Computer Science with Foundation Year

At least 3 GCSEs including

• GCSE Maths, Grade C or Grade 4 or above. 

• GCSE English, Grade C or Grade 4 or above. 

If you don't hold GCSEs, we accept 45 credits at Level 2 or equivalent.

If your qualifications are older than 3 years we also ask to see a professional CV.

We strive to support students to succeed, whatever their background, and we encourage you to apply to study with us even if you don’t meet the academic requirements.

We view all applications holistically – and will consider a minimum of 12 months professional work experience (evidenced with a CV and reference) if you don't meet the academic entry requirements.

You'll also be required to submit a motivation letter that outlines:

• your motivations for choosing this course

• how your work experience has prepared you for the Foundation Year course

• how the course aligns with your career goals.

Thinking of transferring institutions or have you studied before? Your prior learning could mean you're exempt from some modules, bringing you closer to your goals.

Unlock the value of your past learning and experience with our recognition of prior learning process. Simply consult with our Study Advisers, and submit a recognition of prior learning form alongside your application.

If you’re a mature student and you don’t meet our entry criteria, you may be eligible to enrol through our mature student process.

You may be required to submit a CV and a short supporting statement of 500 to 600 words. This should set out why you want to study this programme and how it will support your career plans.

We also consider a variety of qualifications including Functional Skills Qualifications, BTEC Firsts and National Vocational Qualifications.

Overseas qualifications may be accepted, and will be subject to evidence of equivalency normally verified through ECCTIS (UK ENIC).

If you’re a non-native English speaker, you’ll be asked to provide proof of your English language proficiency in one of the following forms.

Alternatively, you may be accepted if you have previously studied in English at an appropriate level and attended a recognised institution.

IELTS grade of 6.0 overall or above, with no element below 5.5.

An online English test is offered (SPEEXX) if IELTS not available. 

TOEFL minimum 80 points.

Trinity College ISE – ISE III at minimum pass. Please note that Trinity College ISE academic results are only valid for two years.

Duolingo English test minimum 95 points. Take Duolingo’s online English test. It takes just 45 to 60 minutes, and you’ll receive your results within two days. You can then send your certificate to us.

Cambridge Certificate minimum B grade overall.

• Foundations of learning

  Discover varied learning styles, effective group communication, time management, and goal setting, foundational skills for academic and personal success.

• Academic integrity and writing for business

  Develop critical academic writing skills, learn research methodologies, and explore the essentials of referencing and plagiarism avoidance, key to effective business communication.

• Personal career plan

  Embark on a journey towards career clarity, leveraging your strengths, comprehending job search intricacies, and refining your personal brand for enhanced employability.

• Elective: Foundation Year: (see Electives: Foundation Year)

• Applied learning strategies

  Enhance self-study capabilities, refine communication and presentation skills, and engage with challenges and setbacks constructively.

• Maths foundations – tech-related track

  Revisit essential math concepts crucial for success in higher-level mathematics and bachelor courses, with focus on independent study and effective tutorial engagement.

• Digital skills – tech-related track

  Dive into the impact of digital transformations on various professions, exploring core digital skills, emerging technologies, and their societal implications.

• Project: innovation and investigation

  Synthesise your foundational year learning in a subject-focused project, applying acquired knowledge and skills in a practical exploration.

• Introduction to computer science

  Dive into the essentials of computer science, exploring algorithms, data structures, hardware, networks, software, and the discipline's ethical considerations.

• Mathematics I

  Unlock the potential of discrete mathematics in technology, learning number theories and their application in real-world technology projects.

• Collaborative work

  Develop key interdisciplinary competencies for productive collaboration, focusing on empathy, conflict resolution, and creative thinking.

• Computer architecture and operating systems

  Examine computers' architecture and operating systems, understanding hardware types and operability across various platforms.

• Database modelling and database systems

  Discover relational and NoSQL database systems, mastering SQL queries and designing database schemas for agile data retrieval and storage.

• Requirements engineering

  Master the art of defining technical requirements for IT systems, learning documentation techniques and business application strategies.

• Computer networks and distributed systems

  Navigate the complexities of computer networking, understanding TCP/IP protocols, security considerations, and distributed system architectures.

• Introduction to programming with python

  Build a foundation in python programming, exploring variables, data types, functions, and the use of libraries in data science.

• Introduction to academic work

  Sharpen your scientific writing and research skills, understanding academic integrity, plagiarism, and literature synthesis.

• Algorithms, data structures, and programming languages

  Deepen your programming knowledge, selecting and applying algorithms and data structures across different coding paradigms and languages.

• Theoretical computer science and mathematical logic

  Engage with the theoretical underpinnings of computer science, exploring SQL, finite automata, petri nets, and the P=NP problem.

• Web application development

  Learn the ropes of web development, from HTML and CSS to JavaScript and PHP, crafting dynamic web applications.

• Project: build a data mart in SQL

  Apply database theories to design and implement a real-world data mart, honing your skills in SQL database architecture.

• Project: software engineering

  Undertake a group project simulating a real-life software development process, from requirement specification to testing and documentation.

