Computer Science

You’ll gain far more than just a Computer Science degree with us. We equip students with the skills and practical experience to become highly employable.

From the industry-standard facilities you’ll use, through to opportunities to gain Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Cisco certifications, we know what makes the difference.

And as most of our Computer Science students opt for a paid placement year, you’ll have the chance to work in industry before you graduate. These exciting placements can be with companies locally, nationally or as far afield as the US and Singapore.

It’s just one element of the amazing industry links you’ll encounter. We also have guest lectures and academics who are AWS-certified educators. GradEX, our Final Year Graduate Show, is also where students ‘sell’ their projects to a panel of industry judges.

The course will give you a solid foundation in all major aspects of computing. It includes digital technologies, network concepts, cyber security, programming, software development and cloud computing. From web design and user experience through to mastering programming languages, such as JavaScript and Python, you’ll see how everything knits together.

You can then tailor the degree to your interests in your second and final years. We offer several specialist pathways or a broader route that allows you to choose modules from different areas.

You’ll do everything from a real-world perspective, with opportunities to complete live briefs and set up your own simulated companies. It means you’ll become agile and flexible – qualities valued by graduate recruiters.

Our facilities also include the latest equipment you’ll find in industry. Use our learner labs to experiment and create networks. Or explore the cloud environment with your own AWS account. And in our Collision Space, we have a video wall and group project desks to give you the feel of a real workplace.

This hands-on experience is one of the reasons why we’re ranked in the Top 25 for student satisfaction in Computer Science (2023 Guardian League Tables).

What’s more, we’re also accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. This shows we meet rigorous national standards for quality.

From the industry-standard facilities you’ll use, through to opportunities to gain Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Cisco certifications, we know what makes the difference.

And as most of our Computer Science students opt for a paid placement year, you’ll have the chance to work in industry before you graduate. These exciting placements can be with companies locally, nationally or as far afield as the US and Singapore.

It’s just one element of the amazing industry links you’ll encounter. We also have guest lectures and academics who are AWS-certified educators. GradEX, our Final Year Graduate Show, is also where students ‘sell’ their projects to a panel of industry judges.

The course will give you a solid foundation in all major aspects of computing. It includes digital technologies, network concepts, cyber security, programming, software development and cloud computing. From web design and user experience through to mastering programming languages, such as JavaScript and Python, you’ll see how everything knits together.

You can then tailor the degree to your interests in your second and final years. We offer several specialist pathways or a broader route that allows you to choose modules from different areas.

You’ll do everything from a real-world perspective, with opportunities to complete live briefs and set up your own simulated companies. It means you’ll become agile and flexible – qualities valued by graduate recruiters.

Our facilities also include the latest equipment you’ll find in industry. Use our learner labs to experiment and create networks. Or explore the cloud environment with your own AWS account. And in our Collision Space, we have a video wall and group project desks to give you the feel of a real workplace.

This hands-on experience is one of the reasons why we’re ranked in the Top 25 for student satisfaction in Computer Science (2023 Guardian League Tables).

What’s more, we’re also accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. This shows we meet rigorous national standards for quality.

From the industry-standard facilities you’ll use, through to opportunities to gain Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Cisco certifications, we know what makes the difference.

And as most of our Computer Science students opt for a paid placement year, you’ll have the chance to work in industry before you graduate. These exciting placements can be with companies locally, nationally or as far afield as the US and Singapore.

It’s just one element of the amazing industry links you’ll encounter. We also have guest lectures and academics who are AWS-certified educators. GradEX, our Final Year Graduate Show, is also where students ‘sell’ their projects to a panel of industry judges.

The course will give you a solid foundation in all major aspects of computing. It includes digital technologies, network concepts, cyber security, programming, software development and cloud computing. From web design and user experience through to mastering programming languages, such as JavaScript and Python, you’ll see how everything knits together.

You can then tailor the degree to your interests in your second and final years. We offer several specialist pathways or a broader route that allows you to choose modules from different areas.

You’ll do everything from a real-world perspective, with opportunities to complete live briefs and set up your own simulated companies. It means you’ll become agile and flexible – qualities valued by graduate recruiters.

Our facilities also include the latest equipment you’ll find in industry. Use our learner labs to experiment and create networks. Or explore the cloud environment with your own AWS account. And in our Collision Space, we have a video wall and group project desks to give you the feel of a real workplace.

This hands-on experience is one of the reasons why we’re ranked in the Top 25 for student satisfaction in Computer Science (2023 Guardian League Tables).

What’s more, we’re also accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. This shows we meet rigorous national standards for quality.

Work placements

Throughout the degree, you’ll take a variety of modules, giving you a broad knowledge of Computer Science.

If you choose to take a Foundation Year, we’ll build up your academic skills so you are ready to join the main degree programme. You’ll study topics in key areas, including emerging technologies and the fundamentals of computer systems development.

The first year of the BSc (Hons) Computer Science degree course includes aspects of software development and digital technologies, as well as delving into networking and cloud technologies.

