Life in the School
Studying computer science with us will give you the chance to develop a strong combination of understanding the underlying principles of computer science, developing practical computing skills and acquiring the appropriate learning, communication and team-working skills that are essential for success in any future career.
Teaching, learning and assessment
The emphasis throughout is on independent learning, supported by regular meetings in small groups with personal tutors, together with supporting lectures and labs. You receive practical help and support from experienced staff and postgraduates, with leading experts guiding your learning and stimulating your interest. A significant amount of your work will be project-based teamwork, tackling real problems.
Using Linux
Your practical work is spread across Windows and Linux, a popular open source version of the Unix operating system, which is increasingly being employed throughout the IT industry. Being comfortable using both operating systems means our graduates are well equipped to contribute immediately in a wide range of working environments and contribute to the future development of the industry.
Assessment
Unseen examinations account for about 60% of your assessment. These assess your abilities in the selection and application of knowledge, problem solving, and in design and evaluation of software or hardware. Other assessment is mainly through laboratory-based coursework, which provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of computer science by tackling specific problems on a more realistic scale, both individually and in groups. The remaining assessment is through presentations and essays where, in particular, you demonstrate the transferable skills that you have developed.
Laura Howarth-Kirke
"This year has been hard work but it's unbelievable how much I've learnt about the different aspects of computer science! The first year modules give you a 'taste' of the themes offered by the second and third years of the course. This has given me a good idea of the kind of career I want and which modules I am going to choose in the second year. The first year is really all about the basics; for example, we have been taught Java to show us the fundamentals of programming languages, so when it came to the group website project I was easily able to pick up other languages such as JavaScript, HTML and PHP. The school's CSSC social committee has put on some amazing events too - pub crawls, laser quest, quiz nights and even a treasure hunt around the city!
I've joined the staff-student committee where I get to voice the opinions of fellow students and tell the staff about anything we want changing in the school. I've also helped out at Open Days - where you can even get paid!"
