Degree type: BSc (Hons)
UCAS Code: G400 BSc/Co
Duration: 4 years (full-time)
How to Apply
Why choose this course?
This course provides you with the necessary knowledge and skills to enter a rewarding career in the computing industry regardless of your prior computing and programming experience.
There is a constant industry demand for graduates who can show proven ability to build software systems, develop new business-compatible computer applications and create internet sites that are effective, motivational and contribute to a company’s success. Our Computing degree courses are amongst the best programmes of their kind, and when you graduate you are well equipped to develop the software and network systems which industry is looking for.
Year 1
Professional practice, team-working, legal and social issues; object-oriented programming with gadgets; web page authoring using standards-based XHTML; database fundamentals; computer architecture and operating systems.
Year 2
More object-oriented programming including smart systems and programming practice; developing web sites with web standards and scripting; professional practice including technical writing; choice of web applications or networking.
Year 3
Object-oriented execution and programming principles; software design patterns; programming applications for mobile devices; server-side internet development; software project management; group project.
Year 4
Enterprise and XML web technologies; software applications in languages & compilers; decision support systems; research methods; individual project.
The aim of the degree is to provide you with the knowledge and skills relevant to a career as a professional software developer who can work effectively with current and future product development technologies. You will become competent in cutting-edge desktop & Internet software development methods and apply these to the solution of real-world problems.
The course emphasises an object-oriented approach to software design & development, reflecting the accepted standard used in commercial software production. This approach will be applied to creating applications running on the desktop with appropriate windows-based graphical user interfaces and to create mobile, client & server-side Internet applications.
How you learn
You will spend between 12 and 16 hours per week in lectures, tutorials and computing lab-based practical activities. Lectures are used to present the key concepts, theories and techniques throughout the course. Tutorials and lab-based activities increase your understanding of the subject and allow you to develop your competence and confidence in technological and theoretical work. During the course you will also participate in team-based activities including a group project in year 3 where you will specify, plan and implement a software product.
How you are assessed
In the first two years, all modules will be assessed by coursework only. In year 3 and 4, there is a mixture of coursework, project, class test and closed-book examinations; each module being assessed by the most appropriate assessment mode for the topic being studied. In year 4, 50% of your final Honours grade will be assessed by the research, planning, development, documentation and presentation activities undertaken in an individual project.
Higher BBCC; A Level CCD; ILC (H) BBBCC; UCAS Tariff 216-220 points*
*See UCAS Tariff Guidance below
Essential subjects: None
Advanced entry (year 2)
Advanced Higher or A Level: ABB (to include grade A in Computing)
Advanced entry (year 3)
HND in Computing (Software Development). You will be required to have studied Java or C#. If you are currently at college, please also refer to our Coming from college page.
UCAS Tariff Guidance
Although there is no limit to the number of points that you can accumulate, for entry to Abertay you must have qualifications at an appropriate level (SCQF 6/NQF 3); you cannot count the same or similar qualifications twice; Standard Grades, Intermediate 2s, GCSEs and key/core skills cannot be counted; and D grades at SQA Higher and Advanced Higher are not counted.
Applicants who have taken either SQA Highers or A Levels must offer at least three Highers or two A Levels for degree entry (or two Highers or one A Level for DipHE entry). If you have studied a subject at two different levels, the most advanced will be taken into consideration; e.g. if you studied both Higher Biology and Advanced Higher Biology, then only the Advanced Higher will be counted.
Overseas/EU
All applicants are required to provide certified proof of competence in English Language and the University's minimum requirements are listed here
Mature
Applications from mature students are assessed on the same criteria used for school leavers, e.g. SQA Highers or GCE A Levels, where relevant school leaving qualifications exist. For those without standard entry qualifications, consideration is given to experience gained as well as professional qualifications and other forms of learning that could provide evidence of ability to benefit from a particular course.
The successful completion of approved access courses (such as those offered by Dundee College in association with the universities of Abertay, Dundee and St Andrews) provides significant evidence of ability to benefit from study at Abertay.
For further advice please use our Ask a Question section.
Your future
Our graduates work in a range of industries and organisations from large multinationals like BT, Logica, NCR and Nokia to small local companies. They are employed for example as software developers, web designers, IT consultants and systems designers. This wide range shows the flexibility of our graduates in this ever-changing field.
Professional accreditation
The course is accredited by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, as meeting the educational requirement for CITP and partially meeting the educational requirement for CEng registration subject to Committee approval in 2010.
| Fee Category | September 2012 Fees |
Scholarships & Bursaries |
| Scottish and other EU students |
The 2012 fee will be announced Apply to the Student Awards Agency |
Other forms of support |
| English, Welsh and Northern Irish students |
£7000 per year (max. amount payable You can apply for financial assistance, |
Bursaries & Scholarships |
| Overseas (non EU) students |
£9975 per year. Fees may be subject to annual increase. |
Overseas Scholarships |
Fees shown are payable annually, and may be subject to increase each year.
