At Bath, the BSc Computer Science degree combines strong theoretical foundations with hands-on computing projects, giving you both depth and practical skills. This course is for you if you’re interested in studying computer science but want to wait until later in your degree before deciding what area to specialise in. It's a broad-ranging course providing you with the knowledge to apply computer science methods to new and emerging computing problems, and learn skills highly valued by employers.
Curriculum Structure
Year 1
You’ll begin in the first year by learning the basics with modules in Foundations of Programming, Mathematics for Computation, and Computer Systems Architectures. These introduce you to coding in Python/C, rigorous mathematical logic, and how software interacts with hardware.
Year 2
The second year deepens your skills across modules like Algorithms and Complexity, Machine Learning, Advanced Programming, Cybersecurity, plus the Experimental Systems Project. You’ll start group-based practicals, developing software and gaining engineering confidence.
Year 3 (Honours)
In your final year, you’ll tackle an Individual Honours Project which can be a standard 20-credit project or an extended 30-credit research-focused project and choose from advanced modules like Parallel Computing, Advanced Human-Computer Interaction, and Logic &Semantics. This lets you specialise and deliver a substantial standalone research or software piece.
Assessment Format
Assessment is well-balanced between exams and coursework, with flexibility across modules:
Throughout your degree, assessments include a mix of closed- and open-book exams, lab reports, programming assignments, essays, presentations, and group software projects.
Typically, 40–60% of your grade is exam-based and 40–60% coursework, though the exact balance varies by year and optional modules.
Final-year project is evaluated individually, combining code, documentation, presentation, and written thesis, with group projects contributing if undertaken.
Flexible arrangements are available for students with disabilities, and professional accreditation supports recognition of your degree in industry.
Focus areas:
Programming • Algorithms & data structures • Systems engineering • Machine learning & AI • Cybersecurity • Individual and group project work
Learning outcomes:
Develop software confidently; think mathematically about computation; design and test complex systems; collaborate on real-world projects; deliver independent honours-level research.
Professional alignment (accreditation):
This BSc is BCS-accredited, meeting professional standards and providing excellent preparation for Chartered IT status, thanks to its project-led structure and practical engineering focus.
Reputation (employability rankings):
UK Top 10 for Computer Science (THE 2025 Subject Rankings)
Bath graduates work with top employers including Google, Apple, IBM, and Microsoft and enjoy strong placement opportunities and career support.
Students studying BSc (Hons) Computer Science at the University of Bath build practical, real-world skills using top-tier facilities and hands-on learning:
Awesome resources like the CAMERA motion-capture studio, Lovelace maker lab (3D‑printing, soldering, Arduino kits), HCI lab (eye‑tracking, panoramic screens), and the University's HPC cluster are available with expert support from day one.
Experiential learning at Bath includes:
Hands‑on practical labs every term: Guided sessions in core modules like programming, systems, AI, graphics using Python, Java, C/C++, MATLAB, plus Arduino and Raspberry Pi labs in Year 1.
Structured group software project (Year 2): You’ll collaboratively design and build an interactive application, great teamwork and client-facing experience.
Final-year individual project: Supervised by faculty, with your topic aligned to your interests such as VR games, HCI, AI using Bath’s specialist labs.
Optional placement year: Opt to take a 12-month paid industry placement or go abroad with support through the department’s placement scheme.
Summer research & student innovation: Bath has initiatives like the TDF-backed physical-computing project which lets undergraduates work on real research with Arduino and Raspberry Pi.
Digital tools & HPC access: Free use of cloud platforms, GPUs, and remote access to the University’s HPC system for large-scale data and compute-heavy applications.
Community & peer mentoring: Hosted by Bath Computer Science Society are hackathons, cyber‑security challenges, visits to Bletchley Park as well as strong peer support and events.
Career development: The Skills Development Programme features employer workshops and mock interviews, boosting your employability.
Library & research access: UoB provides extensive digital resources including ACM Digital Library, IEEE Xplore, INSPEC, MathSciNet along with undergraduate literature-search training.
University of Bath BSc Computer Science (Hons) graduates walk into a world of possibilities: 92% are employed in high-skilled jobs within 15 months, earning approximately £32–34.5 k, with most earning £46–52 k within five years. Average jobs are Software Engineer, Data Analyst, Cybersecurity Specialist, and Cloud Developer. Why Bath is unique:
University services that aid in employment
Bath Careers Service provides personal advice, CV/interview practice, employer workshops, and internship grants.
The professional placement or study-abroad alternative gives you the opportunity to spend a year in industry with top employers (e.g. Google, Microsoft, Accenture, Goldman Sachs).
University–industry partnerships
Partnerships with leading information technology companies for placements and projects: Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Goldman Sachs, Accenture.
Membership by Bath in GW4, SETsquared, and community business networks underpins real-world collaboration.
Placement scheme helps in career development: tailored placement support team helps in securing jobs with top firms.
Long-term accreditation & reputation
Bath is consistently in the UK top 10 for graduate careers and prospects: 3rd (Daily Mail), 5th (Guardian), 6th (Complete), 7th (Times & Sunday Times).
Outstanding research record: 92% of 4*- and 3*-rated research in REF 2021.
CS is one of Bath’s highly-rated TEF and league table courses.
Graduation outcomes
Graduates enter in-demand roles: Software Engineer, Cloud Engineer, Security Expert, Business Analyst, and R&D systems roles.
Some of the employers include Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Goldman Sachs, Intel, Darktrace, Dyson, Hawk‑Eye, Wells Fargo, and UK Government agencies.
Graduates praise Bath’s CS, and most get “very good jobs” with strong internship-to-job conversion.
Further Academic Progression
Upon finishing your BSc, you can go on to:
1-year MSc in disciplines such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Data Science, or Software Engineering, dependent on availability.
Combine Bath's MComp integrated degree with the added year of placement and advanced research.
Pursue a PhD with cutting-edge facilities, especially in AI, HCI, security, or data systems.
Advancing to professional postgraduate courses in such areas as PGCE (education) or specialist conversion master's courses (e.g. Bioinformatics, Cyber Security in Finance).
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