Computer Science (with Placement year)

Understand, design and build computer systems and gain the in-demand technical, development, and engineering skills with our accredited degree in Cambridge.

• Study in the Silicon Fen, home to Apple, Microsoft, Samsung AI and many more – the perfect opportunity to connect with top employers.

• Bring the world of work to life through Live Briefs; designed and developed with regional employers, such as Regate and Citisoft to give you exposure to ‘real world’ problem-solving.

• Accredited by BCS and IET and a Cisco Network Academy for over ten years.

• Engage with a curated selection of training materials, providing you with cutting-edge knowledge and skills that align with current industry standards.

• Take an engineering focus through final-year options on embedded computing, networks and security.

• Access relevant hardware, specialised software, our fully-kitted Cisco lab and a virtual 24/7 Netlab.

As a computing student at ARU, you'll learn how to work in a team, think independently, and solve problems creatively in our state-of-the-art computing labs. Our courses are very much hands-on and the assessment is based less on traditional exams and in-class tests (about 30%) and more on coursework assignments, reports and presentations.

Our specialist facilities include a fully-kitted Cisco lab and a virtual Netlab accessible 24/7 from anywhere in the world, being the perfect places to develop practical skills and get experience of working with industry-standard tools, such as Microsoft Imagine Premium and VMware IT Academy. We encourage collaboration, so you'll also learn through activities with your peers, as well as lectures and seminars from industry experts.

Whether you want to work in software engineering, programming, application development, computer design, graphics, gaming or artificial intelligence, studying our BEng (Hons) Computer Science degree in Cambridge will give you the knowledge and skills to succeed.

Double accredited by two professional bodies, the BCS and the IET, our degree course will help you stand out to employers in a range of industries, both in the UK and overseas. With further study, you can become a Chartered Engineer, or you might choose to continue your academic career with a PhD in Computer Science.

Located within the Silicon Fen, the name given to the region around Cambridge, and home to a large cluster of high-tech businesses focusing on software, electronics and biotechnology, such as Apple, Microsoft, Samsung AI, Qualcomm, Astra-Zeneca, etc., our BEng Computer Science degree course will give you the opportunity to meet and engage with a wide range of employers. There is also an option to study the course with a placement year giving you the opportunity to put your skills into practice at one of the many regional top technology firms.

Employability is embedded in the curriculum, providing access to a curated selection of industry-approved training materials. These resources offer enhanced opportunities to experience real-world professional training as part of your degree. You’ll also be engaging with real-world projects through a range of Live Brief assessments, set and driven by local companies, across all years of your course.

Our Computer Science degree gives you the opportunity to specialise in areas such as software development, artificial intelligence, computer security, cloud computing, and network administration.

You’ll have the opportunity to study all the training needed to apply for Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) status after you graduate, boosting your employability with a recognised certification in a specialist area.

Our BEng (Hons) course focuses on software engineering skills with a slight edge given to networking principles, preparing you to configure complex network systems. However, if you're interested in a stronger focus on programming languages and software engineering skills, the BSc Hons may be an interesting course for you.

Year 1:
Computer Systems (30 credits)
Software Principles(15 credits)
Introduction to Programming (30 credits)
Core Mathematics for Computing (15 credits)
Operating Systems (30 credits)

Year 2:
Computing Research Methodologies (15 credits)
Database Design and Implementation (15 credits)
Digital Security (15 credits)
Algorithm Analysis and Data Structures (15 credits)
Software Engineering (30 credits)
Network Routing (15 credits)
Ruskin Module (15 credits)

Year 3:
Work Placement (120 credits)

Year 4 core modules:
Final Project (30 credits)
Image Processing (15 credits)
Professional Issues: Computing and Society (15 credits)
Cloud Computing (15 credits)

Year 4 optional modules:
Artificial Intelligence (15 credits)
Ethical Hacking and Countermeasures (15 credits)
Digital and Network Security Forensics (15 credits)
Advanced Network Solutions (15 credits)
Embedded Computing (15 credits)
Computer Graphic Programming (15 credits)

We’ll assess you using a range of methods, including exams, group work, presentations, case studies, laboratory tests and projects.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT
• Engineering and Technology, Institution of