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Computer Science at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

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2024 - 20252025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

University of Portsmouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Course summary

This is a Connected Degree Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course. Overview Develop technology that will define the future. On this BSc (Hons) Computer Science degree, you'll build a solid foundation of core computer science concepts – everything from program design, data structures and algorithms, networking and operating systems to cyber security. Further strengthen your knowledge on an optional placement, following past students who've gained industry insight at global organisations like IBM and BAE Systems. BSc or MEng? The 3-year Bachelor's degree (BSc) and 4-year integrated Master's degree (MEng) share many of the same modules in years 1–3. The MEng allows you to achieve a Master’s level degree with an extra year of undergraduate study, which can further enhance your career prospects. In the final year of your MEng, you'll study advanced topics and complete an interdisciplinary project to get practical experience in the field. Course highlights

  • Specialise in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, robotics, data mining, cryptography and the Internet of Things (IoT).
  • Take part in fast-paced hackathons and visit companies with specialist computer science departments.
  • Learn from experts researching artificial intelligence that could save lives and winning awards for prototype software to predict a Covid-19 diagnosis.
Accreditation This course is accredited by the British Computer Society, partially meeting the educational requirement for CITP. Careers and opportunities More than 40,000 'open' roles advertised in April 2021 asked for related computer science skills and qualifications. And 90% of our graduates who are in work 15 months after they graduate are in highly skilled, professional-level occupations. The skills you get on this course will set you up for a career implementing the latest computer science concepts in innovative global companies. Our graduates have worked for companies such as:
  • BAE Systems
  • Aviva
  • Capita
  • NHS
  • Penningtons Manches Cooper
  • Honeywell / Trend Controls
  • MASS
  • DQ Global
  • Servicenow
Roles you could go onto include:
  • applications engineer
  • data analyst
  • systems analyst and developer
  • information security analyst
  • artificial intelligence and machine learning engineer
  • research and development (R&D) scientist
You could also become a qualified teacher by taking the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) pathway – you'll save an extra year of study and get a £9,000 bursary. Placement year opportunities Taking an optional placement year gives you the experience you need to increase your chances of landing your perfect role after graduation. You could work in a paid role in a professional organisation or set up your own business, giving you the change to grow your professional network and enhance your CV. We'll give you all the support you need to find a placement that prepares you for your career, and we'll continue to mentor you throughout your placement.

Modules

Year 1 Core modules in this year include:

  • Architecture and Operating Systems
  • Core Computing Concepts
  • Database Systems Development
  • Networks
  • Programming
There are no optional modules in this year. Year 2 Core modules in this year include:
  • Data Structures and Algorithms
  • Discrete Mathematics and Functional Programming
  • Operating Systems and Internet working
  • Programming Applications and Programming Languages
  • Software Engineering Theory and Practice
Optional modules in this year currently include:
  • 3D Computer Graphics and Animation
  • Big Data
  • Data Analytics and Visualisation
  • Ethical Hacking
  • Computing Undergraduate Ambassador
  • Security and Cryptography
  • Web Programming
Year 3 Core modules in this year include:
  • Distributed Systems and Security
  • Individual Project (Engineering)
  • Theoretical Computer Science
Optional modules in this year currently include:
  • Advanced Networks
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Business Analytics
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Digital Enterprise and Innovation
  • Graphics and Computer Vision
  • Internet of Things
  • IT and Internetworking Security
  • Project Management
  • Robotics
  • Security and Cryptography
Year 4 In your final year, you'll carry out a group industrial project utilising the skills learned during your course and your areas of interest within computer science. Core modules also include:
  • Advanced Artificial Intelligence
  • Industrial Team Project
  • Intelligent Data and Text Analytics
  • Parallel Programming
  • Scientific Computing and Simulation
Placement year After your second or third year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry. Previous students have secured placements at high-profile organisations that include IBM, Airbus and Veritas. We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your aspirations. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year. 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 and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Assessment method

How you're assessed You’ll be assessed through:

  • multiple choice tests
  • written exams
  • in-class exercises
  • mini projects
  • presentations
  • written report
  • review articles
  • supervised work sessions
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. The way you’re assessed may depend on the modules you select. As a guide, students on this course last year were typically assessed as follows:
  • Year 1 students: 33% by written exams and 67% by coursework
  • Year 2 students: 67% by written exams, 8% by practical exams and 25% by coursework
  • Year 3 students: 35% by written exams and 65% by coursework
Year 4 students: 28% by written exams, 8% by practical exams and 64% by coursework

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • British Computer Society

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

We welcome applications for advanced entry. If you’d like to apply for advanced entry, you need to select the required year when you complete your UCAS application.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
PTE Academic54An overall score of 54 with a minimum of 51 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT)7979 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.
Cambridge English AdvancedCambridge English: Advanced (CAE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Trinity ISEPassTrinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
95%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
95%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £9250 Year 1
England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Scotland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1
Channel Islands £9250 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9250 Year 1
International £19200 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship Placement Year and Year abroad: UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,385 EU – £1,385 (including Transition Scholarship)| International (Non-EU) – £2,875. Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. Fees may also go up in later years, in line with inflation. For more information about fees, go to port.ac.uk/ug-tuition-fees
Computer Science at University of Portsmouth - UCAS