Key information
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Delivery type
- Full Time
- Degree qualification
- BSc (Hons)
- Mode of delivery
- On-Campus
- Duration
- 4 years
- Location
- Dubai
- Start date
- September, January
Our four year BSc Computer Science Honours degree is oriented to constructing robust and useable systems. We aim to teach people not just how to deploy cutting edge tools and techniques, but how to build the next generation of software tools that other system constructors will use. This programme aims to give a well integrated balance of theoretical underpinnings and practical experience, strongly informed by the research expertise of our academic staff.
Your student experience
CITP
Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.
CEng
Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for a Chartered Engineer.
Euro-Inf
This programme is Euro-Inf accredited. The accreditation is proof that our programme is of high quality and meets high international academic and professional standards. The Euro-Inf accreditation is recognised by employers and has Europe-wide international recognition.
This programme is accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the UAE and the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) in the United Kingdom. All graduates receive a British degree that is accredited by Royal Charter in the UK.
Go Global
With Go Global, Heriot-Watt's global student programme, you can carry your studies to new places and experience new cultures, expanding your horizons on the way. You'll discover what it means to be a true global citizen and emerge prepared for wherever your career journey will take you.
Inter-Campus Transfer: United Kingdom
Course content
September Intake - Dubai
Year 1
We use theory and practice to help you to develop basic programming skills and learn how to create mobile apps. Other courses on basic computing, mathematical and study skills cover topics including web design and databases.
Mandatory September
- Logic and Proof
- Introduction to Interaction Design
- Praxis
- Software Development 1
Mandatory January
- Discrete Mathematics
- Introduction to Computer Systems
- Software Development 2
- Web Design and Databases
Year 2
Students continue with courses in Interaction Design, Web Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms, Software Design, Database Management Systems and Programming Languages.
Mandatory September
- User-Centred Experimental Design
- Programming Languages
- Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms
- Web Programming
Mandatory January
- Data Structures and Algorithms
- Database Management Systems
- Hardware-Software Interface
- Introduction to Software Engineering
Year 3
In third year students study Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Intelligent Agents, Operating Systems, Professional Development and Language Processors as well as more formal aspects of computing. In addition, students work on a group programming project.
Mandatory September
- Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Agents
- Data Communications and Networking
- Foundations 1
- Software Engineering
Mandatory January
- Foundations 2
- Language Processors
- Operating Systems & Concurrency
- Professional Development
Year 4
Students work on a major individual project and also carry out studies in advanced topics such as Big Data Management, Industrial Programming, Mobile Communications and Programming, Computer Games Programming and Network Applications.
Mandatory September
- Research Methods & Requirements Engineering
Optional September
- Biologically Inspired Computation
- Computer Network Security
- Data Mining and Machine Learning
- Computer Graphics
- Information Systems Methodologies
- Intelligent Robotics
- Rigorous Methods for Software Engineering
- Statistical Modelling and Analysis
- Industrial Programming
Mandatory January
- Design & Implementation
- Project Testing and Presentation
Optional January
- Applied Text Analytics
- Advanced Human Computer Interaction
- Advanced Network Security
- Big Data Management
- Data Visualisation and Analytics
- e-Commerce Technology
- Digital Forensics
- Games Programming
January Intake - Dubai
Year 1
We use theory and practice to help you to develop basic programming skills and learn how to create mobile apps. Other courses on basic computing, mathematical and study skills cover topics including web design and databases.
Mandatory January
- Discrete Mathematics
- Software Development 1
- Introduction to Computer Systems
- Web Design and Databases
Mandatory May
- Logic and Proof
- Software Development 2
- Introduction to Interaction Design
- Praxis
Year 2
Students continue with courses in Interaction Design, Web Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms, Software Design, Database Management Systems and Programming Languages.
Mandatory September
- User-Centred Experimental Design
- Programming Languages
- Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms
- Web Programming
Mandatory January
- Data Structures and Algorithms
- Introduction to Software Engineering
- Database Management Systems
- Hardware-Software Interface
Year 3
In third year students study Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Intelligent Agents, Operating Systems, Professional Development and Language Processors as well as more formal aspects of computing. In addition, students work on a group programming project.
Mandatory September
- Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Agents
- Software Engineering
- Data Communications and Networking
- Foundations 1
Mandatory January
- Foundations 2
- Professional Development
- Language Processors
- Operating Systems & Concurrency
Year 4
Students work on a major individual project and also carry out studies in advanced topics such as Big Data Management, Industrial Programming, Mobile Communications and Programming, Computer Games Programming and Network Applications.
