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Computer Science

Entry requirements


Must include at least grade C in A-level Computer Science or Computer Studies.

Pass with 112-120 UCAS points, from a QAA-approved computer-related programme with Level 3 Computing content.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DMM

DDM from Computing or IT.

Must include at least grade C in Advanced Higher Level Computer Science or Computer Studies.

UCAS Tariff

112-120

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Computer science

**Computers are at the heart of modern society, with technology touching all aspects of life including commerce, industry, healthcare, communication and recreation. Gain the practical skills and knowledge to innovate systems and further enhance our world with a BSc (Hons) Computer Science degree with Salford.**

Computer scientists design, develop and analyse software and hardware that can overcome commercial, social and scientific challenges. As industry 4.0 heralds the next generation of connected networks and technologies, develop the skill set for the 21st century ready for a limitless career creating applications and networks for the connected, data-driven generation.

**Develop in-demand knowledge and skills**
Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for I.T, you'll be educated to the highest professional standards, studying real-world relevant modules. You’ll graduate equipped with the practical skills ready to build a successful and lucrative computing career anywhere in the world.

Our course covers essential and specialist skills needed by industry. Initially, you’ll learn about programming, and database and computer systems. You’ll look at Java, Linux, artificial intelligence, networking and computer graphics. Later, you’ll explore data mining, data structures and design patterns. You can even choose to focus your studies on specific interests, with modules in virtual reality or information security.

**Get closer to industry**
With our envious campus location, minutes from central Manchester, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get involved in the region’s thriving tech community. With your future career in mind, we’ll encourage you to take an additional placement year to apply what you’ve learnt and develop further skills, adding ‘with professional experience’ to your degree award. There will also be opportunities to take part in extra-curricular activities through our computing society.

We are a fast-growing centre for computer and data science. Our research and industry partnerships have influenced the development of commercial software products, and we work across multiple industries to unlock the potential of data and AI. We are also a co-founding member of both the Greater Manchester Cyber Foundry and the Greater Manchester AI Foundry. Through these initiatives, we support the city region’s ambitions to be a digital leader - and help it continue to be a great place for our computing graduates to build successful careers.

**Our new home for computing**
In Autumn 2022, we open our new £65 million hub for science, engineering and the environment - and our new home for computing. Sustainability-designed and 100% electric powered, the building offers unrivalled teaching, learning and research facilities and provides exciting new spaces for industry collaboration.

**Features**
• Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for I.T
• Gain programming practice through design, implementation and testing, along with an appreciation of more sophisticated programming behaviour
• Learn the principles of relational database management system, and their implementation and efficiency, using emerging trends
• Explore the theory and practice of website design and development, understanding human-computer interaction and designing and analysing user interfaces
• Develop knowledge and understanding of the application pattern-based strategies for resolving common high-level problems
• Use high-level real-time 3D graphics toolkits, and your knowledge of Java to develop use of the C++ programming language
• Become familiar with AI techniques and terminology for knowledge representation and searching, and gain an understanding of data mining algorithms

Modules

Year one modules may include: Programming, Computer System Internals and Linux, Database Systems, Professional Development and Practices, Web Development and Human Computer Interfaces. Year two modules may include: Server Side Programming, Software Project with Agile Techniques, AI and Data Mining, Data Structures and Algorithms, Networking, Software Development Techniques. Year three modules may include: Project for Computer Science, Computer Graphics, Software Quality Management, and a choice of two from: Ajax and Smartphone Development, Document Analysis and Semantic Web, Internet Security and Computer Forensics, Virtual Reality and 3D Games.

The Uni


Course location:

University of Salford

Department:

School of Science, Engineering and Environment

Read full university profile

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.

64%
Computer science

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

63%
Staff make the subject interesting
75%
Staff are good at explaining things
76%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
81%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

69%
Library resources
76%
IT resources
82%
Course specific equipment and facilities
51%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

88%
UK students
12%
International students
89%
Male students
11%
Female students
77%
2:1 or above
19%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
C
D

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.

£22,000
med
Average annual salary
90%
med
Employed or in further education
70%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

51%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals
11%
Information technology technicians
6%
Science, engineering and production technicians

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.

Computer science

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£23k

£23k

£25k

£25k

£26k

£26k

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.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

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This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

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.

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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.

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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

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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