Computer Science including Foundation Year
In an era defined by technological innovation and digital transformation, the pursuit of a Computer Science undergraduate degree opens a universe of possibilities.
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Key Course Details
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UCAS Code
G59F
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Start Date
September
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Location
Pontypridd
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Campus Code
A
Fees
Home students
£9,790*
International students
£17,200*
- Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.
Accredited by the British Computer Society and created in partnership with industry and students. This programme ensures graduates are creative and capable, able to build the future with intelligent, effective, efficient, and reliable systems. The foundation year provides a method of entering this exciting field for those who are perhaps returning to study, or otherwise need to build their confidence.
Designed for
Those with an interest in the how computers work and how they can be applied creatively to solving real world problems in a safe reliable manner will benefit from this excellent course. Practical skills and theoretical knowledge, with a strong focus on developing graduates as professionals capable of greatness in their careers are the hallmarks of the programme.
Accredited by
- BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
Career Paths
- Software Development
- Software Engineering
- Data Science
- Dev Ops
- Further study and research
Skills taught
- IT Literacy
- Competency in media literacy
- Communications and collaboration
- Digital scholarship and information literacy
- Career and identity management
Course Highlights
Module Overview
In your Foundation Year, you’ll develop programming, data, and problem-solving skills, explore real-world challenges through technology, and build confidence, teamwork, and academic foundations for future study.
Starting your University Journey
This module helps you develop academic, personal and professional skills for university study. You’ll reflect on your progress, build confidence, and create an evidence-based portfolio to support your future learning.
Programming Fundamentals: First Steps into Software Development
This module introduces core programming concepts and software development practices, helping you plan, write, test, and refine code while building problem-solving skills and confidence using modern development environments and methodologies.
Data Solutions That Drive Change
This module introduces information systems and databases, showing you how to collect, organise, and protect data. Through real-world examples, you will discover how data powers smart, secure, and responsible decisions that drive real change.
The Impact Challenge
You’ll work in teams with other Foundation Year students to tackle real-world challenges, developing solutions through research, curiosity, collaboration, and responsible problem-solving while building skills that will support your future studies.
Course Highlights
How you’ll learn
You’ll learn by doing, through real-world activities that help you understand how learning works at university. You’ll be encouraged to ask questions, explore new ideas and work with others, as well as independently. Teaching builds confidence, critical thinking and reflection, supported by digital tools. Regular feedback helps you track progress, plan next steps and build resilience and a strong sense of belonging as you prepare for higher-level study.
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How you’ll be assessed
You’ll be assessed in different ways, including short tasks, coursework, presentations, and group work. Early assessments are designed to support your learning and help you understand what is expected at university. Most assessments are coursework-based and help you develop key skills such as research, academic writing, teamwork, and communication. You’ll also reflect on your progress and use university systems and digital tools. Clear, timely feedback will help you understand how to improve and support your next steps.
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Placements and work experience
Once you progress onto the degree course, the programme is offered in Sandwich mode where students complete at least nine months of supervised work placement. Assistance is given to students in obtaining a placement, and supervision ensures it has experiential value.
In addition, the University Placement Officers can assist students in obtaining summer and weekend placements for all students on the course.
Virtual placement and industry challenges are also integrated into the programme.
Placements allow students not only to gain experience and thus have a head start in their careers, but also to help place their studies in context and to help build confidence in their abilities. They afford the opportunity to apply what’s being learnt and learn nuances which may be otherwise hard to gain.
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Facilities
The course is supported by specialist computing labs with PCs and Macintosh computers, which support the delivery of our modules. These are available outside of teaching hours to enable you to study flexibly. Specific modules are supported with the Robotic Intelligence lab with a range of arms, mobile robots, and related technologies.
The programme is also supported by a flexible learning space which provides a community hub for the BSc Computer Science students where they can work together in a relaxed atmosphere.
Project spaces are provided for exclusive use by students on this course, providing quiet areas where students may engage in solo study without distractions or teamwork.
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Accreditations and partnerships
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Computer Science and Information Systems at USW is top in Wales for Teaching Quality (Guardian University Guide 2025).
Top in Wales
Computer Science at USW is top in Wales for overall student satisfaction and teaching quality.
National Student Survey 2025Computer Science and Information Systems at USW is top in Wales for Teaching Quality (Guardian University Guide 2025).
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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Typical qualification requirements:
- A Level: DD
- Welsh BACC: N/A
- BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma Pass Pass Pass or BTEC Diploma Pass Pass
- Access to HE: Pass Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 48 UCAS Tariff points
- T Level: P
Additional requirements include:
The University normally requires a minimum 3 GCSEs including Mathematics and English at Grade C/Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent but consideration is given to individual circumstances
International applications welcomed:
We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence, please view our dedicated country pages.
English language requirements
International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 4 overall and a minimum of 4 in each component or equivalent.
Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.
If you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.
If you do not meet the English entry criteria, please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.
Contextual offers
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.
USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.
We're here to help
Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.
Fees and Funding
£9,790
per year*£17,200
per year*Additional Costs
Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of stationery, printing, or equipment during your foundation year. For costs after you progress to year 1 of your degree programme, please see the list below.
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Introducing Calon
We are investing in the future of STEM with the exciting new Calon building at the heart of our Pontypridd Campus.
University Quality Assurance
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.
Life at USW
Halls are a big part of your student experience and there’s accommodation at all three of our locations. If you don’t want to live near the campus, there are great transport links to keep you connected.
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How to apply
All applications for full-time undergraduate courses or foundation degrees should be made via UCAS. Take the next step: Apply through UCAS. You can apply to us directly for all part-time undergraduate courses, if you’re seeking advanced entry or you’re an international student. To apply directly, please choose the application form below for your preferred start date and mode of study (full-time or part-time).
Advanced entry
If you already have a relevant qualification or experience related to the course you're applying for, you may be eligible to start at a later stage of the course. For example, students from partner colleges can ‘top up’ their qualifications to a degree by joining us in Year Two or Year Three of a course. This process is known as ‘advanced entry’, you can apply directly to the University for 'advanced entry' using the application forms provided above.
Applicants accepted through advanced entry may study a different combination of modules to those advertised, as they will be joining a course already in progress. You will be contacted and advised about these modules once your application has been processed and an offer made.
International admissions
International applicants can apply to us directly. If the University has an in-country team in your region, your application will be assigned to them for assistance.
