Computer Science MSci/BSc (Hons) with foundation year

Study level: Undergraduate
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The Computer Science course at Coventry University covers the practical skills and theoretical knowledge you need to be successful in this fast-paced, ever-changing industrial sector.

Course option

Year of entry

Location

CU Coventry (Coventry) and
Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

BSc:
4 years full-time
5 years sandwich

UCAS codes

GCDF

Start date

September 2024
November 2024

How to apply
Book an Open Day
Download a prospectus
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Course overview

Our degree with foundation year could be the stepping stone you need to achieve your goals. The foundation year aims to prepare you for degree-level study and is a great way to build the confidence, skills and knowledge needed to succeed on your degree course. The degree with foundation year is only available for the BSc option.

Foundation year

This course covers professional and academic skills and will introduce you to the fundamentals of hardware, workshop, software and the internet. You will also be supported in developing a range of transferable skills in areas including research, project and laboratory skills, academic writing and communication.

Degree

Whether you see your future self as an app developer, a systems administrator, or an information technology specialist, our Computer Science course equips you with the knowledge and skills you will need to help drive the digital revolution.

  • Master the practical skills and theoretical knowledge you need to develop software solutions that address demanding user expectations and complex customer requirements.
  • Explore fascinating fields, such as artificial intelligence, parallel programming, and data science, and learn how these areas continue to drive major change in the domain of computer science.
  • Gain industry-relevant experience as you apply real-world, software development practices within peer groups, preparing you for your career after graduation.
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Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects

Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022
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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings
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Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2023

Why you should study this course

Foundation year

  • Supports you to gain the academic skills required for degree-level study.
  • Provides a grounding in key areas of digital technologies.

Degree

  • Activity-led learning helps you consolidate what you’re taught through practical application of everything you’re covering in lectures.
  • Opportunity to spend a year on industrial placement2.
  • Strong professional skills focus.
  • Hybrid, online, and asynchronous learning to support students with different needs across a range of locations4.
  • Free-to-attend guest lecturers from current practitioners, which, in recent years, have included senior professors from Sheffield, Lincoln and Birmingham universities and the European Bioinformatics Centre Cambridge (subject to availability).

What you'll study

In the first year, the curriculum is shared across related courses allowing you to gain a broad grounding in the discipline before going on, in the second and third years, to specialist modules in your chosen field. 

We want your degree to fit around you, so upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements).

Common first-year courses

  • Computer Science with AI MSci/BSc (Hons)
  • Information Technology Management BSc (Hons)
  • Interactive Media and Web Technologies BSc (Hons)
  • Software Engineering BSc (Hons)

Modules

  • Whatever software we’re developing, we need to understand the fundamentals of programming to build it – that’s as true for an interactive website as it is for a smart-phone app. In this module, you’ll be introduced to these fundamentals through an accessible and industry-favoured programming language. You’ll explore algorithms – what they are, why they’re important, and how to use them – and you’ll combine this with your programming skills to write your own programs.

    Compulsory

  • To apply, extend or enhance information systems, any developer needs a fundamental understanding of the machine, with all of its complex moving parts. This module introduces you to these concepts, taking you from the concept of computation to the twitching transistors which drive its implementation.

    CPU architectures, memory hierarchies, efficiency, networking and security are all explored. Additionally, the concept of the Operating System is introduced which, combined with the other topics studied, empowers you to begin your journey as a developer.

    Compulsory

  • Databases are fundamental to modern, digital life – whatever we’re doing, we’re either generating, using, sharing or erasing data. The technologies, ethics and laws behind these processes are a fascinating and fundamental element of software development in the 21st century.

    In this module, you’ll explore all of these concepts, mastering the elements of data handling, storage, and management which you’ll have to apply in later study.

    Compulsory

  • Fundamental to all programming is the notion of mathematics. Whenever we write software, we are writing algorithms and algebra – and in order to write them correctly, we need a firm grip of the maths which underpins them. In this module, you’ll gain that understanding, exploring subjects like set theory, algorithms and complexity, and logical arithmetic.

