Computer Science with Foundation Year BSc

Program Overview

---

Computer Science with Foundation Year BSc

Course Description

Our integrated Science, Technology and Engineering (STEM) Foundation Year degrees are aimed at students who wish to study a STEM subject, such as computer science, but don’t have the traditional entry requirements.

The course is run on the University of Leicester campus like any other, and you will be studying alongside other students who applied for, and slightly missed out on, a place on a course similar to yours. In the first year of this course you will all be working towards passing a foundation year (year 0), which will enable automatic progression onto year 1 of any of our BSc (or MComp) Computer Sciences courses.

• By completing the STEM Foundation Year you will automatically progress onto the first year of your chosen degree.
• You will be taught by our expert academic staff from across a number of departments.
• The course strongly emphasises the development of essential professional and personal skills, which are necessary throughout your studies and beyond.
• During your foundation year you will join our student community and be able to enjoy all aspects of the University of Leicester student experience. You will be able to join the Students’ Union, use our academic and leisure facilities, live in our accommodation and access all our support services.
• You will have a personal tutor to support you.

Entry Requirements

• A-levels: BCC or points equivalent from your best three A-levels. One science subject preferred from: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, Geography, Geology, Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Statistics. You may be required to take an additional maths assessment test dependant on A-level subjects taken.
• GCSE: Grades C/4 in Maths (if no A-level Maths) and C/4 in English.
• BTEC Diploma: DDM in a science related subject, which must include appropriate maths and science content. You may be required to take an additional maths assessment test.
• International Baccalaureate: Pass diploma with 26 points minimum, and must include appropriate maths and science content.
• Access to HE: Pass diploma with 24 Distinctions in a science related subject, which must include appropriate maths and science content. You may be required to take an additional maths assessment test.
• T-levels: Merit overall in Digital Production, Design and Development. Maths test required.

Other official national and international qualifications considered from across the world. You can review some of the qualifications we accept on our countries page and English Language equivalencies.

If your qualification or country is not listed, please contact us for more information, including the name and result of the qualification you have studied.

Contextual Offers

The University of Leicester is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all applicants from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to support students who may be impacted by the area they live in, their personal circumstances or who have completed one of our progression programmes. These offers are usually one or two grades lower than the standard entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must apply for an eligible course and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.

Selection Process

When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.

English Language Requirements

IELTS 6.0 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability.

If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.

International Qualifications

Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.

Countries list

Fees and Funding

UK Students

• £9,535 in your first year. Tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation, subject to government regulations. The inflation rate used will be the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage payments (RPIX)
• Year Abroad: your fee will be £1,430 for that year
• Year in Industry: your fee will be £1,905 for that year

Find out more about scholarships and funding.

International Students

• £20,250 per year
• Year Abroad: £5062.50, which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee
• Year in Industry: £3,037.50, which is 15% of the full-time tuition fee

If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.

If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).

Scholarship

Find out more about scholarships and funding.

Accreditation

This degree is accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS).

Careers and Employability

Many of our modules feature external speakers who are able to give first-hand accounts of how the latest computing innovations are used in industry.

You will work on a project commissioned by a real client and gain an insight into the practices of design, implementation and professional project management. You will be taught how to specify, design and develop software systems, gaining the technical skills and insights that employers value very highly.

Graduate Destinations

Graduates from Computing have gone on to many different careers, whether working for large companies, such as Accenture, BAE systems, Bloomberg and LogicaCMG, or for small, innovative start-ups. You may go on to apply your knowledge directly as a software engineer or systems analyst – or you may apply your IT skills and problem-solving abilities in a related field such as finance, marketing or general business.

Careers and Employability Service

Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Careers and Employability Service. We're here to give you a lifetime offer of support, even after graduation. Our team of specialist careers advisers and mentors will help you every step of the way. From supporting you with CVs and interviews, to volunteering opportunities and placements, we're here to help you reach your professional goals.

Related Courses

• Mathematics with Foundation Year
• Engineering with Foundation Year
• Physics with Foundation Year
• Geology with Foundation Year

Sustainable Development Goals

We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:

• Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
• Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
• Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
• Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
• Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals

Course Structure

Foundation Year

• Computational Mathematics
• Introductory Linux
• Algorithms and Logic
• The Digital World
• Introductory Data Analysis
• Introduction to Programming (double module)
• Academic Support

Year 1

• Computing Fundamentals
• Programming Fundamentals
• Mathematics Fundamentals
• Computer Architecture
• Introduction to Object Oriented Programming
• Requirements Engineering and Professional Practice
• Algorithms, Data Structures and Advanced Programming
• Foundations of Computation

Year 2

• Software Architecture and System Development I
• Project Management
• Operating Systems and Networks
• Databases and Domain Modelling

Choose one option module from:

• Software Architecture and System Development - II
• Software Engineering Group Project
• User Interfaces Design and Evaluation
• Data Analytics
• Entertainment Technology and Design
• Foundations of Artificial Intelligence

Year in Industry or Abroad (optional)

If you want to, you can spend the third year of the BSc - which will be your fourth year at Leicester - studying abroad at one of our partner institutions or working in an industrial placement. Alternatively, you can opt to continue studying at the University and complete your degree in four years.

