BSc (Hons) Computing
Course Overview
Of all the excellent 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. By studying for your BSc (Hons) Computing honours degree with us, you can develop essential knowledge and understanding of computing and IT principles and practices while experiencing life at our supportive, student-focused, multicultural campus.As you progress through the degree, you'll have the opportunity to focus 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. 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.
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. We'll also support you in building lifelong learning skills so you can take ownership of your professional development for the future and maximise your potential for success.
All of this is backed by our well-equipped IT suites, where you can apply and develop your learning individually and in groups with expert guidance and support.
Highlights
- Our Computer Science courses are 4th in the UK for student satisfaction, according to The Complete University Guide 2025.
- Our Computer Science courses are also placed in the top 5 in the UK for teaching quality by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.
- We are a well-respected, intensive teaching-focused department with a friendly approach and highly-rated teaching. You'll have the opportunity to learn from our experienced lecturers and researchers in fields such as machine learning, data science, cloud technologies, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and cyber security.
- Manchester is a thriving digital hub and home to a wide range of digital technology businesses. The region offers plenty of opportunities to network and exchange ideas. Our guest lecturer programme invites professionals to come and share their expertise so that you can benefit from their experience.
- 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
- With intentionally small class sizes, we can offer you more meaningful and personalised interaction with our dedicated and enthusiastic lecturers. We'll focus on your individual needs and provide personalised support to find the learning strategies that best support your learning and ultimate success.
- 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.
- 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 support you in building 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 approach potential employers.
Entry Requirements
- 96 UCAS points. We accept a full range of qualifications that carry UCAS points, including A-levels, BTECs and T-levels. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points. For most courses, we are also able to consider non-tariffable qualifications.
- Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3. Relevant science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) and computing-related subjects are preferred.
- You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
- We'll be happy to consider your application if you don't meet the standard entry requirements but have non-traditional qualifications and/or relevant experience. 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.
Career Opportunities
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?
Some typical employers include IT consultancies and IT service providers. However, most businesses rely on computers to function effectively, so there are opportunities in 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 popular 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. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Some possibilities 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
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
Home students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Home fee of £4,500 for the academic year 2024/25.
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
Bursaries
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2024-25 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 for EU students web page 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.
How to apply
Home Applicants
You may apply directly to the University using the University's online application form. Please select your chosen start date from the list below:
You should have to hand:
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Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
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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
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Details of any employment history including name, address, dates and role
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Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
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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 input.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or admissions-team@bolton.ac.uk
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Apply online: University of Bolton BSc (Hons) Computing - 27 January 2025
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Apply online: University of Bolton BSc(Hons) Computing - 22 September 2025
International Applicants
International applications are not possible for this course
As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the restrictions on your visa.
We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our Course Search.
Partner Organisation Applicants
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.
By selecting the link for your chosen course 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.
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 admissions-team@bolton.ac.uk
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Apply online: University of Bolton BSc (Hons) Computing - 27 January 2025
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Apply online: University of Bolton BSc(Hons) Computing - 22 September 2025
We look forward to receiving your application and you continuing your academic journey with us!
Teaching & Assessment
Lectures introduce the core course content, while practical laboratory sessions give you practical experience and help consolidate your learning. Tutorials allow you to ask specific questions and discuss topics and techniques you've covered in lectures and laboratory sessions. Case studies and practical scenarios will enable 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.
This programme adopts a blended learning and teaching style, including online delivery and engagement where appropriate.
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.
- Maths for Computing
- Computer Science Fundamentals
- Computing Infrastructure
- Databases
- Object Oriented Programming
- Systems Analysis and Design
- Cloud Technologies
- Advanced Databases and Big Data
- Advanced Operating Systems
- Introduction to AI
- Research and Professional Issues
- Undergraduate Project
- Natural Language Processing
- Information Security Management
- Operations Management
- Applied Machine Learning
- Software Quality Management
- Emerging Technologies
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 100% |
| Level 2 | Coursework 100% |
| Level 3 | Coursework 90% Practical exams 10% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 66% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 34% |
| Level 2 | Guided independent study 77% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 23% |
| Level 3 | Guided independent study 77% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 23% |
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.
