The S2DS Programme
The S2DS Bootcamp was designed to help bridge the gap between academia and industry for talented individuals who already possess the foundational skills of a data scientist, as developed through their academic careers. Unlike most data science programmes, where the focus is on theoretical learning, S2DS recognises your prior learning and instead focuses on training you to use and develop your analytical knowledge to tackle a real data science problem.
Key Facts
S2DS runs 3 times a year: Spring, Summer, and Autumn.
Each programme is 5 weeks, full time 9:00 to 18:00 UK time. S2DS is not offered on a part-time basis.
S2DS is completely virtual and open to worldwide applications so long as participants can work on UK time.
S2DS is highly competitive. Not everyone receives an offer of place. The 2 stages before acceptance are
1. Applications: Form and CV submission
2. Interview: Face-to-face video call and technical assessment
Teams have about 5 people each. Each team works on one data science project.
Teams work directly with clients (1-2 meetings per week) for constant feedback.
All teams receive mentor support from an experienced data scientist and programme support from a Pivigo mentor.
Evening events include Speed Networking, Pub Quiz Night, Panel talks with S2DS alumni, and a Career’s Seminar.
What are the main takeaways from the programme?
Soft Skills
S2DS offers the experience of a day in the life of a data scientist. All data science projects are developed in teams, so communication and teamwork are important skills to develop. Learning how to work in a distributed team, determining goals, delegating tasks, and communicating complex topics to different audiences are all skills that you learn and apply in an S2DS programme.
Networking
S2DS is the beginning of your data science network. The members of your team and the wider cohort (the other teams) will be your first connections. You will meet a diverse group of people with varying skills and backgrounds but who have all decided to switch to data science together. To this end, S2DS has numerous online social opportunities like Speed Networking, a Pub quiz and Jeopardy trivia nights, to build rapport with each other and feel connected to a group going through the same transition as you.
Agile Management
Every S2DS programme follows Agile Management methodologies, including daily scrum meetings, sprint planning meetings, and Kanban boards. Following Agile practices clarifies the cultural differences between academic and industry and learning how to work in this structured style prepares you for industry standards and gives you a competitive edge in the market.
Client Management
Each team will work on a real commercial project with representatives from that business (project partners) that they’ll meet 1-2 times a week. Participants gain client management skills by continuously improving the desired deliverable through feedback and managing client expectations. Teams learn how to transform a business problem into a commercial solution and improve their business acumen through the business case and presenting the project during the Final Presentations to a commercial audience.
Team Coding
Coding in a team and in a virtual environment is a difficult experience to emulate by yourself. In S2DS, teams learn how to code collaboratively using GitHub and cloud computing like Codespaces. Participants develop their “Git intuition”, practice version control, and discover how to create re-usable, production-ready code.
Confidence
S2DS applicants all come from an academic background with varying levels of data science knowledge and teamwork skills. S2DS applies this knowledge to industry and teaches you how you work in a team. Realising that you already have the abilities to apply your knowledge in a commercial setting and knowing what kind of organisational style you prefer can be a huge confidence boost and help battle any imposter syndrome you may feel, empowering you to make the full transition to a career in data science!
“Here are my key learnings from the program:
- My academic skills are transferable to data science.
- Group work can be both effective and enjoyable, where I can learn a lot from others.
- In a team setting, I don't need to — and shouldn't — try to do everything on my own.
- I've learned to be more confident in my experiences and skills, and my overall confidence in finding a position in data science domain has improved.”
— S2DS Autumn 2024 Alum
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
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Education
Applicants are required to hold a MSc or PhD in an analytical field. Candidates in their final year of PhD studies are also accepted.
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Programming
Required: an intermediate knowledge of either Python or R (at least 100hrs practice)
Recommended: Experience with EDA, visualisation, and modelling
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Commitment
You must have full availability for the entire 5 weeks of the programme. Expected working hours are 9am-6pm GMT plus additional evening events. The programme is not offered on a part-time basis.
Still have questions?
Join us for a Q&A Webinar to ask us directly. Next one is on:
Thursday 2 January at 18:00 UK time
FAQs
When is the next S2DS bootcamp running?
You can view the dates for all upcoming S2DS programmes here.
How much does it cost to participate in S2DS?
There is a single registration fee of £950 and no further costs. This fee is payable during the registration process and is non-refundable. We offer limited partial scholarships on a needs and merit basis. To be eligible for a scholarship, you will need to complete the appropriate section in the application form.
Which programme should I choose?
As all of our programmes offer the same rigorous training, you should select the programme which fits best with your schedule and transition to industry timeline. You should be ready to start your data science career within 3 months after graduating from S2DS.
Can I apply to multiple S2DS programmes?
Yes! You’re welcome to apply to multiple programmes if applications are open for both. If one application is unsuccessful, we still encourage you to reapply as every cohort is assessed independently.
What career support does S2DS provide?
Every S2DS programme includes a Career’s Seminar and career-related Q&A sessions. After the programme at any time (yes, even years in the future!), our alumni can request 1-1 career meetings for CV or cover letter support. We can also talk about the current industry, look at your LinkedIn profile, or discuss job listings. S2DS alumni are also connected via our Slack workspace where many alumni also post job listings.