BSc (Hons) Computer Science Bachelor's degree at the University of Sheffield
BSc (Hons) Computer Science at University of Sheffield. Rather than treating computer science as a purely abstract discipline, this course grounds you in the theory that underpins the field while pushing you to apply it across a genuinely wide spread of application areas, cybersecurity, deep…
About this course
You’ll receive a thorough grounding in both the theory and the practical skills associated with this dynamic subject, encountering application areas such as cybersecurity, deep learning, speech recognition, cryptography and robotics. We’ll equip you with skills needed to succeed in your career. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Computer Science is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at the University of Sheffield, based in Main Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Electrical and electronic engineering graduates from this provider, 60% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 95% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £32,000. (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)
Limited evidence Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 60% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 93% (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.
First year 6 modules
- Introduction to Software EngineeringCore20 credits
Module details
This module will introduce students to the principles of software engineering, discussing the software lifecycle and approaches to effective teamwork. Students will be introduced to a development framework, which they will work on individually, and then will apply the principles of software engineering, working in a team to develop a software project.
- Foundations of Computer ScienceCore20 credits
Module details
In the first semester of this module, we will cover the topics in discrete mathematics that provide an essential foundation for later studies in the school. This includes topics such as sets, functions, and relations, propositional and predicate logic, boolean algebra, combinatorics, induction, recursion, proof strategies, graph theory, and number theory. In the second semester of this module, we will cover the topics in continuous mathematics that provide an essential foundation for later studi
- Java ProgrammingCore20 credits
Module details
This module is about programming in the Java language. There is no requirement that students arrive with any knowledge of programming although many do and some are already very experienced programmers. This module is intended to ensure that both absolute beginners and strong programmers are capable of writing clear, well structured, readable programs in Java by the end of the module. The module is largely taught through practical classes but students will have the opportunity to pace their own l
- Systems and NetworksCore20 credits
Module details
In this module, we investigate topics surrounding the function and operation of modern devices, from the foundations of digital logic and number systems to an overview of operating systems and their function and the different types of computer networks and associated protocols (including IP addressing, ethernet fundamentals, switching technologies, router operations supporting small-to-medium business networks, wireless local area networks (WLAN), and key security concepts).
- Practical Algorithms and Data StructuresCore20 credits
Module details
This module will reinforce the programming concepts that were taught in the autumn semester's programming module while exploring essential data structures and algorithms. This includes a particular focus on algorithms used in traditional AI. Students will also learn to analyse the efficiency of algorithms and data structures, and make informed choices about these for practical problems.
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and First Year ReflectionCore20 credits
Module details
This module will explore intelligence, what it is, how we might measure it, and how we can learn from natural intelligence, in humans and animals, to create new forms of artificial intelligence (AI) for machines. A key theme will be to examine similarities and differences between brains and computers, and particularly, the idea that both are able to act intelligently by performing computation. Through lectures, seminars and computer-based lab classes, the module will investigate some of the key
Second year 6 modules
- Programming Language PrinciplesCore20 credits
Module details
On entering this module you will already have a good understanding of object oriented programming from your first year studies. In this module, you will be introduced to further paradigms and programming languages. You will explore the choices that are taken in language design and the relationship between high level language and machine-level code that can be directly executed. In this module you will also look at the particular issues associated with concurrent or parallel programming, and the
- Databases and Logic in Computer ScienceCore20 credits
Module details
This module introduces the foundations of databases and logic in computer science. You will cover theoretical underpinnings including the syntax and semantics of propositional and predicate logics, natural deduction, notions such as soundness, completeness and (un)decidability, normalisation theory of databases, relational algebra and relational calculus. You will also study practical applications of both databases and logic. This will include the use of SQL, including from within other programm
- Automata, Computation and ComplexityCore20 credits
Module details
This module introduces the theoretical foundations for computing systems: finite state machines, pushdown automata, and Turing machines, along with the formal languages that can be recognised by these machine models. It also deals with the question 'What is computable?' and 'What is efficiently computable?' by showing when problems are computationally hard, and how to find algorithmic solutions to computationally hard problems.
