Unlock the potential of big data with our MSc Applied Social Data Science.
Employability
Students enrolled on our Q-Step BSc programmes and the Proficiency in Applied Data Analysis will be given the opportunity to undertake a work placement with one of our industry partners.
Work placement students may be able to apply for a bursary. For more information please contact the Q-Step team.
The work placement is designed to give you an opportunity to put in to practice the skills that you are learning on your programme for a period of 2 to 11 weeks. Moreover, employers have told the Nuffield Foundation that social science graduates with quantitative skills have an advantage over those who don't.
There are wide variety of placements to choose from locally, nationally and in Europe with a variety of public sector organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and industry.
What you do during your work placement will depend or the individual business or organisation that you undertake your experience with; however, it will give you an opportunity to put in to practice the skills that you have gained during your programme. It will provide you with an opportunity to see data analysis tools and techniques being used in the real world. Furthermore, it will greatly boost your career prospects as the quantitative skills that you will develop are interdisciplinary and transferable.
We believe that work placements give students invaluable experience of the professional world; allowing them to build networks and utilise analytical skills learnt in the classroom in ways that would not otherwise be possible whilst making themselves more employable. But don’t just take our word for it! See what the students and organisations themselves say about Exeter’s Q-Step placements.
Contact the Q-Step team for more information about Q-Step placements and how to get involved.
John Wood
MSc Policy Analytics
Placement: Institute for Policy Research (IPR) - University of Bath/The Resolution Foundation
My placement has given me real world exposure to problem solving. After my Q-step course ends, I have found employment at the Financial Conduct Authority as a Data Science Research Assistant. The Q-step programme directly enabled me to be a successful candidate through rigorous training in R and the use of longitudinal panel data sets. If you would like to conduct insightful, empirical research but feel you lack the advanced quantitative skills to do so, seriously consider taking a Q-step programme. No matter your background, ability or exposure to statistics or coding, if you have the desire to learn you will not be disappointed; not only in the quality of the training, but also in what opportunities open up for you.
Guy Bailey
Head of Analytics
Verisk Maplecroft
All of the students were substantially more quantitative than the average politics/social science student in the UK, and brought with them solid technical skills in data analysis. We have been very impressed with the fact they have all arrived determined to apply themselves to the topics in question, and learn technical skills to help them get to an authoritative and useful answer. This kind of growth mind-set is what makes an applicant for a job stand out. We’re building links with people who will become job applicants in the future. All of the candidates to date have done themselves credit, and we have maintained contact with them for when opportunities present themselves.
Constantinos Christou
BSc Politics and International Relations
Placement: ComRes
From my placement I gained experience in qualitative data analysis, networks in the political research and consultancy field, and an insight into the kind of job that my degree programme feeds into. I would absolutely consider doing a BSc, because it opens far more doors than a conventional BA. I’m about to start third year, but having such a unique degree with substantial work experience has already enabled me to stand out from other applicants. I can go into conventional research/think tank-type roles, but I can also apply for STEM jobs that require a background in statistics.
Livia Testa
MSc Policy Analytics
Placement: Electoral Reform Society
Local Elections and Voter ID Presentation
Local Elections and Voter ID Report
I was given a lot of responsibility and I truly enjoyed being in charge of important parts of the research. The fact that we were all building this new project together pushed me to put my ideas forward and really contribute something to the collective work. This experience allowed me to gain desirable skills and will make my CV more attractive to employers in general. The placement also helped me understand what it means to commit to a project and deliver good results even under pressure.
I am in the process of completing my dissertation and looking for a job that will help me develop my quantitative skills, possibly in a policy research environment. I believe Q-step gave me the background and confidence to pursue a career in this field that I would not have had otherwise.
Melissa Muir
MSc Policy Analytics
Placements: Liberal Democrats/House of Lords; University of Exeter Psychology department; University of Exeter Business School
During my placements I undertook rigorous research and analysis with interesting organsiations. Q-Step is one of the best things I have done. If you want to combine social science with stats and programming this is the course for you. I have recently set up my own business as a policy analyst and researcher. Q-Step has enabled this by giving me the statistical, programming and policy training necessary as well as the contacts and support to make my business successful.
