Cloud Computing BSc (Hons) 2021/22 entry

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Course code:

161I 3 year full-time
I160 2 year (accelerated)

Study options:

3 years full-time
2 year (accelerated)

Location:

CU Coventry (Coventry)

Starting:

May 2022

 

Fees:

£11,100(accelerated) | £7,900 (full-time)

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For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

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Overview

Cloud Computing is a model for enabling on-demand access to a pool of computing resources, e.g. networks, servers, storage, applications, and services, that can be rapidly provisioned with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. This course is available as either a full-time three year programme or an accelerated two year programme.

The Cloud Computing BSc (Hons) course incorporates contemporary issues and approaches in computing, underpinned by fundamental skills in networking, software design, data science, coding, computer hardware and physical infrastructure.

Why CU Coventry

We offer a style of education which is flexible and designed to fit around your life, allowing you to benefit from a modern, forward-thinking higher education institution, reinforced by the quality and reputation of Coventry University. We aim to provide career-focused courses, wherever possible, coupled with placement opportunities to help prepare you for the world of work. We are dedicated to making higher education accessible and enjoyable to everyone, so we keep our fees low and made it a policy to cover one module at a time, allowing you to become a specialist in each topic before moving onto the next.

Employability

Dedicated Careers & Employability department who will assist you in finding employment

Top Quality Courses

Taught by industry professionals, awarded by Coventry University

No End of Year Exams

Our modern teaching techniques mean no last-minute cramming and less stress

Professional Recognition

Specific courses contain additional industry recognised qualifications from awarding bodies

Your course in pictures

Partners in learning
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Educate Cloud Degree

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Educate Cloud Degree

This course has been designed in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS). The AWS Educate Cloud Degree initiative is a collaborative effort between AWS Educate and leading educational institutions to develop degrees in cloud computing to prepare graduates for in-demand cloud employment. You will also receive access throughout your degree program to the AWS Cloud enabling you to develop your skills using the world’s largest cloud service provider.

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Course information

The degree in Cloud Computing is designed to provide you with the breadth of skills to be effective in the varied digital workplace, developing your self-management and self-development capabilities to keep pace with change and adapt to new technologies, software languages and cloud management systems.

We aim to produce graduates that are well equipped with a range of skills, knowledge and understanding of latest cloud-based platforms and technologies, e.g. Scalable and Elastic systems, Infrastructure as Code, Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, Software as a Service and Machine Learning.

Course Specification
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Modules

Overview

This course is available as either a full-time three year programme or an accelerated two year programme.

This overview outlines the accelerated two year for the course. Students taking the full-time three year course will study four modules each year instead of six modules.

All modules and the order they are studied are the same of both options.

In your first year we aim to teach you the foundations of the key concepts needed to apply the knowledge and skills to solve industry-focused problems using cloud computing concepts.

You will have the opportunity to develop qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment, requiring the undertaking and development of both practical and contextual modules, as well as having the chance to develop your foundational skills in computing, apply and analyse them within the context of specialised cloud computing subject areas and professional standards. The emphasis is upon the critical application and evaluation of key theory and skills and how these are formulated within systems and software solutions.

All modules listed below are mandatory. 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. Before accepting any offers, please check the website for the most up to date course content.

Modules

  • Principles of Computer Systems

    This module seeks to provide you with an introduction to the fundamentals of software and database design, including the mathematical principles underpinning computer systems such as Boolean algebra & logic, as well as the principles of database design covering database modelling through the entity-relational model, database normalisation and SQL.

    A fundamental understanding of Object Oriented Programming Principles will be explored through practical programming workshops, the design being supported through the usage of Unified Modelling Language (UML). You will be encouraged to document the process of design, development and testing using industry-standard techniques (UML and ER Diagrams). You'll also be introduced to on-demand cloud computing platforms to host and manage your databases.

  • Serverless Web Applications

    This module seeks to provide you with an introduction to the fundamentals of Human Computer Interaction (HCI), web applications and Serverless Computing, covering User Experience and human factors that are fundamental to the web design process and how to apply programming techniques in the creation of web applications.

