Computer Science
This course provides graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary to apply best practice within information systems in organisations. If you wish to develop your knowledge of Information Technologies (IT) to an advanced level, this is the course for you. This course will enable you to learn about the underlying principles of information technologies and to acquire skills for the development and maintenance of computer-based systems in modern organisations.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor at UK Level 6 |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | |
| Awarding Body | Ulster University |
| NFQ Level |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor at UK Level 6 | Ulster University |
Duration
Attendance
Four years, including placement.
Each student must complete 120 credits (usually six modules) in each academic year, with the exception of placement year (60 credits). Years 1, 2 and 4 are spent in the University. Modules are taught on campus and are web-supplemented. In Year 3, students undertake a year's work experience.
Entry Requirements
Irish Leaving Certificate
112 UCAS tariff points to include a minimum of five subjects (four of which must be at higher level) to include English and Maths at H6 if studied at Higher level or O4 if studied at Ordinary Level.
Careers / Further progression
Graduate employers
Graduates from this course are now working for:
Learning Pool
Seagate Technologies
E & I Engineering
Job roles
With this degree you could become:
Database Administrator
IT Support Specialist
Web Developer
PHP Programmer
Systems Security Specialist
Career options
Graduates with computing skills have many career opportunities available to them, for example in developing new software, in project management, in systems analysis, in planning and technical management, or in information and database management environments.
Opportunities for postgraduate study in computing or a related area are broad.
Further information
Start date: September 2024
Deadlines for on-time applications
2024 entry application deadlines
For courses starting in 2024 (and for deferred applications), your application should be with us at UCAS by one of these dates – depending on what courses you apply for. If your completed application – including all your personal details and your academic reference – is submitted by the deadline, it is guaranteed to be considered.
16 October 2023 for 2024 entry at 18:00 (UK time) – any course at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, or for most courses in medicine, veterinary medicine/science, and dentistry. You can add choices with a different deadline later, but don’t forget you can only have five choices in total.
31 January 2024 for 2024 entry at 18:00 (UK time) – for the majority of courses.
Some course providers require additional admissions tests to be taken alongside the UCAS application, and these may have a deadline. Find out more about these tests at https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/admissions-tests
Check course information in the search tool to see which deadline applies to you at the application weblink below.
Apply as soon as possible: Student funding arrangements mean that as offers are made and places fill up, some courses may only have vacancies for students from certain locations. It’s therefore really important that you apply for your chosen courses by the appropriate deadlines mentioned above, as not all courses will have places for all students.
All applications received after 30 June are entered into Clearing - find out more about Clearing at https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/clearing-and-results-day/what-clearing
Overview
This course provides graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary to apply best practice within information systems in organisations.
Summary
This course is offered at the Magee campus by the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment. If you wish to develop your knowledge of Information Technologies (IT) to an advanced level, this is the course for you. This course will enable you to learn about the underlying principles of information technologies and to acquire skills for the development and maintenance of computer-based systems in modern organisations.
About
The Information Technologies course aims to deliver graduates that can apply best practice in the application of computing and information systems principles in organisations. There are three broad streams of study within the course:
Programming Principles; Networks/Systems' Security; and Web/Database Systems Development.
During the first two years, you will develop your programming skills and the capabilities necessary to design, build, operate and maintain complex computer and information technology systems. You will also be fully supported in your endeavours to find employment for Year 3.
During the final year, you will get exposed to more advanced topics that will consolidate your knowledge and understanding of the different roles that you can undertake in industry. You will also have the opportunity to gain practical experience in the planning, development and implementation of an IT System through your Final Year Project and this can be used to showcase your skillset to future employers.
The University regularly ‘refreshes’ courses to make sure they are as up-to-date as possible. The University calls this process 'academic revalidation’. This course will be ‘refreshed’ during the 2017/18 academic year, with changes put in place for students entering in September 2018. For the most up-to-date course/ module information, please contact the Course Director:
Mairin Nicell E: ma.nicell@ulster.ac.uk
Members of the teaching team are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy and Members of the industry professional body - the BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT. Through their research, knowledge transfer and placement activities, teaching staff are also actively engaged with the local software and IT industry, and many modules on the course are directly informed by staff research activities.
Here is a guide to the subjects studied on this course.
Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling and student demand. Please contact the course team for the most up to date module list.
Year 1
Mathematics for Computing
Software Development I
Software Development II
Database Systems
Computer Hardware and Operating Systems
Systems Analysis and Design
Year 2
Cloud Computing
Computer Networks & Security
UX
Object-oriented Programming
Algorithms and Data Structures
Mobile Application Development
Professional Development
Year 3
International Academic Studies - Optional
Professional Practice - Computing - Optional
Year 4
Final Year Project
Cyber Security - Optional
Concurrent and Distributed Systems - Optional
Cloud Operating Systems - Optional
Advanced Mobile Technology - Optional
Intelligent Robotics - Optional
Computer Vision - Optional
Mixed Reality - Optional
Computational Intelligence Technology - Optional
Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module. Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods. Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes. You can expect to receive timely feedback on all coursework assessments. This feedback may be issued individually and/or issued to the group and you will be encouraged to act on this feedback for your own development.
Coursework can take many forms, for example: essay, report, seminar paper, test, presentation, dissertation, design, artefacts, portfolio, journal, group work. The precise form and combination of assessment will depend on the course you apply for and the module. Details will be made available in advance through induction, the course handbook, the module specification, the assessment timetable and the assessment brief. The details are subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.
Normally, a module will have 4 learning outcomes, and no more than 2 items of assessment. An item of assessment can comprise more than one task. The notional workload and the equivalence across types of assessment is standardised. The module pass mark for undergraduate courses is 40%. The module pass mark for postgraduate courses is 50%.
Associate awards
Diploma in Professional Practice DPP
Diploma in International Academic Studies DIAS
Diploma in Professional Practice International DPPI
Professional recognition
BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT
Accredited by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT on behalf of the Science Council for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Scientist.
BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT
Accredited by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.
Work placement / study abroad
All students normally spend one year on placement in Year 3 working on some aspect of the software industry for a minimum period of 25 weeks. On satisfactory completion of the placement period, the student is eligible for the award of Diploma in Professional Practice. Students who complete their industrial placement abroad receive the award of Diploma in Professional Practice (International)
Alternatively, students may complete apply to study abroad in another academic institution for a year. Satisfactory completion leads to the award of Diploma in International Academic Studies (DIAS).
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