- Foundations and Applications of Artificial IntelligenceCore20 credits
Module details
This module will provide the mathematical and statistical underpinnings for artificial intelligence, some of which are used more widely in computer science, and look at some practical applications of AI, with a focus on data science. Semester 1 will focus on the mathematical and statistical underpinnings, including probability, random variables and distributions (both discrete and continuous), finite sample spaces, Bayes rule, sampling, hypothesis testing, the law of large numbers, the central l
- Cybersecurity in Action and Professional IssuesCore20 credits
Module details
This module has two components. The first component aims to teach students about the key security properties needed in today's computer systems, how these properties can be attacked, and the ways to prevent such attacks. Properties covered include: confidentiality, integrity, availability, anonymity, and privacy. We will also cover threat modelling approaches and countermeasure determination. Countermeasures addressed include authentication, access control, basic cryptography, and web and networ
- Software HutCore20 credits
Module details
The Software Hut (a microcosm of a real Software House) gives students an opportunity to experience the processes of engineering a real software system for a real client in a competitive environment. The taught element covers the tools and technologies needed to manage software development projects successfully and to deliver software products that meet both client expectations and quality standards. Topics that are put into practice include: the requirements engineering process; software modell
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
The curriculum is built around core computer science theory paired with hands-on application, and it opens onto several specialisations you can lean into as you progress, such as Software Engineering, Data Science, AI & Machine Learning, Cyber Security, Web & Mobile, Cloud & DevOps, Games, and HCI. This spread lets you sample widely in the earlier stages before narrowing your focus, whether that pull is towards building secure systems, training machine learning models, designing games, or shaping how humans and computers interact. Given the university's own description of the course, expect direct engagement with areas like cybersecurity, deep learning, speech recognition, cryptography and robotics, not as abstract case studies, but as application domains you work with practically. The intention is that by graduation you carry a working command of both the underlying theory and the applied skills needed to move into a computing career.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who's curious about how things work under the hood, who wants to know not just how to write a program but why it behaves the way it does, and who's happy sitting with a problem until the logic clicks into place. If you're drawn to puzzles, enjoy the satisfaction of debugging something stubborn, or find yourself wondering how facial recognition or voice assistants actually function, that instinct will serve you well here. You don't need to arrive with a fixed idea of which corner of computing you'll end up in, the course is set up so that interests in security, data, AI, games or interface design can all be explored before you commit to a direction. What matters more is a willingness to work through abstract material patiently, to keep building on skills across three years, and to enjoy the shift from theory to hands-on practice. Most students who take this route arrive with A-levels or equivalent, typically in the 144–159 UCAS tariff range, though this reflects recent entrants rather than a fixed requirement, so it's less about a precise grade profile and more about arriving ready to think rigorously and build steadily.
Careers & job market
Nationally, Computer Science graduates report solid outcomes: across Computer Science courses in the UK, 85% are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and of those in work, 75% are in highly skilled roles or further study. These are national Graduate Outcomes figures rather than numbers specific to this course, but they give a useful sense of the field's overall trajectory. On earnings, national data (LEO) shows starting salaries 15 months after graduation typically ranging from £25,000 to £35,000, moving to £23,375–£33,000 after three years and £29,750–£42,000 after five years, again, national figures across the discipline rather than a guarantee tied to this specific degree. Continuation into a second year of study nationally sits at 85%, suggesting that most students who start this kind of course see it through past the first hurdle. The specialisation options within the course, spanning software engineering through to AI, cyber security, games and HCI, mean graduates can position themselves for a genuinely varied set of technical roles rather than a single narrow path.
University & format
The University of Sheffield is a public, Russell Group university founded in 1905, and this BSc (Hons) is delivered full-time over three years on the main campus, taught entirely in English. The university holds a Silver award for teaching quality under the Office for Students' TEF 2023 framework, and as a recognised UK degree-awarding body, the qualification is nationally recognised on completion. Being part of the Russell Group also places the course within a research-intensive university environment. Entry data shows that the large majority of accepted students, 89%, arrived with A-levels or equivalent, with the most common tariff band sitting at 144–159 points, reflecting the profile of recent entrants rather than a stated minimum requirement.
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.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Names detected beside accreditation or recognition copy on the provider course page; verify the route and intake.
Optional placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 89% |
| a Baccalaureate | 9% |
| another higher-education qualification | 2% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
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 (code G402). 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
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at University of Sheffield →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 earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £32,000 | £30,000 – £38,000 | 20 |
| 3 years after | £33,500 | £29,500 – £39,500 | 70 |
| 5 years after | £44,000 | £36,000 – £55,000 | 65 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
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: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Computer Science courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,820 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Information Technology ProfessionalsSOC 2020 213 · 85% of published destinations · ASHE median £55,357
- Science, engineering and technology associate professionalsSOC 2020 31 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £34,828
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 55; response rate: 70%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
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
60% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £32,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 7.7 out of 10: NSS 79.1% · in work or study 60% · continued 93%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Sheffield
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 Main Campus
2,964 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 University of Sheffield from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by University of Sheffield; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. 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 University of Sheffield’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 University of Sheffield and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
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Common questions
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