Full Time: 4 Years
Study the essential skills for computer scientists, and put them into practice with a year in industry.
Computer Science is the study of principles, applications, and technologies of computing and computers. It involves the study of data structures and the algorithms to process them, programming languages, operating systems and software engineering. Computer Science provides skills and knowledge which are essential in a wide range of computing and computer-related professions. It has a huge impact on modern society as it is the cornerstone of all of the digital technologies that we use in our daily lives.
During this degree, you will study the theory and techniques that underpin such areas as complex computing systems, big data analytics, computer graphics, computer security, web technology, mobile computing and artificial intelligence, as well as completing a year working in industry. You will also have the opportunity to develop your technical skills in programming and software design. In addition to learning C, C++ and Java, many students graduate with a range of other programming languages, such as Python, Javascript, PHP and others, software testing and with experience of the software lifecycle.
You will be taught by lecturers with expertise across a broad range of areas, with extensive experience in both academic and industrial applications, showing you how to develop and apply your skills.
Industrial Year placement
The Industrial Year degree includes the opportunity to apply for a one-year placement in industry. Our dedicated placement team will help you to apply for the year-long paid employment during your degree. We have relationships with companies, built up over many years, of which many have their UK or European headquarters in the local area.
Our students have completed placements in the UK and overseas at companies such as Goldman Sachs, GlaxoSmithKline, Sony, Ernst & Young, BBC, Pepsico, BT, KPMG, IBM, HSBC, Deloitte, O2, Intel, Microsoft, M&S, Oracle, John Lewis, Accenture, 3M, Autino, CGI, Veritas, Lilly, Urban Science, Cisco, Bayer, Evertz and many small- and medium-sized enterprises. We hold a placement fair every year, and every student is supported with sessions in which you go through the selection methods that companies use. You also have the option to receive help with your CV and writing cover letters in one-to-one sessions.
You will also have the opportunity to acquire a wide range of transferable skills that are sought after by employers, and we keep up-to-date on their requirements through our Industrial Advisory Board and regular contact with the companies who offer placements to our students. There is a strong career management theme running throughout the degree, with a series of skills development opportunities for you to engage with. In addition to technical skills, we also teach transferable skills, such as team working and communication, which you will need for a rewarding career in computing.
A wide range of software packages are used to support the computing curriculum, including tools for software/apps development, systems modelling, Computer Assisted Design and 3D printing, mathematical manipulation and more. There is free access to commercial software and servers, and many facilities are available to students in the evenings and at weekends.
Our degree programmes are accredited by the British Computer Society — the Chartered Institute for IT.
Visit the Computer Science website.
Quick look entry requirements A Level AAB-ABB | IB 32–34 points overall
What will you study?
How much will it cost?
How much will it cost?
New UK/EU students: £9250* per year
New international students: £19330 per year
* UK and EU Fee Changes
Subject to the Government passing legislation to raise the minimum fee cap, we will raise undergraduate tuition fees from £9,000 to £9,250 for new UK/EU students applying to start courses in the 2017/18 academic year. You will not be affected by this rise if you have deferred entry to the 2017/18 academic year. The Government will confirm future arrangements for EU students in due course.
Information on this page is based on 2018/19 figures and is likely to change slightly for 2019/20 entry. We will publish up-to-date information about 2019/20 entry as soon as it becomes available.
For further information, please see our webpage on the Teaching Excellence Framework and future tuition fees.
Additional Costs
These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.
Financial support for your studies
You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK and other EU countries may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.
* UK and EU Fee Changes
Subject to the Government passing legislation to raise the minimum fee cap, we will raise undergraduate tuition fees from £9,000 to £9,250 for new UK/EU students applying to start courses in the 2017/18 academic year. You will not be affected by this rise if you have deferred entry to the 2017/18 academic year. The Government will confirm future arrangements for EU students in due course.
The tuition fee will remain £9,000 per year for the full duration of this course if you start in the 2016/17 academic year or have accepted an offer but deferred your entry until the 2017/18 academic year. This is unlike other institutions who are planning to raise fees midway through courses.
For further information, please see our webpage on the Teaching Excellence Framework and future tuition fees.
Additional costs
These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.
Financial support for your studies
You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK and other EU countries may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.
What career can you have?
What career can you have?
This degree will prepare you for your chosen career in this constantly evolving field through the development of transferable and subject-specific skills.
Our graduates go on to careers in areas including networking, programming, consultancy, computer security, database management, game development and systems engineering, with companies such as Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan, Microsoft and Sage. Some of our graduates go on to pursue MSc and PhD degrees.
Many of the companies we work with visit the University in order to recruit our best graduates directly. Reading prepares you by organising mock assessment centres, where you will go through the recruitment process and get valuable feedback before you actually apply for jobs.
We hold a careers and placements fair every year, and invite placement employers to speak to second-year students about their recruitment processes. You will also receive CV help in one-to-one sessions.
If you choose a four-year degree with the industrial placement option, we have a dedicated placement coordinator, working with the Careers Team, who can support you with placement applications, giving you real-world experience in your chosen career. Recent placements have been with companies such as Goldman Sachs, Sony, the BBC, PepsiCo and BT.