A close up of video editing software in use

Creative Computing BA (Hons) / BSc (Hons)

Computing is an increasingly important part of creative practice. This degree focuses on using the latest programs and devices to create art, music, animation, apps, websites, and games.

University of Portsmouth Connected Degree - 3 year course with 4th year placement

Key information

UCAS code:

W952 (BA), W953 (BSc)

Typical offer:

112-120 UCAS points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent

See full entry requirements
Study mode and duration
Start date

Showing content for section Overview

Overview

Create impressive artistic works using the latest technology on our Creative Computing degree course. 

Learn the latest computer programming concepts and techniques – including electronics and interface design – to create applications and artefacts across a range of creative platforms such as games, graphic design, audio and animation. As your skills grow, you'll study artificial intelligence (AI) and contribute to revolutionary research in using AI to develop production solutions for the creative industries.

You'll gain professional experience before completing your degree by taking part in staff projects, working with clients on live briefs, and completing an optional placement in industry.

You can graduate with a BA or BSc, depending on which modules you select in years 2 and 3 and your choice of final-year project, with the option to transfer between both awards until the second half of your final year.

Course highlights

  • Build your developmental and creative skills by producing digital portfolios and physical artefacts for exhibitions
  • Further your game development expertise and collaborate with people from different disciplines as part of our annual University GameJam
  • Learn from a team of subject specialists with research, industry and teaching experience across a spectrum of creative and digital disciplines
  • Develop your research profile by collaborating with staff on research projects
  • Enhance your professional portfolio by working with real clients on live briefs
  • Gain valuable industry experience by taking an optional one-year placement
  • Get insight into the current industry climate by attending guest lectures by industry professionals – past guests include organisers of Portsmouth Comic Con and Dice Portsmouth

Contact information

Admissions

+44 (0) 23 9284 5566

Contact Admissions

Entry requirements

BA/BSc (Hons) Creative Computing

Typical offers

  • A levels - BBB-BBC
  • UCAS points - 112-120 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent. (calculate your UCAS points)
  • T-levels - Merit
  • BTECs (Extended Diplomas) - DDM-DMM
  • International Baccalaureate - 25

You may need to have studied specific subjects – find full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.

English language requirements

  • English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.

See alternative English language qualifications.

We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.

If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

We look at more than just your grades

While we consider your grades when making an offer, we also carefully look at your circumstances and other factors to assess your potential. These include whether you live and work in the region and your personal and family circumstances which we assess using established data.

Explore more about how we make your offer

Facilities

Freya Stafford - CCIXR facility

Music and Sound Recording Studios

Our high-end professional music studio complex houses three studios, two live rooms, editing rooms, and a vocal booth.

Images capturing CCIXR facility

Motion Capture Studio

Learn how to use the same professional motion capture equipment used in the VR, game design, and film industries.

Eliz Yusuf - CCIXR shoot

Photogrammetry and Scanning Studio

Scan people, objects, or locations with our 144-camera-decked photogrammetry and scanning studio.

Glenn Harris - CCIXR facility

Volumetric Video Studio

With our Holosys™-powered Volumetric Video Studio, you can capture stunning 3D footage of moving objects for your next XR project.

Helen Yates - B roll Day 3

Wacom Studio

Design eye-catching illustrations, animations, and layouts in our 20-seat PC studio with industry-leading Wacom Cintiq widescreen graphics tablets.

CCI Facilities; June 2019

CCI Open Access Suite

Our open-plan space includes PCs and Macs equipped with Adobe Creative Suite and other professional software.

Careers and opportunities

As coding skills become established as creative media in their own right, traditional lines between creative artists and programmers are dissolving. Innovative technologies are increasingly being used across industries, and employers are looking for employees who combine up-to-date, advanced IT and software knowledge with entrepreneurial, technical, and creative skills.

You'll graduate from this course with that perfect combination of creative talent, technical expertise, technological awareness and project management that employers look for.

Graduate areas

Areas you could work in include:

  • Film/TV special effects and post-production
  • Visual interface design
  • Computer graphics design
  • Video game development
  • Music production
  • Multimedia systems analysis
  • Mobile app development
  • Web development
  • Computer music/sound engineering
  • Interface design
  • Database management

Graduate roles

This degree will set you up for many professional roles, including:

  • Visual interface designer
  • Computer graphics designer
  • Video game developer
  • Multimedia systems analyst
  • Mobile app developer
  • Web developer
  • Sound designer/audio programmer
  • Interface designer
  • Database manager

Ongoing careers support

Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience. You can also venture into freelancing, or set up and run your own business with help from the University Startup Team.

Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role.

Placement year (optional)

After your second or third year, you can complete an optional work placement to gain professional experience and enhance your skills. It's also a great incentive for employers once you graduate.

You can work for a company, organisation or agency, or you can go self-employed and start your own business with fellow students or by yourself.

Whatever you decide – or even if you just want some employability advice – our exclusive Creative Careers team can support you every step of the way.

Creative Careers

Our in-faculty Creative Careers team has extensive recruitment experience and knows the creative sector well, making it easier for students to find placements within the creative industries.

They can guide you through every step of the application process, including:

  • Searching for the ideal job through their database of vacancies
  • Giving tips on how to write an interesting CV that will catch employers' attention, no matter the role
  • Organising mock interviews, so you can hone your technique and familiarise yourself with the recruitment environment
  • Writing your startup business proposal – if you're going down the self-employment route

The team will continue to give you support throughout your placement year.

Garageband being used on MacBook

Should I go on a placement year?

It is not only about making tea and coffee in an office: a placement can transform your career, personal, and study development. Our students who've been on placements say they were the best experiences of their lives.

Find out more about the benefits of doing a placement on our Creative Careers blog.

Read our blog post

Modules

Each module on this course is worth 20, 40 or 60 credits.

In each year (apart from the optional placement year), you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, 4 modules worth 20 credits and 1 module worth 40 credits.

Whether you graduate with a BA or BSc depends which modules you choose in year 2 onwards. We'll help you choose the modules that reflect your interests and ambitions.

What you'll study

Core modules

You’ll practice various modeling techniques, from box modelling to sculpting. Master the art of asset creation that meets specific project requirements.

By assessing basic principles and their impact on final results, you’ll develop advanced technical skills. With your creative thinking and understanding of procedures, you'll excel in 3D roles and unlock new possibilities.

You’ll work with different programming languages and APIs to show your understanding of technical terms. You’ll also master the control of game behaviors and data variables.

By recognising patterns in syntax, you’ll be able to write or forecast code outcomes accurately, establishing essential skills for creating functional game systems and mechanics.

Applying project management skills, you'll take ownership of the exhibition, meeting objectives that satisfy the learning outcomes. Building on knowledge from your degree, you'll refine skills in curation, research and critical reflection while realising an ambitious project.

This experience empowers you to share your vision with a real-world audience.

Drawing on computing, art, math and more, you'll implement systems that generate engaging visuals, sounds, and experiences. Evaluating techniques and concepts, you'll discuss the creative potential of different generative approaches while honing your programming abilities.

Completing exercises and an extended project, you'll gain practical and theoretical knowledge of this emerging art form. This module lets your imagination flourish with computational creativity.

In this module, you’ll using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to design user-friendly interfaces. This will enhance your grasp of web programming principles.

You’ll try out various algorithms and industry methods and then develop an interactive prototype. Your analytical and technical abilities will shine, which are key to making engaging and easy-to-use online platforms.

In this module, you’ll develop technical skills in sound design, music composition, recording and editing. You’ll also explore associated theories and aesthetics. Working with others on video projects to get real-life practice in putting together sound and music that fit perfectly. Discover how sound enhances visual storytelling by looking at different techniques used in various media.

This module gives you a peek into the professional world, preparing you to make soundtracks for movies, TV, and more at industry standard.

Core modules

You’ll learn to think like a coder and turn your ideas into programs. Gain coding skills you can use in many digital media, while focusing on what you like best — be it visuals, animation, audio, poetry, or more. Experiment with making art and content using algorithms and get creative with computing. Find and use new methods to go beyond the usual limits.

Through projects, you'll show your grasp of key programming concepts, including variables, functions, logic, and data structures. Master a creative coding platform of your choice and pick up skills you can use anywhere. Most importantly, learn to think deeply about your work and hone it.

At the end, you’ll have a collection of unique, code-based projects that show off both your technical and creative abilities.

You'll discuss research approaches and gain skills to strategise methods for independent study.

