BSc (Hons)

Computing

Our BCS-accredited computing degree is ranked top in Wales and top 10 in the UK for Information Technology and Systems in the Complete University Guide 2023. You’ll develop essential skills and gain a deep understanding of the technologies you’ll need for a long and varied career in the fast-moving IT industry.

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Key Course Details

  • UCAS Code

    G401

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £9,535*

  • International students

    £16,200*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.

  • UCAS Code

    I103

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £9,535*

  • International students

    £16,200*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.

Computing skills are desirable and transferrable; create a bright future career with this practical course.

DESIGNED FOR

If you’ve enjoyed studying a computer-based subject at A-Level or BTEC, or even if you’ve just had fun playing around with your own computer or using technology for solving problems, this is the course for you. The course is both hands-on and provides theoretical learning that is tied closely to practice.

Accredited by

  • BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT

Career paths

  • Programmer 
  • Applications developer  
  • Database administrator   
  • IT project manager  
  • Web developer  
  • Network engineer  

Skills taught

  • Software development  
  • Web development  
  • Database development  
  • Professionalism  

An abstract 3D illustration of a circuit board with futuristic server code processing showing an orange, green, and blue technology background with bokeh

Course highlights

BCS accredited 

We’re accredited by the BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT, assuring you of high standards. 

Designed By Industry

A future-proofed degree with content shaped by major industry employers.

Applying Your Knowledge

This course offers the perfect balance of theoretical and practical skills that will make you highly desirable as a graduate.

Preparing You to Be an IT Practitioner 

We’ll help you to develop your judgement and decision-making across technical, managerial, and legal skills.

Module Overview

Build your skills and knowledge from the ground up, at a pace that develops deep understanding and competence. You’ll graduate equipped with project management skills and will be using industry-approved approaches, so you fit right in when you move into your dream job.

Year One
Designing and Implementing Interactive Systems
Computer Systems and Network Technologies
Professionalism and Employability*
Information Engineering
Computer Programming
Mathematics and Statistics for Computing

 

Year Two
Project Management and Professional Practice
Dynamic Website Development
Web Content Management Technologies
Database Development
Team Application Project and PPE
Operating System Theory and Implementation
Year Three
Individual Project - Informatics
Advanced Integrated Computing Devices  
Advanced Databases and Modelling  
Advanced Internet and Mobile Computing 
GIS and the Spatial Web  
The Computing Professional in Practice  
*Part of this module can be studied through the medium of Welsh

In your first year, you’ll learn web design, how to access and store data, and how to customise and build simple applications. You’ll gain first-hand experience of how theories are applied to real-world problems and how to solve them.

Designing and Implementing Interactive Systems 
Learn web design and development using HTML and CSS, understanding what makes a good website and how to create one from scratch. 

Computer Systems and Network Technologies  
Gain first-hand experience of how computers are connected in a network, applying your skills to real-world problems and scenarios. 

Professionalism and Employability*  
Delve into the legal, social, ethical, and professional issues that prepare you for a career in computing and IT. 

*Part of this module can be studied through the medium of Welsh

Information Engineering 
Get to grips with how information systems allow us to store and access data, as you’re introduced to the methods used to securely create databases.   

Computer Programming 
Customise and build simple applications after being introduced to the fundamentals of procedural programming using the C# language. 

Mathematics and Statistics for Computing
Learn to apply and interpret various problem-solving techniques that will help you throughout the course

Build on your skills by implementing systems and databases, and gain practical experience in installing, configuring, and managing an operating system. Take advantage of a work placement in the computing industry to gain relevant experience and boost your CV.

Project Management and Professional Practice  
Explore different best-practice approaches to organising a project from the planning stage to completion.  

Dynamic Website Development  
Building on your web skills from year one, gain experience in finding and using appropriate web and scripting tools.  

Web Content Management Technologies  
Implement a working Content Management System (CMS) and learn how to make your content accessible using Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) practices.

Database Development  
Take your database skills further as you use appropriate techniques to design and implement relational and spatial databases.  

Team Application Project and PPE  
The Professional Practice and Employability module gives you real-world work experience which we help provide. You’ll also work as part of a team to create a piece of software. 

Operating System Theory and Implementation  
Gain practical experience installing, configuring, and managing an operating system. Then learn how to manage a network of connected computers. 

Choose your favourite topic and bring it to life. Get hands-on with the Internet of Things and work with Geographical Information Systems, operating systems, and network technologies.

Individual Project - Informatics 
Time to get creative with your favourite topic from the course. Explore the subject in depth and create something special.  

Advanced Integrated Computing Devices 
Design and create solutions to practical problems in homes, workplaces, and public spaces by getting your hands on Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.  

