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Buckinghamshire New University

UCAS Code: FDDS | Foundation Degree in Science - FdSc

Entry requirements

A level

C,C,D-B,B,C

UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application. A minimum of 2 A-levels (or equivalent) is required. Every application is considered on an individual basis.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DMM-MMM

UCAS Tariff

88-112

About this course

Course option

2years

Full-time | 2025

Subject

Data management

Ready to dive into the dynamic world of data science? At BNU our FDSc Data Science focuses on training real-world skills, to an industry-agreed standard. This means you can graduate with the exact skillset that some of the biggest companies in the country are looking for.

If you’re looking for a course that puts you at the forefront of technology innovation and equips you with the skills looked for across industries, a Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) in Data Science could be for you.

We live in an increasingly data-driven world, and studying an HTQ in Data Science at BNU prepares you to thrive in a rapidly changing job market. Whether you're a recent school leaver, a professional seeking to upskill, or a mature learner ready for a career change, this course equips you with the in-demand skills employers are looking for. With accreditation from prestigious bodies like the Institute of Data Analytics and the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), you'll gain a solid foundation in data analysis, programming, and data technology, setting you on a path towards fulfilling and well-paid career opportunities.

This Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) course course has been accredited by the Institute of Analytics. This course runs for two years with an industry-certified focus on employability and hands-on training. After graduation, you will have the option of adding an additional top-up year for a full BSc Honours degree.

This programme has been carefully designed by our industry expert academics, based on standards set by professional bodies, to provide you with the skills and abilities needed to thrive in the fast-moving software industry. This means you will graduate with the skills, knowledge, behaviours, and attributes to carve out your own career, create your own opportunities, and enable you to adapt to diverse and different professional work situations and industry needs.

Modules

**Year one**
- Computational Fundamentals
- Data Protection, Ethics, and Compliance
- Data Warehousing
- Introduction to Data Analysis Methods
- Programming Concepts

**Year two**
- Algorithms and Data Structures
- Data Essentials
- Data Visualisation and Presentation
- Information Security
- Using Programming to achieve Mathematics

Assessment methods

This HTQ programme places a strong emphasis on practical coursework, both individually and in teams, to help you to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for success in your chosen fields.

In today's world, data analysis is an essential part of every sector and industry, from healthcare to finance, from marketing to transportation, and more. Our teaching and learning methods incorporate a growing emphasis on capability, competency, and performance. This is reflected in a range of activities, including simulated workplace environments, live projects with clients, and placements, as well as newer approaches such as online evaluations, and role-playing scenarios.

Assessments are, where possible, authentic, and tied to real-world contexts and constraints, allowing you to practically show the skills you have developed.

We have incorporated, where appropriate, the use of capstone activities (to encourage you to think critically, solve challenging problems, and develop professional employability skills) when concluding the session. This brings together knowledge, practical, and analytical skills that you have developed throughout the course. This may take the form of a traditional project, practical coursework, or artefact development.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,535
per year
England
£9,535
per year
EU
£15,150
per year
International
£15,150
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,535
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,535
per year
Scotland
£9,535
per year
Wales
£9,535
per year

Extra funding

There are several ways you can fund your studies, including sponsorship and student loans. You may be able to use ELCAS credits for some of our courses. We also have scholarships and bursaries to help support our students.

The Uni

Course location:

High Wycombe Campus

Department:

School of Creative and Digital Industries

Read full university profile

What students say

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Information systems

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.


Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

72%
UK students
28%
International students
82%
Male students
18%
Female students
60%
2:1 or above
29%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

D
A
D

After graduation

The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Information systems

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£25,000
low
Average annual salary
80%
low
Employed or in further education
85%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

22%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals
11%
Artistic, literary and media occupations
11%
Design occupations

Information systems courses cover a range of areas, including information design, modelling and the finance industry. How well graduates did made a particular difference in 2015 — computing graduates with good grades were much less likely to be out of work after six months. Most students do get jobs, though, and starting salaries are good — particularly in London, and that’s where over a quarter of graduates started work last year. This is also a good degree to take if you want to follow a technical role in the finance or advertising industry. Many jobs for this degree were found in the larger cities last year and opportunities may be more limited outside those areas.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Information systems

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£18k

£18k

£23k

£23k

£35k

£35k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

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This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here