About this course
On this computer science degree, you'll learn how to design and build software programs and systems. You’ll find out about the latest advances in areas like machine learning, cyber security and computer vision. This will prepare you for success in a fast-moving industry.
This BSc Computer Science course will teach you about the essentials and give you the flexibility to follow your interests through specialist modules. You’ll gain the knowledge to develop technologies that can make a difference to people’s lives in topics such as:
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algorithmics
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data management
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software design and modelling
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interaction design
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cyber security
You don’t need any previous computing experience to join the course – you can choose your own level for the first programming module. We can give you plenty of support if you are a complete beginner, or set something more challenging if you’re already a proficient programmer.
You’ll study in state-of-the-art teaching labs with the latest equipment and high-quality displays, as well as dedicated labs for project work.
There’s also an informal lab, with group-work areas, projectors and whiteboards. This acts as the department’s social hub – a place where you can have lunch and meet up with students from across the department to work on academic or personal projects.
Our Southampton-based degree is accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of:
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fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer
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partly meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer
Study Computer Science in Malaysia
We are developing a computer science degree course for our Malaysia campus. Accreditation for this Malaysian-based degree is being sought from the BCS and the IET.
Accreditations
Course location
This course is based at Highfield.
Awarding body
This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.
Download the Course Description Document
The Course Description Document details your course overview, your course structure and how your course is taught and assessed.
Changes due to COVID-19
Although the COVID-19 situation is improving, any future restrictions could mean we might have to change the way parts of our teaching and learning take place in 2021 to 2022. We're working hard to plan for a number of possible scenarios. This means that some of the information on this course page may be subject to change.
Find out more on our COVID advice page.
Entry requirements
For Academic year 202223
A-levels
A*AA including mathematics (minimum grade A) or A*A*B including mathematics (minimum grade A*) or AAAA including mathematics
A-levels additional information
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. A pass in the science Practical is required where applicable.
A-levels with Extended Project Qualification
If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer: AAA including mathematics (minimum grade A), plus grade A in the EPQ
A-levels contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise an applicant's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience.
Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme, as follows:
AAA including mathematics
or
A*AB including mathematics (minimum grade A)
International Baccalaureate Diploma
Pass, with 38 points overall, with 19 points required at Higher Level including 6 at Higher Level in Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches) or 7 at Higher Level in Mathematics (Applications and Interpretation)
International Baccalaureate contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) statement
Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements. Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
BTEC
D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus grades A*A in A-levels including mathematics (minimum grade A) or D* in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus grades AA in A-levels including mathematics. D*D in the BTEC National Diploma plus grade A in A-level mathematics. or DD in the BTEC National Diploma plus grade A* in A-level mathematics. We do not accept the BTEC National Extended Diploma without A-level Maths. Applicants with a BTEC National Extended Diploma can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics/Geophysics Foundation Year.
RQF BTEC
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
Additional information
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. A pass in the science Practical is required where applicable.
QCF BTEC
D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus grades A*A in two A-levels including mathematics (minimum grade A) or D* in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus grades AA in A-levels including mathematics. D*D in the BTEC Diploma plus grade A in A-level mathematics or DD in the BTEC Diploma plus grade A* in A-level mathematics. We do not accept the BTEC Extended Diploma without A-level Maths. Applicants with a BTEC Extended Diploma can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics/Geophysics Foundation Year.
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
Access to HE Diploma
Applicants with an Access to HE Diploma should apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics/Geophysics Foundation Year
Access to HE additional information
Irish Leaving Certificate
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2017)
H1 H1 H1 H2 H2 H2, to include mathematics at H1
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2016)
A1 A1 A1 A2 A2 A2 including mathematics at A1
Scottish Qualification
Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education.
Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
Cambridge Pre-U
D2, D3, D3 in three Principal subjects including mathematics
Cambridge Pre-U additional information
Welsh Baccalaureate
A*AA including mathematics (minimum grade A)
or
A*A from two A-levels including mathematics (minimum grade A), and A from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate
or
A*A*B including mathematics (minimum grade A*)
or
A*A* from two A-levels including mathematics, and B from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate
Welsh Baccalaureate additional information
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. A pass in the science Practical is required where applicable.
Welsh Baccalaureate contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
European Baccalaureate
85% overall including grade 9/10 in mathematics
Other requirements
GCSE requirements
Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)
Find the equivalent international qualifications for our entry requirements.
English language requirements
If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:
IELTS score requirements
- overall score
- 6.5
- reading
- 5.5
- writing
- 5.5
- speaking
- 5.5
- listening
- 5.5
We accept other English language tests. Find out which English language tests we accept.
You might meet our criteria in other ways if you do not have the qualifications we need. Find out more about:
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our Access to Southampton scheme for students living permanently in the UK (including residential summer school, application support and scholarship)
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skills you might have gained through work or other life experiences (otherwise known as recognition of prior learning)
Find out more about our Admissions Policy.
Foundation year for engineering, physics, maths and geophysics
A foundation year will give you the skills and knowledge to progress to this course if you don't have the right qualifications for direct entry.
It could be the right option if you:
- have A levels, or equivalent international qualifications, in subjects other than the ones needed for direct entry
- have international qualifications in relevant subjects but not at A level equivalent
- have a BTEC Extended Diploma in a relevant subject
- are studying an Access course in a relevant subject
- are a mature student with relevant experience or study
You'll also need to show that you have strong maths skills.
Find full details on our Engineering, Maths, Physics, Geophysics Foundation Year page.
Got a question?
Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
Course structure
All our computer science degree courses share the same compulsory modules in years 1 and 2, making it easy to switch between them. In the third year, you can tailor your degree by choosing optional modules.
The breadth of our research means you’ll have wide range of options to choose from. With computer science and electronics being part of the same department, you’ll have easy access to modules in these complementary disciplines.
Year 1 overview
You’ll study the logical and mathematical theory underpinning computer science. You’ll also gain an understanding of the fundamentals of computer hardware.
As an introduction to software engineering, you’ll cover data structures and algorithms. You’ll also look at the principles of programming, including using object-oriented approach and software engineering processes.
You’ll apply your knowledge by working on practical projects. For example, you’ll build algorithms and data analysis tools, and develop software user interfaces.
Year 2 overview
You’ll deepen your understanding of computer science by studying topics, such as artificial intelligence, communication protocols and the TCP/IP layered model.
A group project will give you first-hand experience of working in a team, and of communication and scale in software engineering.
Year 3 overview
An individual project is a chance to conduct in-depth research in an area of computer science that interests you, under the supervision of an academic with expertise in your chosen field. This could involve designing, building and testing a software or computer system. Themes covered by past students include:
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smart home cyber security
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fake news recognition
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how gesture-sensing technology can be used in healthcare
You’ll get to choose from a wide range of optional modules, including game design and development, web infrastructure and robotic systems.
There are also options outside the department. You could study a language, take modules from other disciplines such as law or business, or choose from a range of innovative interdisciplinary modules.
Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.
Modules
Changes due to COVID-19
Although the COVID-19 situation is improving, any future restrictions could mean we might have to change the way parts of our teaching and learning take place in 2021 to 2022. We're working hard to plan for a number of possible scenarios. This means that some of the information on this course page may be subject to change.
Find out more on our COVID advice page.
For entry in Academic Year 2021-22
Year 1 modules
You must study the following modules in year 1:
This is a core module for computer science and software engineers. It teaches the basic data structures and algorithms which underpins modern software engineering. Without these algorithms most software would be hopelessly slow to the point of unusability...
This module aims to give students an understanding of the fundamentals of computer hardware and of the principles of operation of computers and peripheral devices. In addition, the module aims to give an overview of the main families of microprocessors an...
