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The Computing degrees give you the skills you need for the practical application of computing to areas typically found in industry. These include e-commerce, information systems, and computer consultancy.
Overview
Our Computing course can be studied as the Computing general degree, where a subject focus is decided during the course of the study, or as the themed degree, Computing (Consultancy), where the specific focus is decided at the time of enrolment and named in the degree title. The Business Information Technology degree incorporates much of the Computing course, but also includes business oriented modules.
Over half our students choose to do a Year in Industry (see Computing with a Year in Industry below). This gives you work experience, a salary and the possibility of a job with the same company after graduation. The Kent IT Consultancy option offers the opportunity to learn how to become an IT Consultant by providing computing support to local businesses while earning credits towards your degree.
The School of Computing is an internationally recognised Centre of Excellence for programming education, with 95% of our research judged to be of international quality. The School is also home to two National Teaching Fellows, authors of widely used textbooks and award-winning Java teaching systems such as BlueJ and Greenfoot.
Independent rankings
Computer Science at Kent was ranked 15th out of 105 for graduate employment prospects in The Complete University Guide 2014. And, in the National Student Survey 2014, 94% of Kent Computing students were employed within six months of graduating.
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Teaching and assessment
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- attract those who have an interest in applied computing and those contemplating a career involving information technology
- provide an understanding of the principles of applied computing
- provide general skills of lasting value in a constantly changing field
- offer modules covering the foundations of information technology
- offer options that enable students to study selected areas in depth
- provide teaching informed by current research and scholarship
- enable students to engage with aspects of the field that are at the frontiers of knowledge
- develop critical, analytical and problem-solving skills that can be applied in a range of different settings.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- hardware: the functional components of a computer system
- software: programming languages and practice; tools and packages; computer applications; structuring of data and information
- communications and interaction: concepts of computer communication networks; communication between computers and people; the control and operation of computers
- practice: problem identification and analysis; design development, testing and evaluation
- organisations: their environment and their management with options to study the management of people, operations management, finance, marketing and organisational strategy.
Intellectual skills
You gain intellectual skills in:
- modelling: the modelling and design of computer-based systems and an understanding of the trade-off involved in design choices.
- reflection and communication: verbal and written discussion of key themes, the communication of project work to a range of audiences; presenting rational and reasoned arguments
- requirements: the ability to identify and analyse criteria and specifications for specific problems and plan strategies for their solution
- criteria evaluation and testing: the ability to analyse the extent to which a computer-based system meets the criteria defined for its current use and future development.
- methods and tools: deploy appropriate theory, practices and tools for the specification, design, implementation and evaluation of computer-based systems.
- professional responsibility: be guided by the professional, economic, social, environmental, moral and ethical issues involved in the sustainable exploitation of computer technology
- computational thinking: demonstrate a basic analytical ability and its relevance to everyday life
- critically evaluate arguments and evidence
- analyse and draw reasoned conclusions concerning structured and unstructured problems.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in:
- design and implementation: how to specify, design and implement computer-based systems
- evaluation: how to evaluate systems in terms of quality attributes and possible trade-offs presented within the given problem
- information management: how to apply the principles of information management, organisation and retrieval
- tools: how to deploy the tools used for the construction and documentation of software.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in:
- communication: the ability to make presentations to a range of audiences about technical problems and their solutions
- information technology: effective information-retrieval skills (including the use of browsers, search engines and catalogues) and use of general IT facilities
- self-management: managing one’s own learning and development including time management and organisational skills.
Careers
Graduates who have both IT knowledge and business skills can expect excellent career prospects. Our recent graduates now work at Accenture, Barclays Capital, BT, GlaxoSmithKline, IBM, Intel, KCC, Kent Police, Lilly, Microsoft, Oracle, Thomson Reuters, T-Mobile and Thales.
For more information on the services Kent provides you to improve your career prospects visit www.kent.ac.uk/employability.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | ABB |
| GCSE | C in Mathematics |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | Distinction, Distinction, Merit |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 at HL including Mathematics 4 at HL or SL |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
As a guide only, the 2014/15 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Exceptions may apply. If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Our 2015 financial support package includes a £6,000 cash bursary spread over the duration of your course. For Ts&Cs and to find out more, visit our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence, which will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages.