Computing with Foundation Year BSc (Hons)

Our BSc Computing will give you the knowledge and skills to develop your career in computing and software systems development. You will learn the theory and practice of software and how to succeed in a rapidly changing information technology environment. This course offers a balance between learning current skills, which are essential in todays marketplace, and a deep understanding of the fundamentals, which provide a solid basis for long-lasting professional success. <br/><br/>**Why choose this course?** <br/><br/><br/>- This course will provide you with hands-on experience with industry-standard tools and techniques throughout the entire software development lifecycle. <br/><br/><br/>- In addition, you will also work on real-world problems and develop an extensive final-year project allied to the software industry. This project will not only solidify your technical skills but will help you develop essential transferable skills. <br/><br/><br/>- Our world-class research activity informs our teaching and interactions with business, public and third-sector organisations. Our teaching is designed to support students juggling study with work and other commitments. <br/><br/><br/>- This course is accredited by the British Computer Society, the professional body for computing in the UK, which supports IT professionals and promotes the ethical and responsible use of technology.<br/><br/><br/>**What you will learn** <br/><br/>You will study core topics like programming, algorithms, databases, information security and data structures. These foundational skills will equip you to solve complex problems, design software systems and analyse data, preparing you for a wide range of careers in technology and beyond.<br/><br/>**How you will learn** <br/><br/>Teaching may include formal lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical classes, while the Foundation Year is composed of group work, individual tutorial work and practical lab work. Many computing modules include laboratory-based exercises. All lectures are recorded and materials are made available online.<br/><br/>For the majority of the programming modules we adopt a flipped classroom approach, where you watch short videos and perform appropriate reading before the class, making this an active rather than passive learning experience.<br/><br/>**Foundation Year**<br/><br/>If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didnt achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. <br/><br/>**Highlights**<br/><br/><br/>- Our world-class research activity informs our teaching, and we provide a stimulating teaching and research environment for both part-time and full-time students. <br/><br/><br/>- Birkbeck was ranked in the top 25 universities in the UK for its Computer Science and Informatics research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework. <br/><br/><br/>- Birkbeck established one of the first computing departments in the UK in 1957 and was a pioneer in database technologies, e-commerce and data science studies. <br/><br/><br/>- We have modern computing laboratories, with a total of 133 workstations. Our wide range of software runs on a number of platforms including Unix, Windows and Linux. The local area network is a switched gigabit/10gigabit ethernet. Our computers are connected to the SuperJANET academic network.<br/><br/><br/>**Careers and employability**<br/><br/>Our BSc Computing opens doors to a wide range of exciting careers in the tech industry, including: <br/><br/><br/>- software developer<br/><br/><br/>- data analyst <br/><br/><br/>- database developer <br/><br/><br/>- cyber security analyst<br/><br/><br/>- web developer<br/><br/><br/>- games developer<br/><br/><br/>- IT consultant.<br/><br/><br/>We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.