BSc (Hons) Business Computing

Our Business Computing course is ideal for setting you up for a career in developing IT solutions to support business needs.

Key facts

Award BSc (Hons)
Start date January 2022, September 2022, January 2023
Duration 48 months
Mode of study Full-time, Campus based
UCAS Code G510
Study abroad opportunities

Accreditations

British Computer Society

Overview

Find out more about Changes at Stirling, including how you'll be taught, start dates and how we're making campus safer.

With our Business Computing course, you’ll examine how critical computers are to business and learn how you can create computing solutions to support a range of business needs. As part of your studies, you’ll develop basic knowledge of designing and building software systems and grow a broad base of skills through a combination of theory and practice.

The skills you’ll learn will be highly valued by employers - whether in the software industry itself, or in a wider and more strategic context developing IT solutions for any business.

We’ll help you build strong links with industry, and, during Year 3, there are opportunities to take part in either a three-month summer placement or a one-year placement. You’ll also have the opportunity to study abroad through our exchange programmes.

Top reasons to study with us

We're Top 5 in Scotland and Top 10 in the UK for Computer Science (National Student Survey 2021).

60% of our research outputs in Computer Science are rated world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2014) – adding a cutting edge to our teaching.

Opportunities to test your skills in real business settings through three-month and one-year placements with local SMEs and large corporations

Professional accreditation

BSc (Hons) graduates are fully accredited by the British Computer Society for the educational requirements of being a Chartered Information Technology Professional (CITP), which is the Society’s professional member level.

Prizes or awards

Each year we offer the following prizes:

outstanding performance in 1st year Computing Science modules
outstanding performance in 2nd year Computing Science modules
outstanding performance in 3rd year Computing Science modules
outstanding performance in 4th year Computing Science modules
a Faculty research prize for an outstanding research project
BCS Glasgow prize: Best honours project

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for your country/region

Please select your country/region of residence:

Year 1 entry – Four-year honours

SQA Highers
ABBB – by the end of S5
AABB – by the end of S6

GCE A-levels
BBB

IB Diploma
30

BTEC (Level 3)
DDM

Widening access students
Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.

Care-experienced applicants will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements.

Year 2 entry – Three-year honours

SQA Advanced Highers
ABB

GCE A-levels
ABB

IB Diploma
35

Essential subjects:
To include Computing and Business Studies/Management and relevant experience of Java or other programming languages.

Other Scottish qualifications

Scottish HNC/HND
Year one minimum entry - Bs in graded units.

Access courses
University of Stirling access course - for mature students only. You must pass the course with 50% or above.

SWAP Access course - for mature students only. Please check the SWAP progression routes document for details.

Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.

Foundation Apprenticeships
Considered to be equivalent to 1 Higher at Grade B

Other qualifications

English, Welsh and Northern Irish HNC/HND
Merits and Distinctions

English, Welsh and Northern Irish access courses
Access to Higher Education - 60 credits, minimum 45 at QCF Level 3, pass at 60% or above.

Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.

Advanced entry

Year 2 entry
Entry into Year 2 may be possible depending on your HNC/HND course. To find out more go to our articulation pages.

Other qualifications
Advanced entry may by possible depending on your qualifications. To find out more go to our advanced entry pages.

Additional information

General entrance requirements apply

If you’ve taken exams over two sittings, repeated an exam, or been upgraded, the entrance requirements may be higher.

Other routes of entry

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

English language requirements

Due to disruption in English Language testing caused by COVID-19, we are accepting alternative English Language tests (including online English Language Tests).

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

IELTS Indicator 6.0 with 5.5 in each skill
Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) 169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) 180 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill
IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
IBT TOEFL Special Home Edition 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
Trinity ISE II Pass overall and Pass in each sub-skill, ISE III Pass overall and in all sub-skills, ISE IV Pass overall and in all sub-skills
Aptis (4 skills) CEFR B2 overall and B2 in all sub-skills
Duolingo 95 overall with a minimum of 90 in all sub-skills
LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator - Pass with minimum 33 in each sub-skill

Last updated: 1 February 2021

If you are from India, Ghana or Nigeria please also check your country/region specific page for any additional, or changes to, English language requirements.

For more information on ways that you can meet our English language requirements, including options to waive the requirement, please read our information on English language requirements.

Pre-sessional English language courses

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.

Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses

Course details

In Semesters 1-3, students from our three computing-related degrees (Computing Science, Software Engineering and Business Computing) take the same core modules in Computing Science.

Core topics include: Computational Thinking; Programming Using Java; Social and Professional Issues; Usability and Accessibility of Interfaces; Database Principles and Applications; Data Structures, Objects and Algorithms. There are also three core business modules and you’ll take one additional subject each semester.

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

In Semesters 4-8, the course is made up of both core modules and optional advanced modules, giving you a chance to explore your particular interests further.

Final-year Honours students work on an independent project, which typically involves designing and developing a computer application within a business context.

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

Our students also enjoy access to an active Computer Club that organises a number of activities and projects for those interested in Computing Science and Software Engineering.

Modules

The module information below is intended only as an example of what you may study and features details for the current academic year (2021/22). Modules are regularly reviewed and are subject to future changes.

Course details

Teaching

In the most recent NSS student survey (2021) Computing Science at Stirling was ranked 4th in Scotland, and top 10 in the UK. Furthermore, the University of Stirling have been awarded five star excellence for teaching by the QS World University Rankings 2020.

Our teaching makes use of both our campus-based teaching facilities and online learning environment. You’ll learn about Business Computing through lectures, small tutorial groups and seminars, and through practical and laboratory work.

