Computer Science with Foundation Year

Foundation courses
A foundation year can develop your skills and make it easier to get started at university. It is an extra year of study at the start of your course that leads in to a full degree programme. It’s a great option if:

You don’t have the grades for a full degree course
You have non-traditional qualifications or experience
You’re starting university after some time away from education
You’re looking for more support during the transition into university study.

Life as a foundation year student
During a foundation year you’ll learn about your chosen subject, develop your study skills and get used to university life. On successful completion of your foundation year, you’ll be ready to progress to the first year of your degree course.

As a foundation year student, you’ll be a full student of the University and part of our community. You’ll have access to all our campus facilities and support.

Why choose this course

• Surrey is recognised as one of the UK’s best universities for computer science, with an excellent record for graduate employability: 94 per cent of our computer science undergraduate students go on to employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2024, HESA).

• Our award-winning Professional Training placements scheme gives students industry experience and prepares them for roles in various sectors.

• Our BSc and MEng courses in Computer Science provide you with a solid foundation for designing the next generation of computational systems. They will also enable you to analyse and resolve issues with the latest software programs.

• You’ll be taught by academics at the forefront of their field and you’ll have opportunities to attend lectures from industry experts.

What you will study
Our computer science courses will develop your understanding of the concepts and principles that form the basis of computing systems.

We’ll provide you with the balance of knowledge and skills you need to design, implement and troubleshoot software and complex systems to a professional standard.

You’ll explore a wide range of topics, including:

• Artificial intelligence

• Computational mathematics

• Computer security

• Object-oriented programming.

This will involve using languages and tools such as Java, C++, Android, SQL, Python, MATLAB and assembler, plus specialist hardware such as Raspberry Pi computers.

You can apply to study for a BSc or an MEng. The MEng builds on the BSc with a masters year and is a direct route to a masters qualification, known as an integrated masters.