Bachelor of Science (Honours) Scheme in Data Science

Aims and Characteristics

This 4-year full-time scheme is designed to provide students with solid training in mathematical, statistical, and computer programming skills, with special emphasis on applications in investment and finance analytics or data science and analytics. This scheme comprises the following two undergraduate major programmes:

BSc (Hons) in Data Science and Analytics. This major focuses on training graduates with expertise that cuts across core disciplines of mathematics, statistics and computer science. It emphasises the critical arc from data to information, information to knowledge, and knowledge to decision making.

BSc (Hons) in Investment Science and Finance Analytics. This major is designed to provide students with strong mathematical and statistical skills and a thorough understanding of their applications in the world of modern investment and finance analytics.

All students admitted to the Scheme take a common set of subjects in their first year and select one of the majors under the Scheme in their second year.

• Year One: Students study the General University Requirement (GUR) subjects and subjects common to the Scheme, such as Calculus, Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probability & Distributions, and Programming Fundamentals.
• Year Two: Students are streamed into one of the two majors under the Scheme based on their individual preferences. They continue to complete subjects common to the Scheme, such as Introduction to Statistics, Database System, Principles of Programming, Applied Linear Models, and Operations Research Methods, and start to study major discipline-specific compulsory subjects in Data Science and Analytics or Investment Science and Finance Analytics.
• Year Three: Students are expected to complete most of the major discipline-specific compulsory subjects, including Statistical Machine Learning, Big Data Analytics, Decision Analysis, and Optimization Methods for the Data Science and Analytics programme and Corporate Finance, Theory of Interest and Portfolio Analysis, Investment, Derivative Pricing, and Econometrics for the Investment Science and Finance Analytics programme.
• Year Four: Students have the flexibility to choose their major discipline-specific elective subjects from a large pool of elective subjects in the fields of statistics, data science, computing science, finance and investment, health and medical informatics, and urban informatics. They also complete a Capstone Project in which they tackle a problem or research topic in data science/finance analytics/statistics/applied mathematics, consolidating the discipline-specific knowledge, conceptual understanding, and generic skills they have developed through different stages of the programme.

Secondary Major Details

The option of Secondary Major in AI and Data Analytics (AIDA) is available to the students of BSc (Hons) in Investment Science and Finance Analytics; the option of Secondary Major in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IE) is available to the students of BSc (Hons) in Data Science and Analytics.

Selection Criteria

Studying for a Secondary Major is not mandatory. Only students with a cumulative GPA of 2.70 or above may be considered for Secondary Major enrolment. Each Secondary Major may stipulate additional selection criteria for admission. Students must apply to and obtain approval from the programme offering Department, no later than the commencement of the second year of study, to be admitted to the Secondary Major.

Credit Requirement

The students of BSc (Hons) in Data Science and Analytics (DSA) with a Secondary Major of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IE) is required to complete 148 credits for graduation; the students of BSc (Hons) in Investment Science and Finance Analytics (ISFA) with a Secondary Major of AI and Data Analytics (AIDA) is required to complete 153 credits for graduation.

^Students of ISFA + AIDA may count up to 12 credits for double counting of their Major/GUR subjects including Integrated Capstone Project (6 credits) towards the Secondary Major. 

The Scheme is designed to develop student's analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills, nurturing an outlook and methodology that equip graduates to pursue a variety of careers, such as in telecoms, information technology, market research, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, investment banking, fund management, risk management, and financial product development and pricing.

Professional Recognition

On the completion of the programme, graduates are expected to receive partial exemption from the professional assessment of:

1. The Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute
2. The Hong Kong Statistical Society
3. The Royal Statistical Society of the UK

BSc (Hons) in Data Science and Analytics: 2 & 3
BSc (Hons) in Investment Science and Finance Analytics: 1 (2 & 3 subjects to confirmation)