Rhys Wort
BSc Criminology
Placement: Devon & Cornwall Police (Middlemoor HQ)
As a criminology student who is fascinated by crime statistics and their variations across areas both on a national and international scale, acquiring Q-Step knowledge in statistical data analysis provided me with the tools to pursue my ambitions in crime analysis towards counter-terrorism. Q-Step has provided me with the means to conduct comprehensive data analysis on important issues facing society in a world which has ever increasing demand towards social science and statistical analysis.
Xena Stewardson
BSc Criminology
Placement: Devon & Cornwall Police (Middlemoor HQ)
My placement emphasised the extent of current police issues such as child sexual exploitation, modern slavery and human trafficking. Quantitative analysis highlighted recurring themes and patterns which can be used to guide policing of these issues. It has given me an in-depth insight into how data analysis is used within the police to inform and develop law enforcement.
I am going into my third year feeling a lot more confident about not just the data analysis related modules, but my degree in general. The Q-Step experience really builds independence, time management skills and motivation to succeed.
Vlad-Ionut Podobea
BSc Politics and International Relations
Placement: Verisk Maplecroft (Bath Spa)
There is a high demand for statistics and identifying ground risks. I learned how to be open-minded, identify business needs and apply my knowledge in a context that goes beyond theory. Studying data analysis was very useful and offered me a very good introduction of statistics. However, the placement taught me how to put my knowledge into practice and bring about actionable insights and added-value to an organisation.
Data analysis offers the technical skills that can rule out the uncertainty of pursuing a career in the politics field. It is specific and can offer measurable value to a company. It has doubled my career opportunities for when I graduate. I now want to gain more experience in the data analysis field and therefore have secured an internship with Kantar Public Brussels, also working on quantitative tasks.
Adina Pintilie
BSc Politics and International Relations with Proficiency in German
Placement: Kantar Public Brussels
From the placement I learned how an organization as huge as the EU works at polling level and I’ve learned not to be afraid to ask for more responsibility. I am currently an Open Source Intelligence Intern for Ridgeway Information. I was accepted on this scheme because I tailored my degree towards quantitative knowledge, allowing me to be competitive with other candidates who held degrees at the postgraduate level. I will be starting a MA in Applied Security Studies at Exeter and I am keen to look more into OSINT and its applications.
Jenna Thomas
Strategic Analyst
Devon and Cornwall Police
The students provide us with a valuable resource and we value their input. It is often insightful to gain a different perspective and to discuss alternative techniques or approaches. Devon and Cornwall Police have committed to an ongoing involvement in the Q-Step programme, hosting students both at Easter and in the Summer vacation.
Hopefully what all of the Q-Step students who come to us gain is an insight into how data is used in a working environment. Data is often messy or incomplete, the tools we have to work with can be limited, and we sometimes have to find creative ways to work with the data to get meaning from it. It also hopefully shows them how the results of data analysis can be applied in a practical setting to make a difference to people’s lives.
Valeriya Titkova
BSc Sociology with Proficiency in German (2017)
Placement: Research Executive at Kantar Public
In my opinion, the work placement module is an absolutely essential part of the degree. I was given a chance to be a part of various stages of the process of research: starting from attending training sessions along with the other employees on how to write research proposals, finishing with using SPSS to analyse the data that was received from another department. Being able to see the process of research from start to end made it clear to me where I wanted my career to head. The experience was life changing and I am now hoping to apply for a graduate scheme at the company. I believe everybody who is given the opportunity should take this module.
James Harman
BA Politics and Sociology with Proficiency in Applied Data Analysis
University of Essex Summer School
I have taken enough Q-Step modules to qualify for the Proficiency in Applied Data Analysis. These have definitely been the most interesting, relevant and enjoyable modules that I have done. I learned how to interpret the empirical papers for my literature review and how to conduct the survey and secondary data analysis which are the core of my thesis. Q-Step also supported me with a bursary to attend the University of Essex's Summer School. Best of all, thanks to the skills and experience gained, I have been accepted into the Government Social Research Service. My involvement with Q-Step has made the difference between a good degree and a great degree.
Dorset Police Force
Dorset Police Force
Having a Q-Step student with us enabled us to develop our understanding of an area which we have wanted to explore for a long time but have never had the capacity within our existing staff structure so their placement was highly beneficial to us.
