degree, giving you extended time in an employer setting where you apply your technical expertise to real problems and build the professional networks that matter at the start of a career in data.

A typical entry tariff of 168 points reflects the mathematically and computationally demanding nature of the programme. Graduates go on to roles as data scientists, machine learning engineers, data engineers, data analysts, data architects, and AI specialists in sectors including technology, finance, healthcare, retail, government, and any organisation that depends on extracting insight from data. The programme also provides excellent preparation for research careers in machine learning, artificial intelligence, or statistics.

Many graduates continue to doctoral study in these areas, and the combination of applied experience and theoretical depth makes Queen's Belfast data science graduates strongly competitive in a very active graduate market.