Course overview
Foundation year Work placement
Computing and cyber security courses
Learn more about our courses in computing and cybersecurity.
You explore state-of-the-art technologies including intelligent systems, machine learning, agent-based modelling, intelligent support systems, planning and logistics, virtual agents, and hybrid algorithm design.
Top reasons to study this course at Teesside:
- Industry links: work on live industry briefs, competitions and hackathons with companies including Cisco, Cubic Transportation Systems, Sage, TUI, Atombank, HMRC and Waterstons.
- British Computer Society (BCS) academic membership: get free BCS membership to accelerate your career path with CV builder tools, e-learning courses, mentorships programmes, jobs boards and volunteering opportunities.
- Career-ready: our ExpoSeries of events allow you to showcase your skills to industry professionals who are seeking to recruit new and rising talent.
Course details
Course structure
Year 1 core modules
Learn about the maths, algorithms and data structures that are essential for computer science and computer games – putting first principles into an applied context.
This module is closely linked to our programming modules and prepares you with essential, transferable problem-solving skills.
This is a 30-credit module.
You consider key aspects of the software development process - designing solutions, writing application code, developing documentation and formal approaches to testing. And you develop the essential skills you need to develop software applications such as following best practices used by industry and the wider programming community.
This is a 30-credit module.
Cover a full range of computer and network security issues. Study systematic approaches to managing security risks, identification and authentication, elementary cryptography, network technology and relevant security issues. Learn about the basic network technology including deploying routers, switches, firewalls, cabling and servers as well as communication protocols and topologies. And understand how they're used and how they function in the real world.
This is a 30-credit module.
To produce a successful, robust, user-friendly system or application, you need to start by analysing your stakeholders’ requirements and developing a detailed design.
Study the concepts and techniques of analysing and designing systems. Then you can break down and simplify complex systems, and represent them visually using industry-standard approaches. In industry, these visual models are used to communicate designs to developers and stakeholders before implementation.
You study other techniques to design and implement relational databases as part of an information system. Using data-modelling techniques, you learn to define how the system stores data and interacts with it.
This module has a strong emphasis on professional practice and transferrable practical skills, such as communicating design, structuring workflows with process models and gathering requirements - this provides you with some of the essential skills you need in industry.
This is a 30-credit module.
Year 2 core modules
Cognitive technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), are increasingly being used to solve business problems. AI is concerned with understanding and building intelligent entities – machines that can compute how to act effectively and safely in new situations.
You are introduced to AI, discussing real-world applications and its transformative power in our daily life. You consider the fundamental concepts of AI, common frameworks used in analysing and designing intelligent systems, using generic algorithms to implement these systems and major problem-solving techniques. You develop knowledge to understand how to address AI problems, studying a range of AI techniques, applications and developing solutions.
You learn about popular AI applications, including game design, virtual agents and robotics. And you consider the benefits of using AI, such as how to enhance efficiency, productivity and reduce costs.
This is a 30-credit module.
You develop a solution, proposal, product or service in response to an enterprise challenge set by industry partners or business clients.
Working in small teams, you determine the project aims, objectives, roles, tasks, deliverables, schedules and documentation. You take a professional approach, informed by innovative industry practice, to deliver a successful project that meets the set challenge.
You develop a solution, proposal, product or service, pitching it to academics and industry experts. You reflect on the project process as a whole and review sustainability, diversity, ethical and legal issues, and evaluate team members’ performance.
This is a 30-credit module.
Relational and NoSQL Databases
Learn how to design and implement database applications to meet business needs using industry-standard database technologies. Use a case study to follow the system development lifecycle, and develop a server database application for a real-world scenario. Explore rational and NoSQL database technologies to design and build solutions.
This is a 30-credit module.
Design and construct web applications and web services, and understand the role they play in the architecture of enterprise-style software systems.
Compared to traditional static sites, web applications serve dynamic content or fully asynchronous single-page applications to bring the web alive. Web services use industry-standard interfaces to make their capabilities reusable by third parties, particularly apps running on mobile devices. These technologies are the cornerstone of the modern web.
Explore the underlying technologies of how the web works and investigate how to use professional tools to construct web apps and web services. Study the principles, patterns, libraries, frameworks and techniques to engineer good-quality software components ready to use in enterprise-style software system architectures. Build on and extend your previous programming experience, and knowledge and understanding of data modelling and persistence.
This is a 30-credit module.
Optional work placement year
You have the option to spend one year in industry learning and developing your skills. We encourage and support you with applying for a placement, job hunting and networking.
You gain experience favoured by graduate recruiters and develop your technical skillset. You also obtain the transferable skills required in any professional environment, including communication, negotiation, teamwork, leadership, organisation, confidence, self-reliance, problem-solving, being able to work under pressure, and commercial awareness.
