| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-23 | 2023-07-04 |
| 2024-01-23 | - |
Program Overview
Develop theoretical and practical abilities in software design, development and experimentation, to become an innovative computing professional.
This course is for you if you’re interested in studying computer science but want to wait until later in your degree before deciding what area to specialise in. It's a broad-ranging course providing you with the knowledge to apply computer science methods to new and emerging computing problems, and learn skills highly valued by employers.
You will gain a solid foundation in computer science with rigorous theory and practical experience. The course combines software systems design, software development, interaction design, artificial intelligence, computational mathematics, computer graphics, and vision.
Tailor to your interests
In the first year, you will learn the basics of computer science, including mathematics and programming skills, followed by more advanced and specialised units in the following years. In the second year, you'll complete a group project with other students to design and build an interactive application.
You can specialise in a particular field through optional units and an individual project combining your interests in a specific area of computer science. You’ll regularly meet with an academic who specialises in your chosen field.
Extracurricular support and activities
As a student here, you’ll be part of a supportive department, with lots of opportunities to get involved in societies and events such as hackathons, coding competitions and conferences.
The Bath Computer Science Society is a very active society and organises events throughout the year.
Put your learning into practice
Alongside teaching, our academics carry out research in important areas of computer science including artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, mathematical foundations and visual computing. You’ll have the chance to work alongside them on your own research project.
Develop your professional skills
You will attend a skills development programme during the first and second years of your course. These timetabled sessions focus on developing your understanding of your personal strengths and transferable skills, and how these can be used within industry. The programme includes employer events, where you can learn more about the opportunities available to you when you graduate.
Use specialist facilities
You will have access to purpose-built teaching labs, including a maker lab, allowing you to explore, create, experiment and share software-driven and physical artefact projects in a collaborative workspace context. You will also have access to specialised hardware (for example GPUs) and multiple cloud computing services for the analysis of complex, data-intensive processes. You will have access to most of our specialist labs 24/7.
Get ready for your future career
Our courses offer excellent graduate prospects. Recent roles include Business Analyst, Software Developer, Hardware Engineer and Technology Consultant at companies such as:
Many of our graduates also go on to postgraduate study in preparation for academic or industry-based research careers.
Learn more on our Virtual Experience page
You can learn more about studying computer science at Bath by visiting our Computer science Virtual Experience page to hear from staff and students in the Department.
Develop theoretical and practical abilities in software design, development and experimentation, to become an innovative computing professional.
This course is for you if you’re interested in studying computer science but want to wait until later in your degree before deciding what area to specialise in. It's a broad-ranging course providing you with the knowledge to apply computer science methods to new and emerging computing problems, and learn skills highly valued by employers.
You will gain a solid foundation in computer science with rigorous theory and practical experience. The course combines software systems design, software development, interaction design, artificial intelligence, computational mathematics, computer graphics, and vision.
Tailor to your interests
In the first year, you will learn the basics of computer science, including mathematics and programming skills, followed by more advanced and specialised units in the following years. In the second year, you'll complete a group project with other students to design and build an interactive application.
You can specialise in a particular field through optional units and an individual project combining your interests in a specific area of computer science. You’ll regularly meet with an academic who specialises in your chosen field.
Extracurricular support and activities
As a student here, you’ll be part of a supportive department, with lots of opportunities to get involved in societies and events such as hackathons, coding competitions and conferences.
The Bath Computer Science Society is a very active society and organises events throughout the year.
Put your learning into practice
Alongside teaching, our academics carry out research in important areas of computer science including artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, mathematical foundations and visual computing. You’ll have the chance to work alongside them on your own research project.
Develop your professional skills
You will attend a skills development programme during the first and second years of your course. These timetabled sessions focus on developing your understanding of your personal strengths and transferable skills, and how these can be used within industry. The programme includes employer events, where you can learn more about the opportunities available to you when you graduate.
Use specialist facilities
You will have access to purpose-built teaching labs, including a maker lab, allowing you to explore, create, experiment and share software-driven and physical artefact projects in a collaborative workspace context. You will also have access to specialised hardware (for example GPUs) and multiple cloud computing services for the analysis of complex, data-intensive processes. You will have access to most of our specialist labs 24/7.