Mandatory September
- Research Methods & Requirements Engineering
Optional September
- Biologically Inspired Computation
- Computer Graphics
- Computer Network Security
- Rigorous Methods for Software Engineering
- Data Mining and Machine Learning
- Information Systems Methodologies
- Intelligent Robotics
- Statistical Modelling and Analysis
- Industrial Programming
Mandatory January
- Design & Implementation
- Project Testing and Presentation
Optional January
- Data Visualisation and Analytics
- Applied Text Analytics
- Advanced Human Computer Interaction
- Advanced Network Security
- Big Data Management
- Games Programming
- e-Commerce Technology
- Digital Forensics
The programme has a diverse list of offerings. It covers almost everything a young naïve programmer would want to discover, from theoretical topics to real-world applications.
Teaching staff
Fees and funding
AED 79,100 per year
- All tuition fees inclusive of VAT.
Entry requirements
We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.
Year 1
For entry into Year 1 September or January intake, our entry criteria are listed below. Please note however, that the final decision remains at the discretion of the course director after evaluating scores of individual relevant subjects.
Students who are eligible to be admitted directly into second year can choose to join the first year, where available.
- GCE A-Level - CCC (or AABB at AS-Level)
- CBSE/Other Indian Boards - 65%.
- American High School Diploma/SABIS - 70% + SAT I – 1000 (500 English and 500 Math)
- Tawjihiyya - 80% or Elite/Advance - 75%
- International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 24 points (3 HL – including Maths, and 3 SL)
- BTEC Level 3 Ext Diploma - MMM
- FBISE grade 12 or equivalent - 70%
- Russian/Kazakhstan (Attestat) - Grades of 5 in every subject + IELTS 6.0
- French Baccalaureate - 13/20 + IELTS 6.0
- Lebanese Baccalaureate - 80% or 13/20 + IELTS 6.0
- Foundation year - Successful completion of Heriot-Watt University Degree Entry Programme (Engineering) with a CCCC.
- Compulsory subjects to include English and Mathematics.
To find out more about the specific entry requirements for your country, please refer to our International Entry Requirements.
To find out about the entry requirements for this programme, please send an email to dubaienquiries@hw.ac.uk
Year 2
For entry into Year 2 September intake, our entry criteria are listed below. Please note however, that the final decision remains at the discretion of the course director after evaluating scores of individual relevant subjects.
Students who are eligible to be admitted directly into second year can choose to join the first year, where available.
- GCE A-Levels - BBC
- International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 27 points (3 HL – including Maths and Computer Science, and 3 SL)
- CBSE/Other Indian Boards - Overall 85%
- American High School/SABIS - 70% + 3 AP at grade 4 (Including Maths and Computer Science) or Minimum 3 SAT Subjects (SAT II) 500 each, Including Maths and Computer Science.
- Higher National Diploma (HND) - PPP
- BTEC Level 3 Ext Diploma - DDD
- FBISE Grade 12 or equivalent - 85%
- Transfer students from other universities may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Compulsory subjects to include Computer Science, Mathematics and English.
To find out more about the specific entry requirements for your country, please refer to our International Entry Requirements.
To find out about the entry requirements for this programme, please send an email to dubaienquiries@hw.ac.uk
English language requirements
As our degrees are taught and assessed in English, applicants must be able to prove their level of English language ability.
The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5.
Please see our detailed English language requirements.
Why Heriot-Watt
As the first British university to set up a campus in Dubai in 2005, we have established ourselves as a pioneer in the higher education market in the UAE. The three consecutive five-star ratings by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is a testament to our reputation for world-class teaching.
The futuristic Dubai campus is designed to offer interactive and collaborative learning experiences with innovative classroom styles fostering group work and engagement like Collaborative lecture theatres, Digitally Classrooms and Seminar rooms. The campus also has dedicated cutting-edge laboratories and workshops that span various engineering disciplines along with Psychology, IT, Photography, Design and Architecture.
Our practical, leading-edge research combined with strong links to business and industry, have made our graduates highly employable and sought after by the best organisations worldwide, with over 90% in graduate-level jobs or further study within six months of graduation. On top of that, we have beautiful campuses, across the globe, so you'll get a truly international education through our Go Global programme.
Employability
Prospects in industry, commerce and the public sector are excellent. The growth in network services on computers in the office and home, and on mobile handheld devices, has increased the demand for experts who can design, implement and manage systems combining rich computational, communication and multimedia facilities for non-specialist users.
Student life
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