In the second year, core modules will make up 50% of your studies and will include tackling commercial computing and databases and data structures. For the rest of the time, you can tailor your course to your future career ambitions.

Choose to continue studying Computer Science as a broad degree or opt to specialise in one of the following pathways:

• Cloud Technologies
  This rapidly growing specialist field is becoming ever more important. Lots of companies are now using cloud capacity to store their vital information, rather than needing equipment inside their own buildings. Relying on a third-party, such as Azure, AWS or Google Cloud, means everything has to get to and from the cloud provider. We teach the theory and practical side of cloud technologies. It includes exploring serverless technology, databases and how to build cloud infrastructure. Staffordshire University is a member of the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Academy and we’ve embedded the AWS Certified Solutions Architect knowledge within the course.
• Internet and Web Management
  Learn all about front-end development to help improve web design and the overall experience for users. You’ll explore industry-standard languages, including HTML, CSS and ECMAScript/JavaScript, to create interactive experiences. This pathway will also cover cutting edge technology and will touch on cloud-based systems to create applications. You’ll be introduced to artificial intelligence too, including machine learning and natural language processing. You’ll learn how to design and develop for multi-devices, such as web and mobile technologies. The course covers both client-side and server-side development.
• Network Computing
  Most companies rely on networking for their day-to-day work. As every second counts, they can’t afford for networks to fail. They need something extremely reliable, secure and capable of being scaled up as the company grows. That’s where your specialist skills come in. We’ll teach you how to create secure networks, using our own networking equipment. You’ll be doing things for real, rather than just learning the theory. As well as general computing, you’ll learn about communications and forensic security technology. And you’ll be encouraged to gain Cisco certifications, which are highly valued by graduate recruiters in the industry.
• Software Development
  Specialise in back-end development, which is all about how things actually work behind the scenes. It involves server-sider programming and mobile applications. It means you’ll be able to program for websites and distributed and cloud-based systems. You’ll focus on the software development lifecycle, from gathering requirements to systems integration. We’ll also give you a grounding in application types and software architectures, including frameworks and design patterns. And you’ll become fluent in programming with Java, C#, Android and Swift.

In your final year, you’ll delve deeper into your specialisms, as well expanding further on your general computing knowledge.

Your course will culminate in a Final Project, which will be negotiated with your course leader. This is a great opportunity to explore a topic in depth and also good preparation if you want to continue studying at postgraduate level.

Students do all sorts of things for their Final Project, from going into aspects of web design through to exploring biometrics for cyber security. Some are inspired by their placement experience and even complete their project with support from their placement provider.

Throughout the degree, you’ll take a variety of modules, giving you a broad knowledge of Computer Science.

If you choose to take a Foundation Year, we’ll build up your academic skills so you are ready to join the main degree programme. You’ll study topics in key areas, including emerging technologies and the fundamentals of computer systems development.

The first year of the BSc (Hons) Computer Science degree course includes aspects of software development and digital technologies, as well as delving into networking and cloud technologies.

In the second year, core modules will make up 50% of your studies and will include tackling commercial computing and databases and data structures. For the rest of the time, you can tailor your course to your future career ambitions.

Choose to continue studying Computer Science as a broad degree or opt to specialise in one of the following pathways:

• Cloud Technologies
  This rapidly growing specialist field is becoming ever more important. Lots of companies are now using cloud capacity to store their vital information, rather than needing equipment inside their own buildings. Relying on a third-party, such as Azure, AWS or Google Cloud, means everything has to get to and from the cloud provider. We teach the theory and practical side of cloud technologies. It includes exploring serverless technology, databases and how to build cloud infrastructure. Staffordshire University is a member of the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Academy and we’ve embedded the AWS Certified Solutions Architect knowledge within the course.
• Internet and Web Management
  Learn all about front-end development to help improve web design and the overall experience for users. You’ll explore industry-standard languages, including HTML, CSS and ECMAScript/JavaScript, to create interactive experiences. This pathway will also cover cutting edge technology and will touch on cloud-based systems to create applications. You’ll be introduced to artificial intelligence too, including machine learning and natural language processing. You’ll learn how to design and develop for multi-devices, such as web and mobile technologies. The course covers both client-side and server-side development.
• Network Computing
  Most companies rely on networking for their day-to-day work. As every second counts, they can’t afford for networks to fail. They need something extremely reliable, secure and capable of being scaled up as the company grows. That’s where your specialist skills come in. We’ll teach you how to create secure networks, using our own networking equipment. You’ll be doing things for real, rather than just learning the theory. As well as general computing, you’ll learn about communications and forensic security technology. And you’ll be encouraged to gain Cisco certifications, which are highly valued by graduate recruiters in the industry.
• Software Development
  Specialise in back-end development, which is all about how things actually work behind the scenes. It involves server-sider programming and mobile applications. It means you’ll be able to program for websites and distributed and cloud-based systems. You’ll focus on the software development lifecycle, from gathering requirements to systems integration. We’ll also give you a grounding in application types and software architectures, including frameworks and design patterns. And you’ll become fluent in programming with Java, C#, Android and Swift.

