Bachelor of Science (Honours) Scheme in Data Science (JUPAS code: JS3020)
Entrance Year Sept 2025
Programme Code JS3020
Mode of Study Full-time
Normal Duration
4 years (including 1 year with common curriculum)
Programme Intake 21
Fund Type Government-funded
Credits Required for Graduation
At least 124, depending on the student's HKDSE scores (plus 2 training credits)
* depending on the student's qualification (plus 2 training credits)
^ Current students who were admitted to 63425, 63426, and 63426-SY on or before 2021/22 academic year should refer to the respective Programme Requirement Documents at Curriculum for the required credit for awards.
Programme Leader(s)
Scheme Leader
Professor Sze Nung Sing, Raymond
BSc, MPhil, PhD
Remarks
- Students will be awarded one of the following awards upon successful completion of the graduation requirements of the programme concerned
- BSc (Hons) in Data Science and Analytics
- BSc (Hons) in Investment Science and Finance Analytics
- Students are allowed to enroll on any awards without being subject to further assessment.
- The options of Secondary Major in AI and Data Analytics (AIDA) and Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IE) are available to the students:
- BSc (Hons) in Data Science and Analytics with a secondary major in IE
- BSc (Hons) in Investment Science and Finance Analytics with a secondary major in AIDA
- Admission to the Secondary Major is on competitive basis and subject to a different credit requirement for graduation. Please see “Secondary Major Details” section.
- The Department will grant entry scholarship to eligible HKDSE students admitted to the scheme via JUPAS. Please visit Scholarships session for details.
Aims and Characteristics
This 4-year full-time Scheme is designed to nurture future data science professionals with solid training in mathematical and statistical skills and computer programming techniques, with a special emphasis on interdisciplinary applications in investment and finance, medical informatics, and smart cities. This Scheme integrates key FinTech elements, preparing students for the evolving digital finance landscape. It is composed of 2 undergraduate programme majors:
- Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Data Science and Analytics (DSA)
The Data Science and Analytics programme provides students with a solid foundation in data science and hands-on data analytical and programming skills, enabling students to pursue careers in a broad range of industries, including information technology, marketing and research, consultancy, healthcare, business retail, urban planning, government and public utilities.
- Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Investment Science and Finance Analytics (ISFA)
The Investment Science and Finance Analytics programme is concerned with the strategic use of data and mathematical modelling in performing financial analysis and making investment decisions. It integrates FinTech elements such as algorithmic and high frequency trading, risk management, and dynamic asset allocation with reinforcement learning. The programme aims to cultivate investment and finance professionals with strong quantitative analysis, critical thinking, and communication skills, preparing them for careers in different finance sectors such as investment banking, fund management, risk management and financial product development and pricing.
The Scheme adopts a flexible curriculum which is comprised of subjects offered by the Department of Applied Mathematics, School of Accounting and Finance, Department of Building and Real Estate, Department of Computing, Department of Health Technology and Informatics, and Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics. Students can broaden their data science domain knowledge during their senior years by choosing elective subjects from a large subject pool offered by the above-mentioned departments, including FinTech-related courses.
Upon completion of the first year of study in foundation subjects in mathematics, statistics, computer programming, and languages, students may choose between two majors and will be awarded a degree in the selected major programme upon successful completion of graduation requirements of the programme concerned.
Please check out the Programme Brochure for further information.
Programme at a glance
Programme Brochure
Admission
The University will consider other qualifications (such as GCE A-Level / International A-Level / IB qualifications) as being equivalent to the specified entrance requirements on their individual merits. Please refer to the following pages for detailed admission requirements:
More at Study@PolyU
An appropriate Associate Degree/ Higher Diploma in Mathematics, Statistics, Information Technology, Engineering, Science or Business from a recognized institution.
Suitable candidates will be considered for advanced standing entry to the senior year curriculum.
See BSc (Hons) in Data Science and Analytics or BSc (Hons) in Investment Science and Analytics
Online applications can be made via our eAdmission.
The University will consider international qualifications (such as GCE A-level / International A-Level / IB qualifications) and other non-local national /regional qualifications as being equivalent to the specified entrance requirements on their individual merits. Please refer to the following pages for detailed admission requirements:
Guidelines on Non-local Qualifications
Guidelines on Chinese Mainland Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) applicants
The interview aims to test the potential for and interest of applicants in the scheme/programme and their communication skills.
For HKDSE applicants:
Selected applicants will be invited to attend an interview prior to the announcement of HKDSE results.
For other applicants:
Selected first choice applicants will be invited to have onsite / online interviews.
Curriculum
All students admitted to the Scheme will take a common set of subjects in their first year and select one of the majors under the Scheme in their second year. Students are requested to complete all the General University Requirement (GUR) and Discipline-Specific Requirements (DSR), including compulsory subjects, elective subjects, common applied science subjects and a one-year capstone project to fulfill the credit requirement for graduation.
