Study computing science and graduate with a university degree

Computers are everywhere. Not just the obvious home and office computers, but in every aspect of modern life: smart phones, smart microwaves, games consoles, automatic cash dispensers and air traffic control systems.

Our computing science course teaches you how to design, build and analyse such systems – in both theory and practice. Your training will encompass how computers work – programming them to make them do what we want and learning how they fit into their environment. Our graduates are highly sought-after within the industry.

We're a small, friendly team with an 'open door' policy for students. Our computing labs have recently been upgraded and are fitted with state-of-the art PCs.

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 Computing Science gives full accreditation by the BCS for being a Chartered Information Technology Professional (CITP), which is the professional member level of the BCS, and partial accreditation for Chartered Engineer status.

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.

Year 2

A-levels or Advanced Highers ABB to include Computing and relevant experience of Java (other programming languages may be acceptable). HND in related subjects with Bs in graded units.

Year 3

Articulation agreement with Forth Valley College in Computing Science (Software Development) with Bs in graded units.

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.

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. 

Required Subjects

Mathematics Standard Grade (3), Intermediate 2 (C), or GCSE (C) or equivalent.
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.

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.

Year 3

We have an Articulation Agreement with Forth Valley College in Computing Science (Software Development) with Bs in graded units to allow students direct entry to the Honours course in Year 3.

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 modules encompassing study in the following areas:

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

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. Students studying the Single Honours Computing Science degree are required to take a Mathematics module in Semester 1.

Semesters 4 - 8

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

Core modules include:

• Software Engineering (involving group work)
• Computer Systems
• Databases: Principles and Applications
• Multimedia and Human Computer Interaction
• Communications and Networks

Optional modules include:

• Computer Game Technologies
• Computer Security and Forensics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Managing Information
• Technologies for E-commerce
• Telecommunications Systems and Services
• Web Services
• Information Systems
• Computing and the Brain

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

Year 1

• Skills and Applications
• Programming and User Accessibility
• Discrete Structures

Year 2

• Objects and Information Systems
• Systems I
• Programming Language Paradigms
• Managing Information

Year 3

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

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 Computing Science through lectures, small tutorial groups and most of all through laboratory work. Computing Science 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 an Honours degree, the grades for all advanced modules taken in Semesters 5 – 8 are combined to give your final degree classification.

(For a Combined Honours degree the higher entrance requirements of the subjects usually apply.)

Business Computing; Information Systems; Mathematics; Software Engineering.

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 connections with several international 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’.

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.

A Computing Science degree at Stirling will place you at the forefront of computing in a web-based world, giving you a broad range of skills, including the internet and web technologies, and experience in applications ranging from computer games, multimedia and internet telephony to e-commerce and biologically-inspired computing.

Graduates will be well-equipped to enter either the software industry itself or one of the many fields in which computer systems are extensively used and developed. Recent destinations for our graduates include British Telecom, Agilent (Hewlett Packard Ltd), Scottish Power, Adobe Systems Inc, and Silicon Graphics Inc.