This module aims to: - Explain the role of database systems in information management - Introduce students to standard UNIX tools and techniques (e.g., vi editor, ed, sed and awk) - Develop the student's skills in the effective use of Unix tools for do...
The aim of this module is to help students develop an understanding of the fundamental professional, ethical, and legal issues and how they are being developed and applied. The lectures and associated courseworks will involve an active approach to the ...
The aim of this module is to teach the students advanced programming techniques using Java in order to support its use on other modules. C will also be taught in order to introduce explicit memory allocation and the use of pointers.
This module aims to introduce students to the principles of programming using an object oriented approach, and to provides them with the programming skills necessary to continue the study of computer science. Java is used as the introductory language.
This module aims to introduce students to the software engineering process, its tools, skills, and techniques, particularly modelling, validation and design. The focus will be on a principled, object-oriented process from requirements modelling and analys...
Year 2 modules
You must study the following modules in year 2:
The networking aspect of this module will expose students to the principles of layered communication protocols, the architecture of the Internet, and the principles of how the components of the TCP/IP layered model are designed and operate. The distribute...
This module aims to give a broad introduction to the rapidly-developing field of artificial intelligence, and to cover the mathematical techniques used by this module and by other artificial intelligence modules in the computer science programme
This module aims to introduce students to recursion and to the principles of recursive, applicative and functional programming. In it, they will use various functional abstractions to control the complexity of programming, and will use abstraction mechani...
The aim of this module is to introduce students to the fundamental concepts underlying all programming languages, to introduce a broad range of programming language styles and features, and to provide the theoretical foundation that they will need in orde...
This module aims to give students experience of working in a team, and of the problems of communication and scale in software engineering. It will consolidate and integrate the techniques and concepts introduced in earlier courses (principally COMP1216 So...
This module aims to provide a broad and stimulating introduction to the theory of computing
You must also choose from the following modules in year 2:
This module builds on the Part 1 Software Modelling and Design Course by looking at structured requirements engineering in more detail, by addressing scaling of formal modelling with Event-B through refinement and also looking at verification techniques f...
This module will introduce you to the general principles and practices of developing software that interacts directly with the hardware and its physical environment. Software has found its way into almost any electronic device with a typical household ...
Year 3 modules
You must study the following module in year 3:
The individual project gives students the opportunity to gain both detailed knowledge and practical experience in a more focussed area than generally possible elsewhere in their degree programme. Most projects are in the nature of a challenging enginee...
You must also choose from the following modules in year 3:
This module covers the development of modern computer architectures for servers, workstations, hand-held devices, signal processing and embedded systems from the introduction of the four-stage RISC pipeline to the present day.
This module is designed to be a follow-up module to the computer Science or ITO second year introductory networking module.The wireless networking part reviews wireless technologies and their application in areas such as IoT and sensor networks. The modu...
This module builds on the first year Data Management module to give students a deeper and broader view of the issues involved in database management systems, some of the most complex software in common use.
During the first two years of the degree students gain experience in a variety of 'traditional' programming languages in procedural, functional and object-oriented flavours. This module addresses the design and use of scripting languages for a contemporar...
Modern biology poses many challenging problems for the computer scientists. Rapid growth in instrumentation, and our ability to archive and distribute vast amounts of data, has significantly changed the way we attempt to understand cellular function, and ...
The challenge of computer vision is to develop a computer based system with the capabilities of the human eye-brain system. It is therefore primarily concerned with the problem of capturing and making sense of digital images. The field draws heavily on ma...
This module will provide students with an introduction to management and law – knowledge and skills which can be applied to the operations of an engineering-based organisation. The learning outcomes address: managerial decisions, commercial aspects of eng...
Machine Learning is about extracting useful information from large and complex datasets. The subject is a rich mixture of concepts from function analysis, statistical modelling and computational techniques. The module will cover the fundamental principles...
