Graduate Diploma in Computing

Applicants are normally expected to have a first or second class honours in a non-computing degree.

Mature students

Age is no barrier to learning and we welcome all applications from suitably qualified students.

International students

We are happy to consider all international applications and if you are an international student, you may find it useful to visit our international pages for details of entry requirements from your home country.

The University is a UKVI Student Sponsor.

English levels

If English is not your first language you will also need an IELTS Score of 6.5, with at least 6.0 in each component.

Please check our undergraduate English language requirements. If your English levels don’t meet our minimum requirements, you may be interested in applying for our Pre-sessional English Language Foundation Programmes.

Selection process

Wherever possible, you will be invited to the University to meet the Admissions Tutor for an informal interview and to have a tour of our campus. If you are an international applicant, it may not be possible for you to visit in person, so if the Admissions Tutor has any queries about your application you may be conducted by Microsoft Teams, email or phone.

Our Admissions Team will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Call us on +44 (0)1280 820227 or get in touch via our online form.

Student Contract for prospective students

When you are offered a place at the University you will be notified of the student contract between the University and students on our courses of study. When you accept an offer of a place on the course at the University a legal contract is formed between you and the University on the basis of the student contract in your offer letter. Your offer letter and the student contract contain important information which you should read carefully before accepting an offer. Read the Student Contract.

Quality teaching

We offer high quality, traditional Oxbridge-style teaching, which leads to our degrees being recognised around the world. The standards of degrees and awards are safeguarded by distinguished external examiners – senior academic staff from other universities in the UK – who approve and moderate assessed work.

High calibre staff

Most of our academic staff teach for three terms out of four, with the remaining term used for research. Because of this, we have no difficulty in attracting high calibre, highly respected lecturers, many of whom also have a background in business or industry and can offer networking opportunities for students.

Teaching methods

Our modules include a mixture of formal lectures, tutorial classes and practical classes. At the start of each module you will be given an up-to-date module outline and reading list. Most modules will provide two or three hours of lectures each week to introduce you to the basic concepts and techniques. These will be supported by lecture notes or handouts.

Lectures are supported by weekly tutorial classes, usually one hour in length, which are held in small groups so that all students can benefit from individual attention. You will be expected to prepare for these classes, for example by attempting a set of exercises or by reading a case study.

Many of our modules have supervised practical classes in the computer laboratories in which you can apply and practise the techniques you have learnt in the lectures. These practical sessions are usually two or three hours long.

You will also be expected to study on your own, using the library for reading research and the computer laboratories to improve your practical skills.

Course material is also available on the University’s own Virtual Learning Environment. This allows students to download lecture notes, submit assignments and share resources in an electronic forum both within the University’s computer network and remotely.

Assessment methods

The assessment of individual modules within each course varies according to the subject. Assessment is usually by examination, assessed coursework, or a combination of the two. Please check module information for more details.

Preparation for work

All our degree courses combine academic challenge with the transferable skills that will stand you in good stead for future employment. Many of our more vocationally-focused degrees offer the opportunity of work placements and experience in industry.

Graduate employment

Our graduates have gone on to further study at most of the world’s leading universities, including Harvard, London, Oxford and Cambridge and secured jobs in senior positions around the world. Among our alumni, we have a graduate who became the head of his country’s civil service and one who became a leading Formula One motor-racing driver. Another secured a position as the Minister of Sabah and one female law graduate became the first British lawyer to become a French Advocate.

What our students say

I have been interested in computing and technology from a young age. It always has, and continues to fascinate me how things work. I studied computing at GCSE and Sixth Form level here in the UK, not only learning basic programming but also how vital a role technology plays in business today. So, it was only natural to want to pursue this at a higher education level.

I loved that the course covered all aspects and areas of computing in great detail – from basic programming, to web development, cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence with interesting and challenging projects, both in groups and individual. My final year project was to build an image-processing application that automatically detects cracks on solar panels. During my time, I also joined the Gaming Society, where I met new people and even went on a trip to London Comic Con.

Mihir Raniga – BSC Computing, 2022

I joined the September 2019 cohort and was surprised by how different the course was compared to my previous university programme. The tight-knit classes allowed me to ask many questions and engage with the lectures more easily; the timetables gave the flexibility to organize my spare time, especially allowing me to apply in practice what I had learned in blockchain and crypto; and having my personal tutor alongside me meant I was encouraged and motivated when I most needed it.

During my time at Buckingham, I was able to form a competitive group called ‘Team Bucklers’ at the Keyloop Dealer Tech Competition and win the regional team prize worth £3000. I was twice nominated to the Student Union body as Equity and Inclusion Officer as well as Ethical and Environmental Officer, where I was able to introduce free-cycling schemes and fundraise against deforestation. I also co-founded a student-led start-up for connecting students on campus via a mobile application with the assistance of the Buckingham Enterprise & Innovation Unit (BEIU).

In the end, I was able to graduate with First Class Honours and with three academic awards for best performance in exam diets and for the most outstanding undergraduate project regarding conversational AI chatbots.

Thomas Humphreys, BSc Computing, 2022

The University stood out to me because they provided me with a huge amount of flexibility and support when transferring. It also seemed a clear choice because of the small class sizes and the emphasis on providing quality teaching. These factors, amongst others, did in fact combine to make an unmatched learning experience.

The curriculum is kept up to date with industry standards and modules were regularly reviewed and evolved to match the ever – changing requirements of Computing. In particular, the practical elements of modules were a highlight. Teaching focussed on giving students relevant experience to be prepared for work. The benefit of the smaller class sizes was clear here, as you can go further in depth on any topic with the guidance of lecturers and teaching assistants.

Asha Krishnan, BSc Computing, 2021

The University reserves the right to increase course fees annually in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI). If the University intends to increase your course fees it will notify you via email of this as soon as reasonably practicable.

Course fees do not include additional costs such as books, equipment, writing up fees and other ancillary charges. Where applicable, these additional costs will be made clear.

Postgraduate loan scheme

Please note that this course is an Undergraduate conversion course which requires a bachelor’s degree as part of the entry requirements, therefore the standard loan and scholarship schemes may not be available.

Postgraduate first-class scholarship

A first-class scholarship is available to both home and international students studying a taught postgraduate degree at the University. The scholarship will reduce tuition fees by 33%. The scholarship will be automatically awarded to applicants who already have a first class honours degree that is recognised to UK standard.

Details of other scholarships can be found on our main Bursaries and Scholarships page. You should make an application to study at the University and receive an offer letter confirming our acceptance of your application before applying for a scholarship.

You may also find it useful to visit our External Funding page.

On-campus accommodation

We guarantee on-campus accommodation to all new students for their first four terms of study, as long as it is booked and paid for in good time, so you’re assured of a safe and secure home from home when you arrive at the University. Most new students choose this option.

Living on campus enables you to become involved in University activities, make friends, and integrate with the University community. For some of you this will be your first time in the UK; for others it will be the first time living away from home – and independence brings its challenges as well as its excitements. Whatever your circumstances, we know how important it is for you to feel comfortable in your accommodation.

What’s included?

All our study bedrooms are fully furnished, centrally heated, and connected to the internet. With few exceptions they have a wash basin and small refrigerator. We have a large number of ensuite rooms, and are upgrading more rooms each year. There are shared kitchens for when you wish to cook for yourself.

Find out more

If you’d like to find out more, visit our Accommodation pages or get in touch with our Accommodation Team.

We recommend that all prospective students visit our campus if they are able to, at one of our open days or a Campus Tour, campus tours include a typical student room.

You can apply directly using our online application form.