Essex and Northwest University launch new joint degree

The University of Essex is set to deepen its long-standing partnership with Northwest University with the launch of a second joint degree.

Officially approved by China’s Ministry of Education, the prestigious programme launches on 1 September and will see students follow a 4+0 model, studying for four years at Northwest University in Xi’an City.

Graduates will be a select group awarded a BSc Data Science and Analytics from Essex and a BEng Intelligence Science and Technology from Northwest University.

Academics from Essex’s School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science and the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering will deliver specialist research-led teaching in Xi’an through a flying faculty arrangement, sharing Essex’s world-class expertise directly with students.

Dr Annecy Lax, Director of Partnerships (Education) at Essex, said: “For eight years, our partnership with Northwest University has been opening doors for students and pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved through international collaboration.

“This new joint degree in Data Science and Analytics is the next chapter, showcasing Essex’s cutting-edge expertise in data science and mathematics. It will give students the tools, knowledge, and insight to lead in a world where understanding data is key to driving innovation.”

This is the second joint degree between Essex and Northwest, following the successful launch of the first in 2017.

Students completing that programme graduate with a BSc in Electronic Systems Engineering from Essex and a BSc in Electronic Information Science and Technology from Northwest.

Both joint degrees are designed to develop graduates with a global outlook and exceptional technical expertise, preparing them to drive innovation in industries and workplaces in China and around the world.