    A principle understanding of Serverless Computing will be explored through practical workshops enabling you the opportunity to deploy web applications utilising industry-standard cloud platforms. You should also be able to apply programming and database coding constructs and should develop a web application documenting the process of design, development and testing using UX and Agile Development techniques.

  • Networking Architecture and Design Concepts

    This module aims to provide you with knowledge of computer networking essentials, protocols, standards, security considerations. We will explore these principles through the design and implementation of a network using a range of hardware and software, which is designed to help you develop core knowledge of Local Area Networking, Wide Area Networking and the protocols related to IP networks.

    You will be exposed to the usage of various network topologies in software-defined networks (SDN) hosted within a virtual private cloud, providing the opportunity to develop skills through a practical networking project supported by workshops. After successful completion of this module, you should be able to design and install networks, and demonstrate the operation of IP data networks, router and switching technologies and basic troubleshooting. You will also be exposed to IaaS principles in linking physical systems to a virtual private cloud subnet.

  • Infrastructure Architecture and Design Concepts

    During this module we aim to teach you the concepts, architecture, and services of Cloud Computing and you will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience of configuring cloud infrastructure and also explore how to integrate physical infrastructure into a hybrid solution. You will be given the opportunity to develop a core understanding of concepts surrounding cloud computing, covering deployment models and types of cloud solutions and technology underpinning the usage of cloud solutions (virtualisation and networking).

    You will be encouraged to implement a simple hybrid infrastructure to meet the needs of a business whereby the services are hosted within the cloud with physical computers linked to the cloud VPC through a VPN. Through this process, you should gain a fundamental understanding of both Linux and Windows-based server operating systems and the installation of services on these systems; which aims to further develop your networking knowledge through the application of skills that you should have gained during the programme.

  • Software Defined Networks and Content Delivery Networks

    Software-Defined Networking (SDN) represents an approach to computer networking that attempts to address weaknesses in current networking design and operation. SDN’s move to a highly scalable and centralised network control architecture better suited to large scale networks prevalent in today’s mega-scale data centres.

    Content Delivery Networks (CDN’s) can improve the user experience by delivering a cached copy of the content from a nearby edge. In this module you will be encouraged to critically appraise the usage of SDN in the development of a SDN linked mini-project and have the opportunity to critically determine whether traditional network designs achieve the same objectives. You should also develop a scalable CDN to be able to serve content to multiple simultaneous users globally.

  • Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence

    This module introduces the fundamentals of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning algorithms and practical implementation of these algorithms supported by the opportunity of hands-on experience using industry-leading cloud platforms.

    Machine learning can enable systems to learn from data or to solve problems without being explicitly programmed, and can be used in several areas such as predictive modelling, speech recognition, object recognition, computer vision, anomaly detection, medical diagnosis and prognosis, robotic control, time series forecasting and much more.

    We aim to teach core concepts in artificial intelligence from a theoretical, practical and cognitive point of view, designed to develop innovative thought processes to build intelligent systems for future needs. At this stage you are not expected to design and develop bespoke machine learning algorithms but rather understand their function and integration into intelligent systems and how cloud systems can be used to accelerate data training.

Overview

The final year will provide you with opportunities to further engage with formal business practices, international standards, and legislation to hone workplace acumen. You will be able to formulate your strategy for cloud project development and creation, service management and deliver solutions to meet a business, social or ethical need. You will engage in learning pivotal skills to becoming a graduate practitioner. Your final project places you in an innovative real-world environment where you will propose, design, develop, test, deliver and maintain across your entire stage.

All modules listed below are mandatory. 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. Before accepting any offers, please check the website for the most up to date course content.

Modules

  • Securing Cloud Systems

    This module introduces the fundamentals of cyber security and its implications within the cloud. Organisations expect their workforce to take their asset security seriously. The loss of data by an organisation can have severe consequences, including prosecution and loss of customers.

    You should benefit from contemporary case studies, including examples of corporate theft, regulatory approaches to IT security and international cooperation between agencies and nation-states. As system administration and management are essential tasks in the day-to-day functioning and security of Information Systems, inadequate or improper practices can lead to loss of data, its integrity, performance reductions, security breaches or total system failure. Individual planning and provisions need to be made for the ongoing support of systems and networks, which account for a significant proportion of the IT budget.

