Computer Science with a Foundation Year BSc (Hons)

Loughborough University of Technology

Key Course Facts

Student Satisfaction	92%
Salary after 15 months	£33000
Unemployment Rate	8% unemployed Proportion of students of this particular course unemployed and not studying 15 months after their course ended. Source: Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) by UK Department for Education Dec 20, 2022
Student Dropout Rate	10% Proportion of students of Computer Science with a Foundation Year BSc (Hons) who are not continuing into their following year of study or have not been awarded a qualification in either of the two comparison years. Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Oct 10, 2023
Tuition Fees	£9250 Tuition (UK) Tuition fees per year for Computer Science with a Foundation Year BSc (Hons) at Loughborough University of Technology UCAS course summary. Source: UCAS Dec 4, 2023
Duration	4 years - Full-time
Campus	On campus - Main Site
Degree	Bachelor of Science (Honours), BSc (Hons)
Subject	Computer Science

Admission advice for international students

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 115 graduates of Computer Science with a Foundation Year BSc (Hons) and other courses in Computer Science at Loughborough University of Technology for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Computer Science.

Overall student satisfaction

92 /100

115 total respondents

Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.

	Computer Science with a Foundation Year BSc (Hons) and other Computer Science courses of Loughborough University of Technology	Average review score among all Computer Science courses in the UK
Explanations	93	84
Interesting courses	75	68
Intellectually stimulating	87	81
Challenged to do my best	83	80
Depth of concepts	82	76
Builds on previous learnings	85	79
Joined ideas from different topics	86	76
Balance directed/independent study	91	75
Applicability of course content	77	77
Clear criteria in markings	76	72
Fair assessment	89	79
Tests reflected your learning	84	80
Timely feedback	88	65
Helpful feedback	66	60
Approachability of teachers	96	82
Support from teachers	88	79
Organisation of courses	91	69
Communication of changes	87	73
IT facilities	96	85
Library	90	86
Course specific resources	99	88
Student feedback opportunities	93	81
Student feedback valued	88	70
Student's feedback acted upon	67	57
Work of student union	66	70
Mental wellbeing services	84	79
Overall satisfaction	92	69

Source: National Student Survey NSS 2023. The Overall student satisfaction data point is from 2022 (latest available year). The Office for Students made the unfortunate decision to discontinue collecting overall student satisfaction data points per course.
All Computer Science courses of Loughborough University of Technology

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Computer Science

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Computer Science at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

	15 months after graduation	3 years after graduation	5 years after graduation
Median salary	£33000	£35000	£46500
25-75 percentile range	£30000 - £40000	£29000 - £47500	£33000 - £59500

Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
All Computer Science courses of Loughborough University of Technology

Salary of all UK Graduates of Computer Science

	15 months after graduation	3 years after graduation	5 years after graduation
Median salary	£29821	£25150	£29857
25-75 percentile range	£24771 - £35770	£18886 - £32933	£21689 - £41100

Source: Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) by UK Department for Education Dec 20, 2022
All Computer Science courses in the UK

Course Description

This course is primarily for candidates who have not studied the prerequisite subjects needed for first year entry, or have not met their expected entrance requirements due to adverse situations, or because of their sporting commitments, as well as mature students returning to education or care leavers.

Completing a foundation year will enable you to progress onto the first year of your chosen degree course, provided the relevant progression criteria are met. Successful completion of the course allows you to progress onto any of the courses offered by the Department of Computer Science.

Our foundation course is taught in-house by University staff. As a student on the course you will be a full member of the University, with the same access to the Students’ Union, clubs, societies, sports facilities and support departments.

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. During the year you will undertake modules in Applicable Mathematics, and a choice of Physics, Sport Science, Business, Economics, Materials with Engineering Science, Biology and Programming with Electronics or Programming with Design.

Completing a foundation year can be a real attribute to your overall degree success. It not only opens doors to courses that may have previously looked closed, but also provides a sound base on which to establish a successful academic career. Many who have completed the foundation year have also said how beneficial it was to them in supporting their transition into University life.

Accredited by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.

