Apply now for May

Online course details

Study options

Part-time: 10 weeks

UK fee

£975 (2022/23)

International fee

£975 (2022/23)

Course level

Postgraduate

Qualification

Certificate of Credit

Start date

May

Location

Online

Online course description

If applying for the May 2023 intake:
Application deadline is 19 April and term starts 30 May, so apply now.

This level 7 Certificate of Credit introduces you to data visualisation. The volume and velocity of the data has increased so much that traditional statistical analytical systems are not capable of coping with either the volume or the rate of delivery of the data in ways that provide opportunities for managerial action.

It has become evident that visual methods and tools sitting on the top of analytical engines are essential to examine and monitor industrial, manufacturing and business establishments worldwide. Additionally, dealing with real-time data pertaining to industrial processes, statistical process control in manufacturing and part inspection require processing and visualisation of the data.

Also, the growth of cyber-crime and cyber-fraud is overwhelming traditional approaches. A number of propriety, open-source and web-based tools provide a suitable environment and will be used to have a deeper understanding of information hidden within the data and provide a suitable basis for story-telling scenarios.

This course provides you with the opportunities to work with a wide range of visualisation tools and data sets to develop your visualisation skills. It will give you the opportunity to understand and apply the relevant professional ethical frameworks, such as the UK Statistics Authority Code of Practice among others, to your activities.

What you will study

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

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Discovering Online Learning Webinar: April 2023

Wednesday, 5 April 2023 13.00 - 14.00

During this hour-long webinar, we'll take you through how online learning works and what you can expect as an online learner with the University of Derby Online Learning.

Book your webinarBook your webinar

How you will learn

This course module is part of our Computing and IT MSc programme. You will study with a community of tech professionals from around the world to enrich your learning and gain a global perspective.

This course will be delivered by expert academics who are practising professionals too. This ensures that module content remains up-to-date and highly relevant and brings through pertinent examples from the business world which are current and topical.

All learning resources will be delivered entirely online through our user-friendly student portal dashboard and intuitive digital learning environment. You will interact with your tutors and fellow students through a mix of virtual live classrooms, tutorials and guest lectures. Group discussions and debate are held through forums and community spaces and the use of collaborative tools such as wikis for group projects and assignments. Digital texts, ebooks, journals, databases and more are available electronically via our library.

Study skills

Many of our students are mature learners who may have not studied academically for a number of years. To help you to become an effective student, able to study at postgraduate level, there are a number of advanced study skill resources available to you covering areas such as research skills, critical evaluation in academic context, literature search, referencing, plagiarism and so on.

Pace of study

We recommend about 20 hours of study per week to complete one 20-credit module over a 10-week trimester.

Assessment method

This course is assessed through 100% coursework with a range of methods, such as essays, research reports, presentations, group work and practical reports.

Student support and guidance

Whilst we encourage our students to become independent, life-long learners, we also recognise that offering the right support and guidance will help you to achieve your goals. There is a wealth of support available to you at the University, from your dedicated Personal Tutor and Online Learner Advisor, through to our:

All these services, and more, are available to you as an online student at the University of Derby.

Who will teach you

Tariq Abdullah at desk with laptop

Dr Tariq Abdullah
Programme leader

Dr Tariq Abdullah has over 19 years of research and development experience within both industry and academia. He has worked in many roles within Higher Education, as a Lecturer, Programme Leader, Research Fellow and in his current role as Academic Lead in Computing and IT.

View full staff profileView full staff profile

Get a taste of the course content

Our Information Visualisation Certificate of Credit course taster will give you an idea of how online learning works. It includes a selection of content from a course module so you can see some of the learning material.

You will need to complete a short form to access the course taster.

Try our course tasterTry our course taster

Entry requirements

You should normally have a UK undergraduate degree (at least a 2:2) with honours in any discipline, or an equivalent international qualification.

Applicants with a degree in a non-computing discipline or a lower degree classification in a computing-related discipline may still be considered for entry to the programme where they can demonstrate relevant work experience in a management or supervisory position, and followed by an interview to demonstrate effective communication, learning skills and the motivation to succeed on the programme. However, applications may also be considered where there is extensive evidence of key practical experience and work-based training.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) 

RPL may be available for you based upon past study and experience.

English language qualification

If English is not your first language, or you have not successfully completed your highest level of qualification in English, you will need an English language qualification. For this course you will need at least one of the following:

Find out more about our English language requirements

Fees and funding

2022/23 for new entrants

Starting between September 2022 and August 2023.

 Per 20 creditsModulesCost
UK/EU/International £975 1 £975

2023/24 for new entrants

Starting between September 2023 and August 2024.

 Per 20 creditsModulesCost
UK/EU/International £975 1 £975

About your fees

Prices are correct for the year of entry shown. These are subject to annual increase in subsequent academic years.

Flexible payment plan available

How to apply

Please look at our application deadlines before you apply.


Students should apply directly to the University.

Apply now

For support with completing your application, view our guide to the application process.

Documents to support your application

In order for your application to be assessed, you will need to provide the following documents when you apply:

*Documents not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified translation by a professional translator/translation company. Each translation must contain:

A list of approved translators can be found on the UK Government website.

Please note: failure to submit any documentation when requested, may result in your application being withdrawn.

Application deadlines

All of our online courses have set start dates throughout the year. We require time to review your application and get back to you with a response before your course starts. Take a look at information regarding applying for an online course to see full details of deadlines and term dates.

Contact us

Contact the University of Derby Online Learning:

Contact usContact usFrequently asked questionsFrequently asked questions

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