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Computing with Foundation Year at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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Birkbeck, University of London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Course summary

Our BSc Computing will give you the knowledge and skills to develop your career in computing and software systems development. You will learn the theory and practice of software and how to succeed in a rapidly changing information technology environment. This course offers a balance between learning current skills, which are essential in today's marketplace, and a deep understanding of the fundamentals, which provide a solid basis for long-lasting professional success. Why choose this course?

  • This course will provide you with hands-on experience with industry-standard tools and techniques throughout the entire software development lifecycle.
  • In addition, you will also work on real-world problems and develop an extensive final-year project allied to the software industry. This project will not only solidify your technical skills but will help you develop essential transferable skills.
  • Our world-class research activity informs our teaching and interactions with business, public and third-sector organisations. Our teaching is designed to support students juggling study with work and other commitments.
  • This course is accredited by the British Computer Society, the professional body for computing in the UK, which supports IT professionals and promotes the ethical and responsible use of technology.
What you will learn You will study core topics like programming, algorithms, databases, information security and data structures. These foundational skills will equip you to solve complex problems, design software systems and analyse data, preparing you for a wide range of careers in technology and beyond. How you will learn Teaching may include formal lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical classes, while the Foundation Year is composed of group work, individual tutorial work and practical lab work. Many computing modules include laboratory-based exercises. All lectures are recorded and materials are made available online. For the majority of the programming modules we adopt a 'flipped classroom' approach, where you watch short videos and perform appropriate reading before the class, making this an active rather than passive learning experience. Foundation Year If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. Highlights
  • Our world-class research activity informs our teaching, and we provide a stimulating teaching and research environment for both part-time and full-time students.
  • Birkbeck was ranked in the top 25 universities in the UK for its Computer Science and Informatics research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
  • Birkbeck established one of the first computing departments in the UK in 1957 and was a pioneer in database technologies, e-commerce and data science studies.
  • We have modern computing laboratories, with a total of 133 workstations. Our wide range of software runs on a number of platforms including Unix, Windows and Linux. The local area network is a switched gigabit/10gigabit ethernet. Our computers are connected to the SuperJANET academic network.
Careers and employability Our BSc Computing opens doors to a wide range of exciting careers in the tech industry, including:
  • software developer
  • data analyst
  • database developer
  • cyber security analyst
  • web developer
  • games developer
  • IT consultant.
We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

A combination of exams, coursework (test, essay, practical task, presentation) and project work.

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
I102
Institution code:
B24
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
50%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
80%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
International £18060 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Computing with Foundation Year at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS