Program Overview

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Computer Science Incl Professional Experience

Overview

From driving cancer research forward to accurately predicting the weather, Computer Scientists are powering progress. In fact everything from social care to cybersecurity or even space travel, relies on the talents of Computer Science graduates. We would say the sky is the limit, but we’re already well beyond that!

A degree in Computer Science teaches you to approach technical problems creatively. It also gives you the information and understanding to find ground-breaking solutions to the world’s emerging problems. The course will also equip you with the practical skills to approach the specification, design, construction and use of computer systems.

In an ever changing technological climate, the Computer Science degree programme is constantly evolving to anticipate emerging digital breakthroughs. You will cover topics like machine learning, augmented reality and data analytics, but also receive a grounding in skills like hardware architecture, software engineering and simulation & modelling too.

Employer experience is paramount in this this course, from day one you will learn from prospective employers about ‘real world’ challenges. Industry placements, company sponsored hackathons and project based learning form a core part of the curriculum and vastly improve our graduate employability rates.

Entry Requirements

AAB/AAA including at least one preferred A-level (see list below) + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4
OR
AAA including at least one relevant A-level (see list below) + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4

A maximum of one BTEC/OCR Single Award or AQA Extended Certificate will be accepted as part of an applicant's portfolio of qualifications with a Distinction* being equated to a grade A at A-level and a Distinction being equated to a grade B at A-level.

Course Structure

The first year gives solid foundational knowledge around core topics in computer science, topics covered may include:

Reasoning for Problem Solving
Introduction to Software Engineering
Foundations of Computing Systems
Databases
Programming

Year 2

n the second year you will continue to build on more knowledge and take modules which will expand into more in depth topics such as:

Professional Computing Practice
Architecture and Networks
Data Structures Algorithms and Programming Languages
Information Modelling
Software Development
Theory of Computation

Students on a sandwich programme will spend a year on a paid full-time placement. The School has links with over 500 local, national and international employers, eg BT, Liberty IT, Civica, Kainos (Belfast), IBM (England), Microsoft, Oracle (Dublin), Fujitsu (Japan) and Siemens (Germany), and students are assisted
in obtaining placements.

Year 3

Placement Year

Year 4

At stage 3 you will have some choice on topics as you begin to specialise in your chosen interests. Some of the topic areas which may be available include:

Year 5

This is a four-year extended degree, established to provide a supply of particularly well-qualified graduates who will become industry leaders. It contains a blend of Computer Science knowledge and skills and business practice and management, as well as skills in conducting state-of-the-art research. Students have the option of a year's professional experience in industry.

The first two years and much of Year 3 are common with the BSc/BEng degree. Transfer to the MEng is possible for selected students at the end of Stage 2, subject to performance.

In the final (MEng stage 4 year) you will be studying advanced modules which cover technical issues to a deep level of detail alongside completing a large independent project. Such specialisms are constantly under review but example topics available may include:

Advanced Software Engineering
High Performance Computing
Advanced Computer Engineering

Career Prospects

Studying for a Computer Science degree at Queen’s will assist you in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions. Graduates from this degree at Queen’s are well regarded by employers (local, national and international).

Consultations

We regularly consult and develop links with a large number of employers including, for example, Liberty IT and Asidua who provide sponsorship for our Computer Science degree as well as Citi and Kainos who are members of the employer liaison panel for the course.

Employer Links

The School has links with over 500 IT companies both here and abroad. We benefit from the fact that there are more software companies located in N Ireland than any other part of the UK, outside of London. This offers benefits on many levels for our students, from industrial input to the content of our courses, through to year long and summer placements as well as activities such as competitions organised by the companies etc.

You should also take a look at for further information concerning the types of jobs that attract Computer Science Graduates.

Further study is also an option open to Computer Science graduates. Students can choose from a wide range of Masters programmes as well as a comprehensive list of research topics, see the School website for more information.

Northern Ireland has an excellent international reputation for the quality and supply of its software engineers. Indeed many companies, both national and international, have opted for Northern Ireland as a base for their computing divisions in recognition of the high quality of graduates produced by the local universities.

Given this situation, it is not surprising that our graduates have had unparalleled job opportunities over the years, both locally and internationally. Because of the achievements of Queen's graduates already in the software engineering profession, a Computer Science degree from Queen's is a highly respected qualification. A good Honours degree in Computer Science from Queen's is of great benefit in seeking the best jobs.