    Don’t be intimidated, though! Everything is explained from first principles, and you’re supported throughout your mathematical studies by Coventry University’s maths support service.

    Compulsory

  • This module builds upon and develops the fundamental computer programming skills you developed in Concepts and Algorithms. You will be introduced to new ideas such as object-orientation, and designing reusable code, and you’ll explore them using another industry-favoured programming language. You’ll be taught to structure your code in a way which makes it easy to follow, maintain, and extend, equipping you for the next stage of your software development studies.

    Compulsory

  • The Integrative Project module adopts an activity led approach to learning, where you’ll work in a team to plan and execute a project related to your course. The project provides you a vital opportunity to consolidate and apply what you’ve learned during your first year of study, as well as develop new technical and team-working skills.

    You’ll be given a high degree of autonomy during the project, assuming responsibility for all aspects of its conduct. Everything from organising group meetings and distributing tasks and work packets, to reflecting on their progress. There is no defined end goal; students are free to take the project as far as they can.

    Compulsory

In Year two, you will develop more advanced knowledge and skills to do with artificial intelligence, theory of computation, advanced algorithms, amongst others.

Modules

  • In this module you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of modern artificial intelligence concepts and applications. You’ll explore the differing definitions of just what ‘artificial intelligence’ means, and the legal and ethical issues which arise surrounding decision-making computer systems. Ultimately, you’ll build a portfolio of solutions that address artificial intelligence challenges, as you navigate areas such as knowledge representation, reasoning, and how human factors impact the field of AI.

    Compulsory

  • The Theory of Computation module dives into the mathematical heart of programming. You’ll be guided through some of the more challenging topics in computing such as formalisation of languages, models of computation, and the nature of computability. Ultimately, this module empowers you to assess whether a problem has a computable solution – or one that you can compute before the sun expands to engulf the Earth.

    Compulsory

  • Building on your programming and algorithms studies from first year, this module expands your insights into advanced programming techniques and complex data structures. You’ll learn what terms such as ‘graph’ and ‘tree’ mean in computing, and how to use them in your own software development. You’ll become familiar with strategies to address the computational complexity of the problems you’re trying to solve, empowering you to write more sophisticated, and more efficient, software solutions.

    Compulsory

  • What is an OS, and what does it do? These two questions are the focus of this module, where you’ll become familiar with the way the operating system you use every day is structured, why it’s structured that way, and how it works. In addition to this, the module introduces the idea of networked computer systems and the accompanying security concepts, exploring topics such as cryptography, user authentication, socket programming and network protocols.

    Compulsory

  • Picking up where Working with Data left off, the Data Science module equips you with the skills and tools you need to explore the world of Big Data. Using state-of-the-art software, you’ll explore concepts such as predictive modelling, data wrangling, sampling, and analysis. You’ll also explore the complex subject of data visualisation, and how you can use visualisation techniques to make the results of your data analysis understandable to every audience.

    Compulsory

  • Focusing on the professional conduct of software development projects, this module introduces you to several industry-standard practices which underpin effective and efficient software engineering to meet the exacting quality standards. You’ll undertake a real-world software development project, evaluating and selecting the best tools for the task at hand while employing common professional practices such as configuration management and version control. You should develop an exhaustively tested, highly polished software deliverable to demonstrate your skills to prospective employers.

    Compulsory

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee3 of £1,250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time you will receive guidance from your employer or partner institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement.

Modules

  • This module2 provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

    Optional

  • This module2 provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

    Optional

In year three, you will develop more advanced knowledge and skills to do with mobile application development, web API development, parallel and distributed programming, amongst others.

