Computer Science MSci / BSc (Hons)

Why you should study this course
 

• Opportunity to gain Microsoft Academy certifications at no additional cost and upon the provision that you successfully pass the additional programmes
• An opportunity to demonstrate your portfolio of work to potential employers at the free-to-attend annual Coventry New Wizards Showcase (subject to availability)
• Option to join the CISCO Academy Programme leading to an industry-recognised CISCO Certified Networked Associate (CCNA) qualification at no extra cost (CISCO related Add+vantage modules will need to be chosen in order to participate)
• A free-to-join Computer Club for all students, which organises a range of extracurricular activities such as LAN gaming, robot programming challenges and hackathons, to experience the most up-to-date technologies
• Regular free-to-attend guest lecturers from current practitioners, which, in recent years, have included senior professors from Sheffield, Lincoln and Birmingham universities and the European Bioinformatics Centre Cambridge (subject to availability)
• Support for seeking short and long-term placements with technology companies to gain the experience employers desire*. Past students have worked for Microsoft UK Ltd, Intel and Accenture, as well as a range of medium sized companies in web, media and the creative industries
   

What you'll study

Year one

In your first year, you should gain fundamental knowledge in many areas of the subject, including programming, computer architecture, software system design and usability.
 

Modules
 

• Programming and Algorithms – 20 credits

  This module introduces the fundamentals of computer programming and algorithm construction that will underpin the technical and theoretical content of undergraduate degree courses based within the discipline of Computing.

  Compulsory
   

• Software Design – 20 credits

  The purpose of this module is to equip students with the concepts of software-based systems development and principles of software design used by industry. It provides a practical guide to the software development process with associated tools and techniques.

  Compulsory
   

• Mathematics for Computer Science – 20 credits

  Logic and sets provide the mathematical basis on which much of Computer Science relies. This module provides an introduction to the basic notions of logic and sets, and then builds on that by applying these ideas to a variety of problems arising in discrete mathematics, showing applications in Computing.

  Compulsory
   

• Object Oriented Programming – 20 credits

  This module builds upon and develops the fundamental computer programming skills previously gained. A new programming language with direct memory access will be introduced and the syntax for control structures met already will be covered.

  Compulsory
   

• Computer Architecture and Networks – 20 credits

  This module will provide students with a broad overview of computer architecture, such that they will be able to explain the structure, characteristics, performance and interactions of fundamental components of a computer.

  Compulsory
   

• Database Systems – 10 credits

  This module provides insight and understanding of how data can be modelled, stored and accessed for use in the real-world.

  Compulsory
   

• Computer Science Activity Led Learning Project 1 – 0 credits

  This module hosts the first Activity Led Learning (ALL) Project for the BSc Computer Science course. Students are placed into groups and set a project related to their chosen course which requires skills and knowledge presented and developed in the other modules studied in the semester.

  Compulsory
   

• Computer Science Activity Led Learning Project 2 – 0 credits

  This module hosts the second Activity Led Learning (ALL) Project for the BSc Computer Science course. Students are placed into groups and set a project related to their chosen course which requires skills and knowledge presented and developed in the other modules studied in the semester.

  Compulsory
   

• Add+vantage Module – 10 credits

  Compulsory
   

Year two

In your second year, you will study more advanced topics of computer science, such as theory of computation, introduction to artificial intelligence and data science.
 

Modules
 

• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence – 10 credits

  This module introduces students to modern concepts and applications of artificial intelligence. The aim of the module is to allow students to explore how machines are able to reason and perform goal-directed behaviours that are seen as intelligent by humans.

  Compulsory
   

• Software Engineering – 20 credits

  This module looks into the software quality processes associated with the production of a large-scale software development. Students learn the tools and techniques appropriate to contribute to the development of a solution to a real-world problem.

  Compulsory
   

• Theory of Computation – 20 credits

  This module is designed to help students understand the theoretical foundations of Computer Science, and from this an appreciation of the limitations of computation and the important questions that remain open to this day. The module covers: formal specification of languages; the main models of computation; and what these tell us about issues of computability and complexity.

  Compulsory
   

• Advanced Algorithms – 20 credits

  This module builds on the concepts and principles outlined in the programming modules in Year 1, providing students additional insight into advanced programming techniques and data structures.

  Compulsory
   

• Operating Systems and Security – 20 credits

  This module introduces students to modern Operating Systems (OS) with a focus on security. The main topics covered will include basic OS concepts such as processes, memory management, drivers and file systems.

  Compulsory
   

• Data Science – 20 credits

  This module provides an insight into how data and information retrieval systems are designed. It provides a study of database concepts, theory and design with some practical use of database and information retrieval tools and techniques.

  Compulsory
   

• Big Data Programming Project – 0 credits

  During this module, students work on an individual project which requires skills and knowledge presented and developed in the other modules studied in the semester.

