About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: G402
- Applications: UCAS
- Level: Undergraduate
- Tariff points: 300
- Department: Computer Science and Creative Technologies
- Campus: Frenchay
- Duration: Four years sandwich; Three years full-time
- Delivery: Full-time, sandwich, part-time by negotiation
- Study Abroad: Yes
- Programme leader: Rob Williams
- Key fact: This course is heavily supported by local technical IT employers who provide sponsorship and prizes, including placement jobs and graduate employment opportunities.
Introduction
The development of computers and all their associated components, software and devices, continues to move ahead at an ever increasing pace. Computer systems are a complex and exciting mix of hardware and software, which requires careful study if you are to understand their functioning. With the growing availability of programmable gate array devices, it is now possible to configure your own processor without the financial backing of international giants such as Intel or Sun Microsystems. The additional complexity of high speed computer networking, at local and international levels, throws up more technical challenges to be solved.
This degree focuses on the practical exploration and explanation of all aspects of computer systems, but especially networks, CPU architecture and embedded systems development. Your goal in the final year could be to design and implement a new processor or to develop multi-threaded software to fully exploit a multi-core processor. It is now more important than ever to appreciate those features of modern CPUs which are crucial for technical and commercial success.
Because software must try to fully utilise the facilities provided by the CPU, programmers must understand those capabilities. All too often, high level languages are presented as if they have no relationship with the underlying electronic hardware. Operating systems, such as WinCE and Linux certainly need to take into account aspects of the processor architecture if they are to perform satisfactorily. This course provides you with the correct balance of knowledge concerning digital hardware and software so that you can really understand how a computer works.
Employment Record
This degree has earned one of the best employment records over the past ten years of any in UWE. The skills and knowledge gained by students makes them very valuable to software teams, in particular those engaged with embedded systems development.
Structure
Content
If you have technical curiosity and a strong interest in finding out how computer systems actually work, you will enjoy this course. It involves lots of practical work concerned with the different aspects of digital electronics and programming. There are option routes to choose from which concentrate more on hardware or on software. However, both specialise in the design and implementation of computer systems.
For example, in your first year, besides the core programming in C using autonomous buggies, there is also a case study in the use of assembler and PIC microprocessors for communications equipment. You will also develop a packet store-&-forward RingLAN for text messaging. In your second year, you might implement a robot arm controller using the language VHDL to configure a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or chose to go deeper into server-side web technology. In your final year, you might work in groups to design and build a distributed Point of Sale (POS) network similar to those used by every supermarket chain. Alternatively you might implement an internet radio using an ARM processor. The technology is always changing, so your curiosity is a key asset when studying this exciting subject.
Key learning themes are:
- Computer networking: the internet and TCP/IP
- Operating systems: Unix, Linux and Windows
- Applications and systems programming: C/C++ and C#
- Development of embedded systems: real-time executives
- Web systems: client and server
- FPGA hardware configuration using VHDL
- Concurrent programming: real-time multi-tasking
- Systems administration: Unix and Windows
Teaching and learning
Getting to grips with new subjects can be demanding, but by offering the correct level of assistance we aim to support you throughout your studies. Using a practical approach, during laboratory investigation and direct experiment, theory and principles can be more easily assimilated. You will also frequently work in pairs or small teams which helps you to really understand difficult concepts by discussing them with friends. This style of collaborative working also provides an excellent preparation for the most common career scenarios, where you will be contributing to the success of a team.
Programmes of lectures provide explanation and overall guidance for the course. Extra assistance and guidance is also available from a team of trained senior students (PALs) who are available to help small groups or individuals with particular subject problems. This is of special relevance when course work assignments are due!
Assessment
Assessment is generally by a mix of practical course work and yearly examination.
Special Features
Professional accreditation
The degree has been accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS) and successful completion allows for full exemption from the BCS Professional Examination. Accreditation visits are cyclical and it is important that you check the current accreditation status of programmes. For more information, visit the BCS website at www.bcs.org.
Find out more about the Department of Computer Science and Creative Technology accredited courses.
Commercial sponsorship and prizes
This course is strongly supported by regional IT companies, who provide fees sponsorship, work placements and prizes for our students. They are also key recruiters of our graduates.