Advanced Databases and Modelling
You’ve already learned about databases, now you can become an expert. Take things further as you design solutions to complex and realistic problems.  

Advanced Internet and Mobile Computing 
Building on previous modules, you’ll design and create modern web applications that will be interactive, and accessible using mobile devices.  

GIS and the Spatial Web 
You’ll use a variety of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) techniques to see how maps and location data can be used to solve real-world problems. 

The Computing Professional in Practice 
Get ready to apply your skills as a professional in the workplace as this module works with you on applying yourself in the computing industry. 

Course Highlights

How you'll Learn

We’ve worked with employers and students to create an accredited course that reflects  current industry practice and delivered in a hands-on style. You’ll spend a lot of time in our computer labs, learning by doing and using our cutting-edge equipment to be creative and innovative.  

For assessments, you’ll complete a variety of coursework tasks, individually and as part of a group, that focus on your practical skills. You might make a website, or a piece of software, create a database, or design a solution for a real-world problem using IT. 

We draw heavily on real-world problems, presenting you with realistic working challenges to build your skills.

Teaching staff

We’re an enthusiastic team with a wide range of expertise in the industry and academia, from Artificial Intelligence to advanced internet and mobile computing. We’re keen to keep up with this fast-moving industry, so we make sure our modules are modified to reflect any change in code or software, so they’re always relevant.

We pride ourselves on providing you with a friendly team who will know you by your name and not your student ID number. Through your years studying with us, we’ll offer any individual support you may need. This doesn’t stop once you graduate, either – we’re problem solvers by nature – we’ll be on hand to help you.

Placements and work experience

You can choose to study full-time across three years, or as a sandwich degree, where you can spend an entire year working in the industry in the UK or abroad. There is also the option to study the course part-time through the Network75 scheme, where you will work with one of our partner employers, earning money whilst you study. It usually takes five years to complete your degree this way.  

In your second year, you’ll complete a 70-hour work placement as part of your studies, which will help you further understand the world of work in IT through first-hand experience.  

Facilities

Our computer labs are stocked with the latest equipment for you to use throughout your degree. We use labs for practical classes, alongside our lecture theatres and classrooms.

One of the most impressive things we have is a dedicated Internet of Things teaching space and a robotics lab, which are available for you to use anytime.

In 2026, the course will have a new building, containing more than 40 teaching, learning and research spaces. The building will include electronics and hydraulics labs, a flight simulator, virtual reality capabilities, and exhibition spaces.

computing student working at computer, with images of video games on the wall above

Top in Wales

For Computer Science and Information Systems.

Guardian University Guide 2024

Careers and Employability

Graduate careers

We're focused on teaching you the skills and software you will be using in real life, so you’ll stand out and be an asset to your future employers.  

Our graduates typically enter the IT industry in a wide array of roles, from technical support, and database administrators, to technical leads and project managers. We’ve had recent graduates use their managerial skills to take roles in managing a team of computer scientists.  

This degree also provides a strong foundation for those interested in studying at postgraduate level and beyond and beyond in any computing-based subjects.

Careers support

As undergraduates, your time with us is supported by our fantastic Careers Team, who will share their extensive industry contacts with you, helping you find the right graduate role.  

Throughout the course, you’ll meet the Careers Team regularly as they help you find work placements and teach you how to promote yourself in the computing industry once you graduate. 

In your second year, you have the chance to take on work experience, and this can be a powerful way to build industry contacts. Your experience will also provide you with insight into what roles you might want to do once you graduate. 

Industry partners

We work closely with our students to ensure they get the most out their work placement opportunities. Many students who study part-time through the Network 75 scheme, or who participate in the Sandwich Year programme, end up forging long partnerships with their employers, taking up full-time roles after graduating.  

All students get the chance to work in placements that allow them to develop their industry contacts and help them figure out what areas of IT they want to work in.

We work with a range of industry partners including Capgemini, National Cyber Security Centre, Thales, and Admiral. 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

UCAS points: 104 (or above)

Typical qualification requirements:

  • A Level: BCC
  • Welsh BACC: Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales Grade C in the Skills Challenge Certificate and BC at A Level
  • BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit 
  • Access to HE: Pass the Access to HE Diploma and obtain a minimum of 104 UCAS tariff points

 

Additional requirements include:

The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics and English at Grade C 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 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing 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

UK Full-time Fee

£9,535

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£16,200

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£16,200

per year*

Further Information

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.

 

Fees and Funding Scholarships and Bursaries Cost of Living Support

Additional Costs

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.

Investing in your future

We are investing in the future of STEM at USW with an exciting new Computing, Engineering and Technology building at our Pontypridd Campus.


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.

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.
 

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.

Work, earn and learn!

This course is also available through Network75, a combined work and study route.

Learn more