Key information
Enjoy the unique opportunity to explore new technology with our student equipment fund.
- UCAS code
- G400
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Delivery type
- Full Time
- Degree qualification
- BSc (Hons)
- Mode of delivery
- On-Campus
- Duration
- 4 years
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Start date
- September
Our prestigious programme, the accredited BSc (Hons) Computer Science, is intricately designed with insights from industry needs. It provides students with a comprehensive foundation in the core principles of Computer Science while also nurturing their professional skills in problem-solving and project work. This programme is aimed at empowering students to craft robust systems and pioneer innovative technologies essential for everyday use.
As one of the first universities in the UK to offer undergraduate degree programmes in computing, we provide outstanding education in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, software engineering and Computer Systems.
Study abroad, placement year and more
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You can go on an Inter-Campus Transfer to study Computer Science abroad at our Dubai campus for one semester or more through Go Global
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We have exchange agreements with the Australian National University in Canberra.
The National Robotarium
The National Robotarium is Located on Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh campus, in partnership with The University of Edinburgh, the National Robotarium creates innovative solutions to global challenges, working directly with industry to test and develop robotic, AI and automated technologies and rapidly move pioneering research from lab to market.
The National Robotarium fosters the teaching and development of the next generation of roboticists, producing highly-skilled graduates who are trained to conduct world-leading research with a market focus, and developing programmes to equip the current and future workforce with robotics, data and programming skills.
Student equipment fund
Our student equipment fund is an initiative to support students in purchasing technology (either in hardware, data or software) to explore the usage of and code development for new platforms, as part of a taught course or as a personal project. Recent purchases include Parrot AR.Drone 2.0s, Oculus Rifts and Raspberry Pi 2s.
Your student experience
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Heriot-Watt’s GRID (Global Research, Innovation and Discovery) is a ground-breaking facility to advance global research, innovation and discovery. GRID provides an innovative teaching and learning environment for our computing students. It is also home to our groundbreaking VR Labs and Games Design Studio.
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Enjoy research-led teaching by our enthusiastic staff
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Our student equipment fund is an initiative to support students in purchasing technology (either in hardware, data or software) to explore the usage of and code development for new platforms, as part of a taught course or as a personal project. Recent purchases include Parrot AR.Drone 2.0s, Oculus Rifts and Raspberry Pi 2s.
Go Global
There are currently no Go Global opportunities for this particular programme. However, other Go Global opportunities may be available. Please contact studywithus@hw.ac.uk for more information.
Course content
September Intake - Edinburgh
Year 1
You will cover programming, an introduction to computer systems, databases and discrete mathematics.
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
You will continue with software design - both high-level architectural issues as well as algorithms and data structures. Topics from databases, internet, communications and mobility, mathematics and programming language design will also be covered.
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
You will study topics such as artificial intelligence, graphics, operating systems as well as more formal aspects of computing. You will also undertake a group 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
You will study advanced topics as well as undertaking a major individual project.
More in-depth information on the content of the courses listed above, how they are assessed and the learning outcomes can be accessed via our current student portal.
Mandatory September
- Research Methods & Requirements Engineering
Optional September
- Biologically Inspired Computation
- Computer Network Security
- Data Mining and Machine Learning
- Computer Graphics
- Computer-aided Verification
- Information Systems Methodologies
- Intelligent Robotics
- Rigorous Methods for Software Engineering
- Statistical Modelling and Analysis
- Natural Language Processing
Mandatory January
- Design & Implementation
- Project Testing and Presentation
Optional January
- Advanced Human Computer Interaction
- Advanced Network Security
- Big Data Management
- Conversational Agents and Spoken Language Processing
- Distributed and Parallel Technologies
- Data Visualisation and Analytics
- e-Commerce Technology
- Games Programming
- Digital Forensics
Programme Video
The Heriot-Watt experience
Fees and funding
| Status | Fee |
|---|---|
| Scotland | Paid by SAAS |
| England / Wales / N Ireland / Rep of Ireland | £9,535 |
| International | £25,008 |
- Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.
- International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above).
