Qualifi Level 3 Diploma in Data Science

At a glance

Diploma objectives

The objective of the Level 3 QUALIFI Diploma (Data Science) is to provide students with an introduction and understanding of the field of data science, and to empower them to progress onto higher education or join the job market with confidence.

The Diploma provides a contemporary introduction to data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, from the birth of artificial intelligence and machine learning in the late 1950s, to the “big data” era in the early 2000s, to the current applications of AI and machine learning and the various challenges associated with them.  In addition to the standard machine learning models of linear and logistic regression, decision trees and k-means clustering, the Diploma introduces students two new exciting and emerging areas of data science: synthetic data and graph data science.

The Diploma also introduces students to the data analytical landscape and associated analytical tools, teaching introductory Python so that students can analyse, explore, and visualise data, as well as train, test and apply basic data science models.

• Gain the basic statistical knowledge and understanding required to conduct data analysis.
• Develop a strong understanding of data and data processes, including data cleaning, data structuring, and preparing data for analysis and visualisation.
• Develop analytical and machine learning skills with Python.
• Understand the data science landscape and ecosystem, including relational databases, graph databases, programming languages, visualisation tools, and other analytical tools.
• Understand the machine learning processes, understanding which algorithms to apply to different problems, and the steps required to build, test and verify a model.
• Develop an understanding of contemporary and emerging areas of data science, and how they can be applied to modern challenges.

Syllabus details

For full details of the syllabus, download the Level 3 QUALIFI Diploma (Data Science) syllabus brochure.

Syllabus
brochure

 At a glance

Our fees

Our fees are inclusive of all learning materials, full tutor support, marking and grading of assessments and issuing of your diploma certificate.

When you register, you can opt to pay our fees in full, or you can opt to spread the costs over 6, 12 or 18 months.  As we understand we are living in challenging financial and economic times, unlike some other providers, we never charge:

• A separate registration fee.
• Any interest on our course fees if you opt to spread the costs  – it’s just wrong to charge interest.
• Additional fees to access the learning materials if you have not completed the Diploma within 12 months – with us you can always access the learning materials until you have successfully completed the Diploma, even if that takes you 2 years!

If your financial circumstances change, and you want to take a study and payment break, then you can do so without incurring any additional costs or interest rate charges.

For the full terms and conditions relating to our fees, including any qualifying conditions, please read our Terms and Conditions of Sale.

At a glance

• All assessments graded by qualified data scientists – not by admin staff or inexperienced tutors.
• We prevent bias in marking by our tutors.
• Quality and consistent marking -  many assessments are marked twice and internally reviewed.
• Detailed and constructive feedback on assessments.
• Sample assessments with fully worked solutions for guidance.
• Guidance on how to avoid plagiarism.

The assessments

All our tutors are highly experienced data scientists and were educated at top UK Universities including the University of Warwick, the University of Oxford and the University of Glasgow.

To assist our students achieve the best possible outcome when taking the Diploma assessments, a sample assessment with fully worked solutions is available to provide guidance on the level and quality of coursework expected.  In addition, we provide guidance on how students can avoid plagiarism when submitting their work.

Unlike other providers, our first priority when grading coursework is to ensure the highest quality of marking and feedback – it is the quality of marking not the speed of marking that is important.  Of course, we endeavour to provide marks and feedback to our students as quickly as possible, but we will not compromise on quality when it comes to your education.  To ensure quality and consistency of grading and feedback, a significant number of assessments are marked twice and reviewed by our Internal Quality Team.

All assessment coursework is submitted via your Student Account, and to prevent any possibility of bias, all coursework is anonymised by our administration team before being marked by our tutors, all of whom are experienced data scientists.

At a glance

Academic prerequisites

To study the Level 3 QUALIFI Diploma (Data Science) you should ideally have:

• GCSE Mathematics at grade B or higher (new level 6 or above); and
• GCSE English at grade C or higher (new level 4 or above).

Although there is a significant amount of advanced mathematics and statistics in advanced data science courses, including linear algebra and differential calculus, in this QUALIFI Level 3 Diploma (Data Science), all you need is to be comfortable with the standard mathematical operations of addition, multiplication, and division and some concepts from GCSE mathematics.  All other statistical and mathematical concepts will be explained to you in our Learning Materials.

You do not need to have any prior coding experience, though you must be willing and comfortable to learn a programming language.  The Diploma teaches introductory Python, being specifically chosen as it easy to use and learn.

Identity and address checks

As the QUALIFI Level 3 Diploma (Data Science) is available to UK and international students, in an effort to reduce student fraud, we conduct a number of mandatory identity and address checks.  When you register for the Level 3 QUALIFI Diploma (Data Science) we will need:

• One document as proof of identity, such as a driver’s licence or passport; and
• One document as proof of your residential address such as a utility bill dated within the last three months.

You can provide these documents to us during the registration process, or if you feel more comfortable providing these documents to us afterwards, you can upload the documents via your secure Student Account or email them to us.

These checks are required as if you successfully complete the Diploma, your certificate will be sent to you in hard copy form via the post.  In addition, if you are a student based in the UK and you have a Unique Learner Number your results will be added to your Personal Learning Record (PLR) held by the Learner Record Service, which is part of the UK Government’s Education and Skills Funding Agency.

At a glance

• Extensive learning materials written by data scientists
• Wellbeing support
• Learning materials reviewed and approved by industry leaders
• Free access for students to Care first support

Learning support

Our students receive extensive learning materials, including but not limited to:

• A PDF of core learning materials. 
• A PDF of accompanying slides covering key concepts. 
• Factsheets or summary sheets
• A bank of multiple-choice practice questions with answers

To ensure our learning materials are of the highest possible quality, our learning materials have been designed and written by expert data scientists, and have been independently peer reviewed by academics previously at the University of Warwick and by industry leader from GEC-Marconi, Lucas Aerospace, Philips UK, and approved by the awarding body, the Open College Network West Midlands.

To provide our students with the best possible tutor support, we only recruit highly experienced data scientists that were educated at top UK universities such as the University of Warwick, the University of Oxford and the University of Glasgow.  Our distance-learning students are able to email our tutors for support on any aspect of our learning materials.

With our relationships with world-leading data science companies, including TigerGraph and Pometry, our students have access to materials and tools that are not available elsewhere.

Wellbeing support

Studying for a Diploma whilst also working full or part-time, or simply dealing with life can at times be daunting and challenging.  To provide our students with every support possible, we have partnered with Care first, a leader in Student Assistance Solutions, providing various assistance and counselling services.

Care first provide our registered students with a range of wellbeing support services:

• Confidential, impartial advice and support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• All calls are answered in the UK.
• All Care first counsellors are members of, and accredited to, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), with extensive experience and expertise
• Free phone number for counselling, information and advice services.
• Unlimited access to 24-hour confidential Care first “in the moment” Counselling, Information and Advice Services.

We provide these services entirely free of charge to our registered student.