University of Essex
Computer Science (including foundation year) BSc (Hons)
University of Essex

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 90 graduates of Computer Science (including foundation year) BSc (Hons) and other courses in Engineering (Non-Specific) at University of Essex for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Engineering (Non-Specific).

Overall student satisfaction
63 /100
90 total respondents

Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Engineering (Non-Specific)

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Engineering (Non-Specific) 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 £29000 £32000 £37000
25-75 percentile range £25000 - £33000 £25000 - £38000 £26000 - £45000


Salary of all UK Graduates of Engineering (Non-Specific)

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £30436 £26868 £31685
25-75 percentile range £25282 - £36367 £20368 - £34832 £23425 - £42820

Course Description

Our BSc Computer Science (including foundation year) is open to Home and EU students. It will be suitable for you if your academic qualifications do not yet meet our entrance requirements for the three-year version of this course and you want a programme that increases your subject knowledge as well as improves your English language and academic skills.

This four-year course includes a foundation year (Year Zero), followed by a further three years of study. During your Year Zero, you study four academic subjects relevant to your chosen course as well as a compulsory English language and academic skills module.

You are an Essex student from day one, a member of our global community based at the most internationally diverse campus university in the UK.

After successful completion of Year Zero in our Essex Pathways Department, you progress to complete your course with our School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering.

This course is the most flexible of our courses in computing, allowing you to choose from a wide choice of optional modules and to specialise in areas as diverse as assistive technologies, computer games, artificial intelligence, evolutionary computation, Big Data and robotics. If you have a good ability to think in a computational way, you'll be perfect for our course.

You also acquire key skills for computer science in the areas of:

  • Algorithm analysis and basic computability
  • Software engineering
  • Java language principles and application programming interfaces

That's why we are ranked 6th in the UK for research power in computer science (Times Higher Education research power measure, Research Excellence Framework 2021).

Programming at Essex

Teaching someone to programme is about opening a door. In Year 1 at Essex you will study a module that introduces you to programming using Python. We assess your ability to think in a programmatic way in the very first week of term and if you require additional support, we offer classes which will boost your skills and confidence with programming.

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.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

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

Example below based on all graduates of Computer Science (including foundation year) BSc (Hons) at University of Essex

65% Managers, directors and senior officials
10% Information Technology Professionals
5% Natural and social science professionals
5% Legal professionals
5% Business and public service associate professionals
5% Elementary occupations
0% Administrative occupations
0% Finance Professionals
0% Sales occupations
0% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals

Grading Distribution

Students of the course received the following grades

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

Requirements for international students / English requirements

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

    • 6.5
    • Graduate Degrees
    • 6.0
    • Undergraduate Degrees

Please note that this course is not open to international applicants.
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Computer Science (including 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 (including foundation year) BSc (Hons)

England UK £9250 year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 year 1
Scotland £9250 year 1
Wales £9250 year 1
Channel Islands £9250 year 1
Ireland £9250 year 1
EU £22750 year 1
International £22750 year 1

Additional fee information

Fees displayed are for 2024-25 entry. Fees may increase for each academic intake and each academic year of study.

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.

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:

  • Foundation

University Rankings

Positions of University of Essex in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of University of Essex in related subject specific rankings.

Computer Science

    • #34 
    • #46 
    Computer Science
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]
    • #19 
    • #201 
    Computer Science
    THE World University Rankings by Subject
    [Published 19 October, 2023]
    • #22 
    • #301 
    Computer Science
    NTU Rankings by Subject
    [Published 11 July, 2023]

See all 29 university rankings of University of Essex

About University of Essex

The University of Essex, is a public, research university where curiosity prevails and thinking outside the box isn’t just encouraged, it’s expected. Based in the county of the same name, Essex, the main campus is located in Wivenhoe Park, near Colchester. It is home to the university’s three faculties, Humanities, Science & Health and Social Sciences, as well as a very large community of local rabbits, and other small fauna typical of the English countryside.

List of 921 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Essex - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Essex

undergraduates:
12070
postgraduates:
3690
Total:
15760
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Where is this programme taught

Colchester Campus
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