Many employers view a placement as a year-long interview, therefore placements are increasingly becoming an essential part of an organisation's pre-selection strategy in their graduate recruitment process. Benefits include:
· improved job prospects
· enhanced employment skills and improved career progression opportunities
· a higher starting salary than your full-time counterparts
· a better degree classification
· a richer CV
· a year's salary before completing your degree
· experience of workplace culture
· the opportunity to design and base your final-year project within a working environment.
If you are unable to secure a work placement with an employer, then you simply continue on a course without the work placement.
Final-year core modules
Artificial intelligence (AI) applications are developing at a fast pace and we will see significant changes in society as it becomes part of our everyday lives.
Explore AI from a sociotechnical perspective, and consider how to investigate and evaluate whether AI systems are ethically permissible. Study a range of practical AI applications and get an insight into relevant ethical concerns.
You consider the philosophy of AI and the tools you need to make decisions about its ethical and social aspects. You appreciate the ethical dilemmas of autonomous systems, value alignment in AI systems, ethical frameworks and principles, and approaches for designing trustworthy AI systems.
At the end of this module, you're able to operationalise ethical frameworks and requirements into developing AI systems.
This is a 30-credit module.
Machine learning is an important part of artificial intelligence learning to adapt to unforeseen circumstances.
Machine learning draws from statistics and probability theory as the fundamental task is to make inferences from data samples. It's essential to have contributions from other areas of computer science to represent efficient tasks, learning algorithms and inference procedures.
You're exposed to a range of tasks and techniques in machine learning. And you get a practical introduction to neural networks, investigating their use in deep learning.
This is a 30-credit module.
Produce a substantial artefact related to the computing field, and write a report and commented walk-through video, with supervision from our academic staff.
You are guided to develop your work-discipline and your professional outlook. Taking full responsibility for your project, carry out an in-depth exploration of a chosen subject area that demonstrates your ability to scope the project, plan, research, analyse, synthesise, and creatively apply and execute what you've already studied. Consider its risks, security and sustainability as well as the legal, social, ethical, equality, diversity and inclusion issues.
You develop your professional skills in time management, communication, problem solving and critical thinking.
This is a 60-credit module.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
You attend a combination of lectures and practical sessions for each module. Lectures concentrate on teaching the principles while practical sessions allow you to put these principles into practice in purpose built labs. Throughout your practical sessions you receive feedback on your work and progress. You often work on a piece of work for several weeks building a deeper understanding of the subject as you work. The feedback you receive will help you to get the most out of your learning.
In your final year you also undertake a personal project which integrates much of the work you have studied in previous years.
There are lots of opportunities for you to engage with the computing and IT industry through our connections at Cubic Transportation Systems, Sage, Atombank, NHS, TUI, Traceroc and Waterstons.
How you are assessed
A variety of assessment methods are used. An in-course assessment often consists of a practical exercise and an associated report helping you to develop both technical and business skills.
Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services
Find out more about financial support
Find out more about our course related costs
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
96-112 points and either maths GCSE grade 4, Level 2 Key Skills (Application of Number) or Level 2 Functional Skills.
If you have Level 4 credits in a related subject from previous study, then credit transfer towards your new course may be possible.
Find out how many points your qualifications are worth using the UCAS tariff calculator. If your qualifications are not listed, contact our admissions team as we may accept alternatives.
We may be able to help you meet the entry requirements through our Summer or Winter University modules.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country
You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL
Employability
Career opportunities
There are wide range of opportunities open to computer scientists with artificial intelligence ranging from foundation level:
- Software analysts and developers
- computer scientists and computer engineers
- AI architect
- machine learning engineers.
Industry demand for individuals with these skills sets is increasing at a significant rate, and with a shortage of skills in these areas demand is continuing to rise. As an artificial intelligence graduate you are well placed to pursue a technical career in a wide range of industries
Throughout your course we offer a wide range of business networking opportunities for you to extend your knowledge of the industry and show case your skills, enhancing your opportunity of securing your dream job.
ExpoTees is our second year and final-year undergraduate, and postgraduate showcase of work which attracts over 150 business partners each year looking for emerging talent, and helps connect you with them.
Students Futures Week is a week-long event in which business partners network with our students across all years of study. Providing industry panels, presentations and networking opportunities the week builds your professional skills and knowledge field preparing you for the next step in your career.
Drawing on our extensive industry links we invite guest speakers in your field to present to our students. Throughout your course we bring in industry speakers to ensure that you develop your knowledge of the industry that you plan to build your career in. In addition to covering technical subjects these speakers provide an insight into what employers are looking for in their employees, from technical to professional skills.
Information for international applicants
Qualifications
International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.
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Useful information
Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.