We offer two BSc degrees; Computer Science covers all aspects of  programming, web development, computing applications and foundations of computing. Computing and Information Technology offers the opportunity to specialise in business and financial management alongside developing strong technical skills.  It is also possible to do a 12 month paid placement in industry at the end of your second academic year.

At Level 1 and 2 a quarter of the modules (1 module every semester) are different. The modules that distinguish the Computing and Information Technology programme are management, business and finance modules. The modules that distinguish the Computer Science programme add depth to the students’ technical skills, for example expanding the breadth of programming skills, understanding of computer architecture and the development of scientific algorithms.

In Level 1 there are 20-25 timetabled contact hours made up of lectures,  programming labs and tutorials. Small group tutorials are held to support the teaching of programming. Outside of this there is personal study, project and programming work. You will also meet with your Level Co-ordinator to make sure that you are settling in and have the opportunity to discuss any problems.

It is University policy that all applicants are considered primarily on merit and their academic potential.  We welcome applications from people who, in addition to any formal qualifications, can demonstrate:
• Intellectual ability (sufficient to profit from the rigorous demands of a degree programme)
• Suitability for their chosen programme of study
• Motivation to study
• Interest in their chosen subject  

Applications will be considered on the basis of:
• Your prior academic achievement, or experiential learning
• Any expected results in formal examinations
• Your personal statement in support of your application
• Your referee’s assessment of your academic abilities
• Your performance at interview

It is the norm for applicants living in the UK to be invited to attend a UCAS day.

If you are invited to a UCAS day it is your opportunity to learn more about the Department, the University in general and the facilities we have to offer.  See here for more details.

The purpose of the one to one discussion is for you to tell us about yourself and your motivation for wanting to study CS or CIT at Surrey. This is almost always the first question. We are always interested in finding out about any projects you have worked on either as an individual or as part of a team, this includes any volunteer work such as the Duke of Edinburgh scheme or relevant work experience. A typical question may ask about which areas of a subject you enjoyed studying and why and proceed from there. You may also be asked about what you put in your personal statement.  You may also be asked some technical or mathematical questions to see what topics you have covered.  The discussion will be conducted by a member of the Academic Staff and usually lasts about 15 minutes. We enjoy talking to applicants so there is no need to be nervous.

The UCAS day enables you to meet members of staff and many of our current students. The one to one discussion gives you a chance to ask any questions you may have regarding your application, and to discuss any issues that may influence your decision.

An offer is made on the basis of academic merit. Normally, the decision is made very soon after attending a UCAS day.  That decision is then passed to UCAS and will be available shortly afterwards.

You will need to discuss this on an individual basis with a member of the admissions team because they will need to discuss in detail what you've studied so far.

We may still be able to take you, depending on your grades and available places on the course. The University will look carefully at whether your achieved grades still meet the minimum University requirements. Typically, this takes place in August when you receive your results.

Transfer early on in the course is possible. Transfer after 4 weeks of the first semester is not normally possible. It will be dependent on coursework deadlines and your qualifications. You will be able to discuss your situation on an individual basis with the Level 1 Co-ordinator and they will provide support to discuss your options in detail.

Transfer after 4 weeks of the first semester is not normally possible. It will be dependent on coursework deadlines and your qualifications and whether there is space available on the other course. You will be able to discuss your situation on an individual basis with the Level 1 Coordinator.

Our degree programmes are three years of academic study and afterwards you can go on to study for an MSc course separately. This gives you the flexibility to study a specialised masters programme based on the interests you have developed during your undergraduate studies. We provide lots of information in the final year about opportunities for further study.

The standard offer is AAB. Please see our fact file.

We require applicants for Computer Science to study at least one of Computing, Mathematics or Physics. The use of Mathematics underpins many complex algorithms in Computer Science. Therefore, the ability to use mathematical concepts is essential to be a good computer scientist. Our experience has shown that students who have a strong background in mathematical related subjects, which includes Further Maths, do well in our programmes.

No, you can still apply but we would expect you to get A grades in your other subjects. It is the overall portfolio of subjects and your motivation that counts.

Further Maths is not a required subject – if you have studied it then you will have shown an excellent aptitude for solving complex mathematical problems which will be a great basis for developing your computer science problem solving skills. You may wish to consider the Further Maths Support Network for more information.

Many of our students have also studied A level Chemistry, Economics, Electronics, French and Geography. Other subjects are considered on an individual basis. Please note that subjects such as General Studies and Critical Thinking are not included in making an offer.

Many of our students are studying more than three A levels and we want to recognise that additional workload. Your exact offer will depend on the exact combination of subjects being studied, but a typical offer for a BSc Computer Science application from a student studying, for example, Mathematics, ICT, Business Studies, French would be ‘Obtain grades of AAB from any combination of Mathematics and any two full A levels from ICT, Business Studies and French.’

