BSc Computer Science

Royal Holloway’s Computer Science degree combines practical, real-world learning with structured team projects, modern lab facilities, and research-driven teaching. Industry placements and strong external links ensure graduates are job-ready and professionally aligned.

Facilities & Learning Environment

• Computing Labs: Fully equipped with Windows/Linux workstations, advanced server access, and modern IDEs (Eclipse, PyCharm), all supported by dedicated technical staff.

• Robotics & Games Labs: From Year 1, students use hands-on kits and interactive tools to build games and robotics applications in structured lab sessions.

• Electronics & Hardware Labs: Used for physical computing tasks in games, robotics, and embedded systems modules.

• Learning Environment: Includes small-group tutorial rooms, access to personal advisers, and well-supported digital resources and library systems.

Experiential Learning Highlights

• Weekly Hands-on Labs: Core modules integrate lab work with languages like Java, Python, and C/C++, alongside version control (Git), test frameworks (JUnit), and Agile practices.

• Year 1: Games and robotics mini-projects lay the foundation for collaborative programming and applied problem-solving.

• Year 2: Team-based Agile projects simulate real-world development cycles—plan, build, test, and present full applications using industrial tools.

• Final Year (Year 3): A year long individual honours project, supervised by academic staff, focusing on either software development or applied research tailored to your interests.

Research & Internship Opportunities

• Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme: Competitive summer internships (6 weeks, paid) to participate in live academic research, ideal for students interested in postgraduate study.

• Research-led Teaching: Delivered by leading academics in AI, network security, machine learning, distributed systems, and big data.

• Cybersecurity Strength: Home to the NCSC-certified Information Security Group, a recognised centre of excellence.

Placements & Career Development

• Optional Year in Industry: Take a fully integrated and academically assessed placement year after Year 2 supported by the university’s Careers Service and department.

• Top Placement Partners: Students have secured placements at companies like Amazon, American Express, Apple, Bupa, Capita, CGI-Logica, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, Symantec, among many others, many of which lead to graduate job offers.

• Internships & Early Opportunities: Summer internships, job fairs, and employer-led training sessions are available from Year 1, coordinated via central and departmental career support.

Industry Links & Professional Growth

• Industrial Advisory Board: Guides curriculum relevance and includes partners such as Accenture, BlackRock, British Gas, Microsoft, Yahoo, Salesforce, and more offering networking and career opportunities.

• Professional Accreditation: The degree is BCS-accredited, meeting academic requirements for Chartered IT Professional (CITP) status.

Royal Holloway BSc Computing Science graduates enjoy strong early career success, about 92% of BSc Computer Science graduates are in graduate-level employment or further study within 15 months,  and 90% of those roles classed as highly skilled.

Typical career paths include::

• Software Engineer / Developer

• Data Scientist / Machine Learning Specialist

• Cybersecurity Analyst or Network Engineer

• Systems Architect / IT Consultant

University Services That Support Employment

• Dedicated Careers Service and departmental Placements & Careers Officer offer 1:1 CV and interview coaching, application support, and regular internship and job opportunity updates

• On-campus and university-wide career fairs, including IT-specific and “Careers in Finance” events, connect you with employers like Amazon and British Gas

• Active alumni network offers mentoring, networking opportunities, and industry insights

Employment Stats & Salary Figures

• ~92% of graduates are in graduate-level work or study within 15 months

• Typical salaries:

  • ~£34,000 at 15 months 

  • ~£44,500 at 3 years

  • ~£56,000 at 5 years which is among the top UK earners for Computer Science

University–Industry Partnerships

• Industrial Advisory Board with senior figures from Accenture, Microsoft, Salesforce, Yahoo, and others, ensuring the curriculum is aligned with real-world industry needs

• Strong placement-year opportunities after Year 2, with close departmental support that often leads to graduate roles

Accreditation & Long-Term Value

• Fully accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS) and holds the Euro-Inf Quality Label

• BSc Information/Cyber Security is GCHQ-certified

• The degree fulfils academic requirements for:

  • Chartered IT Professional (CITP)

  • Partial Chartered Engineer (CEng)

  • Chartered Scientist (CSci) status

Graduation Outcomes

• Ranked 8th nationally for graduate earnings in Computer Science 

• IFS reports that CS graduates earn ~99.7% more than non-graduates by age 29, reflecting strong long-term return on investment

Further Academic Progression

After your BSc, you can:

• Progress to an MSci or MSc in specialist fields such as Cyber Security, AI, Data Science, or Software Engineering

• Pursue a PhD, supported by Royal Holloway’s leading research teams with 95% of research rated world-leading or internationally excellent

• Apply directly for BCS-chartered status (CITP, CEng) — your degree already meets the key academic criteria

• Enter professional conversion or teaching pathways, backed by continued career support and industry engagement