Quick Information
| University | National University of Singapore (NUS); University of Toronto |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fee | Varies by university — no single official figure verified; confirm on the official course page |
| Eligibility | Strong mathematics background; NUS: very good H2 pass in Mathematics / Further Mathematics |
| Last Verified Date | November 10, 2026 |
| Official Source | https://www.stat.nus.edu.sg/education/undergraduate/prospective-student/major-in-data-science-applied-ai/ |
What a BSc in Data Science Covers
A BSc in Data Science teaches you how to turn raw information into useful answers. The degree combines three strands: mathematics and statistics, programming and computing, and the judgement to ask good questions of data. Students learn to clean and organise datasets, build statistical models, write code, visualise results and explain what the numbers mean to people who are not specialists. At the National University of Singapore, the programme is called Data Science and Applied AI, and it is an interdisciplinary four-year direct Honours degree designed to meet demand for data science professionals. At the University of Toronto, data science is offered as a Specialist programme inside the Bachelor of Science (Honours), alongside computer science and statistics.
How Long It Takes and What Degree You Receive
Both anchor programmes last four years full-time. NUS awards a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Data Science and Applied AI. Toronto awards an Honours Bachelor of Science, with the Data Science Specialist recorded as the programme of study. Toronto also offers a co-op option in which students gain paid work experience alongside their studies. Some universities offer three-year data science degrees, so the length depends on the country and the university, not only on the subject.
Entry Requirements
Mathematics is the key school subject. NUS asks for a very good H2 pass, or its equivalent, in Mathematics or Further Mathematics to take the first-year core courses; students without that background take a bridging course first. Admission is to the Faculty of Science, and students declare the major after they are admitted. At Toronto, students enter the Faculty of Arts & Science and select the Data Science Specialist after their first year, so first-year performance in mathematics, statistics and computing matters. English-language evidence is required by both universities; the exact test and score must be checked on each university’s official admissions page, because the accepted tests and minimum scores differ by applicant background.
What You Will Study
Early courses usually cover programming, calculus, linear algebra, probability and introductory statistics. Later years add machine learning, databases, data visualisation, statistical modelling and a final-year project or capstone. NUS also offers a co-operative education option in which students spend extended periods in a workplace during their third and fourth years. Electives let students lean towards areas such as business analytics, health data, finance or computing, depending on what the university offers.
Where the Degree Can Lead
Graduates work in roles that involve analysing data, building models and communicating findings — in technology companies, banks, health services, government departments and research groups. Common directions include data analyst and data scientist roles, analytics work inside a specific industry, and further study such as a master’s in data science, statistics or artificial intelligence. The field changes quickly, so graduates who keep learning new tools and methods tend to stay in demand. No degree guarantees a particular job.