Games design and development is an increasingly important and sophisticated topic, that draws together many of the core aspects of Computer Science and Software Engineering. This course introduces students to the fundamentals of game design, gives them pr...
Machine Learning is about extracting useful information from large and complex datasets. The module will cover the practical basis of how learning algorithms are can be applied. You will gain hands-on experience in laboratory-bases sessions. Exclusions...
This module gives students an introduction to natural language processing (NLP) algorithms and an understanding of how to implement NLP applications.
The module introduces the operational research approach for modelling and solving engineering and management problems.
The module provides an introduction to the theory and practice of optimization techniques. It covers linear programming as well as nonlinear programming. This module is suitable to those who want to apply computational optimization methods to their proble...
This module gives a broad introduction to development of real-time and embedded systems
Robots are becoming more widely used in society, with applications ranging from agriculture through to manufacturing, with increasing interest in autonomous systems. This module will introduce students to the fundamentals of robotic systems including k...
The course requires to understand C code, assembly language, x86 architectures and memory allocation (a refresher will be provided).
This module will teach the principles of security in web and cloud based systems and how these principles apply in a range of different applications.
Learning and assessment
The learning activities for this course include the following:
- lectures
- classes and tutorials
- coursework
- individual and group projects
- independent learning (studying on your own)
Course time
How you'll spend your course time:
Year 1
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 1:
How we'll assess you
- coursework, laboratory reports and essays
- design and problem-solving exercises
- individual and group projects
- oral presentations
- written exams
Your assessment breakdown
Year 1:
Year 2
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 2:
How we'll assess you
- coursework, laboratory reports and essays
- design and problem-solving exercises
- individual and group projects
- oral presentations
- written exams
Your assessment breakdown
Year 2:
Year 3
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 3:
How we'll assess you
- coursework, laboratory reports and essays
- design and problem-solving exercises
- individual and group projects
- oral presentations
- written exams
Your assessment breakdown
Year 3:
Academic support
You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.
Course leader
Nicholas Gibbins is the course leader.
Careers
With a degree that is highly respected in industry, you’ll have great job prospects in an expanding global marketplace – in the UK alone the digital sector is creating jobs twice as fast as other parts of the economy.
Most of our graduates go straight into computer science jobs in high-tech companies; potential roles include software engineer, app developer, web developer or systems analyst.
Companies actively seek to recruit our graduates, knowing that they will start contributing as soon as they enter the workplace.
Whether you want to work in programming and software development, or you’re keen to work with organisations to manage IT projects or oversee their information systems, this versatile degree will help you to achieve your aims. It is also a great foundation for further study at master's degree or PhD level.
You can get placements and employment with local, national and international employers, with our help.
Our Computer Science graduates have secured roles at organisations including:
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Apple
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Sony
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Cisco Systems
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Audi
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Microsoft
This degree is accredited by the British Computer Society and the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
Careers services at Southampton
We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2019). Our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. This support includes:
work experience schemes
CV and interview skills and workshops
networking events
careers fairs attended by top employers
a wealth of volunteering opportunities
study abroad and summer school opportunities
We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.
Fees, costs and funding
Tuition fees
Fees for a year's study:
- UK students pay £9,250.
- EU and international students pay £23,720.
What your fees pay for
Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and all examinations.
Find out how to:
Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. Explore:
Bursaries, scholarships and other funding
If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £25,000 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.
If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.
Get in touch for advice about student money matters.
Scholarships and grants
You may be able to get a scholarship or grant that's linked to your chosen subject area.
We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Support during your course
The Student Services Centre offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.
Funding for EU and international students
Find out about funding you could get as an international student.
How to apply
When you apply use:
- UCAS course code: G400
- UCAS institution code: S27
What happens after you apply?
We will assess your application on the strength of your:
- predicted grades
- academic achievements
- personal statement
- academic reference
We aim to respond to you within 2 to 6 weeks with a decision about your application.
Equality and diversity
We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.
Got a question?
Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
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