• Elective A (see Electives A section below)

• Elective A (see Electives A section below)

• Computer science and society

  Examine the societal implications of computer science, discussing the dual-use nature of technological innovations and ethical considerations.

• Seminar: current topics in computer science

  Deep dive into a chosen computer science sub-discipline, enhancing your research, analysis, and presentation skills through a research essay.

• Elective B (see Electives B section below)

• Elective B (see Electives B section below)

• Elective C (see Electives C section below)

• Elective C (see Electives C section below)

• Undergraduate (bachelor) thesis

  Apply your comprehensive computer science knowledge to tackle a theoretical or empirical problem, presenting your findings in an academic dissertation.

• Foundations of academic English

  This module focuses on writing clarity, grammar, academic integrity, and the structure of effective academic communication. Compulsory for international students.

• Skills for business

  Learn essential business skills, including writing business emails and proposals, giving presentations, and understanding company structures.

• Developing a business mindset*

  Cultivate a diverse set of skills for a business mindset, studying mindfulness, sustainability, DEI, and financial literacy for personal and professional growth

• Business ethics

  Explore ethical principles in business practices, focusing on social justice and sustainability, while developing informed moral judgment.

*Please note, this elective will be available to study from April 2025.

• Change management

  Navigate the complexities of organisational change, understanding change models, implementation challenges, and evaluating change success.

• Agile project management

  Explore agile project management principles, contrasting them with traditional methodologies through practical project application.

• Introduction to process management

  Delve into business process evaluation and management, using enterprise modelling and process change strategies for organisational improvement.

• Object oriented and functional programming with python

  Advance your python programming skill set, exploring object-oriented and functional programming concepts and their applications.

• Data science software engineering

  Gain insights into data science software development, discussing agile methodologies, software testing, and model production environment integration.

• Self-arranged internship I (*)

  Gain practical and analytical skills by securing and completing an internship, enhancing your employability. In preparation tutorials, explore workplace dynamics and set personal goals for your placement.

• Self-arranged internship II (*)

  Building on your first experience, this self-arranged internship lets you apply academic skills in a business environment. Focus on refining your communication, problem-solving, and time management skills.

*You'll be responsible for arranging a suitable internship for your field of study. Once arranged, please complete an application to the internship module via myCampus, to make sure your internship can be recognised and credited towards your course requirements.

Software engineering

• Techniques and methods for agile software development

  Delve deeper into agile software development practices, understanding their application in industrial software projects and dealing with project challenges.

• Project: agile software engineering

  Implement an agile software development project, documenting the process and outcomes to demonstrate understanding and application of agile methodologies.

IT service and project management

• IT service management

  Study IT service management based on ITIL, learning the operational aspects of IT services provision and best practices in IT operations.

• Project: IT service management

  Apply ITIL core processes in a project, solving company-specific IT service management problems with theoretical knowledge and practical applications.

Cyber security

• Introduction to data protection and cyber security

  Understand foundational IT security concepts, exploring data protection laws, security management, and strategies for developing secure IT systems.

• Cryptography

  Explore cryptographic principles, learning about hash functions, symmetric and asymmetric cryptography, and their applications in securing data.

Big data and business intelligence

• Big data technologies

  Navigate the world of big data, understanding data storage frameworks, distributed computing, and the ethical considerations of data technology choices.

• Cloud computing

  Learn about cloud computing models, serverless computing innovations, and evaluate cloud solutions for data science and machine learning applications.

Artificial intelligence

• Artificial intelligence

  Discover the development of artificial intelligence, exploring reinforcement learning, natural language processing, and computer vision technologies.

• Project: artificial intelligence

  Design and develop an AI system for a specific application, considering the system's practical requirements and constraints.

Software engineering

• Seminar: software engineering

  Investigate a current topic in software engineering through extensive research, presenting your findings in a well-structured written paper.

• Project: software development

  Apply software development concepts to a real-life problem, developing, testing, and deploying a software solution, and documenting the process.

IT service and project management

• IT project management

  Study IT project management methodologies, evaluating their suitability for different projects and identifying risk minimisation strategies.

• IT architecture management

  Examine IT strategic planning, governance, and architecture management, learning about IT architectural frameworks and models.

Cyber security

• Technical and operational IT security concepts

  Learn to evaluate and enhance IT system security, developing protection profiles and implementing sensor-based network monitoring tools.

• Project: configuration and application of SIEM systems

  Implement a SIEM system within an enterprise IT environment, facing technical and operational challenges, and proposing valid security incident responses.

Big data and business intelligence

• Business intelligence

  Explore business intelligence concepts and techniques, applying them to data storage, information generation, and business activity optimization.

• Project: business intelligence

  Design and prototype a BI application to address a practical business intelligence problem, documenting your project process and results.

Artificial intelligence

• Self-driving vehicles

  Understand the technology behind autonomous vehicles, studying safety standards, sensor fusion, localization techniques, and motion planning.

• Seminar: current topics and trends in self--driving technology

  Research the latest developments in autonomous driving, focusing on technical, philosophical, and societal impacts through a detailed research essay.