Computer Science BSc

Would you like to work for a global company and have opportunities that could take you anywhere across the world, working in a diverse range of exciting roles? With a degree in Computer Science from the University of Birmingham Dubai, the possibilities are endless.

Computer science is everywhere - our lives literally revolve around it. Because of this, Birmingham graduates are highly sought after by leading industry players, and the range of job opportunities available to you are infinite. You could become anything from a Software Engineer, Artificial Intelligence Developer, Robotics Engineer, Financial Computing Analyst, Applications Developer, or inspire the next generation of computer scientists academically. Graduate salaries are highly competitive, and there is a wealth of opportunities available to our computer science graduates. 

Industry comes to us to actively seek out and recruit the best graduates for their roles and we have strong links with global companies such as Goldman Sachs, BAE Systems, PwC, IMB, Google, Expedia, Rolls-Royce, Morgan Stanley and Vodafone.

Dr Kashif Rajpoot

Dr Kashif Rajpoot

Programme Director, Computer Science

“We are proud to offer the same high-quality curriculum and teaching of our Computer Science programmes on our Dubai campus. We will equip you with the fundamentals of computer science, whilst also providing plenty of optional modules to allow you to specialise in the area that interests you.”

Course details

Computer scientists work over a wide range of disciplines - they design and create search engines, social networking applications, software applications used in the financial world to map customer profiles and expose credit card fraud, and applications used in the medical sector to identify cancers through the analysis of medical images.

We'll teach you about all kinds of computational systems, their theory, design, development and application. This includes programming languages, software engineering, artificial intelligence, operating systems, databases, nature-inspired computation, concurrent computing, robotics and the theory of computation.

Our BSc Computer Science course incorporates concepts from fields as diverse as mathematics, engineering, linguistics and psychology, so you will be well prepared to work in many different areas.

First year

We want to give you a really strong education in the fundamentals of computer science, so in first year you'll be given an overview of the subject and gain a firm foundation in the principles of algorithms, artificial intelligence and relevant maths. You will also learn computer programming in Java - an invaluable language widely used in business and industry.

We want you to have a chance to puruse your own passions whilst studying, so in your first year you are also given a chance to pursue your own interests, via work within robot programming and image processing. We encourage group work as part of our commitment to preparing you for the world of employment and you will learn valuable skills.

Second year

In your second year of the BSc Computer Science course you will progress into studying enabling technologies such as databases, graphics and the formal basis of programming languages. Teaching these to you together with programming allows you to put the theory into practice, giving you a much deeper understanding and experience that will be crucial in your working life.

You will also learn to work in a team to produce software, and also new styles of programming in Java, a second language and we will also introduce your to cyber secruity.

Our second year modules go deeper into topics, and include Security and Networks, Advanced Functional Programming, Software Engineering and System Programming in C/C+.

You can apply to spend the second year of your BSc Computer Science course at our campus in the UK. Find our more.

Third year

In the final year of your BSc computer science course you will obtain a huge amount of training and experience so you can maximise on your degree to achieve your ambitions and interests. 

You’ll spend one third of your time on a project, either developed from your own idea or from a wide selection offered by staff members. This usually involves writing a large piece of software and gives you the freedom to extend and demonstrate your skills in your own way. We will also introduce you to Human Computer Interaction, Machine Learning and Advanced Networking.

By equipping you with knowledge and demonstrable skills, we will help prepare you to flourish in the industry or area you choose to pursue a career in.

View the  Computer Science BSc Dubai campus brochure (pdf 473 KB)

Why study this course

  • International reputation - The School of Computer Science is a truly international place, and our academics specialise in subjects including artificial intelligence and cyber security, which the modern world is built upon. You will be obtaining a first-class education in real-world issues, and will become the person that can develop and lead society and our future.
  • Excellent employability - Graduate employability for our students is excellent - every year over 90% of our students go into graduate employment, or further study, six months after studying with us (Desintation of Leavers from Higher Education).
  • Accreditated degrees - Our programmes carry the same degree accreditation status as our UK degrees (our new curriculum is currently being re-accredited by the BCS).
  • Research-led teaching - Our world-leading research feeds into our teaching, so you are being educated by leading academics.
  • Connections across the world - You will become part of our global community of computer science students across the world meaning you will be connected wherever you go in the world.

