Computer Science [with Placement year]

Learn to design and build computer systems and gain in-demand technical, development and programming skills with our accredited degree.


• Study in the Silicon Fen, home to Apple, Microsoft, Samsung AI and many more – the perfect opportunity to connect with top employers.



• Bring the world of work to life through Live Briefs; designed and developed with regional employers, such as Regate and Citisoft to give you exposure to ‘real world’ problem-solving.



• Accredited by BCS and IET and a Cisco Network Academy for over ten years.



• Engage with a curated selection of training materials, providing you with cutting-edge knowledge and skills that align with industry standards.



• Discover a science/software approach with final-year options on human-computer interaction, and distributed programming.



Computing can be amazingly diverse, encompassing computer design, graphics, artificial intelligence, gaming, software engineering, programming and applications development. Our BSc (Hons) Computer Science degree is designed to offer you a wide choice of career options when you graduate.

Based in our Science Centre in Cambridge, you'll have the latest digital technology at your fingertips, and collaborate with other students on innovative computing projects.

As you study, you can choose to focus on the core elements of computer science, or to specialise in areas such as software development, mobile applications, computer security, cloud computing, network administration and technical support.

Employability is embedded in the curriculum, providing access to a curated selection of industry-approved training materials. These resources offer enhanced opportunities to experience real-world professional training as part of your degree. There’s also the option to take a placement year as part of your course, and gain valuable work experience.

As a Computer Science student at ARU, you'll spend lots of time in our computing labs. These include a Cisco lab with routing and switching equipment, and our virtual Netlab which offers 24/7 remote access to Cisco equipment.

You’ll also have access to Microsoft Imagine Premium’s professional developer and designer tools, VMware IT Academy’s virtualisation software and tools, plus mobile devices for testing and developing mobile applications.

As part of the course you will take part in real-life case study assignments with companies like Blackdot, Redgate, and Intergence to help give you real world experience.

It’s not just about technical skills, though. You’ll benefit from being based in Cambridge – home to the largest cluster of technology firms in Europe – with lots of opportunities to gain work experience. You'll also benefit from guest lectures and seminars from industry experts such as Citrix, ARM, Atom, Jagex and Sony.

As you study, you’ll learn to work effectively as part of a team and become a creative problem-solver who's aware of social, moral and ethical issues relating to the impact of computers on our lives.

We’ve developed our BSc (Hons) Computer Science degree in partnership with employers and professional bodies. By choosing particular modules, you can apply for Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) status after you graduate.

Our BSc (Hons) course focuses on equipping you with software engineering skills with a slight edge given to programming languages, so if it’s the ability to bend software to your will that excites you, this is course for you. If you're interested, however, in software engineering skills with a slight edge given to networking principles, the BEng (Hons) will give you the tools to enable you to configure complex network systems. You might also be interested in:


• BSc (Hons) Cyber Security and Digital Forensics



• BSc (Hons) Artificial Intelligence



• BSc (Hons) Software Engineering



• BSc (Hons) Cyber Security

At ARU, you’ll be supported from day one with wellbeing services, money advice and careers guidance to help you through university and beyond.

Their courses are built around the skills and experience employers value. ARU are proud to be in the top 20% of UK universities for teaching quality (TEF 2023), and ranked #1 in the East of England, and #8 in the UK, for UG graduates in senior roles 15 months after gradudation (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025). You'll have access to fantastic facilities thanks to £95m of investment - think SuperLabs, TV studios, law courts, mock hospital wards, gaming studios and more.

Wherever you're heading, ARU will help you get there.