BSc(Hons) Computer Science
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Page last updated 4 July 2022
Introduction
Learn from experienced tutors who run our exceptional research in artificial intelligence (AI). Build intelligent algorithms and computer systems and explore the evolving world of Smart Devices. Study one of three specialist pathways, focusing on AI or Smart Devices, or Computer Science as a whole.
Accreditations and partnerships:
Why study computer science?
Computer Science is vital to the economy, in the UK and worldwide. From online retailing and music, to satellite navigation and computer games, intelligent computer systems affect every part of our lives.
BSc(Hons) Computer Science shows you how to analyse complex problems, design algorithms to solve them, and write programs that put these solutions into practice.
This future-facing programme enables you to combine analytical knowledge and technical skills, applying theory to practice. You'll also develop computer systems and software solutions to tackle real-world industry problems.
Why UWE Bristol?
Bristol is recognised as a high-tech 'super-cluster', with over 50,000 people employed in the industry. We have strong links with many tech companies, offering work placement opportunities.
The course enables you to become a Chartered Information Technology Professional (CITP), or Chartered Engineer (CEng). The course will equip you with scientific knowledge and skills based on the latest technologies used in the industry.
You'll develop a solid foundation in object-oriented software development and create algorithms to manage huge volumes of data. Learn how to design and develop innovative programs, ranging from mobile apps to enterprise systems.
Where can it take me?
Professional accreditation ensures you're ready to emerge into the professional world when you graduate. We'll support you to use complex algorithms, implement software on state-of-the-art platforms and explore big data. You'll follow one of three specialist pathways, focusing on AI or Smart Devices, or Computer Science as a whole.
Whichever pathway you choose, you'll be able to tailor the content to your interests and career goals. You'll graduate with a BSc(Hons) Computer Science degree, while specialising in an area you're interested in. So you'll be ready to start your career in this field, in roles ranging from software development and IT to academic research.
Watch: The learning and teaching experience
Structure
Content
The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
Year one
You will focus on the foundational skills and knowledge that you will use as you progress through the course.
You will study:
All routes:
- Artificial Intelligence 1
- Computer Systems Architecture
- Foundations of Computing
- Principles of Programming
- Web Development and Databases.
You will also be introduced to the relationship between computers and systems, and those who use them, along with the core techniques of computer science.
Year two
You will study:
All routes:
- Advanced Algorithms
- Operating Systems
- Systems Development Group Project.
General route:
- Advanced Software Development
- Artificial Intelligence 2
- Internet of Things.
Artificial Intelligence route:
- Advanced Software Development
- Artificial Intelligence 2
- Machine Learning.
Smart Devices route:
- Digital Design
- Embedded Systems Programming
- Internet of Things.
Placement year (if applicable)
If you study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after Year two.
You'll complete a placement learning module.
See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.
Final year
You will study:
All routes:
- Digital Systems Project
- Distibuted and Enterprise Software Development.
Plus optional modules as follows:
- Professional Development or Professional Studies in Computing*
- Mobile Applications or Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems
- Advanced Systems Programming or Security Data Analytics and Visualisation.
*Students who complete a placement year do not take either of these modules.
General route:
- Advanced Databases.
Artificial Intelligence route:
- Advanced Artificial Intelligence.
Smart Devices route:
- Communications and Protocols.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you.
Learning and Teaching
On the course, you'll choose to study one of three specialist pathways, in either AI, Smart Devices or Computer Science
The AI pathway will give you the understanding to sort fact from fiction. All the modules share a perspective of AI as a practical subject. You'll use problem-based learning, informed by collaborative research with governments and industry.
By the end of the first year, you'll be equipped with an understanding of the basic concepts, uses and processes of contemporary AI.
The Smart Devices pathway will show you how to integrate electronic appliances with computing. If you choose to specialise in Smart Devices, you'll build a broad skillset, spanning various digital industries.
From Year two, you can tailor the content to reflect your interests and career plans.
Final year modules will give some of our graduates the opportunity to develop advanced skills in AI and Data Analytics.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Approximate percentage of time you'll spend in different learning activities*:
| Year | Scheduled learning and teaching study | Independent study | Placement study |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31% | 69% | 0% |
| 2 | 24% | 76% | 0% |
| 3 | 16% | 84% | 0% |
*calculated from compulsory and option module choices (where applicable) each year
Showcase your work
Demonstrate your inventions at our annual degree show.
Past exhibits include a security application that uses facial recognition to track people in a building and an online pinboard for sharing videos, text and other data.
Assessment
Modules are usually assessed with an exam and two pieces of coursework. However, some are assessed by exam only and others by coursework only. Others use different methods such as in-class tests.
See our full glossary of assessment terms.
Approximate percentage of marks awarded by each assessment method*:
| Year | Written exam assessment | Coursework assessment | Practical exam assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44% | 56% | 0% |
| 2 | 50% | 44% | 6% |
| 3 | 18% | 73% | 9% |
*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year
Features
Professional accreditation
This course is accredited by The Chartered Institute for IT (BCS).