Year Abroad

We’ll make sure you have everything you need for your future career: not just by awarding you a high quality degree, but also by helping you to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to make your mark in the world as a Citizen of Change. One way you can do this is by opting to take a Year Abroad between Years 2 and 3 of your degree.

Studying abroad is not just for people who are interested in travelling and meeting new people. It is about acquiring life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. Whether you go on to a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.

For more information, including a list of destinations, please visit our Study Abroad website.

Year in Industry

An industrial placement is normally a paid company position, more than offsetting the additional cost of the extra year. It is a fantastic opportunity to gain experience of a working environment. You must apply for your placement yourself, but we will help you with the process.

During your placement you will be visited by a member of staff; when you return to the University you may give a presentation of your work experience. You will be provided with a log book to document your placement and will write a final report detailing your work, which will be assessed as part of your degree.

We provide excellent careers support, and our Industrial Advisory Board assists us in keeping our degrees fit for industrial needs. A year in industry is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the type of profession that you can choose after you graduate, and can also point you towards postgraduate studies that may help you strengthen the profile that you have identified for your career.

Your placement effectively begins in year two when you will be briefed in writing a CV, interview techniques and the procedures that you need to follow to obtain a placement. In addition, a list of potential industrial partners who have taken students in past years will normally be provided.

A year in industry still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding tab of this page for details.

Final Year

• Computer Science Project (double module)
• Computers, Society and Professionalism

Choose two option modules from:

• Computational Intelligence and Software Engineering
• Software Measurement and Quality Assurance
• Mobile and Web Applications
• C++ Programming
• Internet and Cloud Computing

Then choose two option modules from:

• Analysis and Design of Algorithms
• Big Data and Predictive Analytics
• Foundations of Cybersecurity
• Technology Management
• Emerging Technologies
• Functional Programming
• AI for Space

Why Leicester?

In your second-year group project you will get the experience of working in a software development team and delivering a solution to a real client.

You will have 24-hour access to general-purpose labs, containing fully-networked Windows/Linux dual-boot PCs, and wireless access for laptops.

92.5% positivity score in subjects aligned to Computer Science for ‘Availability of teaching staff’ in the NSS 2024 (according to Times Higher Education NSS 2023 methodology applied to the NSS 2024 data). View the NSS questions all students were asked for individual themes.

This degree is accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS).

Teaching and Learning

Teaching in the School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences includes lectures and lab classes together with small group tutorials. Lectures include innovative software demonstrations as well as more traditional presentations.

State-of-the-art web-based materials, automated feedback and marking systems, on-line tests and electronic coursework submission all provide an excellent modern learning environment. Apart from project work, which is assessed by coursework only, most modules are assessed partly by coursework and partly by exam.

You will be assigned your own personal tutor who can provide advice about not just academic matters but also welfare concerns and careers development. You can see your personal tutor at any time by appointment or during office hours.

Independent Learning

When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library and our social study spaces in halls of residence.

Your contact hours will depend on the option modules you select. You can see details of the contact hours on individual module pages.

Academic Support

Our Centre for Academic Achievement provides help in the following areas:

• study and exam skills
• academic writing
• presentations
• dissertations
• numerical data skills
• referencing sources

Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.

Teaching Staff

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. PhD research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Our teaching is informed by the research we do. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.

Program Outline

---

Computer Science with Foundation Year BSc - University of Leicester

---

Degree Overview:

This integrated Science, Technology and Engineering (STEM) Foundation Year degree is designed for students who wish to study computer science but lack the traditional entry requirements. The program is run on the University of Leicester campus alongside other students who applied for, and slightly missed out on, a place on a similar course. The first year focuses on a foundation year (year 0), enabling automatic progression onto year 1 of any BSc (or MComp) Computer Sciences courses.

---

Objectives:

• To provide students with a solid foundation in the principles and practices of computer science.
• To develop essential professional and personal skills necessary for academic success and future careers.
• To prepare students for the challenges of a rapidly evolving field.

