Our academics have expertise across a broad range of areas and they work with major international companies to make your learning experience industry relevant.
You'll learn through practical lab sessions, lectures, tutorials, individual and group projects, and placements to develop skills that are highly valued by employers in the IT sector.
Your learning experience
Practical lab sessions
Lab sessions put the theory learned from lectures into practice and give you the practical skills required to be competitive in the working world.
Guest speakers
We host guest speakers from industry who hold seminars for students on topics of interest. Previous guests have visited from companies including IBM, Oracle and Nationwide.
Individual projects
Carry out a final-year project in your area of interest. Choose from proposals provided by staff or propose your own – previous students have undertaken projects connected to their placement.
Group work
Many of our modules involve working as a group to solve a problem. For example, if you choose the Virtual Reality module, you’ll work together to create a virtual world based around a theme.
You’ll develop your understanding of how a team approaches a project, building essential teamwork and communication skills.
Support sessions
Our staff have weekly drop-in sessions and open-door policies, and you’ll meet with your academic tutor regularly.
You can take advantage of peer-assisted learning opportunities – our final year students offer optional support for first years.
The University also offers Maths Support, a drop-in service designed to help with any areas of maths you find difficult during your studies.
You can take advantage of peer-assisted learning opportunities – our final year students offer optional support for first years.
The University also offers Maths Support, a drop-in service designed to help with any areas of maths you find difficult during your studies.
Learn through industry experience
Our dedicated placement team will help you secure paid employment, giving you the opportunity to engage with employers during your studies. As a student on a four-year course, you'll undertake a year in industry. We encourage students on a three-year course to gain relevant work experience with summer placements.
Previous placement companies include: Goldman Sachs, GSK, Sony, Ernst & Young, BBC, Pepsico, BT, IBM, HSBC, Deloitte, O2, Intel, Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, and Bayer.
You can also carry out a research project through the University's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme.
Learn more about industry placementsRhian Taylor: making an impression on placement
Rhian’s placement changed her outlook towards her career, resulting in receiving job offers before graduating.
Ross Beale: digital solutions for big brands
During his time at Reading, Ross undertook a summer placement on campus with Conjure, a digital agency. This experience was a turning point for him.
Read Ross's story
Rishil Haren: innovation at Vodafone
Rishil made a strong impression during his placement in the Innovation Team at Vodafone Business, securing a graduate role at the company.
Our research
Our academics’ research expertise and experience directly inform your learning, allowing you to engage with current issues and create solutions.
Our research themes include:
- advanced computing for environmental science
- big data analytics
- data mining
- machine learning
- computational issues of perception and reasoning in relation to image interpretation.
Optional modules
You can explore a range of optional modules such as Distributed Systems and Parallel Computing, Applications of Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Virtual Reality.
Visit our course pages to learn more about modules
Visit our course pages to learn more about modules
Life in the Department
I think it's important to connect with an environment that suits you, and I found that Reading was a good match for me at this stage in my life.
Ieuan Higgs, BSc Computer Science with Industrial Year graduate