Placements
Students who get work experience tend to graduate with better degrees. Experience also hones your skills, industry knowledge and professional network, making you highly employable on graduation.
Our students have worked for companies ranging from dynamic start-ups to medium size organisations like Gamma Telecom and large corporations like Microsoft, IBM and GCHQ.
Placements are varied, with opportunities to work on projects involving data visualisation and analytics; products in the pharmaceutical, chemical, insurance and energy sectors; pure research in areas such as semantic nets; or AI applications in the aerospace industry.
You'll get help to find your placement and support throughout from department staff and our award-winning careers service.
Fieldwork
We arrange field trips to inspire you and help you see computer science applied in industry.
Go on a guided tour of Bletchley Park, where Turing and his colleagues helped break Germany's Enigma code during World War 2.
Visit the CERN in Geneva, where the Higgs Boson was detected for the first time using the Large Hadron Collider and the World Wide Web was invented.
Attend international conferences held in the UK or abroad.
Visit our partner institutions abroad, meet students and experience learning in different environments and cultures.
Study facilities
Our industry standard facilities will help you develop practical skills and bring ideas to life.
Access over 500 workstations in UWE Bristol's 24-hour computing laboratories. Create and test software in Windows, Linux and Unix operating systems on our dedicated servers.
Collaborate with classmates and develop strategies and presentations in our well-equipped studios, designed to reflect a real-world development environment.
A mix of traditional and creative learning environments will enable you to learn essential knowledge and real-world skills, standing you in good stead for your professional career.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
5 Reasons to Study BSc(Hons) Computer Science at UWE Bristol:
Life
Careers
Careers / Further study
Take the first step to your chosen career with our BSc(Hons) Computer Science programme. Improve your employability and gain excellent links to industry through this innovative degree.
At UWE Bristol, we recognise that today's computer sciences are in high demand and have a range of expertise. We also know that you need to choose a course that meets your future career aspirations. We are committed to ensuring you develop key skills needed to boost your future prospects.
That's why our Computer Science degree blends theoretical computer science with practical software engineering. The opportunity to tailor your degree to your interests and career goals allows you to specialise in an area you're passionate about.
On course completion, all specialist pathway students will graduate with a BSc(Hons) Computer Science degree. So whichever pathway you choose, you'll leave us prepared for a career in industry or research.
Depending on your specialist pathway, you'll have the chance to develop advanced skills in AI and Data Analytics in your final year. These skills are highly sought after by employers. So you'll be ready to meet the skills shortage and begin a satisfying career when you graduate.
You'll also gain relevant experience in AI through year-long projects and advanced research modules. Learn to deliver solutions to practical and ethical issues when applying AI in the real world, transforming people's lives.
We now use digital technologies in every area of life, so you'll find digital jobs across all industries and sectors. Smart Devices also provide a foundation for students to be successful in these fields. Employers will expect future workforces to have a range of abilities across media, technology and digital marketing, to name a few.
A successful graduate can expect a starting salary of £26,000 to £35,000 as a software developer or engineer, depending on the sector. You could become a software engineer, web and software developer, business analyst, IT project manager or an IT consultant. Graduates of this course have gone on to work in companies including HPE, Rolls Royce, BAE and the MoD.
Get inspired
Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.
We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.
Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.
Fees
Full-time; sandwich course
Supplementary fee information
Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on. Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year.
You'll apply for funding each year that you study and Student Finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the four year course and then transfer to the three year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student Finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.
Always seek advice before taking any action that may have implications for your funding.
Additional costs
This refers to items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.
The majority of optional field trips are covered by Faculty funds, however, for high-cost international visits you will be expected to make a contribution which will vary on a trip-by-trip basis depending on location and duration.
Entry
Typical offers
- Tariff points: 120
- GCSE: Grade C/4 in English Literature or Language and Mathematics, or equivalent. We do not accept Level 2 Key Skills, Functional Skills or Certificate in Adult Numeracy and Literacy as alternatives to GCSEs.
- English Language Requirement: International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*). *The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit http://uwe.ac.uk/englishlanguagerequirements
- A-level subjects: No specific subjects required.
- EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: No specific subjects required.
For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.
- Access: No specific subjects required.
- Baccalaureate IB: No specific subjects required.
- Irish Highers: No specific subjects required.
- T Levels: No specific subjects required.
Entry requirements
If you don't meet the entry requirements, you may be eligible for BSc(Hons) Computer Science (with Foundation Year).
International applicants
For country specific entry requirements please find your country on the Country Information pages. If you are an international student and do not meet the academic requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.
If you are applying to study at UWE Bristol and require additional support to meet our English language requirements, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Read more about our Pre-Sessional English Programme.
Read more about entry requirements.
How to apply
Read more about undergraduate applications.
For further information
- Email:
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
International/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk - Telephone:
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333
International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644