Course information

Entry requirements

UCAS code

IN13

Entry requirements

A-level: BBB
BTEC: DDM
IB: 33 points overall with Three HL subjects at 655

Length

3 years full-time; 4 years full-time with the third year spent on placement in businesses in a Computing, Systems Analysis or Information Technology field; 6-7 years part-time

Department

Computing

Course overview

Explore how the latest ologies and technology are used to analyse business systems and information systems. Learn how to re-engineer and design new IT products and services that solve real business problems.

Why study BSc Business Computing (Systems Analysis):

  • This industry-focused pathway has been designed in conjunction with industry leaders to cover the major developments in IT today.
  • You'll cover a wide range of topics including business process re-engineering, organisational behaviour, big data, the internet of things, user experience and user-centred design.
  • You'll gain a detailed understanding of the major concepts, technologies and techniques employed by systems analysts when analysing business process-reengineering, services, products and business processes to create value.
  • You'll study how systems analysts are used in the decision-making processes of modern organisations, and gain an understanding of how they use artificial intelligence techniques are used business and online analytical processing.
  • You'll apply a range of systems analysis techniques to design creative strategies for pursuing, exploiting and further developing new opportunities.
  • You'll learn to engage in critical thinking by analysing organisational situations and constructing and selecting viable business systems and technologies to solve problems.
  • You'll explore current information, theories and models, and techniques and practices in all major business disciplines including the general areas of accounting and finance, information technologies, management and marketing.

Placements

In your third year, you’ll have the opportunity to take a full-year industry placement (making this programme four years full-time, or seven years part-time).

This gives you valuable experience to build confidence, further develop skills and industry insight, and enhance your career prospects. By the end of your degree, you’ll have built a portfolio of work to kickstart your career in the creative industry.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Professor James Ohene-Djan.

What you'll study

Overview

From the start of your degree, you'll be developing your own projects and digital ventures, which will increase in scale and ambition. As your degree progresses, you will personalise your studies by choosing from our wide range of option modules, including mobile development, data mining, user experience design, and machine learning.

You'll also learn creative thinking and business techniques by studying topics such as user-centred design and digital venture creation and develop key professional skills such as teamwork, project pitching, and project management.

Whilst studying with us you will also benefit from Goldsmiths Computing Department’s unique approach to teaching computing, informed by our wealth of expertise in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. You will notice this through the engaging and accessible way that we teach programming on compulsory modules, but also through optional topics such as physical computing and virtual reality.

Year 1

In your first year, you'll take the following compulsory modules:

 

Module title Credits
Identity, Agency & Environment 1 15 credits
Introduction to Programming 15 credits
Designing Digital Interactions 15 credits
Strategic Management 15 credits
Identity, Agency & Environment 2 15 credits
Computing Project 1 15 credits
Business Enterprise in the Digital Era 15 credits
Introduction to Statistics for Business and User Experience 15 credits

Year 2

In your second year, you'll take the following compulsory modules:

Module title Credits
The Goldsmiths Elective 15 credits
Dynamic Web Applications 15 credits
Organisational Behaviour 15 credits
Systems analysis and design 15 credits
Computing Project 2 15 credits
Information Security 15 credits
Networks and Operating Systems 15 credits
Goldsmiths’ Social Change Module 15 credits

Optional placement year

Our degrees include an optional industrial placement year between the second and final year of study. You will be responsible for securing a placement, but we can support you through this process.

Although we encourage you to take the opportunity of a placement year, it isn't compulsory and you can complete your degree in three years.

Year 3 (or Year 4 with work placement)

You'll complete a project in an area of Business Computing which will be worth 45 credits of your final mark for the year. You'll complete the following compulsory modules:

Module title Credits
Final Project in Business Computing 45 credits
Case studies in Business Process Modelling 15 credits
Business in the Digital Economy 15 credits
Social Responsibilities of Management 15 credits

You will also take 30 credits of third-year option credits from a list provided by the department.

Teaching style

This programme is taught through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, workshops and laboratory sessions. You’ll also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study. This includes carrying out required and additional reading, preparing topics for discussion, and producing essays or project work.

The following information gives an indication of the typical proportions of learning and teaching for each year of this programme*:

  • Year 1 - 21% scheduled learning, 79% independent learning
  • Year 2 - 21% scheduled learning, 79% independent learning
  • Optional placement year - 100% placement
  • Final year - 22% scheduled learning, 78% independent learning

How you’ll be assessed

You’ll be assessed by a variety of methods, depending on your module choices. These include coursework, examinations, group work and projects. 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.

*Please note that these are averages are based on enrolments for the traditional pathway in 2020/21. Each student’s time in teaching, learning and assessment activities will differ based on individual module choices. Find out more about how this information is calculated.

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. If you are a full-time student, you will usually take Level 4 modules in the first year, Level 5 in the second, and Level 6 modules in your final year. A standard module is worth 30 credits. Some programmes also contain 15-credit half modules or can be made up of higher-value parts, such as a dissertation or a Major Project.

Download the programme specification.

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

Entry requirements

We accept the following qualifications:

A-level: BBB
BTEC: DDM
International Baccalaureate: 33 points overall with Three HL subjects at 655
Access: Pass with 45 Level 3 credits including 30 Distinctions and a number of merits/passes in subject-specific modules
Scottish qualifications: BBBBC (Higher) or BBC (Advanced Higher)
European Baccalaureate: 75%
Irish Leaving Certificate: A1 A1 A2 B1

Additional requirements

If you don't have a Science- or Mathematics-based A-level, you should normally have at least Grade B/Grade 6 at GCSE Mathematics. If you're already studying for the BSc in Computing and Information Systems on the University of London International Programme, you may transfer into the second or third year of this degree.

International qualifications

We also accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.0 no element lower than 5.5 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for degree-level study.

Fees & funding

Annual tuition fees

These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2023/2024 academic year.

From August 2021 EU/EEA/Swiss nationals will no longer be eligible for 'Home' fee status. EU/EEA/Swiss nationals will be classified as 'International' for fee purposes, more information can be found on our fees page.

  • Home - full-time: £9250
  • International - full-time: £TBC

If you choose to do a placement year, the fee for this year will be different to that listed above. Please contact the Fees Office for details.

If your fees are not listed here, please check our undergraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.

It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.

If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.

Additional costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.

There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.

Funding opportunities

We offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries, and our careers service can also offer advice on finding work during your studies. Find out more about funding your studies with us.

Careers

Industrial placement year

Our degree programmes include an optional Industrial Placement Year between the second and third year of study. This offers you an invaluable opportunity to gain real world experience and form valuable relationships with employers.

Some of the companies students have worked at during their work placement year recently include:

Where do Business Computing graduates work?

Our graduates have gone on to develop careers in the following areas:

  • User interface/user experience design
  • Mobile development
  • Full-stack web development
  • Software Engineering
  • E-learning