HND Computer Science Foundation degree at UHI
HND Computer Science at UHI. The award is nationally recognised as a UK degree-awarding body qualification. The course covers specialisations such as Software Engineering, Data Science, AI & Machine Learning, Cyber Security, Web & Mobile, Cloud & DevOps, Games and HCI.
About this course
HND Computer Science is a Foundation degree (HND) at UHI, based in UHI Argyll,UHI Inverness,UHI Moray,UHI North West Hebrides,UHI Orkney,UHI Perth,UHI Shetland. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For Computing graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 90% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £45,000. (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.
Limited evidence Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 85% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 25% (2021-23; 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.
Year 2 15 modules
- HND computing: graded unit 2
- Managing a web server
- Relational database management systems
- Developing websites for multiplatform use
- Computer networks: building local area networksOptional
- Computer forensics fundamentalsOptional
- Data securityOptional
- Configuring a desktop operating systemOptional
- Human computer interactionOptional
- Mathematics for computingOptional
- Software development: developing small scale standalone appsOptional
- Software development: object oriented programmingOptional
- Mobile technologyOptional
- Private cloud virtualisationOptional
- Network security conceptsOptional
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
You'll study core computer science across programming, systems and mathematics, then move into applied specialisations and a final project. A course like this typically begins with Programming Fundamentals (in languages such as Python and Java), Computer Systems & Architecture, and Discrete Mathematics. In the second stage, you'll usually move to Algorithms & Data Structures, Databases & Software Engineering, and Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning. By the final stage, you'll choose specialist options such as cybersecurity, data science, software engineering, systems and networks, human-computer interaction or artificial intelligence, and undertake an individual supervised project where you design and evaluate a substantial software solution.
Who it's for
Most entrants hold A-levels or equivalent qualifications; 38% of accepted students came in with these credentials. The part-time structure suits those balancing study with work or other commitments. The course is taught in English and draws students from across the university's seven campuses in Scotland, making it accessible to learners in rural and remote areas.
Careers & job market
Nationally, 85% of Computer Science graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those working, 75% are in highly skilled roles or continuing their studies. Graduate earnings across Computer Science nationally start at £25,000–£35,000 (15 months post-graduation), rising to £23,375–£33,000 after three years and £29,750–£42,000 after five years. These figures reflect national outcomes data and are not university-specific guarantees.
University & format
This HND Foundation degree is delivered part-time by the University of the Highlands and Islands, a University recognised as a UK degree-awarding body. The course is taught in English across multiple UHI locations: Argyll, Inverness, Moray, North West Hebrides, Orkney, Perth and Shetland. The university was founded in 2011. The programme is nationally recognised.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
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 | 38% |
| a previous degree | 34% |
| another higher-education qualification | 17% |
| Other | 11% |
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 Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. 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
UHI publishes tuition by domicile, award level, study mode and delivery. Use the individual course page for the exact year-by-year fee.
Published UHI fee framework
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 | £45,000 | £40,000 – £49,000 | 20 |
| 3 years after | £25,000 | £21,500 – £33,500 | 20 |
| 5 years after | £26,000 | £15,000 – £31,500 | 25 |
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: 2021-23. 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.
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 75% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Welfare ProfessionalsSOC 2020 246 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £39,047
- Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
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: 25; response rate: 65%. 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.
Fees and funding
UHI publishes tuition by domicile, award level, study mode and delivery. Use the individual course page for the exact year-by-year fee.
Where graduates go
85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £45,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 5.5 out of 10: in work or study 85% · continued 25%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of the Highlands and Islands
Computing across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is Computer Science right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
Related courses
More at UHI
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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