Computer Science Foundation Programme

The Foundation route will allow you to improve your computing skills and acclimatise to University teaching and assessment styles, with a view to joining one of our Computer Science, Games Technology, Cyber Security and Data Science degrees the following year.

Although the computer science foundation year does not confer an official award, successful completion will enable entry onto one of City's Computer Science courses, including:

• BSc Computer Science

• BSc Computer Science with Games Technology

• MSci Computer Science

• MSci Computer Science with Games Technology

• MSci Computer Science with Cyber Security

• MSci Data Science.

A range of Computer Science modules will develop your understanding of the fundamentals, your programming skills and building web applications. Mathematics modules will ensure you have the logical and analytic skills for more advanced theoretical Computer Science topics.

Finally, you will receive training on basic employability and transferable skills.

Elective modules in your third year let you tailor your degree to your developing interests, such as computer vision, AI and advanced game technology.

• Develop systematic knowledge of computer science, with a focus on how software and programming can be used to solve real-world problems

• Learn to evaluate solutions to computer science problems

• Develop commercially valuable skills for your future career

• Work with City’s internationally renowned research groups to develop knowledge at the forefront of computing science

• Acquire state-of-the-art approaches to a wide variety of technologies

• Learn to code creatively and use programming languages accurately

• Study in City’s computing labs, which include the latest hardware and software, such as state-of-art NVidia GPUs

• Boost your expertise and employability with an optional one-year work placement

• Gain three years of professional experience with our innovative Professional Pathway Scheme, combining paid employment and study.

The Foundation Programme employs continuous assessment based around frequent class tests and group work.

Students can also expect a higher number of contact hours per week (around 14 hours) in the form of teaching and tutorials, than in the subsequent years of our Computer Science degrees where self-study plays a larger part.

Assessment methods

You will be assessed using a variety of methods including examinations, coursework and practical skills.