Data Science
MJRU-DATSC

Data Science

Undergraduate major

Study a Data Science degree to develop practical industry ready skills to analyse & visualise large volumes of data & communicate analytical outcomes.

This offering version is phasing out and no longer taking applications. You may be able to apply for a later version.

Course outline
  • ATAR

    ATAR

    Guaranteed ATAR 80
  • Qualification
    Data Science Major (BSc Science)
  • Credit

    Credit

    600
Course outline

Check the application deadline for the parent course

Course outline
Data Science

Outline

Outline

Note that up to and including our 2022 intakes, many Science courses offered a choice of streams, or discipline areas, to specialise in. From 2023, these streams will be replaced with a range of specialisations, which offers you even more flexibility. View the full list of specialisations here.

Data scientists collate and analyse large volumes of data and communicate their findings to a range of audiences. Their ability to use big data to predict future trends is becoming an essential part of decision making in business and government.

Data is being generated at an unprecedented rate and its availability will continue to increase. Every industry is using large volumes of data – from predicting weather patterns and optimising harvesting in agriculture, to improving patient diagnosis in the health industry, to enhancing the management of remote infrastructure in mining.

This is a multidisciplinary major. It combines studies in computing, emerging internet technologies, media and statistics. You will gain a foundation in programming and statistics, which will form the basis of higher-level studies in data mining, data security and computer simulation.

This course builds your capacity to extract, analyse and visualise large volumes of data and communicate analytical outcomes to a range of audiences. You’ll graduate equipped to enter a range of industries where data science is key to innovation.

In keeping with Curtin’s strong links with industry, this course has an industry advisory group that provides guidance about the course content. The group comprises representatives from the resources sector, management consulting, data analytics services and spatial data product developers, and enterprises such as Optika Solutions and PwC.

Within this major you can select from a range of specialisations to study. View the list of specialisations here.

This major sits within the Bachelor of Science (Science) degree. It can also be studied as part of the Bachelor of Advanced Science course.

Double degrees

You can study a Bachelor of Science (Data Science) as part of a double degree with either a Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Arts, or Electrical and Electronic Engineering Honours.

See our handbook for more course information.

How this course will make you industry ready

Curtin's industry links enables this course to benefit from an industry advisory group  providing guidance on course content. The advisory group comprises representatives from the resources sector, management consulting, data analytics services and spatial data product developers, and enterprises such as Optika Solutions and PwC.

What jobs can the Data Science course lead to?

Careers

  • Data analyst
  • Data scientist.

Industries

  • Agriculture and environment
  • Arts
  • Economics, business, banking and finance
  • Geographic information science
  • Government
  • Health science
  • Media
  • Mining 
  • Oil and gas
  • Supply chain logistics
  • Technology.

Further study

What you'll learn

  • understand the theoretical background to processes for efficient collection, management, secure storage and analysis of large data sets
  • formulate hypotheses about data and develop innovative strategies for testing them by implement appropriate algorithms to analyse both large and small datasets
  • extract valid and meaningful conclusions from various types of large data sets that can support evidence based decision making
  • communicate approaches and solutions to data science problems to a range of audiences in a variety of modes
  • identify, select and use appropriate open source and proprietary data management and analysis tools to identify patterns or relationships in large volumes of data
  • recognise the importance of continuous learning opportunities in a rapidly developing field and engage in self-driven development as a data scientist
  • understand the global nature of data science and apply appropriate international standards in data science and data analytics
  • work collaboratively and respectfully with data scientists from a range of cultural backgrounds
  • work professionally and ethically on independent data science projects and as a team member working collaboratively to innovative data science solutions

Admission criteria

What you need in order to get into this course. There are different pathway options depending on your level of work and education experience.

Select an option that best suits you:

You’re considered a high school leaver if you:

  • Completed year 12 in Australia or overseas in the past two years, or
  • Completed TAFE or VET studies in the past two years.

ATAR pathway

  • Guaranteed ATAR 80

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 80

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics Methods ATAR

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    Mathematics Specialist ATAR

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

StepUp Entry

StepUp Entry

Successful StepUp Entry and StepUp Equity Adjustment Admission Pathway (StepUp Bonus) applicants will be eligible to be considered for admission into this course.

Alternative pathways

  • STAT entry

    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

    STAT is not accepted for entry, but may be used to demonstrate English competency requirements. 

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

Overall band score

6.0

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

How others gained admission

View the ATAR breakdown to see the low, median and high ATAR scores of students who started studying this course recently.

To see the other pathways students have taken, see the pathway breakdown.

Other requirements and notes for this course

Admission criteria may be different if you are studying this major as part of a double degree. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information.

In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.

