Information Technology BSc (Hons)

Studying our Information Technology BSc (Hons) course will equip you with the knowledge and skills around core IT concepts, programming, cybersecurity and networking. In core areas of study, you will be introduced to the Fundamentals of Computer Science and the ability to apply them to practice using state-of-the-art technologies.

Similarly, you will be introduced to the basic concepts and applications of computer systems in our Computer Systems Structure unit. As a student in the field of computer science, you will also be given an Introduction to Software Development where you will learn the fundamentals on how to develop software, model problems, test programs and distinguish between forms of programming and modelling. More importantly, you will develop your programming skills in our Principles of Programming to explore the process of analysing, designing, testing and implementing computer systems.

To diversify your skill set, our Advanced Information Technology unit will advance your skills to deal with advanced IT concepts in various organisational settings. Aside from this, you will also learn to use technologies involved in the design, development and implementation of web-based applications in our Web Technologies and Platforms unit. Building on this, you will develop the skills to model, design and evaluate good user experiences in our User Experience Design unit. In more technical areas of study, you will be given an understanding of the design and implementation demands for various databases or data centric systems in our Systems Development and Modern Database Practices unit that will enable you to use IT to develop realistic solutions to organisational problems.

Finally, you will complete an Undergraduate Project in an area of interest that is relevant to your field of study. You will decide on your proposal topic with your supervisor in our Research Methodologies and Emerging Technologies unit where you can choose from a range of ideas relevant to your career aspirations, such as creating a software artefact or a data-driven system. Similarly, our Agile Project Management unit will equip you with the project management skills for such academic work and more importantly, your future employment. To prepare you for your career, you will complete an Information Technology Employability Project by producing an individual portfolio of work with the aim of identifying your IT career goals and subsequently working to achieve them.

About the course

• IT is a vast and ever-evolving sector, and there is no shortage of demand for qualified individuals who can expertly navigate our modern digital landscape. Our forward-thinking, hands-on course provides you with the in-depth technical and professional training needed to practise as an information technologist. Through a combination of work-based projects, industry collaboration and expert tuition, you’ll graduate fully prepared for a successful career in a range of IT domains.

Why choose the School of Computer Science and Technology

• 83% of our full-time UK computing graduates are in highly skilled employment or graduate further study, 15 months after graduating (Source: HESA Graduate Outcomes for 2020/21, pub 2023).
• Alongside your degree, take the opportunity to study for CompTIA Security+ and CCNA certification, making your qualification even more relevant to a range of employers.
• Take a fee-free placement year in industry, gaining real-world experience and building contacts for the future.

How will you be assessed?

• You are assessed in a variety of ways. The majority of units are assessed through coursework group and individual projects portfolios essays presentations or exams. You will also produce software artefacts in the area of your specialism. Constant feedback and advice from a supervisory or unit team will be provided to support you in your work.
• At level 4 you are assessed on your understanding of the fundamental concepts of Computer Science and its application. You are required to comprehend the basic range of intellectual concepts which form the foundations of the subject and application area and will be assessed on your ability to articulate such concepts in a coherent manner in a variety of written assessments/written briefs. For example there will be time constraint programming assignments as well as multiple choice tests.
• At level 5 you are assessed on your ability to apply the basic concepts of the disciplines introduced in level 4 to existing controversies and issues on which there is already a body of research and critical opinion. You also should be able to demonstrate the inter-relationships between critical theory and practice. For example the units 'User Experience Design' and 'Web Technologies' will further your understanding of key aspects of IT systems.
• At level 6 you will be required to demonstrate independent thinking and initiative. This may be in the form of analysing and criticising current approaches and theory within Information Technology in general and software use and development in particular. In all cases you will be expected to show an awareness of the major theories and practices of the discipline. You will progress from well-defined briefs to more open-ended and challenging assessments which culminate in the honours project where you will be given freedom to choose your area of work within the constraints of the subject discipline.

Careers

• Completion of this course will open up a wide range of career opportunities in the IT industry. Our graduates find work in the computer industry leading to long-term and specialised positions in fields that include programming systems development customer services and IT management. Possible roles include IT developer; IT system architect; IT consultant; database developer; mobile app developer; data engineer; and information engineer.
• If you want to continue your studies at Master's level there is a wide choice within computer science information science and data science as well as courses related to computer science and information application.