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Computer Science

Entry requirements


Access to HE Diploma

M:18

An Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 18 Level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

English Language at grade C or 4, and Maths at grade B or 5.

UCAS Tariff

112-120

This must include at least 64 points from two A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example: BBC-BBB at A Level, DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma, Merit overall from a T level qualification, or a combination of qualifications (which may include AS Levels, EPQ and general studies).

About this course


This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Other options

4 years | Sandwich | 2024

Subject

Computer science

**Please check the Sheffield Hallam University website for the latest information.**

**Course summary:**

- Gain the skills needed to write software for a diverse range of industries

- Develop complex software and systems using analytical and mathematical approaches

- Understand the fundamental principles behind the software that powers our world

You’ll develop a deep understanding of practical computation, including key concepts in the machine learning domain. You'll become a programmer who understands and can build upon the fundamental principles behind the software that underpins modern society across a variety of platforms and domains using different programming languages.

**How you learn:**

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

During your first year you will be introduced to programming and the principles of mathematics before moving on to algorithm design and software engineering. You will be assigned an academic member of staff as an academic adviser who will give you guidance and support on academic issues.

One of the main themes of this course is problem solving and you’ll achieve this fundamental skill by working on projects in the software industry using industry-standard tools and techniques. This will give you an opportunity to work with others in small teams, helping to prepare you for the world of work after you graduate.

During your second and final year you’ll have the opportunity to choose elective modules, allowing you to tailor the degree to suit your interests.

During your final year, you’ll then complete a project in an area of computer science of your choice, allowing you to follow an area of interest and build skills relevant for your future career.

The combination of learning methods across the course allows you to develop a range of skills through problem-solving activities, applied learning and teamwork, providing a practical approach to learning and encouraging self-development.

**Applied learning**

**Work placements**

You’ll have the opportunity to complete a year-long work placement between your second and third year. A placement is widely recognised as the gold standard opportunity to gain personal and professional development through real-world experience.

Your placement will allow you to apply the knowledge and skills gained on your course, in areas such as web development, mobile applications, backend software and desktop solutions.

Your placement year will allow you to gain an Applied Professional Diploma in addition to your degree which will enhance your graduate profile and give you the edge with future employers.

**Live projects**

In your first and second years you’ll work in a group on a real client-based project. You’ll analyse their requirements, then design, implement and test a prototype which you will present to your client. This will allow you to experience the types of demands faced by commercial software developers and increase your confidence while you’re applying for your work placements.

Students have worked on live projects with industrial collaborators such as Next, XLN, Elanco and Elaros (Digital Health). These projects have involved the use of augmented reality and 3D technologies, machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies, cloud services and mobile development. Students have often found placements as a result of being recognised for the excellent work they have done for these live projects with the host company.

**Networking opportunities**

Throughout the course there’ll be numerous opportunities for you to engage with career management, career fairs and workshops, employer presentations, visits, and professional advisers.

Modules

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

**Year 1**

**Compulsory modules**

Databases And The Web
Fundamentals Of Mathematics And Computer Architectures
Programming For Computer Science
Software Projects

**Year 2**

**Compulsory modules**

Advanced Programming
Algorithms And Data Structures
Professional Software Projects

**Elective modules**

Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning 1
Game Development
Handling Data In The Cloud
Mobile Applications Development

**Year 3**

**Optional modules**

Placement Year

**Final year**

**Compulsory modules**

Development Project
Software Architecture And Design

**Elective modules**

Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning 2
Contemporary Software Engineering
Functional Programming
Machine Learning Algorithms And Heuristics
Robotics
Secure Software Engineering

Assessment methods

Coursework, Practical

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£16,655
per year
International
£16,655
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

Extra funding

Scholarships, discounts and bursaries may be available to students who study this course.

The Uni


Course location:

Sheffield Hallam University

Department:

College of Business Technology and Engineering

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

73%
Computer science

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Computer science

Teaching and learning

70%
Staff make the subject interesting
76%
Staff are good at explaining things
72%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
81%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

68%
Library resources
71%
IT resources
80%
Course specific equipment and facilities
31%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

91%
UK students
9%
International students
95%
Male students
5%
Female students
83%
2:1 or above
14%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

D
C
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Computer science

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£23,500
med
Average annual salary
92%
med
Employed or in further education
49%
low
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

49%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals
14%
Information technology technicians
4%
Engineering professionals

This is a newly-classified subject area for this kind of data, so we don’t currently have very much information to display or analyse yet. The subject is linked to important and growing computing industries, and over time we can expect more students to study them — there could be opportunities that open up for graduates in these subjects as the economy develops over the next few years.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Computer science

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£25k

£25k

£27k

£27k

£30k

£30k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here