Computer Science

Computer science is the systematic study of computation and information: how problems can be expressed, what algorithms can solve them, how software systems are designed and built, and how digital technologies function at every level from hardware to application. It is a discipline with both deep theoretical foundations and immediate practical relevance, producing graduates who are equipped to work on some of the most significant challenges facing organisations and societies in the digital age.

At the University of Exeter this three-year full-time programme is accredited by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT on behalf of the Engineering Council, fully meeting the academic requirement for Incorporated Engineer status and partially meeting the requirements for Chartered Engineer. You will study algorithms, data structures, software engineering, programming languages, artificial intelligence, networks, and the mathematical foundations of computing, developing both theoretical depth and practical programming and systems skills. A sandwich year with a work placement is incorporated into the programme, giving you a full year of professional experience in a technology organisation before you complete your degree.

Computer science graduates from Exeter are well placed for careers in software engineering, data science, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, systems architecture, and a wide range of technology-focused roles across every sector of the economy. The BCS accreditation and the professional experience from the placement year strengthen the programme's value to employers and provide a pathway towards professional recognition. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in computer science or a related specialism, deepening their expertise in machine learning, cybersecurity, human-computer interaction, or another area of the field.

The breadth of career options open to computer science graduates reflects how central digital technology has become to modern life.