BEng/BSc Single Honours (including sandwich options)

• A-level
  BBB including GCE A-level Chemistry or Computing or ICT or Mathematics or Physics or Technology or Double Award Applied ICT + GCSE Mathematics
  
  
• BTEC National Diploma
  A relevant computing, engineering or scientific BTEC National Diploma with 10 Distinctions and 8 Merits + GCSE Mathematics
  
  
• BTEC Higher National Diploma
  those with good grades in a relevant Higher National Diploma will be considered individually on their merits for entry to Stage 2
  
  
• Irish Leaving Certificate
  B2B2B2B2CC/B2B2B2B2B2 including Higher Level grade B2 in Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics + if not offered at Higher Level then Ordinary Level grade C in Mathematics
  

MEng

• A-level
  AAB including GCE A-level Chemistry or Computing or ICT or Mathematics or Physics or Technology or Double Award Applied ICT + GCSE Mathematics
  
  
• Irish Leaving Certificate
  AB2B2B2B2B2 including Higher Level grade B2 in Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics + if not offered at Higher Level then Ordinary Level grade C in Mathematics
  

For students whose first language is not English
An IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable to the University. For further information on other acceptable qualifications click here

All applicants:
Computer Science, Computing Information Technology and Computer Games Development share a common core of modules in the first year, so students may therefore transfer between these courses at the end of first year, subject to meeting the normal progression requirements. Students who do not hold an A-level in Mathematics or Physics (or equivalent qualification) and wish to transfer to the Computer Games Development degree from either Computer Science or Computing and Information Technology will need to pass an additional Mathematics exam.

For MSci and BSc Joint Honours entrance requirements see separate entries for Mathematics and Physics.

Computer Science is concerned with the specification, design, construction and use of computer systems. It embraces subject areas such as software engineering, hardware architecture and design, information systems, communications, graphics, simulation and modelling, artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction. Computer systems are often highly complex in nature and must be reliable in operation. Computer Science provides many of the concepts and approaches required.

The Computer Science courses at Queen’s aim to teach the fundamental principles of Computer Science, together with the necessary skills, tools and techniques to enable our graduates to embark on careers as professional software engineers or to become suitably qualified to undertake research in Computer Science. The courses involve extensive practical work in the School’s laboratories.

Stage 1
Computer Architecture Fundamentals of Programming
Introduction to Multimedia
Programming Challenges
Science of Computing

Stage 2
Computation Theory
Data Structures and Algorithms
Database Systems
Games Programming
Multimedia Systems
Networks and Communications
Professional Practice
Software Engineering and Group Project
Tournaments in Computing

A student taking Single Honours BEng/BSc is required to spend a year gaining professional experience in industry in a paid full-time post. Students are helped to obtain suitable places and the School has excellent links with over 500 local, national and international employers such as BT, Liberty, Asidua and Kainos in Belfast, IBM in England, Microsoft and Sun Microsystems in Dublin, Fujitsu in Japan and Siemens in Germany. It is expected that students will gain a Licentiateship of the City & Guilds from this period of work experience.

Stage 3
Agile and Component-Based Programming
Artificial Intelligence
Computer Vision
Concurrent Programming
Database Technology
Formal Methods
High Performance Computing
Multimedia Systems
Operating System Concepts
Programming Language Implementation
Software Engineering project

These modules enable each student to pursue their own interests. A student who is fluent in French may spend the final year of study at the University of Rennes and take the final examinations in the French language.

Please note: Computer Science, Computing Information Technology and Computer Games Development share a common core of modules in the first year so may transfer between these courses at the end of first year, subject to meeting the normal progression requirements. Students who do not hold an A-level in Mathematics or Physics (or equivalent qualification) and wish to transfer to the Computer Games Development degree from either Computer Science or Computing and Information Technology need to pass an additional Mathematics exam.

MEng
This is a four-year extended degree course. It has been established to provide a supply of particularly well-qualified graduates who will become industry leaders, and it will have an appropriate blend of knowledge and skills in Computer Science with business practice and management.

Students have the option of undertaking a year gaining professional experience in industry. The first two years and much of Level 3 are common with the BSc/BEng course. Transfer from the BSc/BEng course to the MEng course is possible for selected students at the end of Level 2, subject to satisfactory performance. Module undertaken in Stage 4 are: Advanced Software Design; Algorithms: Analysis and Applications; Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a Research Project.

Due to the high demand for computer science graduates there are a number of scholarships available for students on this course. These include industry-sponsored scholarships provided by both Asidua and Liberty IT, each of which is worth up to £25k. Both scholarships provide £1k for each academic year, a guaranteed industrial placement, an opportunity for additional part time work during the academic year and also a permanent position on graduation. For further information on these and other scholarships available, visit the School website: http://www.qub.ac.uk/eeecs 

On graduating with an Honours degree and a year’s experience, students are able to choose from a range of rewarding and challenging careers in industry, commerce, education and research. The majority of graduates take up posts associated with software design and implementation. There are currently over 200 software companies in Northern Ireland, so graduates of this course are in particularly high demand. Some graduates also embark on management, accountancy and finance careers, while others enter teaching and research.