Program Overview

Programming for Scientists (NSCI0036)

Key Information

• Faculty: Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
• Teaching department: Natural Sciences
• Credit value: 15
• Restrictions: Natural Science students will be prioritised and numbers may be capped. This module cannot be taken alongside BIOS0030.

Alternative Credit Options

There are no alternative credit options available for this module.

Description

Programming for Scientists is an introduction to coding using the Python language, suitable for students with little or no prior knowledge of computer programming. Students will develop the skills and knowledge to develop solutions to a variety of computational problems, with an emphasis on modelling and simulation. Applications will be drawn from the physical and life sciences but the techniques studied are equally applicable to quantitative analysis in other fields. 50% of the module assessment is an investigative group project, in which students work in groups to develop a computational simulation of a real-world system, investigate its properties, and to present the results as a scientific report.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to:

• Understand a subset of basic Python language constructs and effectively implement the solution to a simple problem
• Develop a program which simulates a physical system and investigate its properties
• Apply a variety of tools and techniques to solve a complex computational problem in a collaborative setting
• Express arguments clearly and communicate complex information to non-specialist audiences.

Module Deliveries for 2026/27 Academic Year

• Intended teaching term: Term 2
• Undergraduate (FHEQ Level 5)

Teaching and Assessment

• Mode of study: In person
• Methods of assessment:
  • 50% In-class activity
  • 50% Group activity
• Mark scheme: Numeric Marks

Other Information

• Number of students on module in previous year: 113
• Module leader: Dr Peter Bratby