B.Sc. Computer Systems Engineering (with Industrial Experience)

A common first year across all of our courses covers the fundamental aspects of the subject, including: C# Programming • Software engineering skills • Human-computer interaction • Mathematics • Computer hardware architectures and operating systems • Professional skills for Computer Science.

These topics cover a core set of computing and professional skills, ensuring you are ready to meet the challenges of Year Two. You will learn through a mixture of lectures, small group tutorials, and practical laboratory sessions that give you the chance to put theory into practice.

Assessment is a mix of exam and coursework, generally 50:50 in the first year and biased towards coursework in later years. Example first year coursework includes building a small game or business application in C#, a performance analysis of different software algorithms, and a presentation on different aspects of computer hardware.

Due to the common first year, you can easily switch your degree course at any point until the start of Year Two, at which point more specialist material is introduced.

In the second year of your degree, you will begin to specialise more in the area of computer systems development. In addition to studying the fundamentals of the software engineering process, including Software Design and Systems Analysis, topics covered include: C++ Programming • Electronics and Interfacing • Software Engineering • User Interface Design • Networking Technologies.

By this stage, there is a greater focus on practical software development meaning more time spent developing in the computer labs and a greater focus on coursework-based assessment than exams. There are also more opportunities for team work, which plays an important part in several significant pieces of coursework.

In your third year, you are given the opportunity to complete a paid, year-long work placement, gaining valuable experience by applying the skills you have already acquired in years one and two to the workplace. You will spend at least 30 weeks working full-time on an industrial placement of your choosing, learning important skills and submitting written reports, a presentation, and keeping a diary of your activities and achievements.

This is the most specialist year of your degree and also provides you with the opportunity to work on a major individual software project as part of your dissertation. This year allows you to dig deeper into the subject, acquiring the expertise and experience that will stand you in good stead when entering industry or pursuing further study. Areas covered include: Advanced Software Engineering • Compilers • Embedded Systems Development • Mobile Application Development • Neural and Emergent Technology • Distributed Systems.

The highlight of this year is the individual software project. You can choose from a range of suggested topics or propose your own idea, and you will then spend time across both semesters researching, developing, and writing about your chosen software project. Previous projects have included AI simulations, 3D games, emulators for historic computers, stock control management systems, robotics, and even a Jedi lightsaber training simulator using a 3D motion tracking and virtual reality.