Computing Science at Stirling is part of the Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance (SICSA) Scotland-wide pooling initiative in research and knowledge exchange, as well as The DataLab, Scotland's Innovation Centre for data and AI.

Our research-led teaching is at the core of your learning as our staff conduct world-leading research. Our staff are engaged with funded research from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), as well as funding from the European Union FP7 Programme, and other UK Research Councils and funding agencies.

Assessment

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 exam.

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

Work placement opportunities

We help our students to build strong links with industry through three-month summer placements and one-year placements. Both of these are offered to third year students. Placement are available with local SMEs as well as large corporates.

Our Careers and Employability Service is ranked 1st in Scotland and Top 5 in the UK (UK International Student Barometer (ISB) Benchmark and Global ISB Benchmark 2018). They will not only help you to secure placements but also offer all the support and advice you need to plan your career, develop your employability or think about further study.

Study abroad

You can study abroad through our well-established connections with North American, Australian and European universities.

Contact

Dr David Cairns

+44 (0) 1786 467445

dec@cs.stir.ac.uk

Fees and funding

Fees and costs

Select fee status:

Academic year:	2021/22	2022/23
Scottish students	£1,820*	£1,820 ^*
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland	£9,250	£9,250
European Union students	£17,900	£18,800
Overseas students (non-EU)	£17,900	£18,800

* This fee is set by the Scottish Government and is subject to change.

You will be charged the annual tuition fee each year when you enrol.

Although you’re liable for annual tuition fees, students domiciled in Scotland can apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to have tuition fees paid by the Scottish Government on their behalf. If you’re unsure of your fee status, you can check your eligibility.

If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you’ll be liable for an additional fee.

For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.

This tuition fee may be subject to change depending on guidance provided by the UK Government.

You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.

You can apply for financial assistance, including a loan to cover the full cost of your tuition fees, from your relevant funding body. Students from the Republic of Ireland who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, Islands or Ireland and are starting a course of study in Scotland in session 2021/22 will be entitled to apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for funding. See more information on the SAAS website.

We also offer additional funding – such as our Honours Year Scholarship – for students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. See our funding opportunities below for more information.

If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.

For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.

For EU students starting studies in academic year 2022/23, we will award an automatic scholarship of up to £30k over the duration of your course. This is subject to eligibility criteria.

Students from the Republic of Ireland should see the fee and funding information under England, Wales, NI and Republic of Ireland.

You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.

If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.

For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.

You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.

If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.

For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.

Additional costs

There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.

Funding opportunities

See what funding opportunities and loans are available to help you with tuition and living costs.

Students domiciled in Scotland

The University of Stirling offers undergraduate funding opportunities for students domiciled in Scotland. To find out if you’re eligible to apply for an award, use our scholarship finder.

EU students

For EU students starting studies in academic year 2021/22, we will award an automatic scholarship of up to £30k over the duration of your course. This is subject to eligibility criteria.

Students domiciled in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland

The Undergraduate Choice Scholarship provides a £1,000 cash award to all students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Republic of Ireland who meet the conditions of their offer and select the University of Stirling as their Firm or Insurance choice on UCAS.

The University also offers the Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, which is awarded to selected students and provides a £1,000 cash award per year for years 1-3 of study. To be considered for the Merit Scholarship, students require a minimum of AAB at A-level or equivalent.

In addition, students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland who enter in year 1 and progress successfully through years 2 and 3 will receive our Honours Year Scholarship, which covers the cost of undergraduate tuition fees in the Honours year of study.

You don’t need to apply for the awards listed above - we'll automatically identify your eligibility as part of the admissions process.

To explore other scholarships and learn more about funding opportunities, use our scholarship finder.

Students domiciled overseas

The University of Stirling offers generous undergraduate funding opportunities for overseas students. To find out if you're eligible to apply for an award, use our scholarship finder.

Cost of living

If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.

EU and overseas students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.

Find out about the cost of living for students at Stirling.

Payment options

We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay.

After you graduate

Our graduates leave with knowledge of both business and computing science – a skills combination highly valued by employers. You’ll be ideally placed to work either in the software industry itself or in a more strategic role, developing IT solutions for business.

Potential employers range from consulting firms to IT users, such as governments, banks and insurance companies. Our industrial placements will ease your transition into the job market. Recent graduates have gained successful employment in business and financial services with the likes of JP Morgan, Accenture, British Telecom, Bank of Scotland and HSBC, Verint, Microsoft, Scottish Power and Google.

What jobs can you get with a Business Computing degree?

From consulting firms to managing IT services for business, as a Business Computing science graduate you'll have a range of opportunities open to you.

Jobs related to your business and computing degree include:

Employability skills

Engagement with potential employers, work-related learning and the dissertation project in your final year will develop your professional skills. Throughout the course you’re encouraged to develop personal effectiveness skills to allow you to complete work in a professional and timely manner. Our placements allow you to practice your analytical and problem solving skills as well as your software design and implementation skills in a business setting.

Companies we work with

We have connections with the following organisation via placements, internships and industrial liason:

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What our students said

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Anna Eglite
Latvia
BSc (Hons) Business Computing

I chose Stirling because it's one of the few universities that offered a course in both business and computer science. On top of that, the campus is incredible and a fun place to be.

Read Anna's story

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Flexible study

This course is not available as a combined degree.

BSc (Hons) Business Computing

Key facts

Accreditations

Top reasons to study with us

Professional accreditation

Prizes or awards

Discover Uni

What our students said

Flexible study

Related courses

What next?