Computer Science

This advanced four-year programme offers a thorough grounding in all the latest trends and technologies in the rapidly evolving world of computer science. You will have the chance to complete an extended final year project on a topic of your choice and it is particularly recommended if you want to go on to postgraduate study or a high-level technical career. You will also gain a competitive edge over graduates from standard three-year BSc programmes.

Our progressive curriculum will give you the knowledge and technical skills that employers need, and introduce you to pioneering ideas and technologies to help you to realise your ambitions. You will graduate with transferable skills such as problem-solving, programming, team working, analytical skills, time management and self-motivation, and the confidence and ability to tackle real-world problems in a wide range of application domains. We cover all the essentials of computing and application development, and introduce you to a host of advanced topics, from computer games, machine learning and digital sound and music, to intelligent agents and multi-agents, computational optimisation, advanced data communications, digital forensics and more. You will experiment with programming games, robots, Gadgeteer kits, Subversion, JUnit testing, Scrum-based Agile software and more.

The programme’s modular structure gives you the flexibility to tailor your degree to your interests. At the end of year 1 you will have the option of transferring onto one of our specialist pathways (Artificial Intelligence, Information Security or Distributed & Networked Computing), or adding a year in industry to your degree. Transferring onto our Software Engineering pathway requires previous programming experience and early permission to take the Software Development course in year 1, rather than Object-oriented Programming.

We are a highly respected, research-focused department with award-winning teaching. We offer a summer work placement programme and a dedicated personal adviser to guide you through your studies. You will also be welcome to join our thriving Computing Society. We are one of only seven departments in the UK to hold the Athena SWAN bronze award for our commitment to increasing female participation in computer science.

A flexible degree structure allows you to keep your options open and follow your study interests and career ambitions.

You will acquire problem modelling and analysis techniques, as well as knowledge of and practical experience in modern software-development methodologies and techniques.

You will develop extensive team-work skills, excellent coding skills, good communication skills, and a strong professional ethos.

You will have access to a very wide range of optional modules, including those highlighted in the specialist pathways.

Course Modules

Core Modules

Year 1

• Object Oriented Programming I

• Object Oriented Programming II

• Programming laboratory

• Internet Services

• Mathematical Structures

• Machine Fundamentals

• Mathematical Methods for Computer Science

• Software Design

• Academic Integrity

Year 2

• Software Engineering

• Team Project

• Operating Systems

• Databases

• Algorithms and Complexity

• Introduction to Information Security

Year 3

• All modules are optional

Year 4

• MSci Individual Project

Optional Modules

Below is a taster of some of the exciting optional modules that students on the course could choose from during this academic year. Please be aware these do change over time, and optional modules may be withdrawn or new ones added.

Year 1

• All modules are core

Year 2

• Symbolic Artificial Intelligence

• Multi-dimensional Data Processing

• Computer and Network Security

Year 3

• Computational Finance

• Intelligent Agents and Multi-agent Systems

• Machine Learning

• Applications of Cryptography

• Computer and Network Security

• Critical Infrastructure Security

• Digital Forensics

• Malicious Software

• Smart Cards, RFIDs and Embedded Systems Security

• IT Project Management

• Software Language Engineering

• Compilers and Code Generation

• Computational Optimisation

• Functional Programming and Applications

• Deep Learning

• Security Management

• Software Verification

• Advanced Algorithms & Complexity

Year 4

• Data Analysis

• Intelligent Agents and Multi-agent Systems

• Online Machine Learning

• Data Visualisation and Exploratory Analysis

• Advanced Distributed Systems

• Large Scale Data Storage and Processing

• Critical Infrastructure Security

• Digital Forensics

• Secure Business Architectures

• Security Management

• Security Testing Theory and Practice

• Smart Cards, RFIDs and Embedded Systems Security

• Computational Optimisation

https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/undergraduate/computer-science/computer-science-msci/

We firmly believe that how we teach you is at least as important as what we teach, and we know the importance of giving you the time and space to experiment and put theory into practice. We encourage you to use your creativity, both in project teams and independently, and to have fun while you learn. We use a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, small-group tutorials, supervised computer lab classes and problem-solving sessions. You will also be expected to complete guided independent study and group work. Our programming and software engineering teaching is very hands on, allowing you to learn at your own pace, whatever your previous level of experience. All students attend laboratory classes that give you the chance to develop real applications with imagination and creativity.

We are proud of our award-winning teaching. Professor Dave Cohen won a College Excellence Teaching Prize for the re-design of our second-year software engineering courses, and he was shortlisted for a Times Higher Education Award for Most Innovative Teacher of the Year. The British Computer Society (BCS) has distinguished our software engineering teaching as an exemplar of 'best practice' in computer science education.

Assessment is through a mixture of examinations and coursework. Most course units have a written examination taken at the end of the year in which they are taught, but around half of your final award will come from assessed coursework, including project reports, essays, oral presentations and software submissions.