    On successfully completing the module you should be able to discuss, apply and analyse network and infrastructure security measures that can be adopted if working within cloud environments. You should also have a clear, practical understanding of the associated protocols, cryptographic types and configuration settings of network security environments.

  • Managing Virtualised Servers and Infrastructure

    This module is designed to allow you to propose, implement and suggest a management strategy to fulfil enterprise business requirements, and the need and purpose of systems integration to support organisational goals.

    You are expected to gather and review business objectives so that you should be able to develop a systems specification document, with the opportunity to evaluate factors and issues affecting the successful completion of the integration, and describe and document the functional architecture and design of a system. Exploration of cloud technologies to establish an integration methodology to design and implement cloud-based solutions should be considered.

    In addition, you will have the opportunity to investigate and compare different cloud service models and evaluate different deployment methods considering their effect on systems integration. An introduction to service management frameworks will be provided in preparation for final year projects.

  • Proposing Cloud Solutions

    This module applies the knowledge gathered during the first two years of the program to propose an integrated cloud project covering both a cloud architecture solution and a cloud software solution to solve a social, ethical or business need.

    This project will be proposed under a PRINCE2 Agile framework, enabling you the chance to gain experience in using and operating in an industry-standard project management environment. You should also, during the development of your Project Initiation Documentation (PID), consider ITIL practices so that you should be able to effectively service manage the resulting solution in a later module as part of implementation and maintenance planning in the PID. Following the successful completion of this module you should be able to propose a cloud project under the PRINCE2 lifecycle, critically demonstrating an applied understanding of PRINCE2 Agile.

  • Applied Cloud Architecture Project

    This module aims to enable you to demonstrate the capacity and ability to conduct academic and technical research, towards the research objectives proposed at the start of the project year, and to present the outcomes of such research in both written and verbal formats.

    We will encourage you to demonstrate an advanced technical ability to give you the opportunity to develop a cloud architecture to support the projects research goals and detail this application in the form of a detailed executive summary and analysis while continuing to operate under the PRINCE2 lifecycle and keeping all documentation up to date.

  • Applied Cloud Software Project

    This module enables you the chance to demonstrate the capacity and ability to conduct academic and technical research towards the research objectives proposed at the start of the project year and to present the outcomes of such research in both written and verbal formats. The module also encourages critical evaluation of engagement in the research process during which recommendations for future, personal development are key learning points completed during the viva-voce.

    You should be able to demonstrate advanced technical ability, and will have the chance to develop a cloud software solution to support the projects research goals and detail this application in the form of a detailed executive summary and analysis, operating under the PRINCE2 lifecycle keeping all documentation up to date.

    You should be able to prove advanced knowledge of some of the following; database, programming and web applications and have applied them to a range of context, e.g. artificial intelligence/machine learning, web services and Information Systems in support of the project goals.

  • Managing Cloud Solutions

    This module covers how services are managed delivered and supported by organisations and are structured around the ITIL framework. The module will cover a range of areas relating to IT organisations involved in service and support and will provide the opportunity for you to understand how related small-medium enterprises operate and are managed.

    The module continues the final project; in this final module, you will have the opportunity to apply ITIL and service manage your cloud solutions, and complete your project closure documentation for PRINCE2 Agile.

15th

Coventry has been ranked top 15 in the UK for 5 years running in the The Guardian University Guide 2016-2020. CU Coventry is part of the Coventry University Group.

In more detail...

  • Upon completion of this course, you will receive a qualification awarded by Coventry University.
  • Included within the course fees, you have the option to undertake Microsoft Technology Associate certifications following successful completion of each academic stage. (Subject to competitive application, availability, meeting any applicable visa requirements. Please also refer to the requirements of Microsoft for each certification on their website).
  • You may also undertake PRINCE2 Agile and ITIL Foundation qualifications following Stage 3 of the degree course at no extra cost; these industry-standard certifications are subject to meeting a performance benchmark in their associated modules and you will need to refer to the PRINCE2 Agile and ITIL Foundation website for further information.
  • You will receive support with applying for short and long-term placements*, providing the chance to gain the experience employers desire, with our in-house careers team. Subject to competitive application, availability, meeting any applicable visa requirements.
  • We deliver one module at a time during each block. This means you can dedicate your time to specialise in each subject without the distraction of numerous modules and multiple deadlines.
  • In order to make higher education accessible to as many people as possible, we keep our tuition fees competitively priced.
Study themes

Cloud Computing. An overview of technologies and services that enable cloud computing, which shifts information systems from on-premises computing infrastructures to highly scalable internet architectures. Explores different types of cloud computing models and the security and legal issues associated with cloud computing.

