Computer Science BSc Honours

This module is centred on the fundamental aspects of the way that a typical computer functions either as a standalone entity or as part of a computer network. Discussion of the main hardware components of a computer system provides the backdrop to introduce the Von Neumann fetch–decode–execute cycle as well as the way in which data and information are stored in the computer. You'll learn about the various number systems (denary, binary and hexadecimal) that are utilised in computer systems. Progressing from the hardware level, you are introduced to the lowest programming level that humans can understand in the form of assembly programming. Above the assembly layer, there is the operating system layer. You'll be able to apply your knowledge of Binary number conversions and Logical Operations to perform Networking Calculations.

The module focuses on trends in Computer Science which currently attract considerable industry and academic interest. It allows you to develop critical thinking skills by research and exploration of these topics. The module also develops employability skills in order to better support employability prospects and placements. It introduces key aspects of working as a professional in the world of computing, including consideration of ethics, privacy, data protection and confidentiality, and how these are incorporated into professional codes of practice such as the BCS Code of Conduct.

This module provides an in-depth exploration of the mathematical concepts and theories that form the backbone of computer science and software engineering disciplines. Designed for first-year students, it spans a broad range of topics, including discrete mathematics, linear algebra, and statistical methods, specifically emphasising set theory, number theory, functions, matrices, vectors, graph theory, and probabilistic and statistical reasoning.

The curriculum is structured to go beyond theoretical learning, promoting the practical application of these mathematical foundations in computing contexts. Students will engage with algorithmic thinking, data representation, and analysis, employing their mathematical knowledge to tackle problems directly related to their field of study. This approach ensures that they not only grasp the essential mathematical processes but also understand their application in real-world computing scenarios, preparing them for subsequent modules and their future careers in technology and engineering.

An introduction to computer programming in a high-level programming language. The module concentrates on teaching the fundamentals of programming and algorithm design. Basic coding structures such as sequence, selection, and iteration will be covered. There will be an emphasis on practical exercises to develop programming experience and confidence.

The module aims to develop skills in the selection and implementation of problem-solving algorithms while learning the Java programming language. It will strengthen abilities in the implementation of algorithms, in terms of adherence to requirements, design and modelling, through to the application of sound programming principles. The understanding of structures and advanced programming methods will also be developed, including sorting, the implementation of classes and methods, as well as more sophisticated data structures such as lists, queues, and stacks.

This module introduces web technologies and covers theoretical and practical concepts of web development. It covers a variety of commonly used Internet programming languages. You'll gain practical experience of web page development, and you'll be expected to write programs and web pages conforming to given guidelines.

This module introduces the concepts of the Client/Server and, more generally, Distributed Architecture that are at the base of systems where the constituting services can be virtualized, replicated and moved. The module explains two fundamental theoretical concepts: the implications of the transition from a single to a distributed execution space and that of digital transmission of data. The module also covers the fundamental aspects of data transmission. The Client/Server Paradigm is analysed in detail both as a simple example of a Distributed System and as a possible building block of more complex Distributed Architectures. The module also covers three main technologies used for implementation: sockets and Web Services (both SOAP and REST).

This module provides solid knowledge and skills in the area of database systems, SQL and XML. It covers the logical design of a relational schema. It also covers the implementation of the database in a major DBMS and the manipulation of the data using SQL. Subsequently, it considers the transformation and rendering of XML documents using XSLT and the extraction of elements from XML documents using XPath and XQuery. Finally, it explores issues related to NoSQL databases and XML databases.

This module will teach the fundamental ideas behind the object-oriented approach to programming. It will provide you with knowledge and practical experience in writing computer programs using object-oriented programming techniques. It will cover in a practical way the design and implementation of object-oriented software for software applications through the entire software development lifecycle.

In this module you gain practical work experience through your participation in a team that develops a prototype for a real-life software application suggested by industry contacts. The module takes you through the different managerial and technical steps of software development. You will gain experience in managing a team and deliver software iteratively by using an agile approach and receiving feedback from industry contacts. The module also provides you with experience in team communication and ways to overcome any problems, as well as the opportunity to reflect on professional issues such as quality of project documentation, cybersecurity, ethics and code of conduct.

This module provides practical knowledge and understanding of client-side or/else front-end development programming using advanced HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript. Client-side technologies, including HTML5 Audio and Video are covered together with a client-side scripting language, a UI and CSS framework and a client-side scripting framework. The module also covers issues pertaining to front-end security.

Algorithms are among the fundamentals of computer science and software engineering and at the heart of artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science and their applications to real-world problem-solving in digital humanities, economics, biosciences and social sciences. The module will introduce you to the theory and practice of algorithmic strategies, development and implementation. Hence, the module equips you with a road map of mappings between real-world problems and suitable algorithmic approaches for their solutions. The latter is crucial for your professional life as problem solvers and thinkers in IT industry, society and humanity.