You’re considered someone with work and life experience if:

You have left secondary education more than two years ago (i.e. who are not classified as recent secondary education applicants) and have not undertaken vocational education training (VET) or higher education study since then.

How we define ‘experience’
‘Experience’ includes a combination of factors sufficient to demonstrate readiness for higher education such as mature-age entry, professional experience whether completion of the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) is required or not, community involvement or work experience. Applicants may have undertaken non-formal programs that have helped prepare them for tertiary education or are relevant to the proposed higher education field of study.

Pathways

  • STAT entry

    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

    STAT is not accepted for entry, but may be used to demonstrate English competency requirements. 

ATAR pathway

  • Guaranteed ATAR 80

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 80

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics Methods ATAR

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    Mathematics Specialist ATAR

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

Overall band score

6.0

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Other requirements and notes for this course

Admission criteria may be different if you are studying this major as part of a double degree. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information.

In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.

You’re considered someone who studied at TAFE or have done an apprenticeship if:

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a VET course. This includes study at a public TAFE or other VET provider, whether a qualification was completed or not. Applicants with VET study may have other qualifications such as a Year 10 or Year 12 secondary school certificate.

Pathways

  • TAFE entry

    • AQF Diploma; or
    • AQF Advanced Diploma

    AND

    • satisfied the prerequisite.

    The Maths Methods prerequisite can be met with:

    • Maths Methods ATAR; or
    • MATH1013 Introductory Mathematics or MATH1005 Pre-Calculus, and MATH1014 Foundations of Calculus

    OR

    • TAFE Advanced Diploma with suitable modules including Calculus.

  • STAT entry

    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

    STAT is not accepted for entry, but may be used to demonstrate English competency requirements. 

ATAR pathway

  • Guaranteed ATAR 80

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 80

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics Methods ATAR

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    Mathematics Specialist ATAR

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

Overall band score

6.0

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Other requirements and notes for this course

Admission criteria may be different if you are studying this major as part of a double degree. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information.

In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.

You’re considered someone who has recently left university if:

Applicants with higher education are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course, such as a university degree. This may include applicants who are currently studying a higher education course at another education provider and want to transfer to Curtin University, or applicants who are currently studying at Curtin but want to switch to a different course. It may also include applicants who have completed past study with university and non-university higher education providers.

Curtin course switcher criteria

Has achieved an ATAR of 80 or higher; and met prerequisite;

OR

Has completed minimum 100cr; with 75cr in the semester prior to application; and met the course specific prerequisites.

Prerequisite: Math Methods ATAR

Higher education course switcher criteria

To switch into this course from another higher education course, you need to have:

  • attained an ATAR of 80 plus any unit/s assessed as comparable to Maths Methods ATAR; or
  • if you have studied Maths Applications or equivalent:
    • completed 100 credits within one semester, with a semester weighted average (SWA) of 65% or higher, plus any unit/s assessed as comparable to Maths Methods ATAR or higher; or
  • if you have studied Maths Methods or equivalent:
    • completed 100 credits within one semester, with an SWA of 60% or higher, plus any unit/s assessed as comparable to Maths Methods ATAR or higher; or
  • completed 200 credits with a course weighted average (CWA) of 55% or higher, plus any unit/s assessed as comparable to Maths Methods ATAR or higher; or
  • completed 400 credits with a CWA of 50% of higher, plus any unit/s assessed as comparable to Maths Methods ATAR or higher.

ATAR pathway

  • Guaranteed ATAR 80

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 80

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics Methods ATAR

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    Mathematics Specialist ATAR

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

Overall band score

6.0

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Other requirements and notes for this course

Admission criteria may be different if you are studying this major as part of a double degree. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information.

In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.

Unsure what option suits you?

We’re here to help you navigate the complexities of university admission. Choose the support you need from the options below.

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Other requirements and notes for this course

Admission criteria may be different if you are studying this major as part of a double degree. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information.

In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.

Credit for recognised learning (CRL)

Use your experience to get credit towards your degree

Finish your course sooner with credit for your previous study or work experience.

Fees and charges

Please view the Bachelor of Science (Science) degree for indicative fees.

Looking for more detail on the course structure?

View course structure

Frequently asked questions

Search our FAQs
  • The offering information on this website applies only to future students. Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information.

    The information on this page may be subject to change. In particular, Curtin University may change the content, method or location of delivery or tuition fees of courses.

    While Curtin uses reasonable efforts to ensure that the information provided on this page is accurate and up to date, errors and omissions sometimes occur. Curtin makes no warranty, representation or undertaking (expressed or implied) nor does it assume any legal liability (direct or indirect) for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information.

    View courses information disclaimer.

  • Curtin course code: MJRU-DATSC
  • Last updated on: 20 November 2024

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