Courses and structure

The programme has two core components.

The first core component equips you with a range of key technical skills in programming for audio and visual media. These skills are delivered at the same level as traditional courses in computing, but form a specifically audiovisual perspective, giving you the tools you need to develop your ideas.

The second core component gives you the freedom to use these skills in your own practical projects, creating games, applications, websites and interactive artworks that showcase your skills in creative technologies. In this way, you are encouraged to learn through experiencing the techniques of creative computation, whilst simultaneously developing your portfolio in technical arts practice.

The programme will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, workshops and laboratory sessions. These will cover the core elements of computing with a strong component of programming (both procedural and object oriented using a variety of programming language such as processing, Java and C++), as well as internet computing, software engineering and mathematical foundations. These elements will be enhanced by in-depth studies of a range of audiovisual computation techniques, including 2D graphics and interactive software, audio processing, digital signal processing, image processing, video processing and 3D graphics.

Finally, the programme will give you a thorough background of the issues surrounding the audiovisual arts, including cognition and perception, the history of multimedia, and continuing through to an appreciation of contemporary web, film and games design – backed by lectures from a host of industry experts from the BBC, ITV, and mainstream games companies, as well as high profile computer artists and filmmakers.

Assessment

Modular: assignments, tests, laboratory exercises, exams, final year project. If you opt for an industrial placement year, your placement tutor will assess your work. If you complete the placement year successfully, you earn the endorsement 'with work experience' on your degree certificate.

Credits and levels of learning

An undergraduate honours degree is made up of 360 credits – 120 at Level 4, 120 at Level 5 and 120 at Level 6. As a full-time student, you will usually take Level 4 courses in the first year, Level 5 in the second, and Level 6 courses in your final year. A standard course is worth 30 credits. Some programmes also contain 15-credit half courses or can be made up of higher-value parts, such as a dissertation.

About the department

The Department of Computing

A key feature of our department is interdisciplinarity, which is the interaction of computing with a wide range of other subject areas. We don't just see computing as a purely technical discipline. We have a particular focus on computing applied to the arts and creative industries including music, film, TV, visual arts, games and animation.

Our degrees give you a wide appreciation of the subject – rather than just an understanding of existing commercial approaches – so that your knowledge can adapt and evolve. They also include an optional Industrial Placement Year, which enables your to gain invaluable practical skills and real world experience.

• We have a hands-on approach that focuses on practical work in real world situations
• We take a very practice-based approach to computing; programming is a practical skill and it's important that you learn it by doing, not just learn it in theory
• We'll help you explore the creative potential as well as the technical aspects of computing
• The Department has a warm and friendly atmosphere with staff and students of different ages and backgrounds
• We'll help you become a creative computing practitioner, for whom there is a growing demand in business and industry

Staff

The staff who teach you are all actively engaged in quality research, and this means that you'll be taught by experts who apply their skills to developing cutting edge technology. Our teaching is strongly focused on applying academically rigorous concepts to real world situations.

Find out more about staff in the Department of Computing.

Facilities

We have excellent computing facilities for teaching and laboratory work. There are four department laboratories containing 90 Macs and PCs equipped with a substantial amount of the latest software used in the IT and creative industries.