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The range of uses for computers is increasing all the time – from smart phones and games consoles to aircraft flight control systems, super computers and global telecommunications.
Overview
This programme develops the skills and expertise needed to design computer systems, covering up-to-date detailed knowledge of computer hardware and software including electronics, communications systems and interface technologies.
We base our courses on leading-edge research, which is vital in a field that advances at such a fast pace. Our courses are designed with strong industrial input and therefore students graduate with excellent career prospects.
Computer Systems Engineering with a Year in Industry offers you the opportunity to work in a real-life business environment between Stages 2 and 3 of your degree. You will see how the technologies you are studying at Kent are put to use in companies and organisations. Typical placements include manufacturing companies and the electronics departments of industrial, commercial or public service organisations.
Student profiles
We are sure you will find your time at Kent enjoyable and rewarding.
See what our students have to say.
The School of Engineering and Digital Arts has always scored well in the National Student Survey, coming top three times in the last six years. We recently celebrated over 30 years’ continuous accreditation by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).
Independent rankings
In the National Student Survey 2015, the School of Engineering and Digital Arts was ranked 1st in the UK for student satisfaction.
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.
Year in industry
Spend a year working in industry between Stages 2 and 3. Please note that acceptance onto the course is not a guarantee of a placement and to complete the Year in Industry you must achieve an average score of 60% in Stage 1 and 2. The Year in Industry contributes to 10% of your final degree classification.
Although it is your responsibility to secure a suitable placement, the School has excellent industrial links and our dedicated Employability Officer will help with your application. If you still cannot find a placement, your registration changes to the equivalent three-year programme without the Year in Industry option.
Students taking the Year in Industry programme are eligible to apply for a placement offered through the School's exchange agreement with Hong Kong City University.
There are many benefits to taking the Year in Industry. Download our Year in Industry leaflet (PDF) for information on why students take the programme, how the year works, advice on finding a placement and previous students’ experiences.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching includes lectures, coursework and laboratory assignments, examples classes where you develop your problem-solving skills and regular staff ‘surgeries’. Practical work is carried out in air-conditioned laboratories, with state-of-the-art equipment and outstanding IT infrastructure.
Stage 1 modules are assessed by coursework and examination at the end of the year. Stage 2 and 3 modules, with the exception of the final-year project, are assessed by a combination of coursework and examination. All years include project work to replicate industrial practice and develop skills to maximise employability.
Please note that progression thresholds apply. In particular, in order to be considered for an Industrial Placement, students are required to achieve an overall mark at Stage 1 of at least 60%.
Programme aims
- Educate students to become engineers who are well equipped for professional careers in development, research and production in industry and universities, and who are well adapted to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing subject.
- Produce Computer Systems engineers with specialist skills in hardware and software engineering, prepared for the complexities of modern computer system design.
- Enable students to satisfy the professional requirements of the IET.
- Provide proper academic guidance and welfare support for all students.
- Create an atmosphere of co-operation and partnership between staff and students, and offer the students an environment where they can develop their potential.
- Produce high calibre professional engineers with advanced knowledge of modern embedded electronic systems.
- Enable students to fully satisfy all of the educational requirements for Membership of the IET and Chartered Engineer status.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
- Mathematical principles relevant to computer systems engineering.
- Scientific principles and methodology relevant to computer systems engineering.
- Advanced concepts of Embedded Systems, Signals and Image Processing, Control, Computer Communications and Operating Systems.
- The value of intellectual property and contractual issues.
- Business and management techniques which may be used to achieve engineering objectives.
- The need for a high level of professional and ethical conduct in computer systems engineering.
- Current manufacturing practice with particular emphasis on product safety and EMC standards and directives.
- Characteristics of materials, equipment, processes and products.
- Appropriate codes of practice, industry standards and quality issues.
- Contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied.
- A comprehensive understanding of embedded electronic systems and an awareness of developing technologies in this field.
- A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of mathematical and computer models for analysis of embedded systems.
- An extensive knowledge and understanding of business, management and professional practice concepts, their limitations, and how they may be applied.
- Wide knowledge and understanding of design processes relevant to embedded electronic systems.
- Extensive knowledge of characteristics of materials, equipment, processes and products.
Intellectual skills
- Analysis and solution of hardware and software engineering problems using appropriate mathematical methods.
- Ability to apply and integrate knowledge and understanding of other engineering disciplines to support study of computer systems engineering.
- Use of engineering principles and the ability to apply them to analyse key computer systems engineering processes.
- Ability to identify, classify and describe the performance of systems and components through the use of analytical methods and modelling techniques.
- Ability to apply and understand a systems approach to computer systems engineering problems.
- Ability to investigate and define a problem and identify constraints including cost drivers, economic, environmental, health and safety and risk assessment issues.
- Ability to use creativity to establish innovative, aesthetic solutions whilst understanding customer and user needs, ensuring fitness for purpose of all aspects of the problem including production, operation, maintenance and disposal.
- Ability to demonstrate the economic and environmental context of the engineering solution.
- Ability to use fundamental knowledge to explore new and emerging technologies.
- Ability to understand the limitations of mathematical and computer based problem solving and assess the impact in particular cases.
- Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem and apply it in the solution.
- Ability to evaluate commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
- Ability to apply engineering techniques taking account of commercial and industrial constraints.
Subject-specific skills
- Use of mathematical techniques to analyse and solve hardware and software problems.
- Ability to work in an engineering laboratory environment and to use a wide range of electronic equipment, workshop equipment and CAD tools for the practical realisation of electronic circuits.
- Ability to work with technical uncertainty.
- Ability to apply quantitative methods and computer software relevant to computer systems engineering in order to solve engineering problems.
- Ability to implement software solutions using a range of structural and object oriented languages.
- Ability to design hardware or software systems to fulfil a product specification and devise tests to appraise performance.
- Awareness of the nature of intellectual property and contractual issues and an understanding of appropriate codes of practice and industry standards.
- Ability to use technical literature and other information sources and apply it to a design.
- Ability to apply management techniques to the planning, resource allocation and execution of a design project and evaluate outcomes.
- Ability to prepare technical reports and presentations.
- An ability to apply business, management and professional issues to engineering projects.
- Ability to apply knowledge of design processes in unfamiliar situations and to generate innovative designs to fulfil new needs.
Transferable skills
- Ability to generate, analyse, present and interpret data.
- Use of Information and Communications Technology.
- Personal and interpersonal skills, work as a member of a team.
- Communicate effectively (in writing, verbally and through drawings).
- Learn effectively for the purpose of continuing professional development.
- Ability for critical thinking, reasoning and reflection.
- Ability to manage time and resources within an individual project and a group project.
Careers
Recently, our graduates have gone into the design of electronic and computer systems, software engineering, real-time industrial control systems and computer communications networks, in companies including BAE Systems, RAF, CISCO and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (MOD). Others have opted for further postgraduate study; for example, the MSc in Information Security and Biometrics or Embedded Systems and Instrumentation.
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 including B or above in Mathematics and a science/technology subject (Physics, Computing or Electronics) |
| 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) | Engineering: Distinction, Distinction, Merit including Further Mathematics for Technicians module |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 at HL including Mathematics (not Mathematics Studies) and a science subject 5 at HL or 6 at 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
The 2016/17 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.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
UK/EU/International students on an approved Year Abroad for the full 2016/17 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Those on an approved Year in Industry pay an annual fee of £865 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on 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. For 2016 entry, the scholarship 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. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.