This module will present and analyse major developments and issues in entrepreneurship and enterprise, underpinned and supported by information communication technologies, especially by cloud computing, the internet and enterprise systems. It will also encourage a mind-set in creative thinking in seeking opportunities for new information-driven start-ups and provide a critical assessment of their impact.

The module introduces you to the theoretical aspects of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and User Experience (UX) as well as provides a practical understanding of current principles of effective interface design. The module equips you with the practical skills needed for the design and evaluation of interactive systems using a user-centred approach. It provides an understanding of the relevance and application of human abilities and limitations to the design of interactive systems and how context influences the human system interaction.

This module provides an understanding and hands-on experience in the fields of machine learning and data mining, covering the full life-cycle from preparing data to validating and optimising the learned model. The module covers different algorithms and approaches to machine learning and data mining, and the issues of using them on data sets of different sizes and complexity.

The module is an introduction to software development on mobile devices such as mobile phones, tablets and wearables. It concentrates on the Android platform. The main contents include: The Android mobile programming architecture. Restrictions of using small devices such as mobile phones tablets and wearables. Programming user interfaces, networking, persistent storage and multi-threading. Device profiling, application deployment and installation.

This module introduces the fundamentals of robotics and focuses on selected topics pertaining to this discipline. Its introductory part overviews the nature of robotics and, related to it, challenges and issues. System modelling introduces techniques of deriving and computer implementation of models of dynamic systems with a special focus on kinematics of robots. Fundamentals of control cover the structure, basic analyses and real-time implementations of control systems.

The module will provide you with an understanding of the foundations of Artificial Intelligence and principal sub-fields of AI that have made significant impact, including but not limited to: Planning, Multi Agent Systems, Fuzzy Logic, Neural Networks, Evolutionary Computation, Computer Vision, Reinforcement Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Deep Learning. Each week an essential technique will be demonstrated via a complete implementation, followed by a presentation of the theory and conditions needed to enable you to set up and use the techniques yourself.

The module allows you to demonstrate in applied, written and oral forms the effective use of competences required to achieve the degree of study. It requires you to combine previously acquired knowledge and techniques, with new knowledge/ideas gained from investigation and research, and produce an extended piece of work related to your degree of study. It involves the conceptualisation, design, implementation and evaluation of a substantial piece of software, process, model or experimental study.

This module examines various aspects of computer and network security giving a sound introduction to theoretical and practical areas such as network security, cryptography, attack vectors used by hackers, security architecture, methodologies for security hardening and defence and penetration testing strategies. A substantial amount of work will be laboratory based involving the deployment of security tools, the hardening of operating systems and the analysis of compromised systems.

Within this module, you will cover essential topics of advanced animation production (motion capture pipeline, data processing, animation blending, and incorporation of the animation in an industry-standard games engine). It also provides an understanding of the issues, technologies and concepts underlying the vision of pervasive computing infrastructure to create alternative interaction styles. The supported coursework path involves the production of an interactive, rich media product with motion capture.

This module builds on the knowledge and skills developed in the Level 5 module Robotic Principles. You'll focus on robotic dynamics and the design of robotic control systems, preparing you to undertake complex tasks involving the analysis and synthesis of robotic systems. Ethical and societal issues related to robotics, introduced at Level 5, are explored in greater depth and breadth, encouraging critical reflection on the wider impacts of robotic technologies.

This module provides practical knowledge of applying Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) in real-world business applications, along with techniques and strategies for training, tuning, and deployment. It provides the students with a technical foundation to help them bridge the gap between their taught knowledge in LLM and its counterparts' deployment in marketing, sales, finance, product, and more.

Students will learn the application of LLMs to transform business solutions while ensuring their security, resiliency, ease of management, and integration with existing technology ecosystems.

This module covers cyber security threats and countermeasures at physical and digital level focusing on behaviour of employees and home users. It allows you to identify threats and model them based on behaviour and type of businesses. In this module, you'll also cover emerging trends, their security principles and methods, limitations, and challenges.

This module presents you with a strategy to implement defensive programming, from the very design stage, and techniques on how to implement these measures in the coding – pre-emptive defensive programming. This will help you to design and develop more robust programs that will safeguard data and protect services against hostile attacks, as well as blackswan events. The module will be language agnostic.

Creating robust game world environments and model individual components using logic and mathematical modelling to replicate human behaviour is one of the greatest challenges for game developers, yet the commercial success of a game is often dependent on the quality of its intelligent modelling. This module introduces an engagingly realistic and immersive experience in modern videogames for creating game terrains and simulating complex behaviour of game objects. The main focus of the module is to learn how to create an automatic random game world with metrics to generate human-like intelligent behaviours primarily in non-player characters (NPCs). The algorithms and logic covered in this module are also widely used in a variety of computing sectors which will make the module a great choice for CS students.

This module introduces the principles of wireless IoT, focusing on short-range IoT standards with an overview of long-range IoT standards. It explores IoT system design, covering radio transceiver architectures and antennas, devices and gateways, multiple access and radio links. The module explores a number of typical network architectures and protocols which enable IoT networking technologies, associated application protocols and discusses issues related to security of IoT networks.