Spreadsheet Data Analysis and Automation with Python

Taught at an intermediate level, this course develops practical Python skills for analysing data, building simple data pipelines and automating spreadsheet‑based workflows. If you already use Excel, this course will enable you to work with data and reporting across files, databases, web data and spreadsheets.

Through hands‑on exercises, you will use Python to gather, transform and analyse data, then produce structured outputs in Excel and Google Sheets. The emphasis throughout is on practical outcomes: reducing manual effort, improving reliability, and creating repeatable processes that scale beyond individual spreadsheets.

Please note: You will need Python to the level of our introductory course already, and a strong familiarity with Excel in order to take this course.

Who is it for?

Those familiar with Python already looking to manipulate and automate data on spreadsheets.

Timetable

Spreadsheet Data Analysis and Automation with Python course takes place one evening a week for 10 consecutive weeks.

City St George’s Short Courses follow the academic year, delivering courses over three terms. These include:

• Autumn - October
• Spring - January
• Summer - April

Benefits

• Delivered by an industry professional
• Taught in small groups
• Awarded a City St George’s, University of London certificate

In summary:

• Programming in Python and working effectively within the Python ecosystem
• Using Python for data analysis and reporting
• Creating simple data pipelines that output to spreadsheets
• Automating Excel workflows and integrating Python with spreadsheets

More detail:

• Python programming and common Python libraries; Jupyter Notebook
• Managing virtual environments using Python and interacting with the file system
• Core Python data structures, functions and operations; using documentation and APIs
• Introduction to NumPy and pandas: slicing, vectorisation, data types and file formats
• Stages of data analysis; exploratory data analysis with pandas
• Data manipulation and transformation with pandas: grouping, joining, pivoting, melting and concatenating data
• Working with time series data; datetimes in Python and pandas
• Data visualisation using Matplotlib and Seaborn
• Gathering data from external sources, including web scraping and databases (openpyxl and other libraries)
• Building simple data pipelines that move data from external sources into Excel
• Automating Excel interactively with xlwings (free version), including running scripts from Excel
• Working with Google Sheets as an alternative spreadsheet platform

You will be awarded an official City St George’s, University of London certificate if you attend over 70 per cent of the classes. The course is not formally accredited.

Assessment

Informal assessment will take place through group discussion, class room activities, and questions and answers sessions as guided by your tutor.

Must be comfortable with programming in Python to the level of our introductory course, installing software, and have a strong familiarity with Excel.

No special maths knowledge required.

English requirements

You will need a good level of spoken and written English to enrol on this course.

• Python for Excel – a modern environment for Automation and Data Analysis, by Felix Zumstein, O’Reilly.