We encourage you to contact the admissions team in order to discuss your particular query. For applicants presenting the European Baccalaureate we normally require an overall score of 75%. We would usually expect good performance in Mathematics and Physics.

We encourage you to contact the admissions team in order to discuss your particular query. The Cambridge Pre-U is a new qualification where individual principal subjects can be studied alongside A levels or three principal subjects can contribute to the Cambridge Pre-U Diploma. We welcome applications with mixed qualifications and would typically look for 3 principal subjects at grade M1, or with up to two of the principal subjects replaced with two good A levels.  Where an applicant has more than one principal subject then a mixture of grades will be considered depending on the subjects. In all cases Mathematics or Physics are strongly encouraged, especially for our Computer Science programme. Other combinations of subjects, as well as applicants presenting the Global Perspectives and Independent Research project, will be considered on an individual basis.

We encourage you to contact the admissions team in order to discuss your particular query. We welcome applications from BTEC students who are motivated and interested in the subject. Our experience with students who have been admitted with a BTEC Diploma in Computing is that those without good mathematical/logic ability struggle on our Computer Science programme. As such we require students to  complete the BTEC with DDD overall. Additionally, we will ask you to complete a mathematics exercise that forms the basis of a one to one discussion during a UCAS day visit. This will enable us to have understanding of your problem solving ability.

We have many students with Apolyterion qualifications and our experience of students who have been admitted with such qualifications is very positive. Typically, applicants need at least 18.5 points. All applications are considered on an individual basis and we encourage you to contact our admissions team.

We encourage you to contact the admissions team in order to discuss your particular query. For applicants presenting the new Advanced Diploma in Engineering or Information Technology we would normally expected an overall performance of 300 UCAS Tariff points plus a grade B in an additional A level as part of the Additional and Specialised Learning (ASL). For our Computer Science programme, we would expect the additional A level to be in Computing, Mathematics, or Physics.

We will consider a wide range of other qualifications on an individual basis for example:
 Scottish Higher (typically AAAAA) and Scottish Advanced Higher (typically AAA - AAB).
 Irish Leaving Certificate (typically four Grade A2s and two B1s or better).
 German Abitur (typically 14-15 points),
 French Baccalaureate (typically 14 points).

Yes. If you are 21 or over, you count as a mature student, and may apply with any qualifications you have - each application being considered on its own merits. You should emphasise what you consider to be relevant experience in your application. We have positive experiences of mature students wanting to change career path.

No, this is optional. You may register to do the professional placement year, but change your mind during your second year at the University, and proceed straight into the third year of your studies. You may also register on our three year programme and change to do a placement year at the beginning of the second year.

From a Computing placement, you will get a year of experience in industry. This means that you will have chance to gain essential business skills in addition to your technical skills, including working in teams, communication, planning, project management, as well as gaining confidence.

In order for us to support you effectively this would ideally be confirmed early in the first Semester of the Second Year. However, remember that you may need to get this approved by whoever is funding you.

Around 60% of our students do an Integrated Professional Training Year. We have an excellent record of finding placements for our students. In 2011 we have placed 48 students.

Contact time with staff is high. This is typically 20-25 hours a week in the first year and around 13 hours a week by the final year.

You will be expected to spend your full-time studying - a minimum of 37 hours per week. As well as attending lectures and laboratory sessions, you will have coursework assignments and projects to complete, and you are expected to make full use of the extensive library and study services.

The main programming language at Level 1 is Java. During the induction week there is a programming test and this lets us know the level of support you need. We run tutorials to support those who have not done much programming before. Each week there is a variety of ways in which we support the teaching of programming:  two-hour lecture, two-hour lab, one drop-in session and one tutorial.

In most weeks there is a practical component to your studies. This will include laboratories (at levels 1 and 2). For example, an individual software project in Level 1, team building sessions, practical electronic labs for CS, tutorial groups for accounting, a software group project in Level 2 and a final year project.

Some modules are assessed just by examination or practical examination, some by just coursework and most by a combination of the two. A little over half of the marks for your degree come from examination.

There is an Additional Learning Support staff within the University who assess the needs of a particular student and the Department works closely with them. The support can include regular meetings with mentors to facilitate time management skills and extra time during the examination period.

Many of our students undertake paid employment. The Students’ Union has a ‘job shop’ which helps students find an appropriate part-time job. Do remember that to succeed in your studies you will need to study for typically 40 hours a week (this includes timetabled contact hours). During the final year, many of those students who undertook placements continue their involvement with their placement companies.

All first year students are normally guaranteed a place in University accommodation if they wish.  See here for further details.

The halls of residence all have broadband Internet access included in the residential fees. In addition, the computer laboratories are accessible at all times using a swipe card.