  Compulsory
   

• Add+vantage Module – 10 credits

  Compulsory
   

  Following your second year, you will have an option to apply for a one-year professional work placement or study abroad in a partner institution.
   

  Past students have undertaken placements working in data analysis at Shell Oil, system development at IBM and technical support at Cummings.
   

  If you wish to undertake the optional study abroad/placement year, you will take either the Placement Year module or the Study Abroad Year module which both typically run for a full academic year between years 2 and 3 of your course. You are normally able to progress onto the relevant module if you have successfully completed the first two years of the course (i.e. having accumulated 240 credits) and have a confirmed opportunity two weeks prior to the start of the academic year. However, we encourage international students to confirm their placements earlier to ensure they are able to meet any applicable visa requirements.
   

  Students opting for either the work placement or study abroad module will be registered on a non-credit bearing module. Whilst the modules do not bear credits, they do require completion of marked activities reflecting on your placement/study abroad or work placement experience. Following successful completion of the activities, the module selected will appear on your final academic transcript. Students will thus graduate with 360 credits in total, assuming successful completion of their final year.
   

Final year

In the third year, we introduce you to the study of computer security and machine learning and its applications. You will also be able to choose from a range of optional modules in topics such as advanced programming paradigms, parallel distributed programming and web or mobile app development. The latter should enable you to explore and implement mobile phone apps using Android or Apple iOS technology.
 

Modules
 

• Individual Project Preparation – 10 credits

  The aim of this first module is to prepare students for the primary research to take place in their individual project module. This includes topic selection, supervisor allocation, project planning, literature review and completion of the Coventry University Ethics process.

  Compulsory
   

• Individual Project – 20 credits

  The Individual Project allows students to conduct an in-depth investigation on a topic in the domain of Computer Science.

  Compulsory
   

• Security – 20 credits

  This module introduces students to the concepts and practical considerations of creating and evaluating secure computer systems. Systems will be analysed at both the application level and at the level of interconnected devices in architectures suck as client-server and cloud-based, with attention given to security-by-design, security legislation and regulation and the associated products and services.

  Compulsory
   

• Machine Learning and Related Applications – 20 credits

  This module represents an introduction to the wide field of machine learning. It will present fundamental concepts related to supervised and unsupervised learning methods, for example linear regression, support vector machines, radial basis function, decision trees and random forests, clustering techniques and naïve Bayes classification models.

  Compulsory
   

• Add+vantage Module – 10 credits

  Compulsory
   

• Optional modules
   

• 2 from the following:

   
  • Mobile Application Development – 20 credits 
    This module will enable students to use development kits to build applications for mobile platforms. The practical issues of programming for such devices will be taught alongside software design for portable devices, investigation of the interface components and user interaction possibilities of smartphones.
     
  • Web API Development – 20 credits
    Web APIs allow websites to access the data and services of others, and are an essential part of the modern web. They provide key functionality to both developers and end-users and are the driving force behind the explosion in online social media.
     
  • Parallel Distributed Programming – 20 credits
    This module covers the principles and practice of parallel and distributed programming. Students will learn how these techniques are applied to commercial tasks such as data processing and other real-world applications.
     
  • Advanced Programming Paradigms – 20 credits
    This module will give insight into some advanced programming paradigms. We start with a focus on functional programming, solving problems exclusively in this paradigm using a relevant language such as Haskell. We will also consider some of the underlying theory to better understand the advantages of the paradigm.
     

  Optional

Typical offer for 2022 entry
 

English language requirements

• IELTS of 6.0 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.

International Fees
£18,050 per year

International Pathways 2022 Scholarship

You could enjoy a £3,000 reduction in tuition fees.
Our high-quality foundation, international year one and pre-masters courses are for international students who do not meet the requirements for direct entry to their preferred Coventry University undergraduate or postgraduate course. We can support you to achieve the academic and/or English grades you need and help you gain the personal and professional skills required to study at university.

We want to encourage ambitious international students like you to study at Coventry University, so we’ve secured extra financial support for you worth £3,000, to help with the cost of tuition fees, living expenses and accommodation.

The scholarship application deadline is:
September 2022 intake: 31 July 2022

On successful completion, students will be able to:
 

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: the underlying technology, design methods, programming languages, international standards and practices required to practise in the domain of computer science; the cultural, commercial, social, ethical, legal and professional issues connected with the creative and IT industries and professional practice within them; and emergent technologies and a broad spectrum of state-of-the-art systems, methodologies and problem-solving techniques.
• Program using different computing languages by applying existing and new algorithms.
• Design and produce large scale software systems using industry and internationally recognised methodologies and tools.
• Understand the theoretical basics of computer science and its application to the development of software systems.
• Contribute to teamwork effectively and ethically, addressing the prominent computing, social and commercial issues.
• Select and apply appropriate tools and techniques for design, analysis, development and integration of software systems.