Employers, from large multinational firms to small local organisations, actively target our students, recognising that Queen's Computer Science graduates are equipped with the skills they need. On graduating the majority of graduates take up posts associated with software design and implementation. Opportunities exist in fields as diverse as finance, games, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, research, consumer products, and public services - virtually all areas of business. Some of the employers include BT, Liberty IT, Kainos, Accenture, Citi, Wombat Financial Software.

The types of career open to Computer Science graduates include: Software Engineer; Systems Analyst; Web Designer; Games Developer; Systems Developer; IT Consultant; Project Manager.

Other Career-related information
Queen’s is a member of the Russell Group and, therefore, one of the 20 universities most-targeted by leading graduate employers. Queen’s students will be advised and guided about career choice and, through the Degree Plus initiative, will have an opportunity to seek accreditation for skills development and experience gained through the wide range of extra-curricular activities on offer. See Queen’s University Belfast full Employability Statement for further information.

Degree Plus and other related initiatives
Recognising student diversity, as well as promoting employability enhancements and other interests, is part of the developmental experience at Queen’s. Students are encouraged to plan and build their own, personal skill and experiential profile through a range of activities including; recognised Queen’s Certificates, placements and other work experiences (at home or overseas), Erasmus study options elsewhere in Europe, learning development opportunities and involvement in wider university life through activities, such as clubs, societies, and sports.

Queen’s actively encourages this type of activity by offering students an additional qualification, the Degree Plus Award (and the related Researcher Plus Award for PhD and MPhil students). Degree Plus accredits wider experiential and skill development gained through extra-curricular activities that promote the enhancement of academic, career management, personal and employability skills in a variety of contexts. As part of the Award, students are also trained on how to reflect on the experience(s) and make the link between academic achievement, extracurricular activities, transferable skills and graduate employment. Participating students will also be trained in how to reflect on their skills and experiences and can gain an understanding of how to articulate the significance of these to others, e.g. employers.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1 | £4,855
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Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 | £4,855
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 | £9,535
EU Other 3 | £25,300
International | £25,300

1EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.

2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.

3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

All tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase in each year of the course. Fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Additional Course Costs

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.

Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.

If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.

Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.

There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

How Do I Fund My Study?

There are different tuition fee and student financial support arrangements for students from Northern Ireland, those from England, Scotland and Wales (Great Britain), and those from the rest of the European Union.

Information on funding options and financial assistance for undergraduate students is available at scholarships/.

Scholarships

Each year, we offer a range of scholarships and prizes for new students. Information on scholarships available.

International Scholarships

Information on scholarships for international students, is available at

Modules

Year 1

• Introduction to Computer Architecture (20 credits)
• Data Driven Systems (20 credits)
• Introduction to Cyber Security (20 credits)
• Fundamentals of Maths for Computing (20 credits)

Year 2

• Professional and Transferrable Skills (20 credits)
• Data Structures and Algorithms (20 credits)
• Theory of Computation (20 credits)
• Software Engineering and Systems Development (40 credits)

Year 3

• Year of Professional Experience (120 credits)

Year 4

• Cloud Computing (20 credits)
• Formal Methods (20 credits)

Year 5

• Research and Development Project (40 credits)
• Digital Transformation: Software Design, Management and Practical Implementation (20 credits)

Optional Modules

• Object Oriented Programming (20 credits)
• Introduction to Embedded Systems (20 credits)
• Procedural Programming (20 credits)
• Programming (20 credits)
• Networks and Protocols (20 credits)
• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (20 credits)
• Systems Security and Cryptography (20 credits)
• Deep Learning (20 credits)
• Video Analytics and Machine Learning (20 credits)
• Network Security (20 credits)
• Advanced Computer Architecture (20 credits)
• Team-based Software Innovation (20 credits)
• Software Testing (20 credits)
• Concurrent Programming (20 credits)
• Malware Analysis (20 credits)
• Parallel and Distributed Computing (20 credits)
• Fairness, Interpretability and Privacy in Machine Learning (20 credits)
• Advanced Computer Engineering (20 credits)
• Algorithms: Analysis and Application (20 credits)