Get ready for your future career
Our courses offer excellent graduate prospects. Recent roles include Business Analyst, Software Developer, Hardware Engineer and Technology Consultant at companies such as:
Many of our graduates also go on to postgraduate study in preparation for academic or industry-based research careers.
Learn more on our Virtual Experience page
You can learn more about studying computer science at Bath by visiting our Computer science Virtual Experience page to hear from staff and students in the Department.
Program Outline
Course structure
This course lasts 3 years. It starts in September 2023 and ends in 2026. Welcome week starts on 25 September 2023.
Occasionally we make changes to our programmes in response to, for example, feedback from students, developments in research and the field of studies, and the requirements of accrediting bodies. You will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.
Units
At Bath, our courses are made up of units of study. Compulsory units cover core concepts that you'll need to understand as part of your degree programme. Some of our courses also offer the opportunity for you to study optional units. These allow you to specialise in particular areas of knowledge that interest you.
As an undergraduate, you will be expected to take 60 credits (ECTS) in each academic year. These are usually split into 30 credits for each semester you study. Sixty credits are the equivalent of 1200 notional hours of study; this includes contact time with staff and your own independent learning.
Year 1
Compulsory units
Artificial intelligence 1
10 credits
Computer systems architectures
10 credits
Discrete mathematics and databases
10 credits
Mathematics for computation
10 credits
Programming 1
10 credits
Programming 2
10 credits
Year 2
Compulsory units
Advanced programming
5 credits
Algorithms and complexity
10 credits
Cybersecurity
5 credits
Human-computer interaction 1
5 credits
Human-computer interaction 2
5 credits
Machine learning
10 credits
Software engineering
10 credits
Visual computing
10 credits
Year 3
Options
Final Year Options
60 credits
Learning and assessment
You’ll be taught and assessed by a variety of methods and it will vary between units. These methods are designed to promote in-depth learning and understanding of the subject.
Learning
Assessment
Learning and teaching
Contact hours
Timetabled contact hours, which may be made up of lectures, tutorials and laboratory classes, vary throughout your course and between courses but are typically between 15 and 20 hours a week in your first year.
Independent learning
In addition to timetabled contact hours, you are expected to undertake independent learning and assessment activities. Typically, this might be around 15 to 25 hours per week in your first year, and include individual research, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, preparing course working assignments, presentations, or revising for exams. After your first year, the emphasis on independent learning becomes greater, for example in a final year project.
Assessment breakdown
You will be assessed by a range of methods designed to develop and test your skills and knowledge. These include closed and open book examinations, essays, reports and presentations.
As a guide, 40 to 60% of your course will be assessed through examinations, and 40 to 60% through coursework, including practical work. The balance of assessment methods will vary throughout your degree and will depend on your choice of optional units.
In your final year you will be expected to complete a project or dissertation. You will primarily be assessed as an individual but may also be assessed as part of a group.
We can make reasonable adjustments to assessment procedures for students with disabilities, take a look at our Disability Service’s pages for information.
Recognition of professional qualifications
As well as being recognised as a higher academic qualification, a number of our degrees are also accredited by professional bodies in the United Kingdom. An accredited degree may entitle you to work in a specific profession within the UK, and abroad (where there are reciprocating arrangements with professional bodies in other countries).
The requirements to practise a profession vary from country to country. If you wish to practise your profession outside the United Kingdom, you are advised to confirm that the UK professional qualification you seek is valid in the country in which you are intending to work.
The United Kingdom currently subscribes to The Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications (MRPQ) Directive. The MRPQ Directive provides a reciprocal framework of rules which enables European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals to have their professional qualifications recognised in a state other than the one in which the qualification was obtained. In the event of a no deal Brexit, from 1 January 2021, the MRPQ Directive will no longer apply to the UK. However, it is anticipated that there will be a new system for recognising professional qualifications between the UK, EEA, and Switzerland.