You'll formulate plans tailored to your goals, create research proposals and hone your scholarly writing. Investigating your chosen career path, you'll identify opportunities, appraising your skills and interests. This experience provides a robust foundation to initiate an impactful creative project aligned with your aspirations

You'll be equipped to assess ideation methods, manage resources, and integrate software, hardware and research. You'll reflect on group communication and practices. Through it all, you'll demonstrate sophisticated technical understanding and safe working.

Optional modules

You’ll get to spend a semester at one of our global partner universities, giving you a unique international spin on your learning. This experience is perfect for building professional skills and a global outlook, preparing you for work anywhere in the world. You’ll also get the chance to study and work on your own in a new setting, which will boost your personal growth and relate to your degree.

When you come back, you’ll be full of fresh ideas to energise your work.

This module gives you the chance to explore different approaches and build international networks in creative technologies.

In this module, you’ll explore fresh sounds, instruments, and audio experiences. Design and code your own audio software project that shows off your technical and artistic skills. Learn how to programme and use digital signal processing and computational music from expert lecturers. You’ll also check your work against your project goals and improve your skills.

When you finish, you’ll have a portfolio piece that shows your programming artistry.

You’ll create a collection of experimental works using your talents in animation, video, and other digital formats. You’ll pick a modern idea to bring to life through a multimedia creation. Looking into important cultural and technological concepts will shape your journey. By studying innovative creators, you’ll learn the reasons behind their desire to challenge norms. This module’s key point is to help you form and voice your own ideas about new media types. Through reflection and discussion, you'll feel more at ease sharing your thoughts on how technology and culture are changing.

This is your chance to experiment with ideas and get to grips with the concepts of shape and purpose in digital media.

You'll gain familiarity with common code patterns and mechanisms for implementing interactivity, guided by code analysis and experimentation.

Through programming challenges, you'll apply your skills to build small-scale yet engaging gameplay prototypes.

This module provides the core technical knowledge to start realising your visions as playable game experiences.

By evaluating different programming approaches, you'll develop the implementation skills to advance your game projects from concept to playable prototype.

You'll examine sensory and cognitive factors to inform your designs, gaining practical skills for prototyping interfaces.

Through ideation, conceptual modelling, and critique, you'll create new metaphors for human-computer interaction.

This module focuses on transforming research insights into engaging interactive designs.

You'll communicate concepts through working prototypes, critically reflecting on user needs and technical possibilities.

By the end, you'll have the foundation to envision and implement the next generation of multisensory experiences.

You'll research industry trends, gaining key skills in UX, responsive design, and multimedia integration.

Through practical exercises, you'll choose appropriate frameworks to prototype highly dynamic and usable websites.

Working individually or in groups, you'll implement a fully functional rich media site.

This comprehensive overview equips you with the knowledge to deliver cutting-edge, consumer-focused web applications using the latest tools and technologies.

You'll expand your technical knowledge while researching industry principles and best practices. Through critical evaluation of existing approaches, you'll gain strategic insights to inform your own designs. Practical projects will exercise your skills in prototyping, testing and documenting VR experiences. By the end, you'll be ready to ideate and deliver highly engaging VR applications grounded in user experience theory.

You’ll get to spend a semester at one of our global partner universities, giving you a unique international spin on your learning. This experience is perfect for building professional skills and a global outlook, preparing you for work anywhere in the world. You’ll also get the chance to study and work on your own in a new setting, which will boost your personal growth and relate to your degree.

When you come back, you’ll be full of fresh ideas to energise your work.

This module gives you the chance to explore different approaches and build international networks in creative technologies.

You will learn about the hardware and software that make AR possible and discover best practices for designing and developing your own AR applications. We will guide you step-by-step through researching, planning, designing, and developing AR experiences, so that by the end of the module, you will be able to build your own AR prototypes. Whether you are interested in gaming, technology, design, or seeking to create imaginative experiences, this module will equip you with both technical and creative skills for the future of augmented reality.

Exploring theory and strategies, you'll reflect on behaviors and mindsets related to creativity, mental health, and wellbeing. Through lectures, seminars, and talks, you'll discover resources to manage responsibilities, boost engagement, and sustain studies.

Choosing areas of interest, you'll apply insights to develop lifelong creative thinking skills. This module equips you with knowledge and tools to flourish personally and professionally.

