Computer Science
Entry requirements
A level
Access to HE Diploma
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE Maths, Physics or IT at B (or 6), English Language or English Literature B (or 6).
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma
The Cambridge Technical Diploma is only accepted when taken alongside one other acceptable level 3 qualification such as an A level or Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma.
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate
The Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate can also be accepted when taken alongside two other acceptable level 3 qualifications e.g. two A levels or a Cambridge Technical Diploma.
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma
The Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma can also be accepted when taken alongside two other acceptable level 3 qualifications e.g. two A levels or a Cambridge Technical Diploma.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma is only accepted when taken alongside one other acceptable level 3 qualification such as an A level or BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate can also be accepted when taken alongside other acceptable level 3 qualifications e.g. two A levels or a BTEC National Diploma.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Scottish Advanced Higher
Scottish Higher
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)
The Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate will be accepted in lieu of one A Level at the grade achieved.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
With our BSc Computer Science course, you will study the essential skills for computer scientists, including programming, software design, computer systems, networking and operations, web technology and computer security.
Computer science is the study of principles, applications, and technologies of computing and computers. It involves the study of data, data structures and the algorithms to process them. Computer science provides skills and knowledge which are essential in a wide range of computing and computer-related professions. It has a huge impact on modern society as it is the cornerstone of all of the digital technologies that we use in our daily lives.
During this degree, you will study the techniques that underpin such areas as complex computing systems, big data analytics, computer graphics, computer security, web technology, mobile computing and artificial intelligence.
Cover complex computing systems, computer vision, mobile computing, big data analytics and artificial intelligence, and get to grips with several programming languages including C++ and Java.
You will also develop your technical skills of programming, software design and operations. In addition, you will acquire a wide range of transferable skills that are sought after by many employers.
Our lecturers have expertise across a broad range of areas, with extensive experience in both academic and industrial applications, showing you how to develop and apply your skills.
There is a strong career management theme running throughout the degree, with a series of skills development opportunities for you to engage with.
In addition to these technical skills, we also teach transferable skills, such as team working and communication, which you will need for a rewarding career in any sector.
A wide range of software packages are used to support the computing curriculum, including tools for software/apps development, systems modelling, Computer Assisted Design and 3D printing, mathematical manipulation and more. There is free access to commercial software and servers.
Our degree programmes are also accredited by the British Computer Society – the Chartered Institute for IT.
**Placement**
If you would like to complete a one-year work placement in industry, you should consider studying BSc Computer Science with Industrial Year. Our dedicated placement officer supports students to secure a year-long salaried placement during their degree. We have built up relationships major companies over many years, many of which have their UK or European headquarters in the local area.
If you choose a four-year degree with the industrial placement option, we will also support you with placement applications. Previous and current placement providers include BAE Systems, Bayer, CGI, Clearswift, Eli Lilly, Evertz, Gamma Telecom, Goldman Sachs, GSK, HealthWallace, IBM, PepsiCo and Waterstons.
**Careers**
This degree will prepare you for a career in a constantly evolving field through the development of transferable and subject-specific skills.
Our graduates go on to careers in areas including networking, programming, consultancy, computer security, database management, game development and systems engineering, with companies such as Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan, Microsoft and Sage. Some of our graduates go on to pursue MSc and PhD degrees.
Many of the companies we work with visit the University in order to recruit our best graduates directly. Reading prepares you by organising mock assessment centres, where you will go through the recruitment process and get valuable feedback before you actually apply for jobs.
Modules
Sample modules may include:
* Programming in C/C++ and in Java
* Programming in Python for Data Science
* Databases and Information Security
* Data Science Algorithms and Tools
* Artificial Intelligence
Check our website for more details of the course structure.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
University of Reading
Systems Engineering
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Computer science
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Computer science
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
This is a newly-classified subject area for this kind of data, so we don’t currently have very much information to display or analyse yet. The subject is linked to important and growing computing industries, and over time we can expect more students to study them — there could be opportunities that open up for graduates in these subjects as the economy develops over the next few years.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Computing
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£27k
£36k
£42k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Explore these similar courses...





This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Course location and department:
This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
Have a question about this info? Learn more here
The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
Have a question about this info? Learn more here