Computer Science (with integrated year in industry)

This degree with an Integrated Industrial and Professional Training Year will jump-start your career prospects. If you are interested in the fundamentals of Computer Science, our degree which is accredited by the Chartered Institute for IT (BCS) on behalf of the Engineering Council, allows you to develop the skills needed to solve complex problems that include analysis, design, solution choice and implementation.

At Aberystwyth University, we endeavour to provide you with an exceptional and memorable student experience and ensure employability is embedded in the structure of your degree. Our students have access to dedicated Linux, Mac OS X laboratories and central servers. You will be taught by lecturers who have close links with the industry and software engineering conferences and you will also have access to robotic equipment including Arduinos, mobile robots and sailing robots.

This is a four-year scheme during which you will be introduced to programming, computer infrastructure and web development. You will take part in a work placement in your third year in which you will be assisted by the department. By the end of this placement, you will have the knowledge and understanding to make a substantial contribution to the workplace and you will return to the University with a greater sense of motivation. Your fourth and final year will involve an individual project for which you will develop a piece of software in an area of your choice.

Employability skills are the core values of our degree.

As part of your degree, you will be required to take part in a residential where you and other students will have work in teams to solve problems. This activity will encourage and improve your skills in communication, analysis, time management, independent and group-based working, organisation, implementation, research and technical skills. Industrial Year students will have the opportunity to join a second-year residential weekend concentrating on skills to help you find a great placement. These include CV skills, interview practice, networking with employers and developing your online presence.

Our degree prepares you for a variety of careers in fields such as:

• Software design;

• Communications and networking;

• Computer applications;

• Web development;

• IT consultancy and management;

• Systems analysis and development;

• Computer sales;

• Marketing;

• Education.

What will I learn? In your first year you will discover; Programming; Computer Infrastructure; Web development; Problems + solutions. In your second, you will explore; Our software development lifecycle module. This module will allow you to take a role which exists in the industry i.e. project manager, designer etc, you will be required to produce a working software product, following best current industrial practice at every stage; Data structures and algorithms. In your third year, you will embark on your Year in Industry. This will be organised with assistance from the department. In your final year you will study the development processes, techniques and technologies for constructing real operational software ;Individual project, where you will develop a piece of software in an area of particular interest to you.