Year One
Students study the General University Requirement (GUR) subjects and scheme common subjects such as Calculus and Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probability & Distributions, Programming Fundamentals.
Year Two
Students are streamed to one of the two majors under the Scheme based on their individual preferences. They will continue to complete other scheme common subjects such as statistics, database system, principles of programming, applied linear models, operations research, and start to study major discipline-specific compulsory subjects in Data Science and Analytics or Investment Science and Analytics.
Year Three
Students are expected to complete most of the major discipline-specific compulsory subjects in the third year, including statistical machine learning, big data analytics, decision analysis and optimization methods for Data Science and Analytics programme and Corporate Finance, theory of interest and Portfolio analysis, investment, derivative pricing, and econometrics for Investment Science and Analytics programme.
Year Four
Students will have the flexibility to choose their major discipline-specific elective subjects from a large pool of elective subjects from statistics, data science, computing science, finance and investment, health and medical informatics, and urban informatics. They will 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, concepts, and generic skills developed through different stages of the programme.
In addition to the two Discipline-Specific majors options (i.e. DSA and ISFA), students could opt for studying a Secondary Major which features an expanded area of studies in Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics (AIDA), or Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IE). Students could choose among the Discipline-Specific vs Secondary Major combinations below:
Selection Criteria
Studying on 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
*Including 2 training credits
^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.
Recognition and Career Prospect
Upon the completion of programme, graduates with the major in BSc (Hons) in Data Science and Analytics are expected to receive partial exemption from the professional assessment of:
- Hong Kong Statistical Society
- Royal Statistical Society of UK
Graduates with the major in BSc (Hons) in Investment Science and Finance Analytics are expected to receive partial exemption from the professional assessment of:
- Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute*
- Hong Kong Statistical Society
- Royal Statistical Society of UK
* Graduates with economic/finance or relevant degree qualification could apply for license by passing Licensing Examination for Securities and Futures Intermediaries Paper 1 only and would be exempted from Papers 7 & 8. Student should submit his application to HKSI. Exemption will be considered for candidates who achieve satisfactory results in specified papers. For details, please visit www.hksi.org/hksi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71&Itemid=98&lang=en
The ISFA programme is affiliated with the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. This affiliation demonstrated that the ISFA curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well-suited to preparing students to sit for the CFA examinations. The curriculum has been acknowledged as covering at least 70% of the CFA Program Level I Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) topics. Through participation in the affiliation program, CFA student scholarship is available to ISFA students.
Graduates of this Scheme will be able to pursue careers as data analysts / finance analysts in a broad range of industries:
- Asset Management Companies
- Commercial and Investment Banks
- Database Management Service Companies
- Government and public utilities
- Healthcare
- Information Technology Solution Providers
- Insurance Companies
- Marketing Research Companies
- Regulatory Authorities
- Retails
- Securities Institutions
- Trading Platform Providers
- Urban Planning etc..
Alumni Message
The Investment Science programme helped me develop analytics and problem solving skill which has laid a strong foundation for my career development.
Elvis Wong
During my study at AMA, I not only benefited from attending lectures and receiving guidance from esteemed professors but was also encouraged to delve deeper into various domains, which has equipped me with skills and knowledge in the areas of Mathematics, Finance, and Computing, and strengthened my professionalism in the financial industry.
Kelvin Ng
This programme integrated both mathematical and financial knowledge. I’m well prepared to establish insight through analyzing data and pursue career in the banking industry.
Jenna Ho
The ISFA programme has equipped me with a solid foundation in finance and mathematics, and instilled in me a data-driven mindset, enabling me to analyze financial trends and make informed decisions. The knowledge has been instrumental in my career in the banking industry.
Eurus Lam
Edward Yeung
The IS programme is a perfect blend of statistics, programming, finance and definitely helpful for my future study and career. The courses prepared me for pursuing further study in Data Science. Our department would also offer us research opportunities and keep us posted for any update on the career market.
Zhang Xingyue
Wang Kexin
The ISFA programme offers a diverse range of courses in Finance and Computer Science, as well as internship and research opportunities which have helped me establish a solid foundation of knowledge and skills in these areas. The professors are not only experts in their respective fields but also passionate about teaching. This creates a collaborative and supportive learning environment.
Kwok Ngok Sang
Beyond the Classroom
BSc (Hons) in Data Science and Analytics
Programme Leader
Professor Sze Nung Sing, Raymond
Deputy Programme Leader
Assistant Programme Leader
BSc (Hons) in Investment Science and Finance Analytics
Enquiry
- TU732, Core T, PolyU
- (852) 27666946
- ds.info@polyu.edu.hk
