BSc (Hons) Computer Science with Integrated Foundation Year Bachelor's degree at Falmouth University

Learn the principles of computing, discrete mathematics, statistics and technical communication. Use core computer science concepts, techniques and methods to solve practical problems and leverage algorithms in solutions. Delve into the history of computing, engaging with the plurality of voices in the profession and the controversies evoked by algorithmic bias.

Explore digital media formats including text, image and sound. Play, tinker, experiment with and extend digital artefacts, transforming what already exists in one form into another form as a means of appropriation. Integrate digital artefacts with digital game technologies, notably game engines, to make them interactive. Consider moral and legal questions surrounding digital creativity, such as plagiarism, intellectual property law, licensing rights, representation and media literacy.

Gain foundational experience of the basic principles, terminology, roles and tools used in the development of digital products and services. Through several small-scale team projects, practice a range of prototyping methods and pitch your idea for a future project. Develop project management skills, while building a professional, inclusive and supportive studio culture.

Learn the fundamentals of the data science life cycle. Formulate questions, collect and clean data, explore and visualise data, make statistical inferences and predictions, and report insights in a way that informs decision making. Gain awareness of the responsibilities, obligations and legalities of working with sensitive and personal data, including its collection, storage, analysis, management and transmission.

Refine your approach to computer programming by developing an architecturally sound project focused on object-orientated solutions. Build confidence with various interfaces that enable interaction within and across different system components. Practice more disciplined software engineering methodologies, develop mastery of the notations for describing and refactoring system architectures, and apply the mathematics associated with circuit design. Gain greater awareness of ethical considerations s

Introduce resource-efficient methods for designing robust, sustainable logic systems. Study digital electronics with a focus on low-level logic, covering fundamental gates and the principles behind hardware such as CPUs and GPUs. Practical workshops develop your ability to design, test and debug digital systems using standard logic ICs and programmable gate arrays, considering real-world constraints like timing and noise margins. Working in teams, design and demonstrate a combinational or sequen

Assessment: Assessment focuses on your individual contribution throughout the module.

Learn and practice multiple methods of approach to complex problem-solving and explore outcomes through simulations. Be introduced to 'systems thinking': an absolute necessity for contemporary business leaders, who will be working in environments of densely layered interdependencies and networks.

Learn key mathematic principles, such as linear algebra, geometry, trigonometry, 3D transformation, and calculus that underpins computing. Apply these principles to your own technical working practices. Explore the relationship between computational mathematics and cybersecurity, learning to programme defensively and become familiar with security topics such as common threats and attack vectors, cryptography and steganography, certification and malware.

Boost your knowledge of system development lifecycles and the engineering of computing systems, applying more disciplined approaches to some of the challenges you may have encountered in the first stage of the course. Explore case studies and engage with topics such as the design and implementation of full-stack, database-driven systems with browser-based user interfaces. Continue to exercise your programming skills across topics such as: entity relationship modelling, methods of scaling and opt

Gain a deeper understanding of distributed systems, computer networks, databases, and Internet of Things architecture. Particular emphasis on how to use industry-standard socket architecture, data structures and transaction processing techniques, and system security that can create high performance, robust and secure platforms. Explore the ethical considerations of storing user payment information and the role of anonymity in networked environments, as well as managing equality, diversity and in

Practise and develop your computing skills with a focus on the design and analysis of algorithms. Explore strategies for creating efficient and optimised code; learning to apply methods of profiling and resource management. Be challenged to consider sustainability as a theme for your optimisations, with attention to maximising the use and/or extending the lifecycle of hardware that is difficult to recycle, to reduce (notional) energy usage and to better manage processes with environmental impact

Explore the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques. Considering real-world applications, conduct a practical research and development project looking to address a specific brief or challenge. Think about the legal, social, ethical, professional and sustainability implications of AI technologies. Examine how artificial intelligence and machine learning may impact computer technology and your future career aspirations.

Plan and commence an individual 'major' research and development project in computing. Choose to conduct primary research centred on or supported by a novel computing artefact, or practice-based research with significant technical depth. Develop your written proposal to include identifying an opportunity, critically reviewing relevant literature, setting a hypothesis and designing a mode of data collection, while considering all ethical implications, as well as prototyping a novel and substantia

Be introduced to more advanced and emerging topics in computer science, such as language and compiler design, functional programming, formal methods to apply rigorous engineering methods to the implementation and deployment of robust (safety-critical) software whilst engaging with appropriate legal and ethical frameworks; as well as big data analytics. For each of these topics, embrace the state-of-the-art, exploring both the theoretical underpinnings as well as the practical aspects through a s

Develop your commercial awareness and entrepreneurial mindset for graduate opportunities, building the knowledge and skills needed to set up your own business, establish yourself as a freelancer, or join an existing business or organisation. Further develop your goals, values and employability skills, as well as to explore options available to you.

Continue your individual 'major' research and development project. Build upon the proposal you submitted and further develop your prototype computing artefact into a potentially deployable solution. Deepen your knowledge of software engineering, the use of advanced research tools, technical writing and academic conventions, as well as the interpretation and visualisation of results from statistical analyses of quantitative data. Under the supervision of a subject-matter expert, realise a novel a

Leverage your experiences from the prior stages of the course to deliver a substantial collaborative project. Work in a multi-skilled team to design and implement a potentially innovative product or service. Typically, this will be the continuation of your previous project, but it could also be a newly proposed project that satisfies a real need, a response to a market opportunity identified by the University, a live brief from or collaboration with industry partners or research.