Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Computer Science

Computer science is a wide field, from its theoretical and algorithmic foundations to cutting-edge development in robotics and intelligent systems. This BCS-accredited and National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) certified Computer Science degree has been designed in line with professional standards and is the first step towards a career in secure software development. Launched in October 2016, the NCSC has brought together expertise from CESG (the information assurance arm of GCHQ), the Centre for Cyber Assessment, CERT-UK, and the Centre for Protection of National Infrastructure. This degree is one of only a very few to be successfully certified by this prestigious organization. Students will work on real problems in readiness for employment, developing key skills that will help them keep pace with this rapidly changing field.

For those who desire to become a programmer, then a computer science course is perfect! Students will learn about abstraction, complexity, evolutionary change, sharing of common resources, security and concurrency. From system functionality to usability and performance, students will also be better placed to solve real-life problems with an understanding of how they affect people’s lives. As a computer scientist, students learn by doing, making use of high-performance computers, and working individually and in teams to produce solutions to tight deadlines, giving them first-hand experience of agile software development.

The BSc (Hons) Computer Science degree is delivered via approximately 16 hours of teaching in lectures, tutorials and practical sessions every week. Students also need to spend four hours per week, per module on their coursework, general reading and other preparation. Computers are fundamental to many different industries, so graduates with a Computer Science degree can apply these skills to many fields. Computer programmers and engineers mainly work for large computer companies. Microsoft, IBM, Intel and Hewlett-Packard all rely on an army of computer scientists to produce and maintain their technology. Even within these companies, graduates with a Computer Science degree can work in a broad variety of areas and in a number of jobs. Product development entails designing, building and testing the latest products, so skills in software programming and design are vital. Graduates may also progress on to a computing PhD or research degree.