Modules

  • Choose two from the four following modules:

    • Mobile Application Development - 20 credits
      Our everyday lives have never been more integrated with our mobile devices and applications. In this module you’ll explore everything which goes into mobile application design, from the notion of RESTful APIs to continuous integration and analytics. You’ll demonstrate your understanding by using a development kit to build a portfolio of applications for mobile platforms.
    • Web API Development - 20 credits
      Web APIs empower websites to access the data and services needed to deliver on modern user demands in terms of connectedness and accuracy. From weather patterns to GPS traffic data, APIs underpin it all. In this module, you'll be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to create your own API for use in web applications, using the latest, industry-standard technologies, and featuring an interactive web client.
    • Parallel and Distributed Programming - 20 credits
      All computing systems in the modern world are parallelised and heterogeneous – even your smart watch has multiple cores. Parallel programming and distributed programming share a great many commonalities in terms of what they represent, and how problems they solve are tackled. In this module, those similarities, alongside the key differences, will be explored in detail. You’ll be empowered to deploy computational solutions at every level, from the cloud, to your own PC, taking full advantage of all the silicon at your disposal.
    • Advanced Programming Paradigms - 20 credits
      In this module, you’ll explore programming paradigms that you haven’t encountered elsewhere in your course. You’ll be introduced to the concepts of functional programming and logic programming and learn why they’re completely different to your existing knowledge of programming functions and logic. And you’ll be introduced to new programming languages to enable your exploration of these exciting new ideas.

    Optional

  • You’ll first encounter the concept of computer security when you learn about Operating Systems, but this third-year module dives into the subject in-depth, as required by the British Computer Society’s accreditation criteria. Developed by our Cybersecurity specialists, this module introduces you to the concepts and practical considerations of creating and evaluating secure computer systems. In addition to the technical issues involved, you’ll also explore security legislation and the regulations which apply to associated products and services.

    Compulsory

  • Building on your existing knowledge of Artificial Intelligence, this module dives into the broad field of machine learning, one of the core building blocks of many AI systems and methods. You’ll look to learn the difference between supervised and unsupervised machine learning, what an artificial neural network is and when best to deploy one to solve a problem, and how to analyse the effectiveness of a wealth of machine learning algorithms when applied to actual data.

    Compulsory

  • In your final year, you will complete a project which is defined and driven by you, bringing your interests and learning together to produce a showcase for your skills. Working with an allocated subject specialist supervisor, the Project Discovery module will equip you with the research and project management skills to define, propose, and start work on a substantial computer science project of your choosing.

    Compulsory

  • Working with an allocated subject expert as supervisor, you will deliver a project dissertation together with a project artefact, usually an advanced piece of software. The Dissertation and Project Artefact module is designed to give you the experience to self-manage project development, evaluation and successful delivery to a self-defined brief, allowing you to produce a substantial piece of work which brings together your learning over the course of the degree, which you can be proud of.

    Compulsory

If you meet the criteria, you could choose to take an additional fourth-year master’s option, which will deepen your knowledge and expertise. The MSci year aims to consolidate and strengthen the skills you’ve developed over the course of your first three years of study. Building on your existing knowledge, you’ll explore a series of highly advanced subjects in the field of Computer Science which lie beyond the scope of undergraduate study, from Computer Vision to GPU programming, equipping you to undertake employment or postgraduate research at the leading edge of digital technology.

This year provides insight into more advanced topics in computer science and can act as a steppingstone to postgraduate research or further study.

Modules

  • Computer vision (CV) is the field which allows our smartphone to identify where to focus an image, or a social media app to identify the face of someone in a photograph. In this module, you’ll be introduced to the models, algorithms and hardware involved in building CV applications from scratch using commonly employed APIs. Crucially, you’ll be taught how to select the right tool for the job, depending on the purpose of the CV problem you’re trying to solve.

    Compulsory

  • Artificial neural networks (ANNs) represent an important and popular machine learning approach that attempts to model the function of the human brain. Successfully used in a wide range of applications, including image processing and medical diagnosis, ANN-based software solutions are ubiquitous throughout modern computing. In this module, you'll be introduced to the biological basis of the ANN, the concepts used in neural networks, and their application to solving real-world problems.

    Compulsory

  • This exciting module introduces you to two advanced topics in artificial intelligence: evolutionary computing, and fuzzy logic. Evolutionary systems are an approach to AI which draws inspiration from natural selection in the world around us. Fuzzy logic, by contrast, is a mathematical modelling system inspired by a special school of set theory which is well-suited to handling uncertainty.

