Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £15,860 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
Employability
92% of our graduates are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating (2019/20 Graduate Outcomes Survey).
Course summary
- Gain the skills needed to write software for a diverse range of industries
- Develop complex software and systems using analytical and mathematical approaches
- Understand the fundamental principles behind the software that powers our world
You’ll develop a deep understanding of practical computation, including key concepts in the machine learning domain. You'll become a programmer who understands and can build upon the fundamental principles behind the software that underpins modern society across a variety of platforms and domains using different programming languages.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our undergraduate open days. Book now for your place.
Student View
Watch student James Kirk talk about what it’s like to study on this course.
How you learn
Your lecturer’s view
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
During your first year you will be introduced to programming and the principles of mathematics before moving on to algorithm design and software engineering. You will be assigned an academic member of staff as an academic adviser who will give you guidance and support on academic issues.
One of the main themes of this course is problem solving and you’ll achieve this fundamental skill by working on projects in the software industry using industry-standard tools and techniques. This will give you an opportunity to work with others in small teams, helping to prepare you for the world of work after you graduate.
During your second and final year you’ll have the opportunity to choose elective modules, allowing you to tailor the degree to suit your interests.
During your final year, you’ll then complete a project in an area of computer science of your choice, allowing you to follow an area of interest and build skills relevant for your future career.
The combination of learning methods across the course allows you to develop a range of skills through problem-solving activities, applied learning and teamwork, providing a practical approach to learning and encouraging self-development.
You learn through
- lectures
- practical lab sessions and tutorials
- regular feedback
- teamwork and group-based learning
- applied learning
- independent study
You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate level employment. This includes:
- access to our student support triangle to help with your personal, academic and career development
- access to our Skills Centre with one to ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments
- Industry-specific employability activities such as live projects, learning in simulated environments and networking opportunities
Course leaders and tutors
Applied learning
Work placements
You’ll have the opportunity to complete a year-long work placement between your second and third year. A placement is widely recognised as the gold standard opportunity to gain personal and professional development through real-world experience.
You will be encouraged to take up this opportunity, as it will benefit your long-term career prospects and salary level, as well as your academic achievements and degree classification. Your course will prepare you to succeed in your placement and you will be supported throughout it.
Your placement will allow you to apply the knowledge and skills gained on your course, in areas such as web development, mobile applications, backend software and desktop solutions.
Students from this course have worked with companies such as
- 3Squared
- CSE Servelec
- IBM
- Intel
- SN Systems
Your placement year will allow you to gain an Applied Professional Diploma in addition to your degree which will enhance your graduate profile and give you the edge with future employers.
You’ll also be supported to take advantage of work experience opportunities throughout your course, through access to a range of support activities, resources, and employer events from your Employability Team. This will further enhance your employability skillset, confidence, and opportunity-awareness to help you succeed in your career after graduating.
Live projects
In your first and second years you’ll work in a group on a real client-based project. You’ll analyse their requirements, then design, implement and test a prototype which you will present to your client. This will allow you to experience the types of demands faced by commercial software developers and increase your confidence while you’re applying for your work placements.
Students have worked on live projects with industrial collaborators such as Next, XLN, Elanco and Elaros (Digital Health). These projects have involved the use of augmented reality and 3D technologies, machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies, cloud services and mobile development. Students have often found placements as a result of being recognised for the excellent work they have done for these live projects with the host company.
Networking opportunities
Throughout the course there’ll be numerous opportunities for you to engage with career management, career fairs and workshops, employer presentations, visits, and professional advisers.
Student's success story
George, a Computer Science student, has spent his placement at CENTRIC, allowing him to work with South Yorkshire Police and Europol. Read more
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in
- software development
- web-based applications
- mobile app development
- systems and IT support
- project management
- IT consultancy
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for companies such as
- 3Squared
- Capita
- Plusnet
- Raspberry Pi Foundation
- SkyBet
Accreditation
This course is accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer/Chartered Scientist.
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour | Keeping safe on Campus
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
On this course, you will work with
- modern software development environments
- industry-standard software and tools
- state-of-the-art hardware
- IoT and SBC devices
We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students.
Learn more about your department
Computing facilities tour
Take a look around the facilities and equipment in the Department of Computing at Sheffield Hallam University.
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 112
This must include at least 64 points from two A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example:
- BBC at A Level.
- DMM in BTEC Extended Diploma.
- A combination of qualifications, which may include AS Levels, EPQ and general studies
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
- English Language at grade C or 4
- Maths at grade B or 5
• Access - an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 18 Level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
We welcome applications from people of any age. We may be flexible in our normal offer if you can show a commitment to succeed and have the relevant skills and experience. This must show that you will benefit from and finish the course successfully.
Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Databases And The Web | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Fundamentals Of Mathematics And Computer Architectures | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Programming For Computer Science | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Software Projects | Credits: 60 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 2
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Advanced Programming | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Algorithms And Data Structures | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Professional Software Projects | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning 1 | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Game Development | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Handling Data In The Cloud | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Mobile Applications Development | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 3
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Module: Placement Year | Credits: - |
Final year
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Development Project | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework Practical |
| Module: Software Architecture And Design | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning 2 | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Contemporary Software Engineering | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Functional Programming | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Machine Learning Algorithms And Heuristics | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Robotics | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Secure Software Engineering | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2023/24 is £9,250 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and are therefore subject to changes in government policy. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
† If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2023/24 is £15,860 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for Computing courses (PDF, 238.9KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
