BSc (Hons) Computer Science with foundation year
Course Overview
We live in a digital age where most industries rely on software and data. Computer science and IT influence every aspect of our lives, from business to social interaction and beyond, so computer scientists are sought after in the government, health and education sectors and companies of all sizes. By studying for your BSc (Hons) Computer Science with foundation year programme with the University of Bolton, you can develop essential knowledge and understanding of computing and IT principles and practices while experiencing life at our supportive, student-focused, multicultural campus.The foundation year is the first year of this degree, offering an excellent grounding in the fundamentals of computing, programming and mathematics. It's designed to prepare you for degree-level study.
As you progress in your studies, our expert team will support you in developing knowledge of core computing disciplines and optional areas of your choice. We'll build your understanding of computers and computer systems with practical skills, including systems analysis activities, design and software development. You'll extend your knowledge by selecting from a diverse range of option modules covering topics such as big data, AI, cloud technologies, natural language processing and information security. This course is part of a family of related programmes, including degrees in Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security, so we offer exciting options in all these areas.
As computer scientists work at the interface between humans and digital technology, our expert team will focus on preparing you to work across both these worlds. We'll lead you in exploring technological principles and concepts, provide realistic scenarios to develop your practical skills and focus on building your communication skills and ability to work in groups. We'll encourage you to collaborate and look at projects and problems from both the technical and human perspectives to consider the interplay between the two. We also aim to help you develop lifelong learning skills so that you can take ownership of your professional development for the future, maximising your potential for success.
This highly creative discipline requires innovation, experimentation, testing and observation, so project and practical work are essential elements of this degree. With expert guidance and support, you'll study in our well-equipped IT suites, applying and developing your learning individually and in groups. The school's strong links with business mean you'll have the chance to work on live briefs in your assignments, ensuring you gain industry-relevant knowledge. Furthermore, your final year project will build your independence and analytical skills, further develop your creative thinking and problem-solving skills, and allow you to prove your critical understanding of computer science.
By studying our BSc (Hons) in Computer Science with foundation year, you'll gain essential knowledge and experience a range of opportunities that support you in developing the attitudes, abilities and competencies needed to launch your career in computing and IT.
Highlights
- Our Computer Science courses are 4th in the UK for student satisfaction, according to The Complete University Guide 2025.
- Our Computer Science courses are also placed in the top 5 in the UK for teaching quality by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.
- We are a well-respected, intensive teaching-focused department with a friendly approach and highly-rated teaching. You'll learn from our experienced lecturers and researchers in fields such as machine learning, computer vision, data science, intelligent agents, bioinformatics, information and cyber security.
- During your studies, we'll offer you access to online educational resources from industry training providers such as Oracle Academy and AWS Educate.
- Manchester is a thriving digital hub and home to a wide range of digital technology businesses. The region offers plenty of opportunities to network and exchange ideas. Our guest lecturer programme invites professionals to come and share their expertise so that you can benefit from their experience.
- A big part of our commitment to your progress is helping you develop your employability and industry networks. So we'll encourage you to attend guest lectures that give your learning context, offer industry contact, and contribute to your underlying professional development.
- By structuring our module content, assignments and projects to mimic industry processes and standards, we aim to provide an industry-relevant education that leads you towards a successful career.
- To boost your employability, you'll study a number of different programme languages and approaches. Each new language you experience and approach you master will enhance your ability to impress potential employers, opening up a wider variety of graduate job opportunities.
Key Features
- With intentionally small class sizes, we can offer you more meaningful and personalised interaction with our dedicated and enthusiastic lecturers. We'll focus on your individual needs and provide personalised support to find the learning strategies that best support your learning and ultimate success.
- You'll have access to our well-equipped labs featuring industry-standard technologies. Our specialist facilities support you in developing practical skills and gaining experience working with industry-standard tools, such as Python frameworks, Visual Studio and AWS.
- We continually monitor and update the course to reflect current and ever-changing computing issues and keep your learning in line with technological advances and innovations.
- We'll help and support you in developing a portfolio of work that demonstrates your skills in readiness to impress potential employers.
- In addition to technical knowledge and expertise, you'll have opportunities to gain experience in teamwork, communication and presentation, problem-solving and time management.
- By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Nearby Manchester is one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, and the Northwest of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline, and heritage.
Entry Requirements
- 48 UCAS points. We accept a full range of qualifications that carry UCAS points, including A-levels, BTECs and T-levels. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points. For most courses, we are also able to consider non-tariffable qualifications.
- Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3. Relevant science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) and computing-related subjects are preferred.
- You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
- We'll be happy to consider your application if you don't meet the standard entry requirements but have non-traditional qualifications and/or relevant experience. You may be asked to undertake additional assessment(s) to determine your suitability for the course.