    Compulsory

  • A growing field of interest within computing, ethical hacking (sometimes called penetration testing) is a fundamental part of many companies' security strategies, testing the vulnerabilities of their systems. In this module, you'll learn the latest ethical hacking techniques and gain practical experience in selecting and applying the most suitable tools and techniques for a given situation.

    Compulsory

  • This module explores another advanced topic in cybersecurity - the secure design and development of computer systems. You'll learn about the security controls used to prevent, detect and recover from security violations, as well as how to formally analyse systems to evaluate their compliance with security and safety requirements.

    Compulsory

  • The GPU in a modern PC is a highly efficient chip consisting of hundreds of cores, optimised for parallel execution of increasingly sophisticated instructions. While those instructions generally relate to graphics, commonly-employed APIs empower us to use those computational resources to solve other problems. In this module, you'll learn how to identify if a task is well-suited to GPU deployment, how to restructure tasks to take advantage of the GPU's architecture, and how to build these software solutions yourself.

    Compulsory

  • In this module, you will identify a topic suited for a substantial piece of research into an area connected to the discipline of computer science. You'll exercise and extend your skills in gathering, understanding and critically evaluating literature; assessing and acting on relevant ethical and legal issues; and applying planning processes for the undertaking of a significant piece of work. This will culminate in the production of a well-structured project plan.

    Compulsory

  • Building on the literature survey and planning developed as part of the Preparation module, you will undertake the project proper in this module. Supported by a member of academic staff, you will develop your solution to the chosen challenge, gather primary research data regarding your solution, and document the project's scientific conduct and outputs.

    Compulsory

The foundation year offers an introduction to your chosen subject and supports you to develop the skills required for degree-level study.

Modules

  • This module is aimed at creating a culture of careful learning and self-reflection, and you’ll be encouraged to take ownership of your own development and to recognise its strengths and weaknesses. You’ll be introduced to a range of skills that will aid you throughout the course and further study, such as time management, planning and resource management and interpersonal skills.

    Additionally, you will seek to learn employment skills such as digital proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint etc), team management, communication, planning and more. We will also cover plagiarism, referencing, library skills and professional standard skills, alongside lectures on ethics, health and safety and technical skills, so that you receive thorough, 360-degree training.

    Compulsory

  • This module is designed to provide you with the basic skills required to safely build, troubleshoot and upgrade computers. You’ll take part in workshop practices, gain health and safety awareness as well as develop technical skills. You will also seek to develop invaluable knowledge of desktop and portable computer hardware, graphics and displays, motherboard connectors and printer technologies. By the end of this module, you should understand the basics of modern-day technologies and internet fundamentals, ready for progression onto the next module.

    Compulsory

  • Developing your written communication and presentation skills, the aim of this module is primarily to work on your problem-solving skills using computer programming. You will be introduced to the foundations and concepts of programming using server-side and client-side scripting programming languages. By the end of the module, you should be able to use programming language to implement functions.

    Compulsory

  • In this module, you’ll explore the way the internet was started and how information moves around the World Wide Web. You’ll aim to become proficient in key internet terminology such as HTML and CSS, gain a full understanding of IP addressing, DNS, SSL, TOR and basic internet privacy. In addition to a digital portfolio, to showcase your new skills, you’ll be required to develop and present a basic website.

    Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

Our teaching is active, applied, social and inclusive. We work interactively to address your needs as an individual, and support you to maximise your outcomes.

The foundation year programme is focused on applied learning geared to high-intensity teaching and study throughout the programme, requiring full commitment from students. The delivery of course content is a blend of lectures, tutorials and online learning.

There are no end of year exams. Instead, learning is assessed through coursework and phase tests, which is more reflective of our learning model. The learning outcomes of modules, assignments and projects will be clearly stated. Your work will be marked according to how well you achieve these learning outcomes and your final feedback will refer to each outcome, as well as providing an overall percentage grade.

Teaching contact hours

You can expect up 20 hours of learning activities per week, made up of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, online classes and independent learning.

Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 30 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.

