BSc(Hons)
Computer Science
This course is open for applications.
About this course
- Entry year:
- 2019/20
- Course code:
- G400
- Applications:
- UCAS
- Level:
- Undergraduate
- Tariff points:
- 120
- Department:
- Computer Science and Creative Technologies
- Campus:
- Frenchay
- Duration:
- Three years full-time; four years sandwich
- Delivery:
- Full-time; sandwich
- Programme leader:
- Dr Elias Pimenidis
- Key fact:
- Learn from tutors who run our exceptional research in artificial intelligence (AI) and be at the forefront of the AI boom. Build intelligent algorithms and explore the evolving world of Internet of Things (IoT).
Page last updated 31 January 2019
Introduction
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-based solutions transform every part of our lives.
The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) means that jobs that didn't even exist a few years ago are being created to meet demand.
It's an exciting field offering endless opportunities for skilled graduates to contribute to all aspects of society.
Why UWE Bristol?
BSc(Hons) Computer Science shows you how to analyse complex problems, design the algorithms to solve them, and write the programs that put these solutions into practice.
There's a strong AI focus, and you'll learn from world-leading experts, studying and applying AI in a range of environments.
You'll develop a solid foundation in object-oriented software development, and create algorithms that use data structures to manage huge volumes of data. Learn how to design and develop innovative programs ranging from mobile apps to desktop applications and enterprise systems.
Choose from modules that enable you to work with industry mentors, or that explore cutting-edge ideas such as the Internet of Things.
Attend talks from professionals and apply your learning through hands-on projects that solve real-world problems.
Bristol is recognised as a high-tech 'super-cluster', with over 50,000 people employed in the industry. You'll be able to work alongside some of them by undertaking a work placement, with companies such as Microsoft, IBM or GCHQ.
This degree is accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS), enabling you to become a Chartered Information Technology Professional (CITP), or Chartered Engineer (CEng).
Where can it take me?
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.
Watch: The learning and teaching experience
Accreditations and partnerships:
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:
- Introduction to Object Oriented Systems Development
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
- Principles of Computing
- Computer and Network Systems.
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:
- Design and Analysis of Data Structures and Algorithms
- Object Oriented Systems Development 2
- Intelligent Systems.
Plus, optional modules from (the number depending on credit requirements):
- Data, Schema and Applications
- Software Engineering
- Internet of Things
- Operating Systems.
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:
- Digital Systems Project
- Enterprise Systems Development
- BioComputation
- Ethical and Professional Issues in Computing and Digital Media.
Plus, two optional modules from:
- Professional Experience, International Experience or Professional Development
- Requirements Engineering
- Advanced Databases
- Cryptography
- Entrepreneurial Skills
- Mobile Device Development
- Advanced Topics in Web Development 2
- Cloud Computing
- Readings in Artificial Intelligence.
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
We encourage you to become a proactive, independent learner.
Learn through a mix of face-to-face lectures and tutorials, virtual learning environments, laboratory-based practical work, and independent project work.
Attend regular lectures with senior business people. Past speakers include eminent industry figures such as the former Chair of IBM, Larry Hirst.
To help you apply for graduate work, we arrange for employers to visit and give you advice on CV writing and interview techniques.
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 degree is accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS) - the IT industry's professional body.
This course is also accredited by the Engineering Council as it fully meets the academic requirements for you to become a Chartered Information Technology Professional (CITP).
It partially meets the requirements for you to become a Chartered Engineer (CEng).
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.
Careers
Careers / Further study
As a graduate, you'll be able to go into a range of computing jobs.
Software development companies, commercial and industrial organisations and research laboratories all need your skills to solve demanding problems created by new technology.
Roles include software engineer, web and software developer to business analyst, IT project manager and IT consultant.
There are also careers in technical support for sophisticated computing systems and their applications.
