Data Science and Financial Technology student projects

Does your organisation have a problem or challenge which could be solved using data science and machine learning techniques? We can connect you with student talent in our MSc Data Science and MSc Fintech with Data Science programmes.

We welcome challenges our students can work on, related to data sets you provide, for them to gain first-hand experience using large data sets for planning, running, documenting, analysing and presenting a substantial piece of original work. 

Our students in MSc Data Science and MSc Fintech with Data Science can apply data science and machine learning techniques to your data to try and solve a problem you or your organisation has. Whether it is a key issue you are facing or something you are interested in exploring that your organisation doesn’t have time to work on, we welcome your challenge.  

Why get involved? 

Organisations and individuals that take part benefit from:  

  • An opportunity to explore data sets you already have and find answers to problems you have been facing. 
  • Dedicated students’ focus on your problem (with academic oversight).
  • Establish a relationship with highly skilled students.
  • Raising the profile of your organisation by publicising participation in the scheme.

Example projects 

There are no restrictions on the theme of your project challenge, as long as you are asking students to solve an issue from a data set that you can provide. This might be using machine learning to predict something in the future, or analysing data to help classify themes or patterns. If you are from the fintech industry, or have a problem related to financial technology, you may have a project suitable for students on the MSc Financial Technology with Data Science course. 

Students will apply appropriate and ethical approaches towards addressing project aims and objectives using data analysis, processing, modelling and automation to critically evaluate and effectively communicate their findings and solutions. 

Our ask of you 

The time commitment for these projects is minimal, but we ask a few things of your as an external partner:

  • Provide a problem or challenge which could be solved using data science and machine learning techniques. 
  • Provide a data set for the students to work on, this could be an anonymised data set, a simulated data set or using open-source data sets. 
  • Check in monthly with the students to monitor progress and give feedback where necessary. 
  • Following the completion of the project, results will be shared with you in the form of a report, you may also wish to arrange an informal presentation with the students. 
  • There will be no requirement for you to be involved with the marking of the students’ work.  

Partner Engagement Agreement 

Prior to project work beginning, we will provide you with a project agreement to be signed by yourself/your organisation and by the University of Bristol, covering IP assignment, Data storage and confidentiality.  

Timeline 

As a guideline, below is what you can expect from the project unit as a timeline: 

July – December

Proposals and data sets accepted from organisations 

December – February

Partner Engagement Agreement shared and signed by both parties 

February – March 

Projects made available for students to select 

April – May 

Project selection process finalised (clients made aware and put in touch with students) 

June - September 

Project work begins in June, with final report hand-in at the start of September. 

How to get involved 

Please complete the form, which will ask you to provide: 

  • Your contact details
  • Your organisation 
  • What problem you want the students to address 
  • A brief project description 
  • What your data set is 
  • What success might look like for you 

There will be an opportunity in the form for you to express an interest in working with students in other areas of Data Science in the Univeristy of Bristol.