Study complementary subjects to become fluent in both.
Year of entry: 2019
GG14
Y50
4 years full-time (plus optional placement year)
£9,250 per year (2019/20)
£21,330 per year (2019/20)
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Meet usStudy both Maths and Computer Science equally, and leave with an advanced Masters level qualification.
Computer Science is founded upon Maths, and the study of the two together allows you to explore topics core to both whilst gaining an insight into how they intersect.
Maths influences Computer Science, from designing and analysing efficient computer programs to developing formal proofs that a piece of software does what was intended. This is especially important, for example, if the software is being used to fly a plane.
Increasingly, Computer Science is also being used to find solutions to mathematical issues. Computers are used to solve long-standing mathematical problems, as they can help visualise complex numerical data, search for solutions, and make number manipulation faster.
On this course you'll gain an equal and thorough grounding in Computer Science and Mathematics in your first two years, introducing the fundamental concepts in both subjects, whilst gaining an insight into the interplay between the two. In your third and fourth years, you can choose to weight your studies towards either subject, or keep the split the same. Your final year project can be in either subject.
Your first year contains essential fundamental material in programming and computer architectures. You will study the mathematical and theoretical foundations of Computer Science. You will also learn how to increase your employability prospects, including improving your presentation style and exploring the professional issues in Computer Science.
Half your first-year credits (60 in total) will be in Computer Science, and half will be in Maths (another 60). All modules are core and compulsory.
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
Your second year continues teaching you the fundamentals of both disciplines, and more specialist modules will be introduced. You'll take 120 credits in total.
Core modules:
Option modules:
You'll select one 20 credit module and one ten credit module from the following:
All modules are core.
When you reach Year 3, you will do 60 credits of Maths modules and 60 credits of Computer Science modules. You'll be able to select the modules from a list encompassing modules in both departments.
You will undertake an individual final year project (40 credits) in the subject you choose, which will involve a lot of self-study, rather than scheduled teaching time. For your project you can select a title from our list, or define your own topic according to your interests. The project can be in either Computer Science or Maths.
You will also select 80 credits of modules. You can choose to weight your studies more towards Computer Science or Mathematics.
Please note, modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
The fees and funding figures below are for 2019 entry. If you take a year abroad or year in industry you'll pay a reduced rate of fees for that year.
| UK/EU | International |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £21,330 |
There are unlikely to be any mandatory additional costs associated with the course, although you may want to set aside £200 for optional photocopying and personal stationery over the duration of the course.
UK/EU or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK, EU or international student.
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
We offer a number of scholarships to help cover tuition fees and living costs.
We have a number of scholarship opportunities available for students, including three IBM scholarships.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
“Students from all backgrounds achieve consistently outstanding outcomes”
The TEF Panel, Office for Students, June 2018
Our Gold Teaching Excellence Framework award demonstrates our commitment to the delivery of consistently outstanding teaching and learning for our students.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
A typical week will involve about 15-20 hours of scheduled teaching time. Our courses are based on a series of one-hour lectures with associated laboratory sessions, programming classes and tutorials.
Throughout the course, you will have a personal supervisor responsible for guiding your studies. In addition to any timetabled sessions, you will meet with your supervisor regularly, and you can also go to them at any time should you have any issues, academic or personal. There are problem classes to help you put learning from lectures into practice and weekly one-to-one project supervisions in your final year.
You will also undertake learning outside of the scheduled timetable. This can be through working in the labs, which are accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or through reading recommended materials or working through problems. Consequently, you'll need to be self-motivated, self-disciplined and willing to learn outside regular classes.
As you progress through the course you will develop your skills to become a more independent learner. You'll also spend time working on your individual research project later on in the course, in addition to timetabled activity; you will be allocated a project supervisor, with whom you will have regular meetings in addition to timetabled sessions. You can go to your supervisor for support and advice regarding your project.
As a guide, students on this course typically spend their time as follows:
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures and seminars | 408 hours | 312 hours | 300 hours | 228 hours |
The figures above are based on data from 2016/17.
