Computing BSc (Hons)
Course code: G400
Study mode: You study most days of the week and complete all course units /modules in the standard time., You take fewer course units/modules per week compared to full time.
Course type: BSc (Hons)
International: Not eligible for international students
Study at: Argyll; Inverness; Moray; North, West and Hebrides; Orkney; Perth; Shetland
Start in: January; September
Learning mode: You attend classes in person at your local campus or learning centre., You access classes and/or materials digitally.
Duration: Full time: 4 years; Part time: 8 years
How: You attend classes at scheduled times, shown on your timetable., You complete course tasks independently. These may be set by your lecturer or chosen by you.
What is special about this course?
If you are looking for a successful career in the fast-moving computing industry, the BSc (Hons) Computing degree is for you.
You will learn all the knowledge and skills you need to work in this sector, as well as developing key personal and intellectual qualities necessary for continued professional development.
In years three and four you can choose to study for a generic degree in computing or you can specialise in software development or technical support. This will allow you to exit at the end of the fourth year with a themed award, for example: BSc (Hons) Computing (Networking and Cybersecurity) or BSc (Hons) Computing (Software Engineering).
The course provides a high-quality design/development web education that has been designed to meet employers’ requirements. When you graduate, you will be well-equipped to implement and manage web design and development projects from start to finish.
Special features
- A highlight will be the team project you will undertake, where you will be involved in the delivery of an ICT-related product for an external client
- You will also be involved in the management, configuration and utilisation of live internet servers to provide web-based services
- You can study full-time or part-time to suit your personal circumstances
Accommodation
We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.
Entry requirements
- Entry to year one, HNC, is 1 Scottish Higher at grade C or above OR
- 1 A level at grade D or above PLUS
- 3 National 5, Standard Grade or Intermediate passes or equivalent
- Alternatively, completion of Foundation Apprenticeship ICT: Software Development or Foundation Apprenticeship ICT: Hardware/System Support
- Entry to year two, HND, is an appropriate computing based HNC, such as HNC Computing or HNC Information Technology
- Entry to year three of the degree is an appropriate computing-based HND such as: HND Computer Science; HND Software Development; HND Technical Support; or HND Information Technology
Access routes
SWAP Access courses
If you are eligible to undertake Scottish Wider Access Programmes (SWAP), please visit our SWAP access list for further information on grade profiles and available subjects.
- All relevant HN computing-based awards will be considered
- NC Digital Media Computing
- NC Multimedia Computing
- Intermediate 2 Business, Administration and Computing Studies
- SVQ Information Technology
In year 3 you will choose one of the following pathways:
- BSc (Hons) Computing
- BSc (Hons) Computing (Networking and Cyber Security)
- BSc (Hons) Computing (Software Engineering)
Core modules for all pathways are:
- Advanced databases
- Designing web-based applications
- Team project (computing and interactive media) or Work placement industry-specific skills (computing and interactive media)
If you wish to take the Networking and Cyber Security pathway you must take the following option modules:
- Cyber security
- Server technologies
- Network and information security
If you wish to take the Software Engineering pathway you must take the following core modules:
- Artificial intelligence or Cyber security
- Software construction
- Mobile applications development
If you wish to take the Computing pathway you may choose from any of the option modules listed above.
You will study the following core modules:
- Advanced topics
- The science of computing
- Data analytics on the web (Software Engineering or Computing pathway) OR Cyber operations (Networking and Cyber Security or Computing pathway)
- Web programming (Software Engineering or Computing pathway) OR Cloud Computing (Networking and Cyber Security or Computing pathway)
You will also complete a dissertation in a topic such as: robotics; web application development; network operations; cloud based networking solutions; or machine learning; or another subject of your own choice.
How will I study my course?
- Full-time
- Part-time
- Years 1 and 2 of this course are the HNC Computing and HND Computer Science:
- for most locations, these years are mainly delivered in-person, on campus, with some scheduled sessions and tutorials delivered online
- UHI North, West and Hebrides students will study both years fully online with scheduled sessions and tutorials
- Years 3 and 4 of this course are delivered fully online with scheduled sessions and tutorials for all students
- Online study will be done via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors
- You may have the opportunity to undertake an optional 1 day per week work placement in year 3
- You will take part in a mandatory induction, either in-person or online, in August of each year (in-person options only available at selected campuses)
How long will my course last?
- Full-time: 4 years @ 40 hours per week
- Part-time: 8 years @ 20 hours per week
Number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours you should dedicate to the course, which includes time spent in lectures and your own time spent on individual study and research.
- Argyll
- Inverness
- Moray
- North, West and Hebrides
- Orkney
- Perth
- Shetland
Start date
- September
- January (part-time study only)
Fees
For information on costs of this course please contact the campus where you wish to study.
Funding
UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.
Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.
What can I do on completion of my course?
Once you have successfully completed the BSc (Hons) Computing you might like to consider employment or entrepreneurship in fields such as:
- artificial intelligence
- software engineering solutions
- web design
- website development
- interactive web-based software development or design
- server maintenance and management
- software development
- database analysis
- database implementation consultancy
- web-based services consultancy
- technical support roles
Can I progress into further study?
You can progress from the BSc (Hons) Computing to the following postgraduate course:
Studying opened new doors for me and it could for you too. Choose a subject that genuinely excites you and just go for it – university is a great way to meet like-minded people, improve your self-confidence, and gain skills you had no idea existed!
One of the great things about UHI is that classes are smaller than other universities. This has meant more one-to-one time with my lecturers who we're more than happy to sit down and really walk you through a problem. I think that’s a fantastic approach and one that goes a long way towards fostering a love of the field itself. There was a real sense of camaraderie among us. If one person was struggling, we’d all work together to try and come up with a solution. It was just such a positive atmosphere and I imagine that’s a level of support you don’t get at larger universities.
Ian studied Computing at UHI Perth.
Apply for Computing BSc (Hons)
We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.