General entry requirements

A level:

• A*A*A to include A in Mathematics. Offers normally exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking at A level.

IB:

• 40 with 6, 6, 6 in three Higher Level subjects to include 6 in Higher Level Mathematics ('Analysis and Approaches' only)

BTEC:

• We welcome applications from students taking BTECs alongside A level Mathematics. Applications are considered on an individual basis and subjects with overlapping curricula will only be counted once.

Additional requirements:

You will also need to meet our English Language requirements.

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International Students

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

Find out more about international entry requirements.

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Contextual data and differential offers

Warwick may make differential offers to students in a number of circumstances. These include students participating in the Realising Opportunities programme, or who meet two of the contextual data criteria. Differential offers will be one or two grades below Warwick’s standard offer (to a minimum of BBB).

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Warwick International Foundation Programme (IFP)

All students who successfully complete the Warwick IFP and apply to Warwick through UCAS will receive a guaranteed conditional offer for a related undergraduate programme (selected courses only).

Find out more about standard offers and conditions for the IFP.

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Taking a gap year

Applications for deferred entry welcomed.

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Interviews

We do not typically interview applicants. Offers are made based on your UCAS form which includes predicted and actual grades, your personal statement and school reference.

Year One

Programming for Computer Scientists

On this module, whatever your starting point, you will begin your professional understanding of computer programming through problem-solving, and fundamental structured and object-oriented programming. You will learn the Java programming language, through practical work centred on the Warwick Robot Maze environment, which will take you from specification to implementation and testing. Through practical work in object-oriented concepts such as classes, encapsulation, arrays and inheritance, you will end the course knowing how to write programs in Java, and, through your ability to analyse errors and testing procedures, be able to produce well-designed and well-encapsulated and abstracted code.

Design of Information Structures

Following on from Programming for Computer Scientists, on the fundamentals of programming, this module will teach you all about data structures and how to program them. We will look at how we can represent data structures efficiently and how we can apply formal reasoning to them. You will also study algorithms that use data structures. Successful completion will see you able to understand the structures and concepts underpinning object-oriented programming, and able to write programs that operate on large data sets.

Mathematics for Computer Scientists I

A sound knowledge of mathematical reasoning is an essential skill for computer scientists, so on this module you will be provided with sufficient professional knowledge that will enable you to understand terminology and the role of formal definitions, and mathematical functions in problem-solving. You will become familiar with day-to-day mathematical operations, including probability (Bayes’ theorem, standard deviation and variance), propositional and predicate logic (Boolean operators, truth values and various laws of logic), elementary set theory and graph theory (including Eulerian and Hamiltonian graphs), relations, and the axiomatic method.

Mathematics for Computer Scientists II

On this module, you will gain sufficient mathematical knowledge to understand common mathematical operations and functions in computer science. By the end of the module, you will be expected to be able to carry out mathematical proofs, analyse vector spaces and use linear equations, and to perform operations of the differential and integral calculus with confidence and precision. You will also learn the basics of probabilistic analysis and apply the methods in practical examples. Specific topics you will cover include linear and matrix algebra, sequences and series, calculus, and abstract algebra.

Computer Organisation and Architecture

You will gain a fundamental understanding of the functional components of a computer system, and how they are organised. You will focus on hardware and how it performs during the execution of software operations. You will also develop practical skills in the use and construction of computer components, and their interface with microprocessors. By the end of the module, you will be expected to understand the operation and organisation of electronic logic elements, the architecture of simple microprocessors, input/output mechanisms, memory systems and hierarchies, and digital circuits and their interface with microprocessors.

Professional Skills

In your first term, you will gain a basic understanding of operating systems, together with a working knowledge of the computing systems and their associated tools and applications that will be used within the Department of Computer Science. With these foundations in place, you will then develop your communication skills, both in writing and orally, with due attention paid to appropriate academic and technical language. You will complete the course studying ethics and behaviour, looking at the place of computers in society and the legal aspects of computing.

Year Two

Operating Systems and Computer Networks

On this module, you will spend equal time studying the fundamental concepts of modern-day operating systems and computer networks respectively. With a practical bent, this will mean analysing the generic requirements, structure, operation and administration of a modern operating system. Whilst analysing, designing and writing programs in the light of network requirements and protocols; such as system interfaces, concurrency, deadlock detection and recovery, and security threats. Turning to networks, you will learn the relevant factors relating to LANs and WANs and wireless networks, client-server systems, routing algorithms, socket programming, and network management relating to performance, security and monitoring.

Database Systems

How does the theory of relational algebra serve as a framework for the efficient organisation and retrieval of large amounts of data? During this module, you will learn to understand standard notations (such as SQL) which implements relational algebra, and gain practical experience of database notations that are widely used in the industry. Successful completion will see you equipped to create appropriate, efficient database designs for a range of simple applications and to translate informal queries into formal notation. You will have learned to identify and express relative integrity constraints for particular database designs, and have gained the ability to identify control measures for some common security threats.

Formal Languages

You will gain a fundamental understanding of formal languages and how the Chomsky hierarchy classifies them. You’ll study techniques for exploring the regularity of languages using closure properties and pumping lemmas, whilst also considering automata models, alongside the notion of computability. These concepts are central to computer science, and completion will see you able to specify between, and translate, various forms of formal language descriptions. You’ll learn methods of lexical analysis and parsing, and be able to argue whether a formal language is regular or context free. The teachings will discuss Turing machines and philosophical concepts such as decidability, reducibility and the halting problem.

Algorithms

Data structures and algorithms are fundamental to programming and to understanding computation. On this module, you will be using sophisticated tools to apply algorithmic techniques to computational problems. By the close of the course, you’ll have studied a variety of data structures and will be using them for the design and implementation of algorithms, including testing and proofing, and analysing their efficiency. This is a practical course, so expect to be working on real-life problems using elementary graph, greedy, and divide-and-conquer algorithms, as well as gaining knowledge on dynamic programming and network flows.

Software Engineering

Centred on teamwork, you will concentrate on applying software engineering principles to develop a significant software system with your peers from feasibility studies through modelling, design, implementation, evaluation, maintenance and evolution. You’ll focus on design quality, human–computer interaction, technical evaluation, teamwork and project management. With a deeper appreciation of the stages of the software life-cycle, you’ll gain skills to design object-oriented software using formal modelling and notation. You will be taught the principles of graphical user interface and user-centred design, and be able to evaluate projects in the light of factors ranging from technical accomplishment and project management, to communication and successful teamwork.

Logic and Verification

The theory and practice relating to the reliability of systems forms a vital part of computer science. So, from this module, you’ll develop your understanding of mathematical logic, and learn to apply it when specifying and verifying computing systems. Studying algorithms and proof calculi for verification, as well as associated techniques, such as propositional and predicate logic. You will be able to comprehend and construct proofs, understand and compare the semantics of a variety of logics, and understand basic algorithms, along with formal tools for verification.

Year Three

Project Management for Computer Scientists

On this module, you will gain the knowledge required to manage technical projects, using well-established project management techniques. You will have practical opportunities to apply methods such as defining measurable objectives, identifying and engaging stakeholders, scheduling, budgeting, resource allocation, risk assessment and mitigation, and post-project evaluation and monitoring. By the end of the module, you can expect to appreciate the benefits of effective project management, understand the risks and budgetary and resource constraints. Also, you will have the ability to evaluate a project against the measurable success criteria you have devised yourself.

Individual Project

On this project-based module you will gain experience in designing, developing and implementing a significant project, under supervision. From submission of the outline and detailed specification, you will produce regular progress reports throughout, before presenting your final results. This is an excellent opportunity to develop important employability skills, including independent learning, self-discipline, organisation and time management.

Year Four

Group Project

This module offers you involvement in a team project, such as might be expected of you in a working environment, with experience in demanding management talent, problem-solving skills and individual initiative. You will devise a project in response to the needs of a ‘customer’, normally an industrial partner, and will be closely involved in the specification and running of the project. The project themes offer you scope for interdisciplinary and collaborative activities, and require a mature knowledge of computer science and its applications. On successful completion of your group project, you will have had valuable experience of teamwork, improved interpersonal and communication skills, awareness of the various issues arising from the work required to complete a significant project, and improved skills of written communication through the co-authoring of a substantial report.

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Examples of optional modules/options for current students:

• Functional Programming
• Visualisation
• Computer Security
• Mathematical Programming 1
• Artificial Intelligence
• Cyber Security

Explore our full range of modules and read more about them.

Tuition fees

Find out more about fees and funding.

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Additional course costs

There may be costs associated with other items or services such as academic texts, course notes, and trips associated with your course. Students who choose to complete a work placement or study abroad will pay reduced tuition fees for their third year.

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Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship 2021

We believe there should be no barrier to talent. That's why we are committed to offering a scholarship that makes it easier for gifted, ambitious international learners to pursue their academic interests at one of the UK's most prestigious universities. This new scheme will offer international fee-paying students 250 tuition fee discounts ranging from full fees to awards of £13,000 to £2,000 for the full duration of your Undergraduate degree course.

Find out more about the Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship 2021

Your career

Graduates from the Department of Computer Science in the past have entered careers in

Automobiles and Aviation, including employers such as:

• British Airways
• Ford Motor Company
• Jaguar Land Rover

Computer Security, including employers such as:

• BAE
• GCHQ

Computer Systems, including employers such as:

• ARM
• Citrix
• IBM

Consulting, including employers such as:

• Accenture
• Deloitte
• EY
• KPMG

Consumer goods, including employers such as:

• M&S
• Tesco
• Unilever

Finance, including employers such as:

• Barclays
• Bloomberg
• Goldman Sachs
• JPMorgan
• Morgan Stanley

Research, including employers such as:

• CERN
• Mintel
• The University of Warwick

Software Development, including employers such as:

• Apple
• Amazon
• D.E.Shaw
• Microsoft
• Google
• Sega

They have pursued roles such as:

• Software engineer
• Systems analyst
• Investment analyst
• Web designer/developer
• Business analyst
• Actuary
• Economist and statistician
• Computer science researcher
• University academic
• Teacher
• Entrepreneur
• Start-up owner

Helping you find the right career

Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant to support you. They offer impartial advice and guidance, together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

• Computing Your Career
• Technology in Professional Services
• Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
• Working in the Computer Games industry
• Computer Science Alumni Event

Find out more about careers support at Warwick.