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BSc(Hons) Business Computing (with Foundation Year)

Entry year
2025/26
Course code
N1IF
Application
UCAS
Level
Undergraduate
School
School of Computing and Creative Technologies
Tariff points
72
Campus
Frenchay
Duration
Four years full-time; five years sandwich
Delivery
Full-time; sandwich
Programme leader
Jonathon Stadon

Page last updated 6 March 2025

This course is open for applications

Introduction

Develop an attractive mix of skills, a strong network and practical experience that will prepare you brilliantly for a career in computing, web, data analytics or marketing.

Why study business computing?

Businesses need good IT people - and that means people who understand the technology, but also how to apply it to real business challenges.

Web, programming and data analysis are all important strands. So is data analytics, with businesses increasingly using it for consumer research, marketing and social media.

Having a solid base of IT knowledge across all these areas, with a relevant mix of business skills thrown in, will put you in a strong position for current and emerging roles in the digital industry.

Why UWE Bristol?

BSc(Hons) Business Computing teaches you the fundamentals of computer science, with a particular focus on applying different technologies to the needs of businesses.

Gain core knowledge of programming, web development, databases and information systems, as well as technical skills in data manipulation and software design. Learn about data analytics, and specialise in aspects of marketing, business or advanced computer science topics. Develop broader skills employers value in IT professionals, from teamwork and leadership to problem-solving and project management.

This course is strongly rooted in industry. Guest lecturers from businesses will regularly share their insights with you, and you'll have the chance to work on live briefs to apply what you learn to actual business scenarios. Depending on where you want to specialise, work placements are available in a choice of organisations.

Where can it take me?

As a graduate, you'll have a strong mix of computing and data analytics skills within a business environment.

This will put you in an excellent position for a wide range of IT-focused careers including business analyst, software developer, data analyst and marketing analyst, to name a few.

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Structure

Content

The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.

Foundation year (year zero)

You'll study:

  • Computational Thinking and Practice
  • Information Practitioner Foundations
  • Creative Technology Studies
  • Web Foundations.

You need to pass your foundation year before going onto Year one. 

Year one

You'll study:

  • Foundation Technical Skills
  • Business Applications
  • Business Management Fundamentals
  • IT Practice: Skills, Models and Methods.

Year two

You'll study:

  • Data, Schemas and Applications
  • Digital Business
  • IT Practice: Collaborative Project
  • Project Management.

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'll study:

  • Ethical and Professional Issues in Computing and Digital Media
  • IT Practice: Consultancy Project
  • Professional Preparation.*

*This module won't be available to study if you complete the sandwich year.

Plus, one optional module from:

  • Information Systems Dissertation

  • Software development Project.

    Plus, either one or two optional modules (depending on credit requirement) from: 

  • Business Intelligence and Data Mining
  • Entrepreneurial Skills
  • Security Management in Practice
  • Sustainable Business and Computing.

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'll inform you.

Learning and Teaching

We want to make your learning experience as interesting and stimulating as possible. You'll learn through a mix of lectures, seminars, lab classes and workshops, as well as through our online learning environment and working with student mentors. You'll also take part in group projects to develop your technical and soft skills.

Students on this course will come from a variety of backgrounds and the foundation year and Year one bring everyone to the same level of knowledge in computer science subjects (programming, web development and databases). You'll be introduced to business subjects such as organisation and people, and business analysis.

In Year two, you'll undertake a group project to further develop your teamwork and communications skills, and explore data analytics more fully, focusing on a particular area of interest (such as software development, project management or marketing).

In Final year, you'll explore further advanced topics on data analytics, and gain an overview of the management security aspects of software systems, as well as ethical and professional issues that affect your practice. You'll undertake a project or dissertation, and take optional modules to specialise in either business, marketing or advanced computer science topics.

See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.

Study time

You'll need to devote around 150 hours to each 15 credit module on the course. For each module, this includes around 36 hours of tutor-led class contact time, with the rest of the time spent on absorbing and developing your knowledge independently, and preparing for exams and coursework

Assessment

We use a variety of assessments such as exams, practical work, reports and portfolios to assess your learning.

Learn more about assessments.

Features

Placements

Students who get work experience are more likely to gain a better degree and obtain higher quality work on graduation. Experience also hones your skills, industry knowledge and professional network, increasing your chances of getting the job you want.

Our organisational partners often provide placements for students, as do a host of companies from all over the world.

Past students on our computing courses have worked for companies ranging from dynamic start-ups, to large corporations such as Intel, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and CERN. Others have taken up teaching placements in schools, or gone on to work with their family businesses.

Study facilities

Our industry standard facilities will help you develop practical skills and bring ideas to life.

Access over 500 workstations in our 24-hour computing laboratories. Create and test software on dedicated servers with Windows, Linux and Unix based operating systems.

Collaborate with classmates and discuss ideas in our well-equipped studios, designed to reflect a real-world development environment.

Access our extensive online library and resources with free software, tools and industry journals. Develop your web design skills at free Adobe workshops in our multimedia labs.

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.

Take a personalised virtual tour of the Computer Science and Creative Technologies facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.

Life

Accommodation

An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.

Bristol

A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.

Sports, societies and activities

There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.

Health and Wellbeing

We provide support in the way you need it.

Campus and facilities

Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.

Careers

Careers / Further study

You'll graduate with an attractive set of skills and knowledge, that will help you move into a wide range of IT roles including business analyst, software developer, data analyst, marketing analyst and many more. 

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

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 five year course and then transfer to the four 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.

Learn more about 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.

Learn more about costs.

Entry

Typical offers

You will need to meet the following Level 2 requirements:

  • GCSE: Grade C/4 in English and Mathematics, or equivalent.

In addition to the above Level 2 qualifications, you'll need to achieve the published tariff points from your Level 3 studies prior to entry. Below is an indicative list of the main qualification types. However, we will consider any Level 3 qualifications towards meeting our entry requirements.

  • Tariff points: 72
  • Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
  • 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. We accept the IB Career-related Programme in conjunction with other Level 3 qualifications.
  • Irish Highers: No specific subjects required.
  • Welsh Baccalaureate: We accept tariff points achieved from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in conjunction with other Level 3 qualifications.
  • Cambridge Technical: No specific subjects required.
  • T Levels: No specific subjects required.

Entry requirements

If you exceed the entry requirements you may be eligible for BSc(Hons) Business Computing.

International Applicants

If you are an international student your recommended route of study for this degree is through our International College, which upon successful completion to the required level and with good attendance, guarantees entry to Year one of the degree.

Read more about entry requirements.

How to apply

Read more about undergraduate applications.

For further information

Unistats

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