BSc (Hons) Computer Science
- UCAS code: G400
- Mode of study: Full time or sandwich with work placement
- Duration: 3 years full time, 4 years sandwich with work placement
- Entry requirements 2013: 260-300 points to include 160 points from a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent.
- Please see details of the range of other qualifications that will also be considered on the 'Entry Requirements' tab below. Please do contact us for advice on other qualifications that aren't listed here.
Find out more:
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 2555
Email: technology.admissions@port.ac.uk
Department: The School of Computing
Course overview
Computers dominate our work and leisure. In recent years they have infiltrated almost every element of our lives. In a society that relies on pressing buttons to get results, we need people to understand and advance the field of computer science (the study of software, programming, computation, information processing and computer hardware). If you have an interest in how computer-based systems work and how they are created, then computer science is for you.
The University of Portsmouth has a long and distinguished record of running very successful degree courses in computing and prides itself on working at the leading edge of technology and learning methods. Academic staff also maintain close links with the world of work, both locally and further afield, ensuring that our courses reflect the current and future needs of commerce and industry. Furthermore, many elements of the Computer Science course are strongly research-oriented and we have active research groups in a number of areas – for example, artificial intelligence, parallel and distributed systems, and healthcare informatics.
Career focused
The entrance criteria of this degree have been designed to comply with the requirements of the major computing graduate programmes. Competent students can have the opportunity to apply their skills to real-life practical problems as part of the department’s partnership scheme with charities, local and global organisations. Please view the 'Career Prospects' section for further details.
To find out more about placement opportunities in the Faculty of Technology, please visit our Placements Office pages.
Professional accreditation
Accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS), this degree will enable you to gain Chartered IT Professional status and carries exemptions from the professional examinations needed to gain Chartered Engineer and Chartered Scientist status.
Course content
The course is composed of a number of core and optional units, primarily covering technical aspects of computer systems and their development. The main areas covered include:
- programming techniques
- software engineering
- computer architecture, operating systems and networks
- database systems
- theoretical computer science
- distributed and parallel computing
Optional units allow you to extend your study into specialist areas such as intelligent systems, computer security, web programming and computer graphics.
Year one
A number of general topics are covered in the first year to give you a base for development in subsequent years. These include:
- introductory programming
- computer architecture
- foundations of the web
- network fundamentals
- database design and development
Year two
In your second year, your core study will include the following topics:
- software engineering
- data structures and algorithms
- advanced programming concepts
- mathematical foundations of computer science
- operating systems and networks
You will also have the opportunity to specialise in particular areas of interest, such as computer graphics, and developing web-based systems.
Sandwich year (optional year in industry)
This year provides you with an opportunity to apply your newly acquired knowledge. It can be taken in the UK or overseas, with large corporations such as IBM or within smaller companies, and can be facilitated for you by our work placement office or arranged by yourself. In addition, the University has a number of exchange schemes with other European countries.
You will be paid a salary by your employer during the placement year and by the end of it your employment prospects will be significantly enhanced.
Final year
In your final year, you will study core and optional units that cover advanced topics including:
- distributed systems and parallel programming
- theoretical computer science
- neural networks and genetic algorithms
- advanced networks
- computer security and cryptography
- fuzzy logic
- data warehousing and mining
You will also carry out an individual project, typically involving the development of a substantial software artefact. You will be supervised by a member of our staff and will draw upon the skills and knowledge developed in earlier stages of the course.
Teaching and assessment
You will be taught through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, laboratory sessions and project work. Lectures introduce the fundamental issues and concepts that are important to a unit. You will have the chance to apply and discuss methods, techniques and theories in tutorials and practical classes. Practical experience is emphasised throughout the course and you will be encouraged to put your ideas into practice and solve problems using programming languages and software packages relating to the area of study.
Assessment is geared towards the subject matter in a way that encourages a deeper understanding and allows you to develop your skills. It takes many forms, from examinations, multiple choice tests, practical projects, presentations and extended review articles.
Each student has an allocated Personal Tutor, as well as a Course Leader. In addition, academic and pastoral support is provided by a full range of dedicated student services including counselling, study skills, careers and recruitment, housing and finance. The School of Computing also offers its own drop-in Tutor Centre where a wide range of academic problems can be resolved one-to-one with a tutor.
Career prospects
Placement opportunities
In the Faculty of Technology we feel that students should be given as many opportunities as possible to gain meaningful work experience and build employability skills throughout their studies to make them more attractive to future employers.
Working with other University services, the Faculty’s Student Placement and Employability Centre (SPEC) ensure students have access to a range of volunteering and work experience opportunities, including year-long industrial placements, and provide support for the different types of application processes.
Examples of roles our students have taken up as placement roles include:
- Software Engineer at Xerox
- Developer at Cranfield University
- Associate Software Engineer at Accenture
To find out more about how you can gain work experience whilst studying BSc (Hons) Computer Science, please visit our Placements Office pages.
Graduate roles
The BSc (Hons) Computer Science course aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills to work within a technical computing environment. On graduating from this course you will be equipped with both hardware and software knowledge, making you an attractive proposition to a wide variety of employers in the fields of computer systems and software development. Skilled staff are always in demand from the multinationals down to the smallest computer companies.
Past graduates have found employment as software engineers, network analysts, web developers and analyst programmers for software houses, communications companies, data warehouses, and many other types of organisation.
Alternatively, you can continue your studies to Master's or Doctorate level, in subjects as interesting and varied as distributed systems, intelligent systems and forensic computing.
Facilities and features
You will have access to modern computing laboratories that are continually updated with the latest hardware and software, including multimedia applications. Knowledgeable staff are always on hand and the University offers a wealth of up-to-date IT, computing and network resources including open access computer suites, wireless networking and intranet access from halls and from home.
The University Library is at the centre of academic life and is only a short walk away from the School. Open from 8am until midnight every day during termtime, it provides a variety of information to help with study and research. It has also invested heavily in the purchase of electronic resources. There are thousands of electronic journals and ebooks available, which can be accessed across campus, from home or wherever there is an internet connection.
Tutor Centre
The School of Computing Tutor Centre provides friendly, one-to-one academic support for all School of Computing students. If you need help understanding your assessments, or with a wide range of subjects (programming, networks, systems analysis, databases, web apps), or if you want to talk to someone about your project or about any other academic issues (revision, referral, improving your marks), please come and see us. Appointments not necessary.
Maths Cafe
The Maths Café is a daily drop-in facility, where ANY student of the University can receive help on any maths or statistics problem they encounter in their studies. We operate in a friendly, informal location which we hope will encourage students to visit us. Handouts on key topics are available to take away. Students can be shown how to use computer aided learning packages, which can be accessed from any computer attached to the University's computer network.