Computer Science (Digital & Technology Solutions)

You’ll start with the fundamentals of programming and the underlying mathematical principles of computer science, before developing skills in software engineering and algorithm design and exploring challenges in cloud and mobile computing and robotics and graphics that will shape the future.

You’ll learn to work with state of the art technologies and select optional modules in topics that suit your interests and career pathway, from cloud computing and machine learning to topics in enterprise and innovation.

Year 2 allows you to deepen and broaden your knowledge of computer science, with core modules introducing you to topics such as artificial intelligence and developing your understanding of algorithms and operating systems. You’ll also select optional modules to focus on topics that suit your interests or career pathway, such as data mining, systems development and business organisation.

Module pathways in Year 3 have been developed with PwC to strengthen the alignment of graduates with their technical teams. The pathways include data analytics/data assurance, cyber security, technology consulting – enterprise applications and forensic technology solutions. This alignment will take place at the end of Year 2 and will inform the Year 3 placement and final year module choices.

In your final year, you will study options and undertake a project that will be aligned with your specialisation and fit with the PwC technical teams. You will undertake the project over two semesters in the final year, with guidance from an academic member of staff from Leeds and an adviser from PwC. You will present the outcomes of your project to academic staff in School of Computing and PwC.

During your placements you will be productively employed and play both an active and valued part on project teams and will make meaningful contribution to fee earning client projects. You will be equipped with the opportunity to apply learning from off the job training in a challenging but fully supported environment. PwC has a client base ranging from local to multinational and global companies being serviced from Belfast, across all sectors and industries.

You will be fully supported when on placement with PwC, you will have a dedicated people manager, buddies, mentors and a dedicated development team.

Alongside developing your technical skills through your placements with PwC you will develop a combination of interpersonal skills (eg rapport building, behavioural styles, working in a team and networking) and consulting skills, (eg models of consulting, distinctive business advisor, change management and analytical skills) embedding the PwC Experience.

Projects

Every year of the course gives you hands-on experience of project work. This gives you the opportunity to explore your subject further as well as developing valuable skills in problem solving, communication and teamwork.

Find out more about our Projects

Ethics

You’ll study computing ethics as part of your course. This is taught using real life case studies, with input from specialist ethicists as well as your tutors and lecturers. The team responsible for the ethics taught in computing has produced educational material used to stimulate debate in class about topics such as ethical hacking, open source software, and use of personal data.

Not only will this enhance your reasoning and decision making skills which are crucial to employers, but it will help you identify and respond effectively to ethical dilemmas that you will encounter in your professional life in the IT industry.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Modules Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Databases 10 credits
• Computer Architecture 10 credits
• Computer Processors 10 credits
• Fundamental Mathematical Concepts 10 credits
• Introduction to Discrete Mathematics 10 credits
• Procedural Programming 10 credits
• Object Oriented Programming 10 credits
• Professional Computing 20 credits
• Programming Project 10 credits
• Placement (Year 1)

Year 2

Compulsory modules

• Operating Systems 10 credits
• Networks 10 credits
• Formal Languages and Finite Automata 10 credits
• Numerical Computation 10 credits
• Artificial Intelligence 10 credits
• Algorithms and Data Structures I 10 credits
• Algorithms and Data Structures II 10 credits
• User Interfaces 10 credits
• Software Engineering 20 credits
• Placement (Year 2)

Optional modules

• Data Mining 10 credits
• Systems Thinking 10 credits