Join a team of creative students and do a project together. Try new things and see how they can help you.

You’ll also grasp how to use your skills with others. Sometimes you’ll be a leader, sometimes a helper. Talk about your ideas and learn from them. You’ll make something to show what you learned and share it with others.

This module helps you gain new skills and understand other fields. You’ll be a smart and creative person, ready to solve real-world problems.

By evaluating concepts from algebra to trigonometry, you’ll grasp their integration and solve technical challenges to elevate product capabilities and optimise performance.

You’ll develop your problem solving skills through industry-inspired exercises, as this module provides crucial analytical foundations that are transferrable to programming roles - where mathematical fluency intersects with code to create dynamic interactive experiences.

You'll research industry trends, innovating your own mobile app concepts.

With design and programming skills, you'll build a working prototype - whether web, native or hybrid.

This comprehensive overview equips you to make informed decisions on frameworks and features.

You'll learn prototyping, UI design, data management and more.

Working individually or in groups, you'll gain hands-on experience taking an app from idea to functioning product.

By the end, you'll have a portfolio-ready mobile application, and the skills to thrive in this dynamic field.

You’ll choose learning tasks that add up to 60 hours, like internships, volunteering, research, or remote study that match your career plans. Workshops will help you make meaningful goals and think about what you’ve accomplished. Through this, you’ll grow the knowledge, skills, and qualities you need to thrive in the workplace.

By looking at your growth through active participation and reading, you’ll become a perceptive, eager job-seeker who stands out.

You’ll pick up expert ways to make soundscapes and music that adapt to the player’s actions. Look at popular games to see what kind of sound they need, then create your own detailed sounds using recording, Foley, synthesis, and more. Compose catchy melodies and turn them into scores that adapt to the game. Get the right blend and finish for your sound and music to make them sound perfect. Bring your audio to life by putting it into game engines with middleware. Test and refine your work so it performs flawlessly.

By the end, you’ll have an impressive portfolio of interactive audio pieces, made using professional methods. Your creativity will shine as you master the latest techniques in game sound and music.

This module is an exciting chance to learn skills that are in huge demand for the future.

As a team, you will embark on a journey of entrepreneurship, starting with ideation and ending with the launch of your product or service. You will analyse complex factors influencing a successful launch, conduct thorough research to assess feasibility and gain valuable insights into marketing, manufacturing, and sales strategies.

Working together on pitch presentations, you will discover your strengths as an entrepreneur or team member. This module provides transferable skills essential to thrive in creative industries, whether you plan to launch your own company or seek employment with top organisations. You will develop the mindset and abilities to spot opportunities and act on them, which will benefit your career.

Core modules

Demonstrating project management and problem-solving skills, through critical analysis and experimentation, you'll produce a body of work that advances knowledge in your discipline.

Communicating scholarly outcomes with impact, you'll demonstrate your knowledge and abilities, drawing together your learning into a compelling self-directed showcase.

This is the culmination of your degree journey - proving your readiness for professional and academic challenges ahead.

Optional modules

Hackrobotics is a core module on the BSc version of this course, or optional on the BA.

Studying hacker culture's audacious, showy mentality, you'll analyse processes that revel in overcoming unnecessary restrictions. Through lectures and hands-on activities, you'll experience the motivations and pressures of this bold approach.

Choosing creative constraints, you'll develop multimedia works showcasing your versatility under self-imposed limitations. This module inspires you to reimagine creativity as a rewarding, meaning-making process in itself.

You'll analyse algorithms and techniques and gain practical skills experimenting on an AI platform. This module builds your knowledge of AI domains, from knowledge systems to computer vision.

You'll evaluate limitations and potentials of current AI tech, and consider the societal impacts — with options to code an AI application or write an extended essay.

The module equips you for a society where AI transforms creative roles and every day life. And you'll emerge with contextual understanding and skills to responsibly apply AI innovations.

You’ll learn to use game data like player input, physics, and game states to design reactive soundscapes that adapt as you play. Explore how to create non-linear music and sounds that can be generated on the fly. Pick up industry skills in audio middleware to build systems that can mix and switch sounds dynamically.

Make and produce your own music and sound effects that work well with interactive elements. Use coding to create your own audio plugins. Show off your technical and artistic skills with an interactive audio project in a game engine.

This intense training in a specialised area will give you expertise that game studios really want.

