Our BSc (Hons) Computing is a flexible and far-reaching undergraduate programme designed to support you with focused attention, industry insights and excellent IT resources. Forge your own path into specialisms and potential career options with dedicated help from expert teaching staff.

Key information

Award:

BSc (Hons)

Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

3 years

Location:

University of Bolton

UCAS points:

UCAS code:

G400

Start date:

19/09/2022

Course Details

Of all the great computing degree options available at the University of Bolton, this is the most flexible. It draws on key elements from other study pathways to give you a wide-ranging and industry-informed programme. As you progress, you’ll have the opportunity to ‘zoom in’ on aspects of the subject you have personal interest and strengths in or that support your career or further study goals. For instance, you might opt to study machine learning, artificial intelligence or cyber security.

The department’s strong links with business mean you’ll have the chance to work on ‘live briefs’ in your coursework assignments, so you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy real-world context and application for the skills and knowledge we’ll help you develop.

With intentionally small class sizes, we can offer you more meaningful and personalised interaction with our dedicated and enthusiastic lecturers, many of whom are active researchers and come with extensive industry insights and experience. Meanwhile, guest speakers and lecturers give you access to highly relevant and up-to-date input from industry settings.

All of this is backed by our well-equipped IT suites, where you’ll get to apply and develop your learning individually and in groups, with expert guidance and support.

Highlights

Our Computer Science courses are top in the UK for student satisfaction, according to The Complete University Guide 2022.
Our Computer Science courses are also placed first in the UK for teaching quality and student experience by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021.
Your teaching and tutorial team brings an impressive range of professional experience and technical prowess to the course, so you’ll have the chance to explore and evaluate a range of perspectives relating to your studies.
We continually monitor and update the course to reflect current and ever-changing computing issues and keep your learning in line with technological advances and innovations.
A big part of our commitment to your progress is helping you develop your employability and industry networks. So we’ll encourage you to attend guest lectures that give your learning context, offer industry contact, and contribute to your underlying professional development.
By structuring our module content, assignments and projects to mimic industry processes and standards, we aim to provide an industry-relevant education that leads you towards a successful career.
To boost your employability, you’ll study a number of different programme languages and approaches. Each new language you experience and approach you master will enhance your ability to impress potential employers, opening up a wider variety of graduate job opportunities.

Key Features

The department, and the wider University, provides a warm and friendly environment for your studies, with relatively small class sizes, purpose-built teaching facilities, and excellent student support and library services.
We’ll focus on your individual needs and provide personalised support to help find the learning strategies that best support your learning and ultimate success.
Our dedicated laboratories, servers and end-hosts feature high-specification hardware and the latest software, so you’ll have industry-equivalent hands-on experience.
As you’d expect, many of our computing facilities are accessible online, so you can work on your assignments wherever you are and whenever inspiration kicks in.
We’ll help you build a portfolio of work that demonstrates your skills in developing content for a range of different target devices. This can put you in an advantageous position when you come to approach potential employers.
By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.

96 UCAS points. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points.
Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3.
You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
If you don’t meet the standard entry requirements but have non-traditional qualifications and/or relevant experience, we’ll be happy to consider your application. You’ll need to achieve a minimum mark in a diagnostic mathematics test and attend an interview.
You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
If you don’t meet the entry requirements for this course, please consider our BSc (Hons) Computing with foundation year course.

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.

With computing technologies playing a greater role in all aspects of modern life, our graduates find their skills in high demand across a wide range of industries.

The University of Bolton's BSc (Hons) Computing degree combines theoretical study and practical projects. You can learn subject-specific skills such as programming, systems, databases, computer platforms, website production and networking. This degree also supports you to develop soft skills such as communication, leadership and organisation, all of which are highly sought after by employers.

What can I do with this qualification?

Computing skills are essential in today’s world. Computing is a global activity, and our graduates are employable anywhere in the world. Some of the main areas that graduates go into are network design, programming, web development, software application, interactive multimedia roles, IT support, consultancy and operations, E-commerce and business analysis.

Some typical employers include IT consultancies and IT service providers. However, most businesses rely on computers to function effectively, so there are also opportunities within telecommunications, aerospace and defence, financial services, retail, healthcare, manufacturing and the public and third sectors.

After completing this degree, you might also set up your own business offering web design or IT consultancy.

A common postgraduate route is teaching. Alternatively, you might choose to continue your development within computing via a master’s degree or PhD in areas such as networks and security or software engineering.

Alternative career options

Graduates can use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. For some of these roles, relevant experience and/or postgraduate study may be required. Roles include:

Digital copywriting
IT sales
IT training
Teaching
Research and development
Network engineering
Product management
Technical writing
Social media management
Cyber security
Information systems management
Games development

Course fees

Home Fees	Year of study				Total
Entry year	2022/23	2023/24	2024/25	2025/26
2022	£9,250	£9,250	£9,250	-	£27,750

International	Year of study				Total
Entry year	2022/23	2023/24	2024/25	2025/26
2022	£12,950	£12,950	£12,950	-	£38,850

Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2021-2022 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for ‘Home’ fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for ‘Home’ fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance eligibility 2021-2022 policy on www.gov.uk for information.

The fees for a student’s course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.

For 2021-2022 entry, the maximum government approved undergraduate tuition fee for UK students is £9,250 per year. The University is able to charge this fee subject to an approved Access and Participation Plan for 2021-2022 and its current rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.