Sponsoring companies include MPC Data Limited, Spark! Data Systems, Zircon Software Limited, Broadcom Corporation, Simulation Systems Limited and AGD Systems Limited. Both the companies involved and ourselves expect that attractive incentives such as these will encourage more young people to take up technical IT careers which are technically challenging and financially rewarding.
For more information on each of the sponsorship arrangements, visit the Department's website (opens in a new window).
Placements
You will be encouraged to spend a year working in industry as part of your degree. The benefits are tremendous - you will develop and hone a range of soft skills which enhance your employability, you are more likely to get a better degree classification and the experience gained will give you an edge in your future career.
The placement year provides an opportunity for you to try out some of the ideas and techniques that you have been learning about in the more demanding commercial arena. Also, ideas for the final year project can emerge during the placement year, and benefit from continuing support from your placement company in the form of equipment loans or bursaries. For more information on our work placements, visit our department website.
Michael Scott, a final year student on BSc(Hons) Computer Systems Integration, talks about his placement year at CERN in Switzerland on the University Alliance website.
Study facilities
The Department hosts its own servers to provide Windows, Linux and Unix based operating systems. There are over 500 available workstations in our teaching laboratories, as well as a large open-access laboratory, providing PC and Unix based machines. The Department has its own IT Helpdesk, staffed by students from within the Faculty, and available for both students and staff to use. There are also 24 hour computer labs on campus available for student use.
You can find out more about our computer science programmes and facilities here.
Careers/further study
Students from the predecessor degree, BSc(Hons) Computing for Real Time Systems, have been graduating for nearly 20 years and have established a strong reputation for the course.
As a graduate of this degree, you will gain your first job in a role which demands a good understanding of the principles of computer structure and function. This could be in a development team, concerned with the design and implementation of new systems, or within a system maintenance group, responsible for the administration of large, high performance systems. You will be able to offer both hardware and software expertise, which means you will frequently command higher starting salaries than others (2006: £23k-£26k, with the national graduate average being £18k).
Your skills will make you an attractive proposition for many employers who continue to have difficulty when seeking candidates with experience and skills in areas such as telecommunications, automotive control, real-time programming, systems administration, embedded systems development and digital systems processing. By continually reviewing the syllabus content and meeting with past students for discussions, we strive to maintain ideas, skills and tools up-to-date and in line with contemporary industrial needs.
Graduate destinations
Find out what our graduates are doing six months after graduating- includes examples of careers, employers and further study. Download a PDF from graduate destinations.
Key employer partnerships
Our degrees can lead to a wide variety of career choices. To ensure that our degrees make you as employable as possible we work closely with partner employers in our embedded systems consortium.
Creating employable students
UWE places strong emphasis on employability and skills development at every level. Through work placements, volunteering, study abroad and UWE initiatives which nurture talent and encourage innovation, students gain valuable real world experience and graduate with diverse career opportunities and a competitive place in the job market.
See great graduate prospects for further information.
Be inspired
Read about the key jobs in the information technology sector.
Useful links
UWE - careers in information technology
Prospects - careers in IT and information services
The UWE careers service provides guidance and support throughout your studies in addition to useful resources, CV checks, career coaching and details of current job vacancies.
Entry
Typical offers
- Tariff points: 300
- GCSE: Maths and English Language at grade C or above required.
- Specific subjects: Prior knowledge of programming.
- Relevant subjects: Computing, Maths, Physics, Electronics.
- EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: BTEC National Diploma in Computer Studies preferred.
- Access: Achievement of the Access to HE Diploma; achievement of level 3 credits in Computing or Electronics; achievement of Level 2 credits in Maths and English Language.
- Baccalaureate IB: Accepted (see the UCAS website for the UCAS tariff points that you can gain from the IB to put towards our points requirements above)
Advice on typical offers
In addition to the 'typical offer' given here, please read the general information about
entry requirements.
Entry requirements
Some familiarity with the use of computers or practical experience of electronics is required. A demonstration of this would be a suitable A-level qualification or BTEC in computing or electronics. However, some proof of personal activity may also be accepted. If you are taking A-levels, we welcome applications from those studying Physics or Maths, but our teaching does not always assume this to be the case.
How to apply
Please see the general information about applications. For further information about the course contact Programme Leader, Rob Williams, rob.williams@uwe.ac.uk
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011