Business Computing

This course will give you a comprehensive introduction to computing within an organisation. You’ll feel fully equipped and able to assess and solve computing issues that face businesses today.

We take an innovative, dynamic and highly participative approach to teaching. Our lecturers often have experience of working as consultants for major blue chip companies at home and overseas. Around 40 academic staff teach in the department.

The research that the academic staff undertake is largely applied and spans areas that include Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, Human-Computer Interaction, Software Engineering and Simulation. The Department of Computer Science is a member of the Microsoft Alliance, the Apple iOS Academic Developer Programme and is an nVidia CUDA Teaching Centre.

You will have about 12 hours a week of directed study. Your tutors and lecturers are also happy to answer queries outside of class. In addition, you’ll be putting in about 25 to 35 hours of private study weekly.

Teaching is carried out via lectures, lab work, small group-work, and one-to-one sessions. Lectures offer a broad overview of key concepts and ideas allowing you to then pursue more in-depth study independently. Lab work helps you develop your technical skills to build software. You’ll do some individual work, but a tutor will be assigned to you to lead discussion on common issues, when they arise.

In the first and second years you’ll work in small groups on computing-related problems with regular guidance from a member of staff. These sessions enable you to develop key professional skills such as report-writing, evaluation, and communication skills. They also ensure continuity and help you get to know your tutor, which we think is important to help you feel supported, particularly in your first year.

In your final year you’ll normally have small group or one-to-one supervision for your major project. The department has a team of personal tutors so there’s always someone available to discuss personal or academic problems. If you go on placement, your personal tutor will help you set objectives and monitor your progress, and provide further support if you need it.

You could go on to a career such as:

• software developer
• business analyst
• web developer
• technical architect
• helpdesk engineer

Recent graduates have taken up roles with companies such as:

• Accenture
• BP
• FDM
• the BBC
• Wipro