Computer Science BSc (Hons)

Broaden your prospects with a firm foundation in the practice and theory of core computing principles, with a focus on software development, database design, web technologies and security.

Entry Criteria
Structure and assessment
Facilities and features
Opportunities and careers
Take your next steps
Contact us

Overview

With the digital era continuing to develop rapidly, the role of computing and its impact on our lives is more important than ever. New and innovative computer technologies are constantly being unveiled, with software engineers, systems developers, programmers and analysts playing a vital role in their creation and development.

Benefiting from more than 50 years of successful teaching, our Computer Science course focuses on modern approaches to software systems development, allowing you to explore both the theoretical and practical skills needed to understand programming language concepts, software design methods, secure web systems, computer architecture and computer networks.

The course prepares you for a wide variety of career opportunities, from programming and developer roles to software engineering, with computer technology closely linked with an extensive range of industries such as medicine, education, entertainment, security and architecture.

Key features

This course is accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.
Our diverse curriculum provides students with an equal balance of theory and practice and is embedded with contemporary technologies designed to tackle modern multi-core platforms.
Tailor your learning to your career ambitions through a wide range of optional third year modules, including: Secure Web Application Development; Multi-Service Networks; Interaction Design; and Big Data and Business Models.
Explore professional opportunities with an optional placement year. Previous Computer Science students have spent their third year in industry working in roles such as Placement Developer, Cloud Reliability Developer, Solution Engineer and Business Analyst Intern for organisations including Next, Leicestershire Police, Oracle, IBM and The Walt Disney Company.
Graduates have gone on to work for companies such as ITN, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Microsoft, BT, RBS, HSBC, DNEG and Experian.
Gain valuable international experience as part of your studies with our DMU Global programme. On previous trips, Computer Science students met tech entrepreneurs in San Francisco and put their hacking skills to the test at New York’s Spyscape Museum.
Our Computer Science research is ranked as the world’s joint first for citations to our articles on the Category Normalized Citation Index.

Kate Lowe, Computer Science graduate, talks about her experience studying while at DMU.

News stories

Microsoft crowns DMU students as winners in 2022 UK University Cloud Challenge

DMU degree enables grad to make valuable contributions during Covid-19

UK
EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: G400

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement

Fees and funding:

2023/24 tuition fees for UK students: £9,250

Find out about additional costs and optional extras.

Contact us: For more information, call us on +44 (0)116 2 50 60 70.

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Book an Open Day

Submit a study-related enquiry

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: G400

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement

Fees and funding:

2023/24 tuition fees for international students: £15,750

Find out more about available funding for international students.

Find out about additional costs and optional extras.

Contact us: For more information, call us on +44 (0)116 2 50 60 70.

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

A typical offer is 112 UCAS points from at least two A-levels or equivalent or
BTEC National Diploma/ Extended Diploma at DMM

Plus five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and Mathematics or equivalent.

Alternative qualifications include:

Pass in the QAA accredited Access to HE. English and Mathematics GCSE required as a separate qualification as equivalency is not accepted within the Access qualification.

We will normally require students to have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course

International Baccalaureate: 26+ points
Foundation Year in Computing: Pass Foundation, and progression is at the discretion of the programme leader. Refer to the Foundation team for further guidance.

Portfolio Required: No

Interview Required: No

We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard qualifications and recognise all other equivalent and international qualifications.

UCAS tariff information

Students applying for courses starting in September will be made offers based on the latest UCAS Tariff.

Contextual offer

To make sure you get fair and equal access to higher education, when looking at your application, we consider more than just your grades. So if you are eligible, you may receive a contextual offer. Find our more about contextual offers.

English language

If English is not your first language then an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (or equivalent) is essential.

English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Structure and assessment

First year modules:

Computer Programming I
Computer Programming II
Computer Ethics
Computer Law and Cyber Security
Computer Systems
Computer Networks
Mathematics for Computing
Database Design and Implementation

Second year modules:

Software and Security Management
Object Oriented Design
Object Oriented Development
Web Application Development
Agile Team Development
Data Structures and Algorithms
Concurrent and Parallel Algorithms
Big Data and Machine Learning

Third year modules:

Development Project*
Systems Building: Methods

Optional modules:

Rigorous Systems
Mobile Application Development
Scalable Software Architectures
Product Development & Innovation Management
Advanced Machine Learning
Fuzzy Logic and Knowledge Based Systems
Secure Web Application Development
Web Application Penetration Testing
Multi-Service Networks 1
Multi-Service Networks 2
Functional Software Development
Front-End Web Development
Interaction Design
Database Management and Programming
Computer Ethics and Privacy
Data Mining
Big Data and Business Models

Click here for more detailed module information

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

*The accredited BCS programme requires that the third year development project module is passed.

Teaching and assessment

In the first year, you will normally attend around 12-14 hours of timetabled taught sessions each week, split across a variety of lectures, small group activities and practical laboratory work.

There are a variety of assessment methods, typically including short tests, practical software development tasks, written work, and presentations. Your written and academic reading skills will be developed in the ethics and law topics and you will develop a portfolio that will give you experience of practical development.

In the second year, the emphasis moves towards more substantive practical assignments and you will practise modern software development techniques. Research and presentation skills are also important in the second year.

In the final year, the individual software development project forms a major part of the practical assessment.

This course is accredited by the BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT.

Once you have graduated and begun to work as an IT professional you can apply to become a full member of the BCS and, as your career develops, gain the status of Chartered IT Professional (CITP), giving you a recognised industry-relevant qualification.

Facilities and features

Computer Science Laboratories

Our Computer Science laboratories provide computer workstations for students to use, with four interconnected computing laboratories with HP PCs running Windows/Linux.

All the machines are connected to a dedicated, high-performance file server for storage and backup of students' work. Many of the software packages are open source, which means students can download and run the software needed for their course work while at home. The laboratories also include study spaces where you can work individually or in groups.

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available.

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose.

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including Blackboard, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub.

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Opportunities and careers

Graduate Careers

Computer Science graduates have gone on to work as associate software engineers, computer engineers, systems engineers, database managers, software developers and web developers for companies including HSBC Bank, Sainsbury’s, MMT Digital, RR Donnelley and Serck Controls.

Graduates can also continue their academic careers by embarking on postgraduate study in either research or taught areas, which provides opportunities for further specialisation and the enhancement of existing skills.

#DMUglobal

Our innovative international experience programme aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons – helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world. Through #DMUglobal, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

Our Computer Science students have visited top tech companies in San Francisco to get an insight into the skills and talent needed for careers in the technology sector, as well as visited New York’s Spyscape museum to test out their espionage and surveillance skills.

Placements

Work placements are offered as part of this course as one of the best ways to boost your skills and experience while studying, as well as improving your chances of gaining a graduate level job.

We have links with organisations both in the UK and internationally, and the placements team will help you find a placement to suit your interests and aspirations. Students on this course have taken part in placements at companies including Syngenta, Jagex, PepsiCo, HSBC Bank, Honda Racing Corporation and Avis Europe.

Computer Science student Judyta Dabek secured a year-long placement as an automation trainee at Rolls-Royce. She said: “It’s an inspiring place to work and a very important opportunity for me. I’m learning how to use different programming languages and documentation, as well as developing my research skills and knowledge of law and ethics, all of which will broaden my career opportunities after university.”

Computer Science BSc (Hons)

Overview

Entry criteria

Structure and assessment

Course modules

Teaching and assessments

Accreditation