Assessment

Assessment methods vary and may include practical class and project performance, written practical reports, project thesis, oral presentations, tutorial tasks and assessments which generally take place at the end of each six-week block.

Learning is facilitated through a variety of methods which can include:

  • Lectures and lectorials
  • Seminars
  • Interactive labs
  • Interactive workshops
  • Online activities
  • Groupwork

As a student, you may engage in both class and online activities and discussions. There will be a range of online materials, accessible at any time, through our online platform, currently Aula. You will participate in additional guided reading and self-directed study to reinforce the learning gained from timetabled sessions. Formative feedback will be used to prepare you for assessment and support your progress towards success at module, year, and ultimately degree levels.

If you choose to start this course in January it will be run as a condensed programme. You’ll start your course in January and finish your first year in August. Upon successful completion of Year 1, you will progress onto Year 2 in September and then continue to start subsequent years of your course in September, completing your degree at the same time as the September starters unless you opt to do a placement year.

Teaching contact hours

We understand that everyone learns differently, so each of our courses will consist of structured teaching sessions, which includes: 

  • On campus lectures, seminars and workshops 
  • Group work 
  • Self-directed learning 
  • Work placement opportunities.

If you would like more information, you can request information about teaching hours.

Part of university life is undertaking self-directed learning. During a typical week, you will have time that allows you to work independently to apply the skills and knowledge you have learnt in taught or facilitated sessions to your projects or assignment briefs. This self-directed learning allows you to use your research skills, consolidate your knowledge or undertake collaborative group work.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods include:

  • Individual coursework
  • Group coursework
  • Exams
  • Tests
  • Essays
  • Presentations
  • Reports
  • Projects
  • Vivas
  • Core assessments (these are pass / fail and can be attempted multiple times)

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.  

International experience opportunities

The degree offers a range of potential international experiences including:

  • COIL projects – online internationalised learning, working with university students based in other countries.
  • Fieldtrips – short trips of one or two weeks to visit other countries for cultural and learning experiences.
  • Study Abroad optional extra year – live and study abroad for a year between your second and final years. 

Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements are therefore not guaranteed2.

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

80 UCAS tariff points. All foundation courses require 5 GCSEs at A-C/4-9 including Maths and English, and at least one A2 level or a BTEC equivalent qualification.

If you don’t fulfil the entry criteria your application may be considered on an individual basis, taking into account any work experience, other qualifications and/or any training you have completed. Speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Are you eligible for the Fair Access Scheme?

We believe every student should have the opportunity to dream big, reach their potential and succeed, regardless of their background. Find out more about our Fair Access Scheme.

Got higher grades? Have you considered direct entry to the degree without foundation year?

Fees and funding

2024/25 tuition fees.

Foundation year

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man £7,950 Not available
International/EU Not currently available*** Not available

Degree

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man £9,250 per year Not available
International/EU Not currently available*** Not available

Please note: UK (home) tuition fees for the degree course years will be charged at the current Coventry University UK (home) degree fee level. This was set at £9,250 for the 23/24 academic year.

If you choose to do a work placement2, you should consider travel and living costs to cover this. There is also a tuition fee3 of £1,250 that will cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**This course with foundation year is not currently available to international students. If you do not meet the entry requirements to directly join year 1 of the degree, please take a look at our International Pathways Programme for additional options.

  • We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

    If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Our foundation years are taught at CU Coventry’s Mile Lane building, a short walk from the city centre. You’re part of the university from day one, so during your foundation year you’ll have access to the wider facilities at Coventry University. Once you successfully complete your foundation year, you'll transfer over to studying your chosen degree at Coventry University, where you'll be taught on campus in the relevant academic buildings.

Located on our Mile Lane campus, you will have access to our Library and Learning Services (LLS), fully equipped seminar rooms and IT suites4. You can also take advantage of reading rights in Coventry University’s Lanchester Library, make use of sport centre facilities and receive full membership to Your Students' Union.

Two students walking outside with the CU Coventry building behind them.

Mile Lane

The campus is home to an on-site library with bookable one-to-one academic writing service and library support sessions, fully equipped seminar rooms, open-access study areas, a café and an IT suite. Our labs contain industry-standard equipment so that you learn using the same equipment as many industry professionals.

