Computing Science and Philosophy

Computing science is about understanding, designing, and building software and systems. It’s a mix of logic, creativity, and technical skill that underpins almost every modern industry.

A Stirling computing science degree gives you the technical and personal skills employers want. The UK tech workforce is expected to grow faster than the overall labour market between 2025 and 2030 (CompTIA Sep 2025).

Get equipped with cutting-edge programming and AI skills

Our BSc (Hons) Computing Science gives you the theory and practical experience in how to design, build and analyse computer systems. You’ll cover:

• Programming and scripting in languages such as Python, Java, C++, C#, JavaScript and PHP

• Database technologies (SQL, NoSQL)​​

• Software engineering​​

• Computer networks and distributed computing​​

• UX design

• Cyber security and forensics​​

• Data analytics

• Machine learning

• Software assisted development with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs)

• Big Data

You’ll build valuable skills in critical thinking, project management, teamwork, and communication. In your final year, you’ll take on an independent project that reflects your interests. That might be designing and developing software, exploring a research topic, or creating control software for a hardware device.

The teaching on our degree in computing science is led by academics with research expertise across diverse areas. These include Data Science and Intelligent Systems, Biological Modelling, and Computational Mathematics and Optimisation.

How are our minds related to our bodies? Do we really have free will? What can we truly know about the world around us, about other people or about ourselves?

These questions lie at the heart of philosophy – and if you seriously want to search for the answers, this is the course for you. Our Philosophy BA will challenge you to develop a strong set of critical, imaginative and informed reasoning skills. It will also deepen your understanding of the nature of the human mind, language, morality and politics, art, science and logic. We offer breadth and variety – from modules focused on individual philosophers, to others built around specific topics such as metaphysics, moral philosophy and environmental ethics.

You’ll be introduced to key philosophical issues in your first two years, before focusing in on the areas that interest you most. Along the way, you’ll benefit from the expert insights of your lecturers and tutors, whose own cutting-edge research feeds into course content and keeps you on the frontline of academic thinking.

Our Philosophy course has consistently achieved top marks for student satisfaction. It won the Outstanding Programme category at the RATE Awards 2025 (The Stirling Students' Union Recognising and Advancing Teaching Excellence awards). Your studies will play out in a supportive, vibrant environment with an extremely active Student Philosophy Society.

If you want to investigate the burning questions that shape humanity while gaining vital employability skills, choosing Philosophy at the University of Stirling is the perfect starting point.