In your final year, you’ll delve deeper into your specialisms, as well expanding further on your general computing knowledge.

Your course will culminate in a Final Project, which will be negotiated with your course leader. This is a great opportunity to explore a topic in depth and also good preparation if you want to continue studying at postgraduate level.

Students do all sorts of things for their Final Project, from going into aspects of web design through to exploring biometrics for cyber security. Some are inspired by their placement experience and even complete their project with support from their placement provider.

Throughout the degree, you’ll take a variety of modules, giving you a broad knowledge of Computer Science.

If you choose to take a Foundation Year, we’ll build up your academic skills so you are ready to join the main degree programme. You’ll study topics in key areas, including emerging technologies and the fundamentals of computer systems development.

The first year of the BSc (Hons) Computer Science degree course includes aspects of software development and digital technologies, as well as delving into networking and cloud technologies.

In the second year, core modules will make up 50% of your studies and will include tackling commercial computing and databases and data structures. For the rest of the time, you can tailor your course to your future career ambitions.

Choose to continue studying Computer Science as a broad degree or opt to specialise in one of the following pathways:

• Cloud Technologies
  This rapidly growing specialist field is becoming ever more important. Lots of companies are now using cloud capacity to store their vital information, rather than needing equipment inside their own buildings. Relying on a third-party, such as Azure, AWS or Google Cloud, means everything has to get to and from the cloud provider. We teach the theory and practical side of cloud technologies. It includes exploring serverless technology, databases and how to build cloud infrastructure. Staffordshire University is a member of the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Academy and we’ve embedded the AWS Certified Solutions Architect knowledge within the course.
• Internet and Web Management
  Learn all about front-end development to help improve web design and the overall experience for users. You’ll explore industry-standard languages, including HTML, CSS and ECMAScript/JavaScript, to create interactive experiences. This pathway will also cover cutting edge technology and will touch on cloud-based systems to create applications. You’ll be introduced to artificial intelligence too, including machine learning and natural language processing. You’ll learn how to design and develop for multi-devices, such as web and mobile technologies. The course covers both client-side and server-side development.
• Network Computing
  Most companies rely on networking for their day-to-day work. As every second counts, they can’t afford for networks to fail. They need something extremely reliable, secure and capable of being scaled up as the company grows. That’s where your specialist skills come in. We’ll teach you how to create secure networks, using our own networking equipment. You’ll be doing things for real, rather than just learning the theory. As well as general computing, you’ll learn about communications and forensic security technology. And you’ll be encouraged to gain Cisco certifications, which are highly valued by graduate recruiters in the industry.
• Software Development
  Specialise in back-end development, which is all about how things actually work behind the scenes. It involves server-sider programming and mobile applications. It means you’ll be able to program for websites and distributed and cloud-based systems. You’ll focus on the software development lifecycle, from gathering requirements to systems integration. We’ll also give you a grounding in application types and software architectures, including frameworks and design patterns. And you’ll become fluent in programming with Java, C#, Android and Swift.

In your final year, you’ll delve deeper into your specialisms, as well expanding further on your general computing knowledge.

Your course will culminate in a Final Project, which will be negotiated with your course leader. This is a great opportunity to explore a topic in depth and also good preparation if you want to continue studying at postgraduate level.

Students do all sorts of things for their Final Project, from going into aspects of web design through to exploring biometrics for cyber security. Some are inspired by their placement experience and even complete their project with support from their placement provider.

The course operates on a modular basis with all of your study modules being worth 30 academic credits (our preferred size in order that you move rapidly from the basics to being an expert at the end of any module you study). Each credit taken equates to a total study time of around 10 hours. Total study time includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity. Full-time students take modules worth 60 credits per semester. All students take a total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits for the degree as a whole. Your overall grade for the course and your degree classification are based on the marks obtained for modules taken at levels 5 and 6. The course has one start point in September.

The course operates on a modular basis with all of your study modules being worth 30 academic credits (our preferred size in order that you move rapidly from the basics to being an expert at the end of any module you study). Each credit taken equates to a total study time of around 10 hours. Total study time includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity. Full-time students take modules worth 60 credits per semester. All students take a total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits for the degree as a whole. Your overall grade for the course and your degree classification are based on the marks obtained for modules taken at levels 5 and 6. The course has one start point in September.

The course operates on a modular basis with all of your study modules being worth 30 academic credits (our preferred size in order that you move rapidly from the basics to being an expert at the end of any module you study). Each credit taken equates to a total study time of around 10 hours. Total study time includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity. Full-time students take modules worth 60 credits per semester. All students take a total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits for the degree as a whole. Your overall grade for the course and your degree classification are based on the marks obtained for modules taken at levels 5 and 6. The course has one start point in September.

Professional body accreditation

Accredited by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.

Accredited by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for a Chartered Engineer.

Professional body accreditation

Accredited by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.

Accredited by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for a Chartered Engineer.

Professional body accreditation

Accredited by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.

Accredited by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for a Chartered Engineer.