School of Mathematical Sciences

Data Scientist Degree Apprenticeship

Students in a lesson

Our Data Scientist Degree Apprenticeship is designed to equip employees with the skills to turn your businesses' data into actionable insights and provide them with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to make a real-world impact.

Our programme supports employers to secure their data science talent pipelines by enabling both new recruits and employees already working in data science to boost their digital and data expertise, ensuring best practice, efficient working and enabling businesses to move towards data driven decision-making models.

 
 


Fact file
Qualification BSc (Hons) Data Science
Duration 42 months (including EPA period)
Delivery

Blended learning: combines remote online learning and face to face teaching delivered by block release in Nottingham. 

Entry requirements

Grade 5 in GCSE Mathematics or equivalent, Grade 4 in GCSE English Language or equivalent (prior to admission)

with

BBC at A-Level to include Maths. The following A-Levels are not accepted: Citizenship Skills, General Studies, and Critical Thinking.

or

Level 4 Data Analyst apprenticeship at Merit or Distinction

Candidates are reviewed on a case-by-case basis enabling employees with a strong mathematical background or substantial work experience with relevant qualifications to be considered. Apprentices’ prior learning may affect the start date of their programme.

We strongly recommend contacting our Employer Engagement Team to discuss the suitability of this programme for your staff.

Eligibility requirements

All apprentices must:

  • hold a level 2 (equivalent to grades 4-9 at GCSE) or above in English Language or equivalent, and have scored 5 in GCSE Maths or equivalent
  • be working in a job role that provides opportunities to apply and develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours from the programme, outlined in the Level 6 Data Scientist Apprenticeship Standard.
  • work a minimum of 50% of their time in England
  • have access to the off-the-job training detailed in their individual learning plan
  • be a UK/EU/EEA national or have lived and have had a right to work in the UK for 3 years or more

Apprentices who do not provide a suitable Level 2 English certificate, and do not hold an appropriate English language equivalent qualification from this list, will also need to provide an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) result that is dated within the last two years. The minimum requirement for this programme is an overall score of 6.0, with no less than a 5.5 in each of the individual elements. The university’s policy around this can be found here

Start date

September 2025

Application deadline

Applications for 2025/26 will open in January 2025, however we encourage you to begin conversations now with our Employer Engagement Team.

Programme fees

£19,000

Programme fees are paid by the employer either via the apprenticeship levy or they may be eligible for 100% co-investment from the government, there is no cost to the apprentice. Read the funding information to find out more.

Campus University Park, Nottingham

 

 Come along to our Degree Apprenticeship Employer Engagement Day on Tuesday 4 March 2025 to find out more about our Data Scientist Degree Apprenticeship.

The event is an excellent opportunity for employers considering using one of our degree apprenticeship programmes to upskill their workforce, whether that be via recruitment to new roles or upskill existing staff members, to explore all things Degree Apprenticeships at the University of Nottingham

Don't miss out on this chance to learn, connect and grow with us today!

Register your place

 

Who is the Data Scientist Degree Apprenticeship for?

Our Data Scientist Degree Apprenticeship programme offers businesses a cost-effective way to attract and develop new talent or upskill existing staff. 

Apprentices must be employed in a job role that provides opportunities to learn the skills, knowledge and behaviours outlined in the Data Scientist Degree Apprenticeship Standard. They must also work at least 50% of their time in England. 

We acknowledge that apprentices will come to this programme from a variety of educational backgrounds and job roles; for example, some apprentices may have prior mathematical skills knowledge.

We work with each apprentice to determine their level of existing skills and knowledge and build a learning plan to provide the support they require to meet the apprenticeship standard. 

Read more about eligibility for degree apprenticeships. 

“Our apprentice understands our business and data science and can act as the link between the two.

By developing our apprentice at the university, with a new network and input from new people, they can develop skills and knowledge we don’t have in-house. It’s another string to our bow.

Our market is changing, and our customer needs are changing. Having a data scientist who can apply what they’re being taught, whether that’s mathematical models, technical skills or the systems they’re using, is going to make a difference to our service offering going forwards and make our offer more aligned with our bigger competitors."

Jon Harris, Director, Dalecourt

Programme details

The Data Scientist Degree Apprenticeship is delivered by block release via blended learning, with each year further building on the apprentice’s knowledge and skills. The programme is typically delivered over a three-year period at which point successful apprentices will be awarded a BSc (Hons) Data Science Degree and progress onto gateway review and end-point assessment. 

Please note all modules must be completed to gain the knowledge, skills and behaviour of the apprenticeship standard, however credits are only applied to assessment modules. 

Modules

Year one
 

Year two

 
Year three
 

Gateway

 
End-point assessment (EPA)
 

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may be changed, renamed, reorganised or or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the programme due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments, or staffing changes or changing demands of industry. The university shall ensure that modules and programme continue to adhere to the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSB) required of the applicable Apprenticeship Standard, which are fundamental to any programme of delivery. This content was last updated on Tuesday 12 November 2024.

Why choose the Data Scientist Degree Apprenticeship at the University of Nottingham?

Our School of Computer Science in ranked number 1 in the UK for its research environment (Research Excellence Framework 2021) meaning that our apprentices learn in an environment influenced by world-leading research.

Moreover, both on-programme employers and apprentices rate us as 'excellent' as a training provider for our degree apprenticeship provision .*

*As per the gov.uk website November 2024 

By working together, we equip your apprentices with the core knowledge, skills and behaviours your industry needs to compete and succeed at the highest level.

“Embarking on an apprenticeship has been one of the best decisions I have made. It has allowed me to grow personally and professionally, meet exceptional people, and widen my career aspirations.”

Luca Smith, Data Scientist Degree Apprentice, Experian

Apprenticeship features


Initial needs assessment

As part of the application and enrolment process, we carry out an individual needs assessment. This will enable us to determine apprentices' existing levels of skill and knowledge and build a personal plan which will set out all the learning, tutorial support, and resources provided by the university.

Tripartite reviews

As part of our continued support for apprentices and the degree apprenticeship, we offer tripartite reviews between employer, apprentice and the university to formally assess progress in the academic programme and work-based learning. 

Assessment

Apprentices are assessed through a mixture of exams, coursework and a portfolio of work. The degree apprenticeship also includes gateway review and end-point assessment.

Support team

Each of our Degree Apprenticeship programmes are designed to include full support for the apprentice and their employer. We provide:

  • an Account Manager to support and guide employers throughout the programme
  • a Degree Apprenticeship Officer to support each apprentice throughout the programme
  • an assigned academic Skills Tutor for each apprentice

School of Mathematical Sciences

The University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham, NG7 2RD

For all enquiries please visit:
www.nottingham.ac.uk/enquire