---

Outline:

---

Foundation Year (Year 0):

• Modules:
• Mathematics 1
• Introductory Linux
• Algorithms and Logic
• The Digital World
• Introductory Data Analysis
• Introduction to Programming (double module)
• Academic Support

---

Year 1 (Second Year at Leicester):

• Modules:
• Computing Fundamentals
• Programming Fundamentals
• Mathematics Fundamentals
• Computer Architecture
• Introduction to Object Oriented Programming
• Requirements Engineering and Professional Practice
• Algorithms, Data Structures and Advanced Programming
• Foundations of Computation
• Transfer Option: After the first semester, students may be able to transfer to the BSc in Software Engineering.

---

Year 2 (Third Year at Leicester):

• Core Modules:
• Software Architecture and System Development I
• Project Management
• Operating Systems and Networks
• Databases and Domain Modelling
• Option Modules (Choose one):
• Software Architecture and System Development - II
• Software Engineering Group Project
• User Interfaces Design and Evaluation
• Data Analytics
• Entertainment Technology and Design
• Foundations of Artificial Intelligence
• Group Project: Students work in teams to develop software commissioned by a real client, learning teamwork, project management, and professional communication skills.

---

Year in Industry or Abroad (Optional):

• Year Abroad: Students can choose to study abroad at a partner institution between Years 2 and 3.
• Tuition fees are lower for a year abroad.
• Students may be eligible for travel grants.
• Places are offered competitively based on academic performance.
• Language courses are available through the Languages at Leicester scheme.
• Year in Industry: Students can choose to work in an industrial placement for a paid company position.
• Students must apply for placements independently, but the university provides support.
• Students are visited by university staff during their placement.
• A final report detailing the placement experience is assessed as part of the degree.
• Tuition fees are lower for a year in industry.

---

Final Year (Fourth Year at Leicester):

• Core Modules:
• Computer Science Project (double module)
• Computers, Society and Professionalism
• Option Modules (Choose two):
• Computational Intelligence and Software Engineering
• Software Measurement and Quality Assurance
• Mobile and Web Applications
• C++ Programming
• Internet and Cloud Computing
• Option Modules (Choose two):
• Analysis and Design of Algorithms
• Big Data and Predictive Analytics
• Foundations of Cybersecurity
• Technology Management
• Emerging Technologies
• Functional Programming
• AI for Space
• Final Year Project: Students can pursue their own interests in depth with one-to-one supervision.

---

Assessment:

• Assessment Methods:
• Coursework
• Exams
• Group projects
• Presentations
• Final year project
• Assessment Criteria:
• Demonstrating understanding of course concepts.
• Applying knowledge to practical problems.
• Developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Communicating effectively in written and oral forms.
• Working effectively in teams.

---

Teaching:

• Teaching Methods:
• Lectures
• Lab classes
• Small group tutorials
• Innovative software demonstrations
• State-of-the-art web-based materials
• Automated feedback and marking systems
• Online tests
• Electronic coursework submission
• Faculty:
• Experienced teaching team with expertise in computer science.
• PhD research students contribute to teaching under supervision.
• Teaching informed by ongoing research.
• Unique Approaches:
• Emphasis on practical application of knowledge through group projects and final year project.
• Access to 24-hour general-purpose labs with networked PCs and wireless access.
• Support from the Centre for Academic Achievement for study skills, academic writing, presentations, and more.

---

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths:
• Software engineer
• Systems analyst
• IT consultant
• Data scientist
• Web developer
• Network administrator
• Cybersecurity specialist
• Opportunities:
• Graduates work for large companies like Accenture, BAE Systems, Bloomberg, and LogicaCMG.
• Graduates also work for small, innovative start-ups.
• The university provides career support through the Careers and Employability Service.
• Outcomes:
• 97% of informatics students are employed or studying for a Masters degree six months after graduating.

---

Other:

• The degree is accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS).
• The university is committed to providing skills and knowledge to help students tackle global challenges.
• The program aligns with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
• Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
• Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
• Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
• Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
• Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals

---

UK Students

Starting in 2024 £9,250 in your first year. Tuition fees are subject to government regulations and may change in future years Year Abroad: your fee will be £1,385 for that year Year in Industry: your fee will be 15% of the full-time tuition fee that applies in that year

---

International Students

Starting in 2024 £24,500 fees per year Year Abroad: £6,125, which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee Year in Industry: £3,675, which is 15% of the full-time tuition fee If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee. From 2022 onwards, EU nationals will pay the International fee.