Computer Science

Why study Computer Science at Aberystwyth University?

• Employability embedded in the structure of this degree
• A degree accredited by the BCS (the Chartered Institute for IT) on behalf of the Engineering Council, which gives you a head start when you enter the competitive job market
• Access to dedicated Linux, Mac OS X laboratories and central servers
• Taught by lecturers who have close links with the industry and software engineering conferences
• Access to robotic equipment including Ardvinos, mobile robots and sailing robots

Our Staff

Almost all of the Department of Computer Science Lecturers and Teaching Fellows are qualified to PhD level, and those who are not have considerable research or industrial experience. All new Lecturers and Teaching Fellows are required to obtain the PGCTHE, and hence are Senior Fellows or Fellows of the Higher Education Academy. The department also employs a number of part time demonstrators and tutors and some student demonstrators, who are selected from our undergraduate and postgraduate students. Research fellows and research assistants (mostly PhD qualified) may also be involved in delivering occasional teaching when it is appropriate.

Our degree prepares you for a variety of careers:

• Software design
• Communications and networking
• Computer applications
• Web development
• IT consultancy and management
• Systems analysis and development
• Computer sales and marketing
• Education

What skills do I acquire from this degree?

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;

• Communication skills
• Analytical skills
• Time Management
• Working Independently and as part of a team
• Organisation skills
• Implementation skills
• Research skills
• Technical skills

Interested in a work placement?

If you are keen to obtain a Year in Industry, then you can switch to our degree scheme G401. This scheme is the same as Computer Science, but we give you an additional year to spend in Industry.

What will I learn?

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the three year degree scheme.

In your first year you will be introduced to:

•  Programming
• Computer Infrastructure
• Web development
• Problems + solutions

In your second and third year, you will undertake:

• Our software development life cycle 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
• Plus, other exciting elective modules
• 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
• A range of further electives to specialise in areas of your choice

How will I be taught?

• Our enthusiastic staff will teach you through the medium of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practicals and individual/ group based project work.

• You will be assessed through a combination of coursework, practicals, projects, workshops and examinations.

• You will be assigned a personal tutor throughout your degree course, who will help you with any problems or queries, whether these are academic-related or personal issues. You should feel free to contact them at any time for help and advice.

• You will also have the opportunity to complete a Personal Development Plan (PDP) at Aberystwyth. This is a structured process of self-appraisal, reflection, and planning, which will enable you to chart your personal, academic and professional development throughout your time at university. By recording your academic performance, and highlighting the skills you already have and those you will need for future employability, the PDP portfolio will equip you with the necessary tools to plan effectively, develop successful approaches to study, and consider your future career options and aspirations.

Computer Science is a very engaging and diverse subject with emphasis on a wide range of subjects for example: software engineering, web development, networking and career planning. The course is very enjoyable and can be tailored to anyone's preferences and abilities. Oliver Roe

I have found my course truly interesting and very rewarding. The lecturers are professional and helpful and the course provides a wide variety of subject knowledge. The first year of the course is a very nice, manageable introduction to the field of computer science. As a student who had no previous experience in the field I was rather tentative when first coming to University, but within a few weeks I had hit the ground running with the implementation of a challenging, yet rewarding project. Daniel William James Drave