FD Computer Science Degree at Luminate Education Group
FD Computer Science at Luminate Education Group. Your degree is nationally recognised. The course received a Silver rating for teaching quality in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework 2023.
About this course
Computer Science (Software Development) - Foundation Degree at University Centre Leeds Skip to main content Computer Science (Software Development) Foundation Degree Apply now for 2026 Study Computer Science (Software Development) at University Centre Leeds Are you curious about how technology works and eager to develo From the provider’s course page.
FD Computer Science is a Degree (Degree) at Luminate Education Group, based in University Centre Mabgate/Quarry Hill. It runs 2 years, studied full-time.
For Computer Science graduates from this provider, 65% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Computer Science, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 65% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 85% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Level 4 (Year 1) 6 modules
- Introduction to web development20 credits
Module details
This module will provide you with an opportunity to develop & demonstrate the technical and creative skills required in the design, construction and management of an effective website interface. It will focus on the UX and UI of web design, while also considering the limitations of some platforms.
- Principles of Software Development20 credits
Module details
In this module, you will gain an understanding and experience of software development methodologies, techniques, and tools, including Agile based methodologies. You will gain experience developing a software solution to meet the requirements gathered from a client.
- Fundamentals of Programming20 credits
Module details
You will gain an understanding of programming principles, techniques and languages, including the ability to design, code and test a series of programs which demonstrate common programming concepts.
- Intro to NetworksCore20 credits
Module details
You will gain an understanding of networks hardware, protocols, and tools. You will learn how to plan, model, and test networks to meet prescribed requirements, design network address schemes, and configure network protocols, for efficiency and security.
- Intro to Databases20 credits
Module details
This module provides a foundational knowledge of data storage techniques and principles, preparing you for more advanced topics such as AI and Big Data. You will be given the opportunity to demonstrate the practical aspects of designing and building a relational database to hold structured data. By conducting research into your chosen database this will prepare you for research into data landscape.
- Operating Systems & Scripting20 credits
Module details
This module provides a foundational knowledge of scripting techniques and operating systems. You will be given the opportunity to demonstrate the practical aspects of scripts for use within multiple operating systems.
Level 5 (Year 2) 6 modules
- Employability20 credits
Module details
This module is centred on cultivating the comprehensive skill set demanded by modern employers, focusing on invaluable 'soft skills,' alongside essential practical abilities crucial for interviews and coding tests. This module will encourage you to conduct thorough research into prospective employers, to tailor your skillset to meet the specific demands of the organisation/market.
- Emerging Trends and Cloud Computing20 credits
Module details
Within the computing and digital industry there are a wide variety of specialist roles that provide solutions to business, manufacturing, crime prevention and investigation, retail, and health and medical. This module provides you the opportunity to work as part of a group to investigate emerging trends and technologies surrounding subject specialism.
- Application of Artificial Intelligence20 credits
Module details
The module provides a comprehensive introduction to the development and different applications of artificial intelligence. This module will provide you the opportunity to integrate an AI project that aims to create a more efficient workflow of a business or solve an existing problem.
- Research20 credits
Module details
Teaches students research methodologies and critical analysis, preparing them for their final project.
- Front End Frameworks20 credits
Module details
This module will allow you to demonstrate your ability to design and develop interactive and responsive user interfaces by utilising modern front-end frameworks and tools to deliver a solution tailored to an end-user's requirements.
- Mobile Application Development20 credits
Module details
This module will allow students to produce a solution in the form of a mobile application for an end-user, utilising software development methodologies and techniques.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This Foundation Degree focuses on software development and how technology works in practice. You'll usually start with programming fundamentals, typically in Python and Java, alongside computer systems and discrete mathematics for computing. In your second year, you'll progress to algorithms, data structures, databases and software engineering, combined with artificial intelligence and machine learning. Throughout, you'll develop practical skills in building maintainable systems. A course like this normally allows specialisation in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, software engineering, systems and networks, or human-computer interaction. You'll typically complete the course with a substantial supervised software project.
Who it's for
Most students entering this course held A-levels or equivalent qualifications. The university also offers bursaries and scholarships. Check their funding pages for details.
Careers & job market
Across Computer Science courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those working, 75% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries typically range from £25,000 to £35,000; after five years, this rises to £29,750–£42,000. These figures reflect national outcomes, not a guaranteed salary.
University & format
This is a 2-year full-time Foundation Degree awarded by Luminate Education Group, a higher education college. The course is taught in English at University Centre Mabgate/Quarry Hill in Leeds. The degree is recognised by a UK degree-awarding body and nationally recognised. The university holds Silver for teaching quality in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework (2023).
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 60% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 35% |
| Other | 10% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at Luminate Education Group →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Computer Science graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate / Junior DeveloperFirst engineering role · 0–2 yrs
- 2Software EngineerShipping features end-to-end · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / Lead EngineerOwning systems and mentoring · 5–9 yrs
- 4Principal / Engineering ManagerArchitecture or leading teams · 9+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Computer Science nationally
National figures for Computer Science graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Published threshold met. Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Job market & outlook
How Computer Science graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Boilerplate and scaffolding code
- First-pass tests and docs
- Routine debugging and refactors
- Standard data wrangling
More human than ever
- System design and architecture trade-offs
- Reviewing and owning correctness & security
- Translating fuzzy problems into software
- Leading delivery and mentoring
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Computer Science graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Tech companies
- Banks & fintech
- Consultancies
- Government (GDS) & startups
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Computer Science graduates.
Software Developer Placement Programme No experience neededIT Online LearningSoftware Developer - .NET & Azure for Green Energy ProjectsOfgemSoftware Developer Backend (SFIA5)ZaiziSoftware Developer (Mobile Apps) in Guildford - ECM Selection (Holdings) LimitedJava Script WorksSoftware Developer (Contract) – Higher Education Projects (UK)Burman RecruitmentSoftware Developer – Distributed Scheduling & Workload OrchestrationCGG Services (UK) LimitedIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
65% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.1 out of 10: NSS 92.9% · in work or study 65% · continued 85%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Computing across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around University Centre Mabgate/Quarry Hill
4,996 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Computer Science right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Luminate Education Group from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £14,000 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
This course lists IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any component. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Luminate Education Group’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Luminate Education Group and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Luminate Education Group
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
Request information about FD Computer Science
Prospectus, key dates, entry and funding, free to your inbox.