Accredited by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT on behalf of the Engineering Councilfor the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a CharteredEngineer.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

What graduates are doing after 15 months

	All Loughborough University of Technology graduates of undergraduate studies in Computer Science	All UK graduates of undergraduate studies in Computer Science
Total respondents	60	4700
Unemployed	8%	6%
Studying	7%	6%
Working	70%	75%
Both studying and working	9%	8%
No information	5%	4%

Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
All Computer Science courses of Loughborough University of Technology

Current jobs

Job in line with future plans

Utilise skills from studies

Work is meaningful

	Agree or strongly agree	Disagree
Job in line with future plans	95%	5%
Utilise skills from studies	70%	30%
Work is meaningful	85%	15%

Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
All courses of Loughborough University of Technology

Required skill level of job after 15 months

% Skilled jobs

	% Skilled jobs
Highly-skilled jobs	95%
Non highly-skilled jobs	0%
Skill level unknown or unclassified	5%

Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
All Computer Science courses of Loughborough University of Technology

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Computer Science with a Foundation Year BSc (Hons) at Loughborough University of Technology

80%	Managers, directors and senior officials
5%	Process, plant and machine operatives
0%	Protective service occupations
0%	Administrative occupations
0%	Information Technology Professionals
0%	Science, engineering and technology associate professionals
0%	Skilled trades occupations
0%	Managers, directors and senior officials

Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Oct 10, 2023

Grading & Study Time

Assessment Methods

Study Time Distribution

Assessment Methods
	Coursework	Percentage of assessment by practical exams	Written exams

Study Time Distribution
	Scheduled learning and teaching	Guided independent study	Placements
year 1	29%	71%	0%
year 2	33%	67%	0%
year 3	30%	70%	0%
year 4	22%	78%	0%

Foundation modules are assessed via written exams and / or coursework assignments. Some modules are continually assessed throughout the year. **Typical coursework assignments include:** laboratory reports, essays, presentations, assessed tutorials, workshops and peer review (review fellow students’ performance). It is expected that for every hour you are in a structured class, you should spend two hours of your own time researching, writing up, learning work or doing set questions etc.

Grading Distribution

Students of the course received the following grades

	Students of the course received the following grades
Not classified	0
Pass	0
Merit	0
Distinction	0
Ordinary degree	0
Other honours degree	2
Lower second class	5
Upper second class	46
First class	47

Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) 2016

Entry Requirements / Admissions

Source: UCAS Dec 4, 2023

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

Average UCAS Tariff Score 144

Tariff score	% Students accepted for this course
<48	0
48-63	0
64-79	0
80-95	0
96-111	0
112-127	25
128-143	25
144-159	20
160-175	30
176-191	0
192-207	0
208-223	0
224-239	0
>240	0

Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Oct 10, 2023
This particular course

Qualification requirements

Including a relevant subject/science @ C or above (80 UCAS tariff points)

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Loughborough accepts a wide range of qualifications for entry as outlined on our website www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/getting-started/applying/entrance-requirements/ This information details the general requirements and should be read in conjunction with the information given for each course. Loughborough also accepts a wide range of international qualifications for entry as outlined on our website www.lboro.ac.uk/international/applicants/country/ Loughborough uses contextual data in the admissions process to provide insights into the context in which your academic qualifications have been achieved. This may influence the typical offers outlined in the information given for each course. www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/getting-started/applying/contextual-data/

Source: UCAS Dec 4, 2023

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

- 6.5
- All other courses
- 5.0
- Foundation / Pathway Courses
- 7.0
- MSc Media and Cultural Analysis, BSc Business and Management
- 6.5
- Graduate Degrees
- 6.5
- Undergraduate Degrees

International students: We are pleased to be working with ONCAMPUS Loughborough to deliver the Undergraduate Foundation Programme (UFP). International students can apply directly for the Undergraduate Foundation at https://www.oncampus.global/uk/campuses/oncampus-loughborough

Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Computer Science with a Foundation Year, BSc (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees Computer Science with a Foundation Year BSc (Hons)

England UK	£9250	year 1
Northern Ireland	£9250	year 1
Scotland	£9250	year 1
Wales	£9250	year 1

Additional fee information

The fees stated above are for the 2023/24 academic year; fees for 2024/25 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. We will update this information as soon as it is available. Fees are reviewed annually and are likely to increase to take into account inflationary pressures.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, IT equipment and other support services. University fees and charges can be paid in advance and there are several methods of payment, including online payments and payment by instalment.

While the cost of your tuition covers lots of things, it doesn’t cover everything. For instance this course doesn’t cover the cost of any stationery, printing, books or re-assessments which you might need.

Source: UCAS Dec 4, 2023

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent	£518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home)	£50
Supermarket shopping	£81
Clothing	£35
Eating out	£33
Alcohol	£27
Takeaways / food deliveries	£30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food)	£24
Holidays and weekend trips	£78
Transport within city	£17
Self-care / sports	£20
Stationary / books	£13
Mobile phone / internet	£13
Cable TV / streaming	£7
Insurance	£51
Other	£95

Average student cost of living	£1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

Source: Own research based on surveys and university data

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

year 1 (Default entry point)

University Rankings

Positions of Loughborough University of Technology in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of Loughborough University of Technology in related subject specific rankings.