BSc (Hons) Computing (2-year degree)

The standard entry requirements for computing are: A-Level: (ABB – BBB), IB 32.

Applicants must also have GCSE B/5 in Math and C/4 in English.

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.

We welcome individuals from diverse backgrounds who are genuinely interested in learning the beautiful art of computing. You will have a curiosity for exploring, a passion for technology and a motivation to design and develop digital and technology solutions for real problems.

Flexible entry

All of our undergraduate programmes operate a flexible entry process, and the Admissions Tutor is happy to consider entrants from all backgrounds with slightly lower qualifications if they are able to demonstrate an alternative eligibility for the course. This may be in the form of relevant work experience, keen aptitude and a passion for the subject, or unlocked potential that you feel can be discovered through your studies at Buckingham. If you are uncertain whether you will be eligible to apply for this course, please contact the Admissions Team.

UCAS applications

You may apply either through the national UCAS university admissions system or at any time directly to the University using our own online application form. Our UCAS code is B90.

Mature students

Because of our two-year degree, we find that the age range of our student body varies between those who have recently completed A-levels (or equivalent) to more 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, 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 contacted 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 using our contact 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.

The first year of this two-year programme introduces students to essential theories and concepts of computing, programming and software development that underpin modern computer science. These theories and concepts build the fundamentals necessary to undertake advanced in the second year.

The second year focuses on advanced modules covering software development for mobile and web applications, software testing and quality assurance, cloud computing and software project management, which are some of the most sought-after skills in the IT sector today. All modules include practical work to apply knowledge and understanding to solve problems.

All students undertake a substantial ‘Individual Project’, and a collaborative ‘Grand Challenge’ project where they get the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to develop an innovative solution to a real-life complex problem. There are several opportunities to work in teams, thus developing leadership and collaboration skills.

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.

Accreditation

This degree programme is accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.

This degree programme is accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for a Chartered Engineer.

High calibre staff

Our academic staff are friendly, approachable, diverse and highly respected professionals. All academics are research active, many of whom also have worked with business and industry partners on real projects, and can offer networking opportunities for students.

The programme is supported by a highly professional and dedicated team of faculty managers and administrators.

Teaching methods

Teaching is carried out through a combination of lectures supported by seminars, practical workshops and tutorials. It is enhanced by virtual learning environments, online / stand-alone computer-based teaching, learning tools and software packages.

A key feature of the Buckingham teaching method is the use of small tutorial groups which provide the most effective means of ensuring that the students benefit from the academic expertise at their disposal. It is also the philosophy of the University’s faculty to be available to students outside the scheduled tutorial times and to encourage good working relationships between staff and students.

Computing programmes have supervised practical classes in computer labs in which you can practise and apply 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 and research, and computer laboratories to improve your practical skills.

Each student has a designated supervisor for the Individual Project. Weekly supervision meetings are offered throughout the Project.

Assessment methods

A range of assessment techniques are utilised throughout the degree programme to give students the opportunity to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes. Individual and group coursework, presentations, portfolios, quizzes, projects, and exams are the key assessments. The assessment of individual modules within each course varies according to the subject. Please check module information for more details.

Computer labs, software and equipment

The School of Computing has several labs to facilitate the teaching, learning and assessment of its programmes. In addition to two general computer labs with high specification PCs, the School has specialist labs for cyber security and networks, games and immersive application development and robotics.

The Robotics lab includes a Boston Dynamics Spot, a number of indoor and outdoor ground robots, and two collaborative robots. Several sensors/payloads such as lidar scanners, gas sensors, imaging sensors are also available for student projects.

A Birdly virtual flying machine and high-end mixed reality headsets such as Microsoft HoloLens 2 and Varjo XR3 are available to develop and test immersive applications.

The Cyber Security and Networks lab is equipped with devices to configure and secure networks and simulate attacks.

Integrated development environments and a variety of software packages are available for teaching, learning and projects. Most software packages are available for students to install on their own PCs or laptops.

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 work at some of the world’s leading tech firms and multinational corporations such as Adobe, Amazon, Arm, BAE Systems, BT, Google Deep Mind, IBM, Jaguar Land Rover, Meta, Microsoft, PWC, and Salesforce. Some of our graduates work for companies that are highly specialised in their business, for example ASOS, Russell IPM, Vitalograph, and Zizo.

Many of our graduates have gone on to postgraduate studies in world’s leading universities, including Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh, and secured jobs in senior positions around the world. Among our alumni are successful tech entrepreneurs.

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

My choice in Computing stemmed from my passion for mathematics and programming. I have always liked the challenge of logical problem solving that programming provides and I appreciate that there is opportunity for creativity too. I was interested in working in a wide variety of industries, so the fact that every industry uses computers also gave me the freedom to pursue any area I wanted.

I knew that Buckingham felt like the right environment for me because it had everything I was looking for in a university. I applied directly to The University of Buckingham whilst at Sixth Form, bypassing the need to apply through UCAS, as I knew I was not interested in applying to another university.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at The University of Buckingham. I am grateful to the lecturers at The University of Buckingham for providing me with such an enriching experience.

Overall, I found the course to be engaging and worthwhile. My hard work was rewarded by receiving the Ede and Ravenscroft Prize for Academic Excellence over two different exam diets and I graduated in December 2019 with a First-Class honours degree and won the University’s G-Volution Prize for Academic Distinction.

Anastasia Taylor, BSc Computing, 2020

Our Success Stories

We are incredibly proud of our students’ achievements – you can read more about them on our Success Stories page.

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.

Discounts

Students who graduate from the University and plan to continue their studies with a postgraduate degree at Buckingham can benefit from a very generous automatic discount on their fees:

• 33%, those with a first class honours degree from Buckingham
• 25%, those with a Second Class Honours, Upper Division (2:1) degree from Buckingham

Scholarships

Details of our scholarships can be found on our Bursaries and Scholarships 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.

We welcome applications in two different ways – directly via our online application form or through UCAS.

If you’re interested in transferring to Buckingham from another university then please get in touch to talk through your options.