The module also gives you valuable experience in managing projects as you turn your sound ideas into reality. Challenge what’s possible in game audio and let your creativity soar.

You'll explore inputs like biosensors and environment trackers, and outputs like haptics and force feedback. Choosing devices suited to your project, you'll design and implement immersive interfaces. With coding skills, you'll link hardware through software APIs and game engines. You'll also engage broader contexts, considering use cases and design implications. By completing robust prototypes, you'll gain specialized skills for creating dynamic hybrid virtual interactions. This module empowers you to make emerging technologies intuitively part of virtual worlds.

You will dive into essential AI concepts, from academia to industry, and practice making AI alone or in a group. You will get to use methods like pathfinding, decision trees, and machine learning to create more engaging games. Additionally, you will explore various strategies for AI challenges in games and learn how to create realistic characters through advanced knowledge and reasoning.

By completing this module, you'll gain genuine experience in enhancing AI for more engaging games. Your skills will be in high demand for jobs in AI and game creation.

In this module, you’ll create and program your own audio software, showing off both your technical skills and imagination. Expert lecturers will help you use object-oriented programming and key ideas in digital sound and music computing. You’ll also learn to assess your work, comparing it to your goals and recent studies, which will help sharpen your abilities to bring big ideas to life.

When you’re done, you’ll have a super portfolio piece that shows your skill in coding. Here’s your chance to explore and craft fresh soundscapes.

Analysing works by contemporary and historical practitioners, you'll conceive and create an original installation, composition, or multimedia production incorporating innovative sound techniques.

Presenting the finished project, you'll evaluate and contextualise your creative process and achievement.

This module enables you to create an ambitious sound project while honing your critical thinking.

You'll research industry trends, gaining strategic insight to craft inventive IoT concepts.

With comprehensive design and programming skills, you'll build a working IoT prototype - whether product, service or system.

This hands-on experience equips you to drive the future of smart objects and environments.

Working individually or in teams, you'll bring an IoT application from idea to functioning product, ready to improve lives.

By producing platform-specific demos, you’ll use suitable languages and asset optimisation techniques to critically assess hardware capabilities and audience priorities.

You’ll gain insight into commercial programming challenges, and this will enable strategic consideration of economic factors when proposing content across emerging channels.

During this module, you'll spend 6 months working on your own business venture, then 3 months gaining industry experience. This opportunity allows you to apply what you've learned in a practical setting while exploring different career options. You'll also have the chance to develop professional relationships and expand your network.

Assess your personal strengths and weaknesses to set goals for the future. Throughout the module, you'll demonstrate increasing independence while still valuing the support of others. Gain a broader understanding of the world through real-world experiences and insights. Additionally, you'll earn valuable credits for your CV and enhance your skill set.

By the end of this module, you'll graduate with the practical experience that employers are seeking.

This experience lets you learn firsthand how to set up and run a small business. You’ll absorb professional practices and business situations that matter to your entrepreneurial goals. Make important connections while working independently within set rules. Think deeply about your strengths, weaknesses, criteria for success, and future plans.

This opportunity is useful for your career. It lets you use what you’ve learnt in your degree in the real world and helps you understand your capabilities.

After finishing this placement and the related assessments, you’ll get more credits for your sandwich degree. This practical experience is a valuable step in developing an entrepreneurial way of thinking.

You’ll spend 24–48 weeks at a chosen company, learning from professionals and helping out with actual projects. Gain confidence, knowledge, and skills by taking on more responsibility with gradually less help. As you progress, you’ll make professional connections and think about how you’re doing. Take in what you learn about how industries and businesses work.

This placement is an ideal chance to grow in your career. By using what you’ve learnt in a workplace, you’ll understand more about your own strengths, what you need to work on, and your plans after you graduate.

After this placement and the related assessments, you’ll get extra credits for your sandwich degree. This practical experience is a valuable part of your education.

Showcase specialised abilities by completing relevant assignments abroad. Then examine your global experience critically: how has immersion in foreign creative culture expanded your perspective? Identify new cross-cultural transferable skills to empower your continued educational and professional journey.

Evaluating international contexts, you'll critically connect on-site activities to your disciplinary knowledge, gaining global insights. Working independently overseas, you'll complete relevant assignments, honing skills transferable to future studies and careers.

