Study Business Computing and graduate with a university degree

What roles do computers occupy in business, commerce and the internet?

In this course , you'll examine just how critical computers are to business. The emphasis is on organisations and how computers are used within them. In addition, you’ll study the basic skills of designing and building software systems. You’ll gain a broad base of skills by combining theory and practice – a skillset that resonates well with employers, whether in the software industry itself or in a wider and more strategic context, developing the use of IT in any business.

All our course modules use state-of-the-art computer equipment, giving you access to the very latest software technology. We’re a small, friendly team with an 'open doors' policy for students.

The British Computer Society (BCS), the Chartered Institute for IT, is the foremost professional and learned society in the field of computers and information systems in the UK. The Institute of Computing Science and Mathematics is an Educational Affiliate of the BCS.

The Single Honours BSc course in Business Computing gives full accreditation by the BCS for being a Chartered Information Technology Professional (CITP), which is the professional member level of the BCS.

Year 1

Highers BBBB.
A-levels BBC.
IB Diploma with a total of 32 points.
HNC or HND with Bs in graded units.

Access courses and other UK/EU and international qualifications are also welcomed.

International students can study our Undergraduate Certificate if they do not possess the necessary entrance requirements to be admitted directly to the first year of an undergraduate degree course.

Other information

If examinations are taken over two sittings, or there are repeats or upgrades, the entrance requirements may be higher.

General entry requirements apply.

Required subjects

English Standard Grade (2), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent.
Applicants with English Standard Grade (3) will also be considered, although alternative entry conditions may be made in this case.
Mathematics at Standard Grade (3), Intermediate 2 (C), or GCSE (C) or equivalent.

information on possible sources of funding

Full-time (three modules per semester).
Part-time (one or two modules per semester).

Year 1

For entry to Year 1, Access courses and other UK/EU and international qualifications are also welcomed.

Year 2

A Scottish HND in related subjects with BB in graded units in Year 2 can give direct entry to the second year of our degree courses.

There are four computing-related degrees on offer at Stirling: BSc (Hons) Computing Science, BSc (Hons) Software Engineering, BSc (Hons) Business Computing and BSc (Hons) Information Systems. During the first three semesters students on all related courses are required to take the same core modules in Computing Science. Students take Computing Science plus two other subjects in Year 1.

Semesters 1 - 3

You will take core Computing modules, encompassing study in the following areas:

• Skills and Applications
• Programming using Java
• Usability and Accessibility
• Information Systems
• Object-oriented Development, Data Structures and Algorithms

You will take the following core Business modules:

• The Firm
  
• The Business Environment
  
• Business in the 21^st Century
  

In Semester 1, we understand that students have a variety of backgrounds, and we can adapt the course to suit your previous experience and qualifications.

Semesters 4 - 8

The course in Semesters 4 – 8 comprises both core modules and optional advanced modules, giving you a chance to explore your particular interests further.

Core Computing modules include:

• Managing Information
  
• Information Systems
• Software Engineering
• Database Principles and Applications
• Multimedia and Human Computer Interaction
• Communications and Networking

Core Business modules include:

• Managing Organisations
• Management and Information Technology

A range of optional modules is available, drawn from Computing Science, Business Studies, Marketing and Management Science.

Honours students undertake an independent project in their final year. Typically this involves developing a major piece of software from initial requirements through to final delivery.

Year 1

• Skills and Applications
• Programming and User Accessibility
• The Firm
• The Business Environment

Year 2

• Objects and Information Systems
• Systems I
• Programming Languages Paradigms
• Managing Information
• Business in the 21^st Century
• Managing Organisations

Year 3

• Software Engineering I
• Database Principles and Applications
• Multimedia and Human Computer Interaction
• Software Engineering II
• Computer Games Technologies
• Communications and Networks
• Information Systems
• Management and Information Technology

Year 4

• Concurrent and Distributed Systems
• Language Implementation
• Computer Security and Forensics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Technologies for E-commerce
• Telecommunications Systems and Services
• Web Services
• Computing and the Brain
  

You will learn about Business Computing through lectures, small tutorial groups and seminars, and through practical and laboratory work. The Computing Science component in particular is taught as a very practical subject and almost all modules include practical assignments. Typically these count for 50 percent of the assessment grade, with the remainder given to the examination.

For the Honours degree, the grades for all advanced modules taken in Semesters 5 – 8 are combined to give your final degree classification.

Business Studies; Computing Science; Information Systems; Software Engineering.

Computer Science at Stirling was top in UK, scoring 100 percent student satisfaction for the quality of the course (National Student Survey, 2011).

You have the opportunity to study abroad through Stirling's well-established connection with several North American and European universities.

In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), 90 percent of the research in the Institute of Computing Science & Mathematics was graded as ‘Internationally Excellent’, with the top five percent judged to be ‘World-leading’.

Course strengths

The Institute of Computing Science and Mathematics has strong links with Scottish industry through its Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) – with members from both Scottish and international industries such as IBM, HSBC, Sword-Ciboodle and Stirling Council. Through the IAB we:

• Maintain links with potential employers, giving students an insight into the types of job they may find and giving employers a chance to find the right employees now and influence what is taught in the future
• Transfer knowledge and technology from the Institute to a wide user base
• Make our research relevant to the user base
• Collaborate with the user base on joint research and development projects

Academic Strengths

We are an active research Institute. We have funded research from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Medical Research Council (MRC), Biological and Basic Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC), from the European Community and from other sources.

We provide a stimulating and lively environment for all students.  Final-year Honours projects can be associated with active research projects in the Institute.  Research areas of particular interest are Applied Formal Methods, Medical Informatics, Computational Intelligence, and Communications and Services.

Graduates will have knowledge of both Business and Computing Science. They will be ideally placed to work either in the software industry itself or in a more strategic role, developing the use of IT in business. Possible employers range from consulting firms to IT users such as government, banks, insurance and industry, and to software users and institutions in teaching and research.