A student working in a booth in The Hub.

The Hub

At The Hub you'll find the Health and Wellbeing Centre, the Students’ Union and Square One (which provides entertainment from quiz nights to live music), the Spirituality and Faith Centre, Tank Studio, Careers Office and a fantastic food court.

External view of the Lanchester Library.

Lanchester Library

You will have full reading rights in Coventry University’s Lanchester Library. The library is open 24/7, 364 days a year and has many study spaces, including group and silent areas. It also currently offers touchdown computers and free-to-loan laptops.

The School of Computing, Mathematics and Data Science is based in the Engineering and Computing Building, and the attached Beatrice Shilling Building. Both buildings are high-specification learning environments which benefit from extensive social learning facilities4, well-appointed laboratories, lecturing facilities and classrooms, facilitating our innovative teaching methods across a diverse suite of undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Cisco Lab

Cisco Lab

The Cisco lab is used for working with general networking and towards accreditation by CISCO. Optional modules allow students to work in the lab to develop skills in preparation for the CISCO certification exam.

Virtual Laboratories

Virtual Laboratories

Provide a cutting edge virtualisation environment that can be used to create entire virtual networks, complete with services, users and even attackers. Students can access this environment from anywhere on or off campus.

Sigma Centre

Sigma Centre

An award-winning Mathematics Support Centre which provides a wide range of learning resources in mathematics and statistics. Students can make use of drop-in sessions or one-to-one appointments.

Careers and opportunities

The Computer Science degree is designed to equip you with the knowledge, technical skills, and professional skills for a career in the computing industry. On successful completion of the degree, you will be able to:

  • Program. You will create working solutions to a variety of computational and real world problems using an appropriate programming language (or languages) for the task.
  • Think computationally. You will be able to create, develop and evaluate algorithms, and measure and optimise algorithm complexity.
  • Develop software. You will develop a product from the initial stage of requirements all the way through development to its final stages of testing and evaluation.
  • Solve problems in a range of key application areas including web and app development, machine learning, data science and artificial intelligence. 
  • Work professionally. You will understand professional practice, both technical, and social, ethical and legal responsibilities. You will be equipped with a range of graduate level attributes including thinking critically, contributing confidently, communicating effectively, and collaborating collegiately.  

Computer Science is changing the world. Technologies produced by computer scientists now support and enhance all areas of our modern lives, from e-commerce, through social networking, to smart cities. Ongoing technological developments, innovations and breakthroughs depend crucially on skills in computer science. The Computer Science degree teaches these skills, and, equipped with them, you’ll be able to pursue your preferred career in the computing industry: software developer, web developer, mobile application developer, IT specialist, network analyst, data scientist and AI programmer are just some of the exciting opportunities that could be available.  

Where our graduates work

Successful graduates of this course have worked with a variety of companies ranging from start-ups through SMEs to large familiar names. Recently, these companies, and the roles taken have included:

  • Test Consultant at TSG-Consulting
  • Tech Grad – IBM
  • Technical Writer at Red Hat
  • Graduate IT Engineer at PPS
  • Technical Analyst at National Grid
  • Consultant at Swiss FTS
  • Digital Project Manager at Pfizer UK
  • Application Support Engineer at Motorola

Further study

The Computer Science degree includes an optional MSci year. Alternatively, the BSc (Hons) degree serves as a basis for a wide range of standalone masters degrees, both at Coventry University, nationally and internationally. It is also possible to take a PhD.

How to apply

  • Study location

    The Foundation Year study route will be delivered by CU, part of the Coventry University Group, for and on behalf of Coventry University.

    If you choose to study at CU Coventry for your Foundation Year, then your learning will be based at CU Coventry. Mile Lane, Coventry. Subject to meeting requirements you will then transition to the relevant Coventry University subject faculty building for your progression degree.

    Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University. 

    1Accreditations

    The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

    2UK and international opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

    3Tuition fees

    The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

    For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

    4Facilities

    Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

    Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

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