Modules

All modules listed are compulsory.

Year one

Year two

Year three

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2019. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to core modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Fees and funding

We charge an annual tuition fee which is set at AED 103,780 per year of study and can be paid in instalments.

Scholarships

We have a number of scholarships available for 2019 entry. Find out more.

Entry requirements

UK

3 A Levels. Typical offer AAA. A Level Mathematics grade A.
If you are taking any reformed A levels, which include Biology, Chemistry and Physics taught from 2015, you must pass the practical element.
General Studies or Critical Thinking not accepted.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

6,6,6 at Higher Level to include 6 in Mathematics with a minimum of 32 points overall. 

GULF

Please view the Middle East section on the international country page for further information on entry requirements. 

India

  • AAA = 85% ISC, CBSE, Maharashtra or 80% West Bengal or 90% Other State boards. Mathematics must be taken with a A grade equivalency achieved.

Please view our India page for further information on entry requirements.

Pakistan

  • The University will consider students who have taken A Level examinations and/or the International Baccalaureate (IB). Requirements for each of these qualifications is listed above.

Please view our Pakistan page for further information on entry requirements. 

American System

Either a total of 3 distinct subject tests from APs and/or SAT subject tests or one year at a Community College or USA University.

Other entry requirements can be found on our international students pages.

How to apply

To find out more information about our application process please visit our 'How to apply page' before starting your application.

OverviewLearning and teaching

Our highly regarded teaching on the BSc Computer Science course employs a mixture of lectures, tutorials, exercise classes, lab and study work, projects, online assignments, presentations and independent study. 

We want to prepare you for your graduate career by helping you gain skills and experience in many different ways, as roles in computer science often ask for individuals who have strong communication and team working skills. By keeping your learning varied, you will have the chance to learn and grow to allow you to communicate in different ways, and with different types of people.

Assessment

All work will be assessed via exams, coursework, presentations and a dissertation.

"Overall, the teaching in the Computer Science department is fantastic. All of the lecturers are very helpful and will go out of their way to support you. The course content is very well structured and contains very applicable knowledge and skills for industry."

Aaquib Naved, Computer Science student

Read Aaquib's full profile

Course detailsEmployability

A degree gained through completing our BSc Computer Science course provides the skills required for a wide range of careers.  It will give you a disciplined approach to analysing problems, with the ability to design creative solutions and critically evaluate the results. Employers are impressed by the combination of technical and transferable skills offered by computing graduates, and as such, you might find yourself in a variety of environments in academia, industry, research and commercial organisations.

These qualities, plus the prestige of a degree from a leading World Class University, make our graduates attractive  to companies in the engineering sector worldwide as well as those in finance, consultancy and commerce.

Examples of companies where our graduates have gone on to work include Microsoft, Google, Apple, Sony, IBM, Siemans, Honda, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley and the Bank of England.

"The skills that I am gaining; the course does not just teach knowledge, it trains us in certain skills which can be applied outside of the course, for example many students develop software that has been published, gained them an internship or enhanced their CVs".

Hung Hoang, Computer Science student

Read Hung's full profile

"The University of Birmingham do a great job with regards to student employment. I'm currently undertaking a summer placement with IBM (The Extreme Blue Summer Internship) and that has helped me learn a lot of new skills and gain experience in a fast paced agile development environment.".

Aaquib Naved, Computer Science student

Read Aaquib's full profile

Your Birmingham Degree

Your Birmingham degree is evidence of your ability to succeed in a demanding academic environment. Employers target Birmingham students for their drive, diversity, communication and problem-solving skills, their team-working abilities and cultural awareness, and our graduate employment statistics have continued to climb at a rate well above national trends. 

Learning and teaching