BS (Data Science and Applications)
Once clad in “army fatigues,” Abhay Bathula now wears a different kind of uniform: data. After 2 decades in Singapore, his academic path has been anything but conventional. Post Grade 11, he opted out of the traditional school system to pursue a diploma in Financial Informatics, specializing in Finance and AI – a decision that sparked his fascination with the Data Science sector.
Then came two years of mandatory military service – a pause in routine, but not in ambition. While most might have waited it out, Abhay had a different plan. “I had heard of people who found their tech skills to have regressed after their time in the army. I didn’t want that,” he recalls. So, when his father stumbled upon the ad for the IITM BS Degree in Data Science and Applications, Abhay knew this was his way to stay ahead. With clearance from his command, he enrolled in 2021, midway through his army service.
“I had looked at other online courses before, but they felt too surface level,” he says. “The IITM curriculum was different; it wasn’t watered down.” The depth is what hooked him. Through this program, Abhay found himself progressing beyond a data analyst’s mindset, motivating him to pursue data science roles.
Subjects like PDSA and most of the degree-level subjects gave him the logical precision to build efficient algorithms, which supported him during his stint as a professional automation developer.
With so much on his plate, his involvement in extracurricular activities took a back seat. “I attended the Singapore Students’ Meetup,” he recalls, “and even met some familiar faces from prior project groups.” While he hasn’t yet attended Paradox, he plans to make it to the next one—this time to collect his degree.
“I travelled for three months across countries after my army service. Being able to take just one course that term helped me keep pace without burning out.”
He commends the Support Team and the unique blend of freedom and academic rigor. According to him, you can study at your own pace, but the quality and intensity are as solid as any elite traditional college. These aspects, Abhay believes, are precisely what set the degree apart through its modularity and flexibility.
Abhay has just left his job to fully focus on the final six months of his degree. He’s also planning to develop some entrepreneurial ideas into full-fledged solutions. With his unique and strong educational background, he’s also looking to move out of Singapore after 20 years by securing a role in data science.
He wants his fellow learners to know that this degree breaks the stereotypes of online learning. “It’s rigorous, it demands commitment, and it’s rewarding,” says Abhay at the end of our conversation. He implies that if one stays the course, they wouldn’t just earn a degree, but a whole new mindset. That mindset is precisely what’s powering Abhay’s next major leap: transitioning from Financial Informatics to Data Science, and from Singapore to global opportunities.
– Written by Satyaki Goswami
