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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UCAS Code
G59F
Start Date
September 2027
Location
Pontypridd
Campus Code
A
International students: £17,600*
Course overview
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.
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.
Accreditations
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We’re accredited by the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
Why study this course?
What you'll study
In your Foundation Year, you’ll explore biology, chemistry, and real-world challenges, build practical, academic, and teamwork skills, and develop curiosity, confidence, and problem-solving abilities to prepare for future study and impact.
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.
You’ll explore core biological principles from molecules to whole organisms, develop practical laboratory skills, and use real-world examples to support your learning and prepare you for further study in the life sciences.
You'll develop an understanding of key chemical concepts, from molecules to reactions, build practical laboratory skills, and gain essential experience to support your future scientific studies.
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.
We regularly review our courses to keep pace with changing skills and employer needs. If a review leads to significant changes, we’ll contact you to explain what’s changing for the coming year.
Teaching and Assessment
This hands-on course gives you the chance to build practical IT skills by learning through real projects and activities. You’ll spend lots of time in our computer labs using industry-standard hardware and software to create websites, develop software, design databases and solve real-world problems. Most of your assessment will be coursework, so you can show what you can do through practical tasks rather than exams. You’ll learn from experienced and supportive staff who will know you by name and help you build the skills and confidence you need for your future career.
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.
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.
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.
You will use modern computer labs equipped with the latest hardware and software throughout your course, supporting both practical classes and independent study. Alongside lecture theatres and classrooms, you’ll have access to a dedicated Internet of Things teaching space and a robotics lab, giving you hands-on experience with emerging technologies. You can also use the labs outside of taught sessions to practise your skills, complete assignments, and build confidence with industry-standard equipment.
From September 2026, our Computing, Engineering, Technology and Built Environment courses will move into their brand-new home: the Calon building.
This £60m investment will feature more than 40 new innovative teaching, learning and research spaces, including electronics and hydraulics labs, a flight simulator, a robotics lab, clean and industrial research spaces, collaborative teaching spaces, as well as virtual reality capability, and a range of exhibition spaces.
Calon will give you access to the technology, facilities and opportunities needed to shape the future.
Course Leader
Dr Christopher Tubb
Meet Dr Christopher Tubb, an engineering and computer science specialist and Course Leader. Christopher leads the course with a strong focus on practical application, encouraging students to tackle real-world challenges through creative problem-solving and innovation. Alongside contemporary industry practice, he and the course team foster curiosity and exploration, helping students develop the skills to create novel solutions that shape the future. His research interests include robotics, pathfinding, and the application of computational techniques to areas such as modelling human behaviour in computer games, bringing cutting-edge insights directly into the learning experience.
Have questions about the course, what you'll study, or whether it's the right fit for you? Get in touch with Christopher directly via email.
"I am now NCSC certified, so employers look at that, and it gives that professionalism aspect to the course."
Niamh McConville, Computer Science graduate
Entry Requirements
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.
How to applyContextual admissions policyAsk us a questionTypical qualification requirements
A Level:
DD
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
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.
International studentsPre-Sessional EnglishEnglish 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.
Fees and Funding
Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.
Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy. We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. 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 travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
per year
Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.
Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy. We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. 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 travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
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Explore our facilities
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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).
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Apply direct
Computer Science including Foundation Year
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Full-time, 4 years
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September
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Pontypridd
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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 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.
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