Data play a role in almost every decision we make. Businesses use them to anticipate trends, artificial intelligence transforms them into new tools and sectors as diverse as healthcare, finance, industry and services require professionals capable of understanding them and turning them into useful information. In this context, the UIC School of Management will introduce a new Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics and Data Science in the 2027–2028 academic year, a programme that will combine the rigour of mathematical thinking with the technological skills required in today’s professional environment.

The four-year programme comprises 240 ECTS credits and combines a thorough grounding in pure mathematics with training in data science, programming, software engineering and artificial intelligence. It is not a mathematics degree designed solely to serve data science; rather, the two disciplines are studied in parallel and mutually reinforce one another. The aim is to develop graduates who can understand both the foundations of models and their application in real-world contexts.

The programme offers in-depth study of areas such as calculus, algebra, mathematical analysis, probability and statistics, alongside algorithms, data structures, databases and high-performance computing. Mathematics is not treated merely as a computational tool for other subjects: it is studied as a discipline in its own right, with the rigour and abstraction of pure mathematics and as a way of reasoning that can, among other things, be used to analyse problems and understand the models behind today’s technologies.

This foundation will be complemented by specialised training in data science and applied AI, including subjects in machine learning, deep learning, data analysis and visualisation, natural language processing, computer vision and agentic AI. The programme also addresses the regulatory and ethical aspects of artificial intelligence, as well as data protection.

Designed for the professional world

A key feature of the programme is its practical focus. Students will complete 24 ECTS credits of compulsory external academic placements, complemented by a 6-ECTS Bachelor's Degree Final Project linked to these placements. This will give students the opportunity to apply what they have learned to real projects.

The programme also includes a humanistic and professional component. Subjects such as anthropology, ethics, humanistic education and professional and communication skills are designed to complement students’ technical training with a broader perspective on the impact of technology and the responsibilities associated with the use of data.

The result is a versatile profile, with applications across a wide range of sectors and the ability to move between mathematics, technology and data analysis. Graduates will not only know how to use models and tools but will also possess the foundations required to understand them, challenge them and contribute to the development of new ones.

The new degree has been developed in response to growing demand for professionals with expertise in mathematics, data and artificial intelligence, at a time when quantitative and digital skills are becoming increasingly important across a wide range of sectors.