Compute Engines. Expands on the introduction to cloud computing concepts to explore how cloud computing systems are built using a common set of core technologies, algorithms, and design principles centred around distributed systems.

Databases. Explores cloud database management with the opportunities to define, operate, and scale both SQL and NoSQL data storage solutions.

Network and Storage. Object storage concepts and networking concepts and services such as content delivery networks, virtual private clouds, and elastic load balancing. These technologies provide robust networking and security features to scale application request handling to deliver low latency along with high transfer speeds and connect a physical network to a private virtual network.

Cloud Architecture. IT infrastructure in the cloud so you have the opportunity to build scalable and resilient solutions.

Security. Explores fundamental cloud computing and security concepts, including access control and management, governance, logging, and encryption methods—addresses security-related compliance protocols, risk management strategies, and procedures related to auditing your security infrastructure.

AI and Machine Learning. Explores the different branches of Al and the difference between Al, Machine Learning, and Data Science.

How you'll be taught

This course is taught as either a full-time three year programme or an accelerated two year programme, which is designed to support your development of the essential skills you need to get you employment-ready and into the industry quicker.

Our teaching methods are varied, offering a number of teaching styles to suit the needs of all our students, so in addition to lectures, we also utilise a blended learning approach, including online aspects, workshops and group work.

We also operate an open-door policy, with additional availability via email and our online learning platform.

Progression through the modules aims to develop knowledge and skills, including communication (written and oral), study skills, research methods, project management, presentation and career development. We will also encourage you to consider your employability and/or entrepreneurial development, which aims to prepare you following graduation.

How you'll be assessed

Each module’s assessment is comprised of two components, the first being a pass/fail competency assessment which may take the form of a multiple choice quiz or oral assessment, this assessment does not count towards your module mark or degree classification, however, you must pass this assessment to pass the module. This has been designed so that all students progressing through the course have demonstrated knowledge and competency the core areas of the module regardless of the project grade. This aims to help you to improve your employability and abilities as a potential cloud practitioner following graduation, by being able to recall technical knowledge and skills from memory.

The second component is a project that will be submitted in the final week of each module and may be comprised of a single or combination of; Quizzes, Viva Voce, Presentation, Artefact Submission and Demonstration, Reflective Report and Business Documents. All coursework is designed to be consistent and appropriate with the types of outputs required in the workplace (e.g. demonstration of a working product, technical report, presented to the customer) with the addition of a reflective or evaluation component to enhance self-development. 

On completion

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Adapt and gain additional specific competencies.
  • Apply contemporary knowledge and practical skills in Cloud Computing.
  • Develop the combination of skills and knowledge required to undertake research and development work involving technically advanced computer applications.
  • Deploy a range of skills into a global cloud computing market.
  • Potentially complement the degree with additional certifications and relevant memberships responsive to local and international employer needs (such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Technology Associate, ITIL, PRINCE2). Subject to competitive application, availability, meeting any applicable visa requirements. You will need to refer to the relevant authority’s website for further information on requirements.
  • Develop cognitive, practical and employability skills needed to play a critical role for societal and economic development.
Teaching contact hours

Classes usually run Monday to Friday at a fixed time each day, either in the morning (9am-1pm) or afternoon (2pm-6pm). On Wednesdays we offer a choice of enhancement activities between 9.30am-1.30pm to support your studies, providing time in the afternoon to engage in clubs and societies.

The university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2020/2021 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to Covid-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

Groups are kept at an average of 25-50 students per class. This way, students can take advantage of small numbers to increase contact time with lecturers.

International experience opportunities

*Please note that we are unable to guarantee any, trip, event, internship, placement or study abroad opportunities and that any such opportunities referred to on this webpage may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.