Bursaries

Click here for more information about the scholarships and bursaries available to University of Bolton students.

For details of how to apply for this course, please choose your status from the options below:

If you wish to apply for multiple institutions or multiple courses at Bolton for September entry, then apply through UCAS

You can apply for up to 5 courses through UCAS (at the same or different institutions) for a fee of £26.50. Alternatively, if you only wish to apply for a single course at a single institution then a reduced applicant's fee of £22 is applicable.

The online application form and guidance notes are available on the UCAS website.

You will need the following information to complete your UCAS application form:

Institution Code Name: BOLTN
Institution Code Number: B44

UCAS - Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

Tel: 0870 1122211
Web: www.ucas.com

If you wish to apply for a single course offered by the University of Bolton for any intake, you can apply directly

If you have carefully considered your course and institution choices and decided that this course is the best option for you, you may apply directly to the University using our online application form shown below.

A direct application to Bolton provides the following features:

Free of charge to apply
Secure, simple and streamlined
Contact us directly for any admissions queries
Regular updates on your application directly from the University
Invites to offer holder events and taster sessions where you can meet your future tutors and get a flavour of university life

NOTE: You cannot apply both through UCAS and directly to Bolton. Submitting an application to any university through UCAS during the same academic year will void any direct application you make to Bolton.

For courses starting in September, please be aware that we are required to share your information with UCAS if we accept you on this course. We will create a simplified UCAS acceptance record on your behalf and return this to UCAS. By submitting your application directly to the University of Bolton, you agree to these terms.

If you are ready to apply directly, please select your chosen start date from the list below.

Before applying, please read the entry requirements section of this page.

If your course runs at multiple locations or has various start dates, please be sure to select the correct application link from the list below.

Before beginning your application, you should have the following information to hand:

Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
Details of any employment history, including name, address, dates and role
Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
Details including e-mail addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference

Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.

Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page. If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already inputted.

If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Undergraduate Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or UGadmissions@bolton.ac.uk

Apply online: University of Bolton BSc (Hons) Computing - 19 September 2022

The University welcomes applications from international students from all over the world. We try to make the application process as simple and as fast as possible for our international applicants.

How you apply is determined by your current location and what you are choosing to study:

Apply direct to the University. Links for the next available intakes of this course are shown below. Please click the link which will direct you to the online application form. Please read the user guidance before completing this.
Apply via one of our approved in-country referral partners. A list of our partners may be found on the International pages of this website.
Apply via UCAS for courses starting in September only – visit www.ucas.com.

Should you have any queries please contact the International Team on +44 (0) 1204 903110 or email international@bolton.ac.uk

Apply online: University of Bolton BSc (Hons) Computing - 19 September 2022 (Intake not currently accepting international applications)

University of Bolton Group Partners

Bolton College
University Collegiate School
Alliance Learning
University of Bolton

For valued members of the University of Bolton Group and progressing students, we try to make our application process as simple and as fast as possible.

If you have carefully considered your course and institution choices and decided that this course is the best option for you, you may apply free of charge to the University. By selecting the appropriate link from the list shown below, you will be taken directly to our online application form. Please read the user guidance before completing this, and ensure you upload all supporting documents such as certificates and your personal statement when you apply.

When you are asked to add a contact email address, please ensure you add your college/university email account address as well as your personal address. If you do not add your college address as your contact address, we will be unable to identify you as a partner and offer you the benefits of being part of our group.

If you are ready to apply directly, please select your chosen start date from the list below.

Before applying, please read the entry requirements section of this page.

If your course runs at multiple locations or has various start dates, please be sure to select the correct application link from the list below.

Before beginning your application, you should have the following information to hand:

Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
Details of any employment history, including name, address, dates and role
Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
Details including email addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference

Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.

If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Undergraduate Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or UGadmissions@bolton.ac.uk

Apply online: University of Bolton BSc (Hons) Computing - 19 September 2022

We look forward to receiving your application and you continuing your academic journey with us!

Lectures introduce the core course content, while practical laboratory sessions give you practical experience and help consolidate your learning. Tutorials offer you the chance to ask specific questions and discuss topics and techniques you’ve covered in lectures and laboratory sessions. Case studies and practical scenarios allow you to apply theory to practice and enjoy real-world insights into computing in commercial environments.

Small class sizes mean we get closer to you as an individual and better understand and support your learning preferences and ambitions.

Assessment wise, you can expect a combination of assessed practical demonstrations, reports, coursework, and others. These summative assessments contribute to your final marks and are your chance to show you’ve met the learning outcomes for the course. Formative assessments, on the other hand, feature throughout your studies. While they don’t contribute to your module or final marks, they inform and support your development by helping you build on your strengths, overcome any perceived weaknesses, and find the study strategies that best support your ultimate success.

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

Introduction to Software Development
Computing Infrastructure
Databases
Security Fundamentals
Data Structures and Algorithms
Advanced Databases and Big Data
Modern Applications
Systems Analysis and Design
Advanced Operating Systems
Undergraduate Project
Enterprise Systems Development
Machine Learning
Emerging Technologies
Ethical Hacking and Digital Forensics

Assessment methods

Level	Assesment method
Level one	Coursework 100%
Level two	Coursework 100%
Level three	Coursework 94%, Written exams 6%

Learning activities

Level	Learning activity
Level one	Guided independent study 66%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 34%
Level two	Guided independent study 77%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 23%
Level three	Guided independent study 77%, Scheduled learning and teaching activities 23%

Disclaimer

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.