- You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
Digital technologies are playing an ever-increasing role in all aspects of our lives. Bolton University's BSc (Hons) in Computer Science with foundation year prepares you for a career at the forefront of this continually evolving field. Our graduates find their skills in high demand across industries ranging from finance and retail through healthcare and education to entertainment and energy.
When you successfully complete this degree, you'll possess a solid understanding of the core technologies underpinning computer science and be able to demonstrate your skills in applying computing concepts and methodologies to solve problems. You'll have strong programming skills and valuable knowledge of databases, systems architecture and the areas you selected as options.
You'll also be able to demonstrate vital transferable skills, including teamwork, leadership, communication, time management, commercial awareness, problem-solving and negotiation.
What can I do with this qualification?
Some typical employers include IT consultancies and IT service providers. However, most businesses rely on computers to function effectively, so there are opportunities within telecommunications, aerospace and defence, financial services, retail, healthcare, manufacturing and the public and third sectors.
After completing this degree, you might set up your own web design or IT consultancy business.
A popular postgraduate route is teaching. Alternatively, you might choose to continue your development in computer science via a master's degree or PhD in areas such as networks and security, artificial intelligence or software engineering.
Alternative career options
Graduates can also use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Possible fields include:
- Teaching
- Research and development
- Social media management
- Technical writing
- Product management
- ICT training
- ICT sales
- Digital copywriting
- Telecommunications
- Network engineering
- Cyber analyst
- Machine security professional
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
Bursaries
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2025-26 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
If you wish to apply to multiple institutions or courses for September, then apply through UCAS
You can apply for up to 5 courses through UCAS (at the same or different institutions) for a fee of £27. Alternatively, if you only wish to apply for a single course at a single institution then a reduced applicant's fee of £22.50 is applicable.
The online application form and guidance notes are available on the UCAS website.
You will need the following information to complete your UCAS application form:
Institution Code Name: BOLTN
Institution Code Number: B44
Tel: 0870 1122211
Web: www.ucas.com
International Applicants
The University welcomes applications from international students from all over the world. We try to make the application process as simple and as fast as possible for our international applicants.
This course is not currently accepting international online applications.
Please contact Admissions by telephone on 01204 903903 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Admissions
University of Bolton
Deane Road
Bolton, BL3 5AB
United Kingdom
Tel: 01204 903903
Email: enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Partner Organisation Applicants
Please contact Admissions by telephone on 01204 903903 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Admissions
University of Bolton
Deane Road
Bolton, BL3 5AB
United Kingdom
Tel: 01204 903903
Email: enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Teaching & Assessment
We understand that our students' learning needs and preferred learning styles vary, so we use a range of learning and teaching methods, including online (where appropriate). Our team of highly knowledgeable and enthusiastic lecturers offer face-to-face sessions and one-to-one support. We'll also assign you a dedicated personal tutor to help guide you through your studies.
Lectures introduce the core course content, while practical laboratory sessions offer practical experience and help consolidate your learning. Tutorials allow you to ask any questions to ensure you understand the topics covered in lectures and laboratory sessions. We use case studies and practical scenarios to help you learn to apply academic theory to real-life problems, allowing you to gain insights into computing and IT in commercial environments.
Guest lectures/presentations by a variety of visiting speakers from relevant employment areas offer you the chance to develop your knowledge and understanding further.
Regarding assessment, you can expect a combination of assessed practical demonstrations, reports, coursework, and others. These summative assessments contribute to your final marks and are your chance to show you've met the learning outcomes for the course. Formative assessments, on the other hand, feature throughout your studies. While they don't contribute to your module or final marks, they inform and support your development by helping you build on your strengths, overcome any perceived weaknesses, and find the study strategies that best support your ultimate success.
We take our social, public and ethical responsibilities very seriously. All our student project work conforms with the University's policies on ethics and uses the University's research ethics procedure before work commences.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Fundamentals of Programming
- Logical Analysis and Problem Solving
- Computer Systems
- Foundation Project
- Maths for Computing
- Computer Science Fundamentals
- Computing Infrastructure
- Databases
- Object Oriented Programming
- Data Structures and Algorithms
- Computer Systems Architecture
- Systems Analysis and Design
- Introduction to AI
- Advanced Programming
- Advanced Databases and Big Data
- Web Design and Programming
- Cloud Technologies
- Research and Professional Issues
- Undergraduate Project
- Applied Machine Learning
- Software Quality Management
- Emerging Technologies
- Operations Management
- Natural Language Processing
- Information Security Management
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 0 | Coursework 87% Practical exams 13% |
| Level 1 | Coursework 100% |
| Level 2 | Coursework 100% |
| Level 3 | Coursework 90% Practical exams 10% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 0 | Guided independent study 55% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 45% |
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 66% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 34% |
| Level 2 | Guided independent study 77% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 23% |
| Level 3 | Guided independent study 77% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 23% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
