Course overview
Accredited Foundation year Work placement
Computing and cyber security courses
Learn more about our courses in computing and cybersecurity.
Computer science skills are in high demand across industries including financial organisations, software houses, communications companies, data warehouses, multinational companies, governmental agencies, computer games, manufacturing and healthcare.
You study programming, mobile development, network management, systems security, and artificial intelligence systems, and develop skills in data processing, storage, and data transmission.
Top reasons to study computer science at Teesside
- 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.
- Industry links: work on live industry briefs, competitions and hackathons with companies including Cisco, Cubic Transportation Systems, Sage, TUI, Atombank, HMRC and Waterstons.
- State-of-the-art facilities: learn in industry-standard computing labs with specialist equipment used to undertake development projects and build innovative prototypes.
- 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
Algorithms and Data Structures
You develop intricate programmes to solve complex problems, using data structures and appropriate algorithms. You study a variety of algorithmic techniques and the use and importance of data structures. You are introduced to classifying data according to its abstract behaviour, as distinct from its representation.
A range of well-established data structures are examined and their properties are described. You gain an understanding of the basic skills needed in algorithmic design and the interaction between algorithm and data structure in creating efficient code.
You are introduced to the fundamental concepts that support computer science, including number bases, statistical methods, matrix algebra, and discrete mathematics.
You study topics in discrete mathematics which form the basis of the notation used in software specification. Statistical methods, including probability, are covered at an introductory level, preparing you for growing areas of computer science applications such as big data.
You are introduced to problem-solving using recreational problems, including games and puzzles, to convey algorithmic concepts.
You study the syntax of Java programming language and the Java API, as well as object-oriented concepts including inheritance, abstraction and polymorphism. The emphasis is on problem solving, design and documentation adopted in Java Programming.
You gain an understanding of professional practice, codes of conduct and copyright/licencing.
You are introduced to the fundamental concepts of software development through Java programming language. You study key aspects of the software development process, including designing solutions, writing application code, developing documentation, and formal approaches to testing.
This module provides you with an understanding of the role of computer networks to fully appreciate and utilise within modern web-applications. Specific network design solutions are introduced and explored. You get hands on experience using key network devices for wired and wireless network.
Security threads, hazards and issues are explored along with security risk assessment and management. Relevant protocols and hardware technologies are introduced along with the role of legal requirements, social and ethical issues.
Successful, robust and user-friendly systems or applications begin with a requirements analysis and detailed design. You are introduced to the concepts and techniques of systems analysis and design, enabling you to break down and simplify complex systems and represent them visually using industry-standard approaches such as Unified Modelling Language (UML). In industry, the resulting models are used to communicate designs to developers and stakeholders prior to implementation.
You learn to design and implement fully normalised relational databases as part of an information system. Using data modelling techniques you define how the system stores data and interacts with it. You implement your design using Structured Query Language (SQL): Data Definition Language for creating tables, and Data Manipulation Language for accessing the data.
You develop professional practice and transferrable skills essential for industry, including project management."
Year 2 core modules
Plan, design and build a mobile app for a smartphone or tablet device within a small software development team. The module explores the frameworks, libraries, patterns and industry-standard development tools used to build today’s mobile apps. It requires a professional approach, informed by current industry practice, to plan a successful software development project.
Assessment is via an in-course assignment requiring the team-based planning, design, development and presentation of a mobile app, followed by individual reflection upon personal actions, contribution and growth.
We introduce you to functional programming and its underlying fundamental concepts. You use a functional programming language, such as Haskell, to solve real-world problems. The mathematical nature of functional programs allows you to apply mathematical reasoning to your programs, so as to prove that they are correct.
This module:
- introduce you to functional programming and its underlying fundamental concepts
- enables you to solve real-world problems using a functional programming language
- enables you to apply mathematical reasoning to programs, so as to prove that a program is correct.
Lectures are supported by laboratory-based practicals. Lectures include on-line, interactive demonstrations. The IT laboratory sessions are used to implement and test solutions to given exercises. An electronic discussion forum is provided for you to discuss questions you may not have asked in class, and an electronic notice board is used to keep you informed about the module. You have weekly exercises to complete and group work is encouraged; you are expected to demonstrate your completed exercises during the laboratory classes. You are required to use your freelance time to complete your work or reinforce your understanding of a particular topic.
