BSc (Hons) Computing (Level 6) Top-Up

This BSc (Hons) Computing Level 6 top-up degree programme is a fantastic opportunity for candidates with a Level 5 qualification to top up to a Bachelor’s Degree. The BSc (Hons) Computing degree opens doors to lucrative job opportunities within the IT Industry; employers across the UK have desperate need for degree-level qualified IT practitioners to deliver in jobs that require high intellectual skills and innovative thinking.

This programme is designed to equip learners with the knowledge, high-level cognitive skills, and familiarity with tools & techniques that will empower them to become highly productive and competitive in the job market. You will develop the ability to apply creative and innovative thinking for implementing logical solutions to problem scenarios within and outside digital domains.

Yeovil College University Centre is one of the few Institute of Technology (IoT) institutions in the UK, and as a result of this the Computing department boasts a range of modernised IT infrastructure, including updated classroom equipment, high-spec gaming room and a modernised IT lab / workshop that is equipped with servers, storage area network, and virtualised environment for students’ lab activities.

This course is available on both a full-time and a part-time basis and is taught in-person at our Yeovil College campus. The full-time course is studied over 1 academic year, and students are typically timetabled for two days per week. The part-time course is studied over 2 academic years, and students are typically timetabled for one day per week.

This course is designed to allow those who already hold a relevant Level 5 qualification, such as a Foundation Degree or HND in Computing, to 'top-up' to BSc (Hons) level. If you're looking at starting your university-level journey in Computing, you would need to look at studying another qualification first. At Yeovil College University Centre, we offer the HND Computing for England course; successfully completing this would allow you to then apply to ‘top-up’ to a full BSc (Hons) qualification.

BSc (Hons) Computing, awarded by the University of Gloucestershire, and regulated by the Office for Students.

This course would prepare students well to work in a range of lucrative IT jobs, such as Software Development, Networking Engineering, IT Consultancy, or Web Application Development. Graduates from this programme should have developed the strong technical and academic knowledge to confidently take on high-level job roles and management positions.

Upon successful completion, students would also be eligible to apply for further study, for example a Master’s Degree in a related field.

You will study a range of units that will develop your specialist knowledge and skills. Modules currently offered include:

• Advanced Networking & Security (30 Credits)
• Advanced Programming (15 Credits)
• Research Methods (15 Credits)
• User Experience Design (15 Credits)
• Web Application Development (15 Credits)
• Dissertation (30 Credits)

Alongside developing a range of subject-specific skills, this course also gives you the opportunity to develop important transferable skills such as critical analysis, academic writing, time management, and communication.

Please be aware that modules studied may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, in response to student or stakeholder feedback, or as a result of regulatory body requirements. However, no significant changes to modules would be implemented without student consultation and feedback. Enrolled students can always find the most up-to-date information about their modules and who is teaching them in their course handbook.

The course is taught by well qualified lecturers who are dedicated to ensuring student success through effective curriculum delivery and high-quality pastoral support. The team includes staff with relevant academic qualifications and sector expertise.

Learning will be achieved through a combination of tutor-led sessions, lectures, group discussions, seminars and research symposiums. The learning environment is rich with technology tools both in the physical learning space and our Virtual Learning Environments (VLE). Lessons include hands-on practical activities and use of simulation software to familiarise learners with collaborative development and teamwork.

We are a Cisco Academy, Microsoft Academy, Juniper Academy, and Unity Academy. We use our academy status to enrich the curriculum by injecting vendor qualifications into our programme delivery. Students are encouraged to complete industry-recognised vendor certifications during their programme of study (e.g. Juniper JNCIA, Cisco Security, Cisco CCNA, Microsoft Azure, MTA, MCSA etc.).

A typical week for a full-time student has around 10-12 hours of contact time in taught sessions, plus additional 1:1 support available by student request. As with all higher education programmes, students are required to take ownership of their learning and development, and should therefore expect to spend time studying with independence outside of lectures. Time spent studying independently may include reading journal articles and relevant books, undertaking research, and completing assignments by set deadlines.

As a rough guide, between timetabled sessions and independent work a student should expect to spend around 10 hours studying for each credit they undertake. A full-time student will typically undertake 120 credits per academic year.

Part-time students should expect to spend a proportionately reduced amount of time in taught sessions and undertaking independent work, in line with their intensity of study.

Tuition Fees: Full information on tuition fees, including tuition fee lists, can be found on our Financial Support page. Please be aware that fee levels vary depending upon the year in which a student commences their studies. For more detailed information, see the YCUC HE Fees Policy, available in the Policies and Reports area of our website.

Additional Costs: Throughout the course there are opportunities to undertake trips and visits to industry exposition events and trade shows. Whilst these are not mandatory, they will enrich the learning experience. Students would be expected to fund their own travel to and from such events.

An assessment schedule, outlining all assessments and deadlines, will be issued to you at the start of each academic year. You will be assessed using a range of formative and summative methods which will reflect the requirements of the subject, including essays, practical tasks, presentations, assignment reports, time-constrained assessments, and a portfolio of written assignment report. Feedback will be provided to you in writing, along with information reflecting your performance and recommendations for improvement.

Entry Requirements: Typical entry requirements are 240 CATs points at Level 5 in Computing or a relevant field (for example, a HND, FdSC, or DipHE in Computing).

Mature Applicants: We welcome applications from mature students (aged 21 and over as of 1st September in the academic year of admission) and do not necessarily require the same academic qualifications as school leaving applicants. Mature students requesting contextual admission are required to provide details of their relevant prior work or study experience, and to also undertake a pre-entry admissions assessment to ensure there is suitable grounds to suggest they are academically ready to begin the programme and there is a reasonable expectation that they will succeed in their studies. Please email university.centre@yeovil.ac.uk to find out more.

International Applicants: International applicants will be required to evidence English language skills - this could be an IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum score of 6.0 in each component, a grade 4 in GCSE English (or equivalent), or having recently completed a Level 3 qualification taught and assessed in the English language. For more information, please get in touch via university.centre@yeovil.ac.uk or call 01935 845454.

Interviews: As part of the admissions process, applicants who meet the entry criteria for the course will be invited to attend an admissions interview with a member of staff from the course they are applying to. More information about the interview process can be found on the How to apply page.

Full-time: To apply for this course on a full-time basis, you will need to apply via UCAS (Campus name: Yeovil College University Centre; Institution code: Y25; Course code: BTCP). For more information on UCAS and how the application process works, see our How to Apply page.

Part-time: To apply for this course on a part-time basis, you will need to submit an application form directly to the University Centre. You can find out more about this process and download a copy of the application form by visiting our How to Apply page, or you can request a copy of the application form directly from the Yeovil College University Centre team via 01935 845454 or university.centre@yeovil.ac.uk.

If you have any questions, or want to know more about this course, please get in touch! You can contact us via email (university.centre@yeovil.ac.uk), phone (01935 845454), or you can fill out our Contact form.