BSc ( Hons) Computing (Top Up)

This BSc (Hons) Computing Level 6 top-up degree programme is a fantastic opportunity for candidates with a Level 5 qualification such as a Foundation Degree or HND to top up to a Bachelor’s Degree. The BSc (Hons) Computing degree is designed to equip learners with the knowledge, high-level cognitive skills, and familiarity with tools & techniques that will open a range of doors across the job market. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to critically analyse business requirements and design effective IT solutions using techniques from systems analysis, knowledge of software architecture and data analysis. Through independent and rigorous research, culminating in a research project or dissertation, and by applying specialised knowledge learners, will solve identified real world industrial issues.

Yeovil College University Centre's 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 Foundation Degree (FD) Computing course; successfully completing this would allow you to then apply to ‘top-up’ to a full BSc (Hons) qualification.

This course would prepare students well to work in a range of lucrative IT roles, such as Software Development, or Networking Management, or enter into a graduate training programme across a range of employers. Graduates from this programme should have developed the strong technical and academic knowledge to confidently take on high-level job roles and progress into 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, totalling 120 Credits (or 'CATS') at Level 6. Modules currently offered include:

• - Cloud Computing (15 CATS)

• - Cyber Security (15 CATS) - Web Applications Development (15 CATS)

• - Research Methods (15 CATS) - Networking Infrastructure (15 CATS)

• - Object Orientated Programming (15 CATS)

• - Dissertation (30 CATS)

Please be aware that modules studied may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline or in response to student and stakeholder feedback. Students can always find the most up-to-date information about their modules and who is teaching them in the course handbook.

A typical week for a full-time student has around 8-10 hours of contact time in taught sessions, plus additional 1-1 support available by student request. As with all HE programmes, students are required to take ownership of their learning and development and should expect to spend time studying and completing assessment tasks with independence outside of lectures. As a rough guide, between timetabled sessions and independent work, a full-time student should expect to spend around 1,200 hours studying each academic year, and part-time students should expect to spend roughly half this amount.

Each module will include assessments that will need to be completed by set deadlines. More information on assessment methods is included in the "How will I be assessed?" section below.

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.

In addition, it expected that students will have access to a device (ideally a laptop) of a high enough specification to run virtual machines, network simulators, cyber-security simulators, IDEs (Integrated Development Environments), and undertake database analysis. This will allow students to install and configure software directly and will support in their undertaking of assignment work. Students are welcome to discuss device specifications in more detail at interview, or can contact the University Centre office who will put them in touch with the curriculum team.

Typical entry requirements are 240 CATS from a relevant Level 5 qualification, such as a Foundation Degree, Higher National Diploma, or Diploma of Higher Education in Computing. Applications from those who have achieved a full Level 5 qualification on a compensated basis (i.e. a Higher National Diploma on the basis of 210 achieved credits) will also be considered.

For admission onto any pathways, applicants will need to be able to evidence successful completion of appropriate corresponding units at Level 4 and Level 5 as a requirement of admission.

International applicants will be required to evidence English language skills - this could be an IELTS score of 7.0, with a minimum score of 6.5 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.?

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 BSCO.. 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.