Relational and NoSQL Databases
You develop your ability to design and implement database applications to meet business needs. A case study is used to follow the system development life cycle, and you develop a server database application from inception to implementation for a real world scenario.
The module investigates the issues and technologies associated with implementing and supporting databases and the services that are needed to maintain and access a repository of data. Investigations are undertaken in a number of areas including data modelling, data management and approaches that support the modelling and visualisation of data for a range of use views.
You study object oriented design and examine a number of design principles that lead to better quality code, and a set of design patterns that solve commonly occurring software problems. In the second half of the module, you are be introduced to concurrency, middleware and software architecture. This is a very practical module that encourages you to adopt agile software development methods.
You design and construct web applications and web services, and understand the role that they play in the architecture of enterprise-style software systems. Web applications serve dynamic content or fully asynchronous single-page applications, bringing the web alive in comparison to traditional static sites. Web services use industry-standardised interfaces to make their capabilities reusable by third-parties, especially apps running on mobile devices. Together, these technologies are the cornerstone of the modern web.
This module explores the underlying technologies of how the web works, and investigates how to use professional tools to construct web apps and web services. You study the principles, patterns, libraries, frameworks and techniques used to engineer good-quality software components ready to participate in enterprise-style software system architectures. The module builds upon and extends previous programming experience and knowledge, and understanding of data modelling and persistence.
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
Machine learning is an important topic in the area of artificial intelligence. The methodology involves building a model of a given task based on observations to make predictions about unseen data. Such techniques are useful when the desired output is known - but an algorithm is unknown, or when a system needs to adapt to unforeseen circumstances. Machine learning draws significantly from statistics and probability theory as (though the applications are many and various) the fundamental task is to make inferences from data samples. The contribution from other areas of computer science is also essential for efficient task representation, learning algorithms, and inferences procedures. You also gain an exposure to a breadth of tasks and techniques in machine learning.
You explore how cloud computing enables companies to avoid the infrastructure and maintenance costs associated with buying and running their own dedicated hardware and software platforms. Software’s move to the cloud, and the need to utilise third-party infrastructure and platforms, creates new challenges and new opportunities for software developers. You explore the extent of cloud computing, cloud-capable software architectures, and study the professional DevOps practices used to develop and deploy complete software systems.
You complete a large scale piece of work, under the supervision of an academic staff member. You produce a substantial artefact relating to the computing field, and complete your report and viva consisting of a presentation, demonstration and discussion of the artefact.
You are guided to develop an appropriate sense of work-discipline coupled with a professional outlook. You take responsibility for the planning and execution of an extended piece of work including the consideration of associated legal, social, ethical and professional issues. You are able to explore in depth a chosen subject area, and thereby demonstrate your ability to analyse, synthesise, and creatively apply what has already been studied on the programme while demonstrating critical and evaluative skills and professional awareness.
The Internet of Things (IoT) incorporates a number of technologies, including wireless sensor networks, embedded systems, pervasive computing, machine learning, context awareness and distributed systems. IoT has been successfully applied to environmental monitoring, smart homes, industrial controls and digital cities.
You cover a mixture of theoretical and practical topics such as coverage of the range of IoT-enabled devices, low power communications, and processing data gained from the IoT. You also gain experience of practical skills required for the programming of IoT devices.
Society is increasingly dependent on complex software systems that pose difficult challenges in terms of reliability and security. Building software systems that are safe and reliable is a difficult and expensive task. You examine the methods and tools used to build reliable software systems and an in-depth study of key research in the area of formal methods for software engineering.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
You learn through lectures, seminars and practical sessions.
How you are assessed
You are assessed through coursework assignments, project reports and formal exams.
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 plus 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 also be able to help you meet the entry requirements through our Winter and Summer 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 varied job roles available to computer science graduates including IT consultant, information systems manager, systems analyst, software developer, computer network architect, web developer, and IT project manager.
Our graduates have secured jobs in organisations including IBM, Amazon, Schlumberger, Ordnance Survey, Codemasters, npower, Cisco, HMRC, NHS, Traceco and Clicksco.
The optional work placement year allows you to keep up-to-date with the latest technical developments and techniques. Our students have been placed in organisations such as Dupont, Accenture, General Electric, Nissan, Nicander, Red Embedded, Microsoft, Intel, Thomson Reuters, Glaxo Smith Kline and GCHQ.
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.