Foundation Year in Computing

Program Overview

Foundation Year in Computing

Overview

Our Foundation Year in Computing is an alternative entry route for students without the formal academic profile to enter degree-level study directly.

Why Study the Foundation Year in Computing at Goldsmiths?

• We will help you develop your undergraduate academic skills, while also teaching you the foundations of programming, problem solving, and maths.
• Teaching on the programme is strongly focused on practical work in real-world situations, so you'll develop excellent technical and interpersonal skills that will enhance your employability.
• You don’t need to know how to code before you start. You'll begin by creating simple software programs, before gradually building your expertise.
• Your practical work will be underpinned by theory ranging from problem-solving strategies to professional software development models.
• You’ll benefit from Goldsmiths’ unique interdisciplinary approach to teaching computing. You'll explore how computing interacts with the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
• When you successfully complete the Foundation Year, you’ll be eligible to progress onto one of the following undergraduate computing degrees: BSc Computer Science, BSc Business Computing (Entrepreneurship), or BSc Creative Computing.

Length and Fees

• Length: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time (Foundation) followed by 3 years full-time (undergraduate degree)
• Fees:
  • Home - full-time: £9535
  • Home - part-time: £9535
  • International - full-time: £21200

Department

• Computing

What You'll Study

The Foundation Year is designed to prepare you for undergraduate study in computing. During the year you'll:

• Learn the foundations of how to program a computer
• Work on practical examples of computing applications
• Learn to develop simple software programs, which gradually increase in complexity
• Develop your mathematical and problem-solving skills
• Enhance your general study skills

The Foundation Year includes four integrated units of study:

• Studying Computers (30 credits)
• Foundations of Problem Solving (30 credits)
• Foundations of Programming (30 credits)
• Foundations of Mathematics for Computing (30 credits)

Teaching Style

This programme is taught through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, workshops, and laboratory sessions. You’ll also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed by a variety of methods, depending on your modules. These may include coursework, examinations, group work, and projects.

Careers

The explosive and ever-growing use of technology in business and commerce means that there are a whole range of different career possibilities for computing graduates.

In terms of job opportunities and salaries, the IT sector is well ahead of most other industrial and commercial sectors.

Some of the recent graduate-level careers for computing alumni have included:

• Application programmer
• Mobile app developer
• Web developer
• Video game developer
• Film special effects and post-production
• Computer music/sound engineer
• Interface designer
• Systems analyst
• Database manager

Employers include:

• FDM Academy
• HepcoMotion
• Jigsaw Systems Ltd
• KCom

Skills

The Foundation Year prepares you with the skills and knowledge necessary for studies in computing. If you successfully complete the Foundation Year and are admitted to one of our undergraduate degrees you'll benefit from technical skills and opportunities including:

• A strong understanding of how to design, develop, and apply software in all areas of business and industry
• An awareness of the fundamentals of computing (hardware, software, architecture, and operating systems)
• An understanding of programming languages
• A clear sense of the issues involved in building and maintaining reliable software for the sophisticated demands of today's market and for the software industry as it develops throughout the 21st century
• An understanding of the social context and visual design aspects of software development together with the technical skills of programming

Industrial Placement Year

Many of our degree programmes include an optional Industrial Placement Year between the second and third year of study. This offers you the invaluable opportunity to develop the practical skills and real-world experience that is sought after by employers. You're supported throughout your placement year by a placement tutor, who provides you with guidance and liaises between you and your employer.

Entry Requirements

There are no specific formal entry qualifications for this programme, and we will consider all relevant qualifications and related experience you may have.

You will be required to submit a personal statement with your application. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your interest in the subject you’ve applied for. Your referees are also welcome to include any relevant contextual comments around your academic achievements. We’ll look at all these things when making a decision on your application.

International Qualifications

We also accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.0 with no element lower than 5.5 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for degree-level study.

Funding Opportunities

We offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries, and our Careers Service can also offer advice on finding work during your studies. Find out more about funding your studies with us.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.

There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.