The rest of your time on the course will be spent on independent study. This may include preparation for lectures and seminars, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours will vary from person to person. In UK higher education the expectation is that full-time students will spend 1,200 hours a year learning.
Built to the highest specifications, the Department of Computer Science is packed with cutting-edge facilities housed in a modern, self-contained building.
Computer Science houses four software and two hardware laboratories which you will be able to use depending on the topic of your third year project. These facilities are professional grade and used by our research teams so, depending on your interests, you'll get first hand exposure to these environments.
The Department of Mathematics is a community of mathematicians from all over the world, engaged in world-class research and committed to excellence in teaching with a special emphasis on small groups and a friendly atmosphere.
The Department of Computer Science is based on Campus East and the Department of Maths is based on Campus West. As a result, you will be taught at locations across campus.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
We use a variety of assessment techniques throughout the elements of the course undertaken in Computer Science. This allows you to practice different techniques, from report writing and presentations through to closed examinations.
Here's a few examples of what you might experience:
These different assessment techniques allow us to get the best out of you, and you will not be disadvantaged by being assessed in just one way.
In Mathematics, the majority of your modules are assessed by examinations, complemented by weekly or fortnightly individual assignments to assess your progress in each module. This allows you to practise the maths and gain valuable feedback before the formal assessment takes place.
Lecturers provide feedback in a variety of forms, according to the needs of the specific module. It may consist of written feedback, in-class discussion, model answers, or online responses to questions posted on the module discussion board.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exams | 85% | 87% | 100% | 50% |
| Coursework | 7% | 8% | 0% | 47% |
| Practical exams | 8% | 5% | 0% | 3% |
The figures above are based on data from 2016/17.
The move towards a digital economy creates demand for computer scientists and software engineers across a broad section of employers, so the skills you develop here will make you attractive to many organisations.
Many of our graduates are employed by software and electronics industries, but the continuing expansion of the use of computers in commercial and financial operations means that you will be able to find employment in other industries - and here your sharpened numeracy and analytical skills will have prepared you well.
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAA - AAB including a grade A in A level in Mathematics. An A level in Mathematics is an absolute requirement for all our courses. Your other two A levels can be any subject. For our joint Computer Science and Mathematics course, you must achieve an A in A level Mathematics. Whilst we do not specifically require you to have studied Computing at A level, we are delighted to accept students with this qualification and would encourage you to apply. |
| GCSEs | From applicants who have taken GCSEs, we look for a good range of subjects, including GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C) or above. We also require a qualification in a physical science; for example, a GCSE at grade 4 (C) or above in Additional Science or in Physics. We recommend the OCR or AQA GCSEs in Computer Science or Computing, but this is not a formal requirement. |
| BTEC | Grades DDD, plus a grade A in A-level Mathematics. We also consider applicants with a combination of other BTEC Level 3 qualifications and A levels but this must include A level Mathematics. Please email the Department at cs-ug-admissions@york.ac.uk to discuss your combination of qualifications and our grade requirements. |
| Cambridge Pre-U | Pass with D3/D3/D3 - D3/D3/M2 in principal subjects including D3 in Mathematics. |
| European Baccalaureate | Overall average of 85% - 80% with a Mathematics (FIVE-period) by written examination result of 85%. |
| International Baccalaureate | Overall grade of 36 - 35 points, with a grade 6 in Mathematics at Higher Level. |
| Irish leaving Certificate | H2,H2,H2,H2,H2,H3- H2,H2,H2,H2,H3,H3, including H1 in Mathematics. |
| Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers | AA - AB in Advanced Highers, including Mathematics, plus AAAAA - AAAAB at Higher Level. We require an A in Mathematics. |
| Other qualifications |
|
| EPQ | We recognise the value of this qualification although it will not be included as a condition of entry. It may be taken into consideration when you receive your results. |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability.
To apply to York, you will need to complete an online application via UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).
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