Introduction

The Bachelor's Degree in Data Science is an innovative program that responds to the growing demand for professionals specialized in data analysis and management in an increasingly digitized world. The School of Engineering (ETSE) of the Universitat de València aims to train highly qualified professionals with technical competencies in statistics, programming, machine learning, and data analysis, as well as an integrated vision of data science applications across various professional fields.

Data Science students receive solid quantitative and technological training, acquiring a balanced set of skills for data analysis and evidence-based decision-making. Furthermore, the degree fosters the ability to collaborate and work in teams, promoting an openness to innovation, especially in all aspects related to the new technological trends shaping today's digital environment.

The opportunity to formalize an international double degree agreement between the Universitat de València and the Università degli Studi di Palermo represents a unique chance for students from both institutions to deepen their knowledge of data science and statistics within an international context.

This international experience not only enriches the students' academic journey but also provides practical insights into different approaches to data analysis across diverse cultural and educational environments, while fostering innovative and critical thinking. These experiences equip students with valuable skills in data analysis, advanced programming, and statistical methods, preparing them to navigate the global landscape of data-driven decision-making, which makes them highly competitive in today's data-centric labor market.

Moreover, participating in international experiences offers students the opportunity to network with peers and future professionals in the fields of data science and statistics, while enhancing adaptability, resilience, and intercultural communication skills—all of which are invaluable attributes in today's interconnected world.

Both universities are members of the FORTHEM Alliance and share aligned goals and interests in the educational, scientific, technological, and cultural fields.

RESPONSIBLE CENTRES

The responsible centres are:

• Università degli Studi di Palermo (UNIPA): Department of Economics, Business, and Statistics.
• Universitat de València (UV): School of Engineering (ETSE-UV).

DEGREES TO BE AWARDED TO THE STUDENTS OF THE PROGRAMME

Students from the Universitat de València:

• Bachelor's Degree in Data Science awarded by the Universitat de València.
• Bachelor's Degree in Statistica e Data Science awarded by the Università degli Studi di Palermo.
• Certificate of the first year of the Master's Degree in Statistica e Data Science (Transcript of Records of the 1st year) issued by the Università degli Studi di Palermo.

Students from the Università degli Studi di Palermo:

• Bachelor's Degree in Statistica e Data Science awarded by the Università degli Studi di Palermo.
• Bachelor's Degree in Data Science awarded by the Universitat de València.

DURATION AND CREDITS OF THE PROGRAMME

Both degrees are official university degrees in the country of the home university, Spain and Italy, and are accredited by the relevant national agencies.

The double degree programme has the following characteristics:

• Total duration: 240 ECTS credits (equivalent to 4 academic years).
• Credit distribution: Students will complete 150 ECTS credits at their home university and 90 ECTS credits at the host university.

Students from the Universitat de València:

• To obtain the Bachelor's Degree in Data Science from UV and the Bachelor's Degree in Statistica e Data Science from UNIPA, plus the first-year Master's certificate, they must complete 150 ECTS credits at UV (years 1, 2, and the first semester of year 3) and 90 ECTS credits at UNIPA (second semester of year 3 and year 4).

Students from the Università degli Studi di Palermo:

• To obtain the Bachelor's Degree in Statistica e Data Science from UNIPA and the Bachelor's Degree in Data Science from UV, they must complete 150 ECTS credits at UNIPA (years 1, 2, and the first semester of year 3, having achieved at least 120 ECTS at the time of mobility) and 90 ECTS credits at UV (second semester of year 3 and year 4).

PROGRAMME ORGANIZATION
 

Places

A maximum of 5 students per university and academic year is established. Parity in the number of exchange students is pursued.

Access Requirements

Students from the Universitat de València:

• They must be enrolled in the Bachelor's Degree in Data Science at the Universitat de València.
• After admission to the double degree programme, they must also enroll in the Bachelor's Degree in Statistica e Data Science at UNIPA.
• At the time of accessing the first year of the Master's Degree in Statistica e Data Science, they must have obtained all ECTS credits of the Bachelor's Degree in Statistica e Data Science established by UNIPA.

Students from the Università degli Studi di Palermo:

• They must be enrolled in the Bachelor's Degree in Statistica e Data Science at the Università degli Studi di Palermo.
• After admission to the double degree programme, they must also enroll in the Bachelor's Degree in Data Science at the UV.
• They must obtain the Bachelor's Degree in Statistica e Data Science (UNIPA) after passing the final exam and enroll in the Master's Degree in Statistica e Data Science (UNIPA).

Selection Criteria

Students will be selected according to objective and specific criteria based on equality, merit, and academic ability. The selection criteria will be approved annually by the School of Engineering and will be public.

UV applicants wishing to access mobility grants must participate in the call for applications established for this purpose by the international relations service.

Language Requirements

Students from the Universitat de València: They must possess language skills at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in Italian (instruction language 1 at UNIPA) or in English (instruction language 2 at UNIPA).

Students from the Università degli Studi di Palermo: They must possess language skills at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in Spanish (instruction language 1 at UV) or in English (instruction language 2 at UV).

Degree Conditions
Students will have successfully completed the double degree programme when they have passed the exams of the subjects established in Annex I, as well as the final degree projects and final exams, in accordance with the regulations of each university.

Upon successful completion of the double degree programme, according to the regulations of both universities, students from UV and UNIPA will receive a degree from each university. In addition, UV students will be issued the certificate (Transcript of Records) for the first year of the Master's Degree in Statistica e Data Science by the Università degli Studi di Palermo.

If a student fails to comply with the terms of this agreement, including the minimum duration of the stay at the host university and their program of study, they will lose the right to receive the degree from the host university and will be excluded from the Double Degree Programme, although they may still obtain the degree from their home university.

Program of Study

Students from the Universitat de València will follow the itinerary below:

• Years 1 and 2 + first semester of year 3: at the Universitat de València (150 ECTS).
• Second semester of year 3: at the Università degli Studi di Palermo - Bachelor's Degree in Statistica e Data Science. By the end of the third year, they must have obtained all ECTS credits for the UNIPA Bachelor's Degree.
• Year 4: at the Università degli Studi di Palermo - first year of the Master's Degree in Statistica e Data Science (90 ECTS in total for the second semester of year 3 + year 4).

4th YEAR AT THE UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI PALERMO.