Software Engineering with Foundation Year, BEng

​​The academic team are excited to introduce you to the course and Computing section during Welcome Week. You will be sharing your Foundation Year with students across Computing courses at CCCU, and this will be a great opportunity to meet one another.

​In preparation for the first semester, you will also have guidance sessions on digital resources available, including the library and the Learning Skills Hub. We’ll discuss how we do assessments as well as the expectations and policies for these.

​As part of your Welcome Week, you will meet your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT), an academic within the School who will be supporting you for the duration of your degree. They can offer support and guidance for your transition into university life, academic development and future employability. If you have any concerns or worries that may be impacting your studies or experience at CCCU, they can help you or get the support you need.

​The Students’ Union offers a wide range of clubs and societies, providing opportunities to meet others, develop new interests, and build friendships. You will also have access to academic support, wellbeing services, and regular feedback to help you succeed throughout the year.​

Your Course

​​The academic year will be split into two semesters – one running from September to January, and a second one from January to May.

​During your Foundation Year, you will study modules designed to build your confidence, academic skills, and understanding of computing.

During Semester 1 you will study:

• The Big Picture
• Fundamentals of Applied Mathematics and Programming

During Semester 2 you will study:

• Interdisciplinary Communication Skills
• Computational Thinking
• Success modules - 3 x 5 credit point modules

The Foundation Year is designed to prepare you for progression to Level 4 of your chosen computing degree. Throughout the year, you will develop essential academic, technical, and problem-solving skills needed for university-level study.

Teaching

​Teaching takes place through a combination of lectures, workshops, seminars, and practical sessions, with a focus on step-by-step learning and active participation. Sessions are delivered on campus and supported by online learning materials.

​In the first few weeks, you will be introduced to key study skills, basic computing concepts, and mathematical foundations. You will also begin developing communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that are essential for university study.

​Assessment is designed to support your development, using a mix of coursework, practical tasks, and structured activities. You will receive regular feedback to help you improve and build confidence throughout the year.

Blackboard

​Learning materials and resources are shared on Blackboard, CCCU’s Virtual Learning Environment. You will be introduced to Blackboard during Welcome Week, and can find further information here: Blackboard | My CCCU

To help you prepare

​We recommend exploring resources from the Learning Skills Hub, particularly those related to academic writing, study skills, and time management.

​We recommend you don’t buy any particular software prior to starting at CCCU, as much of any software you need will be made available for free or at a discounted rate. Laptops are available to borrow (iBorrows | CCCU), although you will find having your own computer extremely useful. We predominantly use Windows on campus and for taught sessions, so bear this in mind if purchasing a device for your studies.

There is no particular reading we want you to do before you arrive, but it may be worth looking at the Technology pages of online news sources to see the common areas that are being talked about in the field of computing and business.

We suggest the following sites:

• BBC News - Technology
• BBC News - Business
• The Guardian - Technology
• The Telegraph -Technology
• Computerweekly
• Computing

They are worth looking at once or twice a week, if you are not accustomed to reading current affairs articles. You can often find background information to the stories by searching Wikipedia which may help your understanding of the topic.

In addition, you may wish to practice with introductory Python tutorials, such as beginner Python exercises (Python Tutorial and download from Welcome to Python.org) or basic scripting practice in Visual Studio Community (download from Visual Studio Downloads for Windows).