Scholarships and bursaries
Bursaries for students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales
In addition to government loans and grants towards the costs of fees and living costs, we are offering generous financial support to attract and support eligible undergraduate students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:
- Heriot-Watt University Bursary (up to £3,100 per year)
Entry requirements
We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.
Year 1
Standard entry requirements
- Highers ABBB (over two sittings). Must include Maths achieved at B.
- A-Levels BBC- ABB. Must include Maths achieved at B.
- International Baccalaureate 28 points. Must include Maths achieved at Higher Level 5.
- BTEC Extended Diploma DDM. Must be in a relevant subject and contain sufficient Maths.
- HNC B in graded unit. Must be in a relevant subject and contain sufficient Maths at SCQF Level 6.
- HND BB in graded units. Must be in a relevant subject and contain sufficient Maths at SCQF Level 6.
Please check that you meet our University-wide National 5/GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths requirements.
Minimum entry requirements *
- Highers BBBC (over two sittings). Must include Maths achieved at B.
- A-Levels BCC. Must include Maths achieved at B.
- International Baccalaureate 28 points. Must include Maths achieved at Higher Level 5.
- BTEC Extended Diploma DDM. Must be in a relevant subject and contain sufficient Maths.
- HNC B in graded unit. Must be in a relevant subject and contain sufficient Maths at SCQF Level 6.
- HND BB in graded units. Must be in a relevant subject and contain sufficient Maths at SCQF Level 6.
* Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for some Scottish and Rest of UK status students depending on their circumstances. Our minimum requirements will apply if you:
- live in an area within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation lowest 20% (SIMD20) or POLAR4 Quintile 1 regions (RUK)
- or are care experienced.
We can also make exceptions for some Scottish students with grades above minimum but below standard. Read more about our Minimum and standard entry requirements.
Year 2
- Advanced Highers BBB including Maths and Computer Science, plus Higher ABBB.
- A-Levels ABB. Must include Maths and either Computer Science or Software Systems Development.
- International Baccalaureate 30 points. Must include Maths and Computer Science at Higher Level 6.
- BTEC Extended Diploma DDM. Must be in relevant subject, including sufficient Maths and Computing.
- HNC A in graded unit with 120 SCQF credit points. HNC must include Maths and Computing at SCQF Level 6 , and include Java.
- HND AB / BA. Must include Maths and Computing at SCQF Level 6, and include Java.
- Global College: Successful completion of our Technology with Accelerator Programme
Year 3
Entry to Year 3 is only available via our associate student partnership college route.
Additional information
- For all years, applications are welcomed from holders of non-school qualifications, mature candidates and overseas students.
- If you do not see your qualifications here please contact us at studywithus@hw.ac.uk
- For applicants studying HNC, HND or BTEC qualifications, when submitting your application please ensure you list in full all the units you are currently studying, as specific units (e.g. in Maths) may be required.
- Not studying mathematics or worried about meeting the mathematics requirement? Consider applying for BSc Computer Systems. In Year 1 of this degree it is possible to take two optional mathematics courses. Then, subject to a good performance, a course transfer to BSc Computer Science for Year 2 onwards can be requested.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your 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.
If you do not have IELTS 6.0, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies.
Please see our detailed English language requirements.
Why Heriot-Watt
We're the top university in Scotland for graduate outcomes which means that more of our graduates are employed or in postgraduate education than any other institution in the country and we ranked 5th in the UK.
We're also rated number one in the UK for CEO or MD roles, meaning more of our graduates go on to become CEOs or MDs than any other university in the whole of the UK. On top of that, we have beautiful campuses, across the globe, so you'll get a truly international education. Our Edinburgh Campus is home to Oriam, Scotland's National Sports Performance Centre combined with plenty of wellbeing resources, prioritising fitness and mental health for all students. Our Global Research Institutes look at solving real world issues such as climate change and saving our oceans as well as working on the next medical technological breakthrough and the future of AI and robots.
Employability
Work and study
Salary
Potential career paths
- Developer
- Data Scientist
- Software Engineer
- Cyber Security Analyst
- Games Developer
- App Developer
- Machine Learning Engineer
- Robotics Engineer
- UX/UI Designer
Student life
Explore facilities, and chat to staff and students
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