Studying Abroad as a Data Science Student at NYU
One of NYU’s crowning achievements is its vast study abroad program. With global sites ranging from Florence, Italy to Shanghai, China, the program has gained even more traction in recent years. With all of the growing interest in NYU’s study abroad program, it’s only natural that the Data Science students at NYU join in on the hubbub. Thus, it has become a sort of gamble for the most coveted study abroad locations: London, Paris, and Florence, with the second being the most sought after by data science and computer science students.
Traditionally, it has been difficult for STEM students to study globally; the courses offered abroad are much more limited, catering to the humanities and arts rather than sciences. That’s not to say that it is impossible, especially with the expanding global communities at NYU. Data science students at NYU might wonder how difficult is it to study abroad? In my own experience studying abroad, I came across two students, Joshua Guillen and Uma Pendkar, a data science minor and major, respectively. I decided to reach out and interview them for their opinions on the study abroad experience in Paris as a Data Science student.
What is your name, major/minors, year, and a little bit about yourself?
JG: My name is Josh Guillen, I am a CS major, DS and french minors, and I’m graduating in 2025. I’m from Albuquerque, New Mexico, I love reading French novels and Russian philosophy and I love listening to music. My favorite band is Radiohead.
UP: My name is Uma Pendkar. I’m a junior majoring in Data Science and minoring in Business Studies. I love music and dance.
What was your initial thought when applying to study abroad? Why did you choose to?
JG: I picked it because I’m very curious about French culture and I wanted to expand my linguistic capabilities by immersing myself in a foreign country mostly by myself.
UP: I wanted to experience studying outside of NYC and immerse myself in a new culture.
Were the courses offered concerning, considering the fact that there are certain requirements you have to complete for your major?
Note from the author: Causal Inference is one of the most appealing courses offered at NYU Paris because it is such a highly coveted class at New York’s campus, with the waitlist for each semester averaging well over 50 students long.
JG: They weren’t because NYU Paris mostly catered towards CS and DS students so the classes were in general, pretty accommodating.
UP: I went to Paris as it was a DS/CS location, but I felt there weren’t enough DS courses that I met the requirements for.
Did that play a role in your application to NYU Paris?
JG: Yes, but not entirely
UP: Yes
Which courses did you take at NYU Paris?
Note from the author:
Computer Science courses offered:
Computer Networking — CS-UY 4793G — 3 Credits (IN ENGLISH)
Fundamentals of Machine Learning — CSCI-UA 9473–4 Credits (IN ENGLISH)
Artificial Intelligence — CSCI-UA 9472–4 Credits (IN ENGLISH)
Data Management and Analysis — CSCI-UA 9479–4 Credits (IN ENGLISH)
Introduction to Computer Security — CSCI-UA 9480 (IN ENGLISH)
Data Science courses offered:
Data Science for Everyone DS-UA 9111–4 Credits (IN ENGLISH)
Causal Inference DS-UA 9201–4 Credits (IN ENGLISH)
Mathematics courses offered:
Probability and Statistics — MATH-UA 9235–4 Credits (IN ENGLISH)
Numerical Analysis — MATH-UA 9252–4 Credits (IN ENGLISH)
Partial Differential Equations — MATH-UA 9263–4 Credits (IN ENGLISH)
*These courses are not guaranteed to be offered every semester at the NYU Paris location, or other NYU global sites.
JG: I took Data Management and Analysis; I also took Probability and Statistics, and I took Intermediate French II,
UP: Expressive Cultures, Text & Ideas, Beginners French I, Probability & Statistics
Was it hard to get into these classes?
JG: No, although getting into DMA was really hard, I had to talk to the professor.
UP: No; I think partially because the global sites are so small
How was the teaching style of these courses compared to those you’ve taken in New York?
Note from the author: While the courses were smaller, and this makes it so there can be more professor-student interaction, courses like Causal Inference are notoriously harder in Paris because of the difference in teaching style.
JG: The DMA was smaller in size, and it was more hands-on, more projects, and we still had recitations.
UP: All of the classes were much smaller than NYC classes, so participation was stressed more. All my professors were also French so their teaching style was a bit different.
How was the grading in comparison?
JG: The grading was much simpler — it was way more lenient than my New York classes
UP: The grading scale was more lenient.
Were there any sort of language or cultural barriers in terms of CS or DS, such as technical jargon?
JG: No, everybody spoke English and the professors are well educated in the English vocabulary for the technical aspects of their courses
UP: No, classes are taught in English
Favorite and least favorite parts of the classes?
JG: I hated how it felt like the classes were horribly spaced out; I had classes at the wrong times. I did really like how short the classes were though.
UP: The teachers’ expectations were not always clear. I liked having no Friday classes.
If you could do it over, would you?
JG: 1000% !!!!!!
UP: Yes!!!
As you ponder the next steps in your academic journey, whether you are in Data Science, Computer Science, or any other STEM-related study, don’t be discouraged by the offerings that some locations may or may not have. The NYU Global locations are constantly evolving to cater to student needs, and the availability of many different data science courses at the NYU Paris location is evidence enough that any student has the potential and the opportunity to study abroad.
Resources for more information:
General NYU Paris: https://www.nyu.edu/paris.html
NYU Paris Academic: https://www.nyu.edu/paris/academics.html
General NYU Study Abroad: https://www.nyu.edu/academics/studying-abroad.html