Upon you'll reflect on new worldviews and cross-cultural competencies. This invaluable module provides an opportunity to broaden your creative and technical knowledge while developing adaptability as a global citizen.

Changes to course content

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry.

Teaching

Teaching methods on this course includes:

  • Lectures
  • Group and individual practical experimentation
  • One-to-one tuition with project supervisors

You'll be taught by staff who have professional experience in the industry, who demonstrate concepts using practical examples.

Many teaching staff are engaged in research, which means you learn about the latest theories and concepts.

You can access all teaching resources on Moodle, our virtual learning environment, from anywhere with a web connection.

How you're assessed

You’ll be assessed through:

  • Practical output, including interactive digital installations, creative software projects, and web and mobile apps
  • Video and in-person presentations
  • Written report
  • Online exams
  • Exhibition

You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.

You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

How you'll spend your time

One of the main differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.

We use a blended learning approach to teaching, which means you’ll take part in both face-to-face and online activities during your studies.  As well as attending your timetabled classes you'll study independently in your free time, supported by staff and our virtual learning environment, Moodle.

A typical week

We recommend you spend at least 35 hours a week studying for your Creative Computing degree. In your first year, you’ll be in timetabled teaching activities such as lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical classes and workshops for about 8–10 hours a week. The rest of the time you’ll do independent study such as research, reading, coursework and project work, alone or in a group with others from your course. You'll probably do more independent study and have less scheduled teaching in years 2 and 3, but this depends on which modules you choose.

Most timetabled teaching takes place during the day, Monday to Friday. You may occasionally need to go to University and course events in the evenings and at weekends. There’s usually no teaching on Wednesday afternoons.

Term dates

The academic year runs from September to June. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter.

See term dates

Supporting you

The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Types of support

Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.

You'll have regular contact with your personal tutor in learning activities or scheduled meetings. You can also make an appointment with them if you need extra support.

In addition to the support you get from your personal tutor, you’ll also have access to a Faculty student support advisor. They can give you confidential, impartial advice on anything to do with your studies and personal wellbeing and refer you to specialist support services.

You'll have help from a team of faculty academic skills tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.

They can help with:

  • improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
  • delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
  • understanding and using assignment feedback
  • managing your time and workload
  • revision and exam techniques

If you need support with software and equipment or you want to learn additional skills (including skills not covered on your course), our creative skills tutors provide free workshops, activities and one-on-one tutorials. Skills you can learn include life drawing, film camera operation and video production.

Computing support staff are always available to give technical support in the Faculty's computer suites during normal working hours. There's also some support available from 5.00pm to midnight at busy times of the year.

As well as support from faculty staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University’s Academic Skills Unit (ASK).

ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:

  • academic writing
  • note taking
  • time management
  • critical thinking
  • presentation skills
  • referencing
  • working in groups
  • revision, memory and exam techniques

If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.

Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.

You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.

If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.

They'll help you to

  • discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
  • liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
  • access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
  • liaise with external services

Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.

The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.

If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.

Course costs and funding

Tuition fees

  • UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £9,250 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
  • EU students – £9,250 a year (including Transition Scholarship – may be subject to annual increase)
  • International (non-EU) students – £17,900 per year (subject to annual increase)

Funding your studies

Find out how to fund your studies, including the scholarships and bursaries you could get. You can also find more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

Applying from outside the UK? Find out about funding options for international students.

Additional course costs

These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.

Costs breakdown

Our accommodation section shows your accommodation options and highlights how much it costs to live in Portsmouth.

We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.

 

You’ll study up to 6 modules a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each modules.

You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.

 

If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.

 

Apply

How to apply

When you apply for this course, you can apply for either the BA or BSc version. 

Applying through UCAS

To apply through UCAS, you'll need:

  • the UCAS course code – W950 (BA) or W951 (BSc)
  • our institution code – P80 

 Apply now through UCAS (BA)  

 Apply now through UCAS (BSc)

 

Applying directly

If you'd prefer to apply to us directly, use our online application form:

Open Days and application guidance

You can also sign up to an Open Day to:

  • Tour our campus, facilities, and halls of residence
  • Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
  • Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join

If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.

How to apply from outside the UK

See the 'How to apply' section above for details of how to apply. You can also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region.

To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section. 

If you don't meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Admissions terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.