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 course
| Fees | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| Home/EU-Full Time-Annual (Per Year) Fee | 9250 |
| Home/EU-Full Time-Module Fee (15 Credit) | 1156 |
| International-Full Time-Annual (Per Year) Fee | 13000 |
| International-Full Time-Module Fee (15 Credit) | 1625 |
| Offshore-Full Time-Annual (Per Year) Fee | 9250 |
| Offshore-Full Time-Module Fee (15 Credit) | 1156 |
Full time course with placement year
| Fees | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| Home/EU-Sandwich-Annual (Per Year) Fee | 9250 |
| Home/EU-Sandwich-Full Annual Fee Following Placement Year | 9250 |
| Home/EU-Sandwich-Module Fee (15 Credit) | 1156 |
| Home/EU-Sandwich-Placement Year Fee | 1156 |
| Home/EU-Sandwich-Reduced Annual Fee Following Placement Year | 8094 |
| International-Sandwich-Annual (Per Year) Fee | 13000 |
| International-Sandwich-Full Annual Fee Following Placement Year | 13000 |
| International-Sandwich-Module Fee (15 Credit) | 1625 |
| International-Sandwich-Placement Year Fee | 1625 |
| International-Sandwich-Reduced Annual Fee Following Placement Year | 11375 |
| Offshore-Sandwich-Annual (Per Year) Fee | 9250 |
| Offshore-Sandwich-Full Annual Fee Following Placement Year | 9250 |
| Offshore-Sandwich-Module Fee (15 Credit) | 1156 |
| Offshore-Sandwich-Placement Year Fee | 1156 |
| Offshore-Sandwich-Reduced Annual Fee Following Placement Year | 8094 |
Indicative Additional Costs
| Fees | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| Additional Course Costs - Full Time - Home/EU - Indicative Maximum Cost Per year | 160 |
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: For all applicants, Grade C/4 or above in English Language and Mathematics, or equivalent. Please note the University does not accept Level 2 Key Skills, Functional Skills or Certificates in Adult Numeracy and Literacy as suitable alternatives to GCSEs.
- A-level subjects: No specific subjects required. You can include points from A-Level General Studies and AS-Level subjects (not taken onto full A-Level) towards overall tariff. You must have at least two A-Levels.
- Specific subjects: No prior knowledge of programming required.
- Relevant subjects: Any science or technology subject.
- EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: No specific subjects required.
- Access: Achievement of the Access to HE Diploma; to include 30 level 3 credits at merit.
- Baccalaureate IB: No specific subjects required.
Entry requirements
You don't need any prior knowledge of programming.
We recognise the individual nature of each application and our typical offer should be viewed as a guide. UWE Bristol welcomes interest from applicants who may not have the standard entry requirements. We will consider evidence of your relevant personal, professional or educational experience where it demonstrates an ability and potential to succeed on the course. Please include details of any relevant experience in your application.
If you don't meet the entry requirements of this course, you may be able to apply for Foundation Year entry into this or related degree courses.
If you receive an offer for this course, you may be invited to attend an Offer Holder Day in February or March. These are a great opportunity to find out what it's really like to study here. You'll experience taster lectures or workshops, meet your course tutors, current students and other offer holders.
Read more about entry requirements.
UWE Bristol's International College
If you are an international student and do not meet the academic or English language requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.
English language support
If you meet the academic requirements but require additional support to take your language skills to the required level, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Students who successfully complete the pre-sessional course can progress onto their chosen degree course without retaking an IELTS or equivalent.
Read more about our Pre-Sessional English Programme.
Offer Types
If you have not received your exam results, your offer from UWE Bristol will be conditional and will be subject to you achieving the tariff points/grades required for your course.
If you have already satisfied the academic entry requirements of your chosen course, you are likely to be made an unconditional offer. Please note that UWE Bristol will only make unconditional offers if you have already achieved your qualifications.
To make sure our applicants are academically prepared for when they start their studies at UWE Bristol, we do not make unconditional offers to those that are still studying their Level 3 qualifications (such as A-levels, BTEC, Access or equivalent). We hope that this will encourage our applicants to value their academic achievements as much as we do.
How to apply
Read more about undergraduate applications.
For further information
- Email: admissions@uwe.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 83333
