data science summer school

Engage with Imperial academics!
Cohort 1 - 21 July - 1 August 2025
Cohort 2 - 4 - 15 August 2025

Course details

Apply here - Cohort 1Apply here - Cohort 2
Data Science and AI Summer School

Data Science is successfully adding value to all the business models by using statistics and deep learning to make better decisions. A growing number of companies are now hiring data scientists to crunch data and predict possible situations and risk for businesses.

This summer school is designed for undergraduate students studying IT, computing or any engineering degrees at a university, with an interest in data science. Students will be introduced to the concept, develop an understanding of data science, hear from industry expert on data science applications and work in teams towards a technical project.

Students will:

  • Learn the concept of Data Science;
  • Develop an understanding of data analysis, AI, machine learning for data science, exploratory data analysis and visualization;
  • Understand the real-world applications in data science and hear from industry expert;
  • Get an insight into advances in data science;
  • Gain an understanding of data privacy and ethics;
  • Learn from research experts in data economy and block chain;
  • Develop valuable professional skills in team building, communication and presentation;
  • Experience team-based learning through a technical data science project;
  • Practice and improve their English language.
  • Gain an understanding of the British Culture and visit to London Landmarks through virtual social activities.

Students will be working in project teams to prepare data and create a technical demonstration,  engaging with Imperial supervisors throughout the programme.  Previous projects include developing a model for brain tumour detection.  Students will learn to prepare, transform and clean the dataset, as well as visualise the big data and their findings on the dataset.

In addition, students will have an opportunity to take part in social activities, meet and discuss with Imperial ambassadors , sharing their experiences on what it is like to study in a world class university and to discuss opportunities for future study.

More information

Programme structures & format

60 contact hours spread over 2 weeks covering lectures, workshops, tutorials, project work, social activities and relevant visit.  Classes will be delivered on weekdays.

Students will be allocated in small groups for Project work which will be done through team-based learning with supervision. Final project will be presented in groups to a panel of experts on the last day of the programme. A prize will be awarded to the team with the best project.

The entire programme will be taught in English.

Learning Objectives

On completion of this summer school, students will be able to:

  • Understand the basic concepts of Data Science;
  • Develop an understanding of exploratory data analysis, natural language processing, data science for computer vision and machine learning for data science;
  • Establish an understanding of data visualisation and see how this is presented in the state-of-the-art 360 observatory;
  • Understand the real-world applications in data science and how data science can transform the future of healthcare;
  • Establish an understanding of data entrepreneurship and blockchain technology;
  • Understand the importance of data privacy and ethics;
  • Gain a unique insight into advances in data science through Imperial’s researchers in data science;
  • Develop valuable professional skills in teamwork, communication and presentation;
  • Experience team-based learning through a technical data science project;

In addition, students will have an opportunity to make new friends, get to know student ambassadors from Imperial College London through social activities and discuss opportunities for future study and experience what it is like to study in a world class university.

Team-based learning through group project

Students will be working in small teams on a group project as outlined below:

Gliomas are the most common malignant brain tumours causing significant mortality and morbidity around the world. Accurate detection of brain tumours has always been a real-world challenge with great clinical importance. Imaging tests like MRI scans are commonly used for checking an abnormal brain area that is likely to be gliomas.

Examining an MRI scan is a time-consuming and tedious task for clinicians. In this technical project, students will develop an accurate and automated AI framework that is able to detect and segment brain tumours in MRI scans. This framework not only has the potential for improving efficiency in healthcare systems, but also for extracting imaging biomarkers for assessing the disease progression and evaluating the outcome of the treatments.

Supervised by Imperial academics through tutorials, students will present the project to a panel of experts on the last day of the programme.

Core lectures
  • Introduction to Data Science
  • Introduction to Natural Language Processing
  • Machine Learning for Data Science
  • Computer Vision and Applications
  • Data Privacy and Ethics
  • Data preparation
  • Data Science Entrepreneurship
  • Data Visualization
  • Data Science for Computer Vision
  • Exploratory Data Analysis
  • Group Project Introduction and Briefing
  • Introduction to Blockchain Technology
  • Transforming the future of healthcare with data science
  • Advances in Data Science - Research showcase
  • Professional skills workshops to include:
    • Team building and leadership.
    • Effective Communication for Presentation.
Teaching faculty

The summer school is taught by a multi-disciplinary teaching faculty from the Data Science Institute and other departments of Imperial College London.

Data Science Institute

The Data Science Institute (DSI) is a major Imperial College London initiative that brings together Imperial’s existing data science activities and expertise and provides a focus and a catalyst for new partnerships.

The DSI supports multidisciplinary collaborations between the College’s academic experts in many disciplines such as healthcare, financial services, climate science, and city infrastructure to create solutions to complex problems. Alongside research, the Institute fosters the next generation of data scientists and engineers by developing a range of postgraduate and executive courses.

The DSI includes 7 Academic Labs, has attracted over £50m in funding for data science research, technology and infrastructure and has published over 300 papers.

The Institute’s Data Observatory (DO) was one of the first and largest visualisation suites in Europe. It provides a multi-dimensional and immersive environment to analyse large and complex data sets and to work collaboratively.

Thanks to its many research collaborations both across College and with a variety of external academic and industrial partners, the DSI is establishing its role as an international hub in data science.

Visit to the Data Science Institute

As part of this summer school, students will have a unique opportunity to visit the state-of-the-art 360 Observatory at the Data Science Institute, one of the seven Global Institute at Imperial College London, and see demonstrations of cutting edge data science research.

Entry requirements

Students expectation :

  • Studying an undergraduate degree and preferably in the final two years in:
    • Engineering
    • IT
    • Computing 
  • As the project has a strong technical element, students are expected to have the following technical knowledge and interest:

    • Interested in computer vision/ natural language processing;
    • Have at least intermediate level at one of the common programming language (Python, Java, C ++, etc.);
    • Proficiency with Python programming is preferable.
    • Have mathematical foundation (probability theory, linear algebra, etc.);
    • Knowledge of Machine Learning with experience in using PyTorch / Tensorflow / Keras is preferable (not required)
  • Applicants must be at least 18 years old before the start of the summer school.
  • All students are required to have a good command of English, and if it is not their first language, they will need to satisfy the College requirement as follows:
    • a minimum score of IELTS (Academic Test) 6.5 overall (with no less than 6.0 in any element) or equivalent.
    • TOEFL (iBT) 92 overall (minimum 20 in all elements)
  • Students will be asked to bring along a laptop computer for project work.
Certification

Students will receive a Imperial College London certificate of attendance on successful completion of this programme and a prize will be awarded to the best project team.

Each student will also receive a document for their project marks.