What our students say...

The proposal was incredibly interesting, and I liked the idea of being able to learn about a huge variety of topics as well as being an accelerated course.

Sam – Foundation Digital Technologies 2020. Hoping to progress to BSc (Hons) Cloud Computing

Entry Requirements

A minimum of 104 UCAS tariff points from at least:

  • Two A2 levels to include one from either Maths, Computer Science or other relevant subject

(or)

  • BTEC National Extended Diploma in a relevant subject (e.g. Computing)

Appropriate Foundation/Access qualification where the standard achieved is deemed equivalent to the above.

Candidates will normally be expected to have passed Mathematics and English language GCSE with minimum grade 4, or possess an equivalent qualification, level 2 equivalents are accepted.

The admissions team will also review applicants with non-standard entry requirements including those with professional work experience and direct entry applicants.

Why do I have to choose you as 'firm' choice?

CU Coventry has assessed that you can achieve the required grades and we have demonstrated this belief by making you an offer. This is our commitment to you so then we ask that you reciprocate this commitment by selecting us as your ‘firm’ choice and activating your offer.

What if I'm not taking A-levels?

We will consider other qualifications for a pre-result unconditional offer if you have an appropriate proven performance at GCSE (or equivalent) level and predicted grades in line with grades that we expect to see at A-level. Other qualifications that we may consider for a pre-result unconditional offer include: The International Baccalaureate Diploma, BTEC Level 3 qualifications, Cambridge Pre-U and combinations of qualifications (e.g. BTECS plus A-levels).

What if I don't get the predicted grades?

An unconditional offer is what it says it is. So, if you don’t meet your predictions then your place is still guaranteed. However, we would hope and expect that you continue to work hard to make the most of your potential and be best prepared to study at university level.

Am I able to defer my unconditional offer?

No, the unconditional offer is only available to those who will take up their place in the year for which they applied.

What if I don’t meet the entry requirements?

If you don’t meet the entry requirements for this course, we have a number of programmes which upon successful completion and meeting any additional entry criteria, qualifies you onto a place on this degree course, such as Foundation Years or Access to Higher Education Diplomas.

Tuition Fees

We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.

Starts

Fee

May 2022

£11,100(accelerated) | £7,900 (full-time)

This course is offered as an accelerated degree programme, where you are able to study six blocks each year and finish in two academic years. You would still be eligible for both tuition fee loans and maintenance payments, which would be split across the six blocks evenly to ensure you are funded throughout the academic year. Student Finance England will cover your course over the £9,250 threshold for accelerated degrees up to £11,100 per year, which will result in a £5,550 saving over a three-year program, not including the saving you’ll make by not taking a maintenance loan for a third year.

We price our courses competitively in an attempt to make higher education accessible for a wide range of people. Your tuition fees will cover all of your classes, online tutorials, some of the learning materials and access to our Library & Learning Services. 

You may be asked to contribute to field-trips cost for longer duration academic trips that exceed the support that the Centre of Global Engagement can provide.

Students who don't meet the performance benchmark for the PRINCE2 and ITIL certifications to be paid for by ourselves but still wish to complete the certification may be asked to contribute to the cost of the exam at a subsidised rate depending on the exam cost at the time.

Career prospects

Graduates could move into a variety of jobs in the computing industry such as:

  • Cloud Support Associate/Engineer
  • Cybersecurity Specialist
  • Data Integration Specialist
  • Data Scientist
  • DevOps Engineer
  • Machine Learning
  • Web/Software Development Engineer
  • Solutions Architect
  • Application Developer

Where our graduates work

Graduates of the department work in business analysis and cyber security roles in National Rail; software development roles in BT; IT consultancy roles in Infosys Ltd and infrastructure and deployment roles at McKesson UK.

What our students say...

This course offers exciting prospects in both the academic and industrial sectors. The opportunity to specialize in your final project is helpful when entering a job straight out of uni.

Tamara – Foundation Digital Technologies 2020. Hoping to progress to BSc (Hons) Cloud Computing

Disclaimer

The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we 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. Following the UK’s planned exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance at that time. For international students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus will apply for the first year of study. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.