Computer Science with Foundation Year
BSc
Undergraduate with Foundation Year
September 2025, September 2026
Overview
A foundation year helps you develop the study skills and self-confidence needed for higher education when you don’t reach the entry requirements for your subject.
Software engineering is a fast-moving exciting field of study with the challenges involved to engineer high quality, secure and reliable software systems in a wide range of areas from medicine to education, to space flight, to manufacturing and everything in between.
This dynamic course will develop your skills in analysis, design, programming, testing and evaluation. You’ll learn to produce secure, high quality, usable and adaptable software systems
.Our degree will also develop your skills in analysis, design, programming, testing and evaluation to produce software solutions, ensuring you have all the necessary skills to flourish in your career.
You’ll have the opportunity to develop your technical and personal skills by working on a range of interesting and challenging assessments. The course is highly practical, with lots of opportunities to engage with people and organisations that work in software development, including the opportunity to undertake work experience to supplement your studies.
We are one of only a handful of universities in the UK to offer the CDIO (Conceive, Design, Implement and Operate) international engineering education model developed by MIT that allows you to learn in a practical, hands-on way to tackle real life problems.
We know employers are looking for dynamic, open-minded graduates who can adapt, innovate, and collaborate. This is why we have designed a new way of teaching and learning to ensure that you are work-ready for when you graduate. Our 2026 course will reflect this new approach. The 2026 course page will be made live shortly.
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UCAS Tariff Points
Accepted qualifications
We accept a wide range of general qualifications that attract UCAS Tariff points either on their own or in combination with others. Below are some common examples.
| Qualification | Grades |
|---|---|
| A Levels | DDE |
| BTEC | MPP |
| Access | Pass 45 Credits |
| International Baccalaureate | TBC |
Please note: You will also need GCSE Maths and English Grade C/4 or above to study this course.
More information
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Module information
As well as the core modules, you may also have the opportunity to study a number of option modules. Option modules will not be pre-selected for you. We provide examples of option modules. The availability of specific option modules may vary from year to year. The offer of an option will be subject to a minimum number of students choosing the module to ensure the appropriate student experience. The offer of option modules may also be affected by staff availability. It means we cannot guarantee the availability of a particular optional module. However, we will ensure you have a choice of option modules.
Core/optional modules
How you’ll learn
This degree uses a Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate-like structure – where some of your teaching will be done via real-world inspired projects. You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and practical labs. You will typically have around 12 contact hours per week and are expected to also spend about 4 hours each week co-ordinating with team members on group activities, and at least another 8-12 hours working independently on assessments and learning activities. Labs will often emphasise working in small groups to enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures and put theory into practice.
Teaching will mostly take place in classrooms, labs and lecture theatres on the main Canterbury campus. Some teaching takes place online through the University's Blackboard VLE and CMS, 1:1 meetings may be held on other platforms.
You will also have regular scheduled meetings, in addition to the above contact hours, with an assigned academic personal tutor, which is your first point of contact for assistance to your undergraduates needs.
Your actual contact hours depend on the option modules you select.
When not attending timetabled sessions it is expected you will continue learning through self-study. Typically, this involves completing computer-based exercises, preparing for workshops and seminars, undertaking research in the library, working on projects, undertaking coursework assignments or reading journal articles and books. Your module leader will direct you towards specific readings and/or activities to complete before or after a class.
For your final year individual project, you will undertake independent research and develop a software based system. You will receive specific teaching/training before undertaking this project and will be assigned a supervisor who will guide you through your work.
You should treat your studies as a full time occupation, spending 30+ hours per week on your learning and personal development.
The team consists of highly qualified academics. They have a range of expertise and experience and many have directly relevant work or consultancy experience. You can expect that all members of academic staff will have or be working towards a teaching qualification or Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.
All our team members hold Doctoral or professional qualifications (e.g. Member of the British Computer Society or Eur. Ing.).
Postgraduate students assist in some teaching and assessing some modules. However, experienced academics teach the majority of lectures and seminars.
We will work with you to develop the technical and people skills you will need to work successfully in the software industry.Tina EagerCourse Director
How you’ll be assessed
Methods of assessment used include production of software artefacts, project plans and diaries, essays, reports, ‘investigation-based’ presentations, oral presentations, individual studies/projects, poster presentations, online assessment, logs, and time constrained assignments. You shold not expect to sit the large scale formal examinations you may have experienced at school.
Coursework is mainly practically-oriented with appropriate theoretical elements to ensure a well-rounded education. Assessments are a combination of individual and group work.
We use coursework assessment methods based on their suitability for specific modules. Formative and summative feedback is provided informally in classes and workshops and formally through assessment feedback throughout the course.
Related courses
Fees
The 2025/26 annual tuition fees for this course are:
| UK | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time - Foundation Year 0 | £9,535 | £15,500 |
| Full-time - years 1-3 | £9,535 | £15,500 |
Tuition fees for all courses are payable on an annual basis, except where stated.
The tuition fees relate to 2025/26 only. Please read the 2025/26 Tuition Fee Statement for further information regarding tuition fees and year on year fee increases.
Home (UK) Fees
Home (UK) tuition fees for Foundation Years at Canterbury Christ Church University will be set in line with the maximum tuition fee cap for foundation years in classroom-based subjects or non-classroom based subjects, as set by the UK Government.
Home (UK) tuition fees for subsequent years 1-3 are currently set in line with the maximum tuition fee cap for standard undergraduate degrees set by the UK Government.
The Government has announced that it will increase the tuition fee cap by 3.1%, in line with inflation, for the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to parliamentary approval, the University intends to increase our tuition fees in line with this and as per our terms and conditions. This means that from September 2025 onwards, our undergraduate home tuition fees for subsequent years of study are expected to be £9,535.
Overseas/International Fees
Undergraduate / PGCE tuition fees for international students are not set by the UK Government.
- Read advice about funding your degree
- See information about the financial support available for undergraduate studies
- If you would like information about paying your fees, please contact accounts.receivable@canterbury.ac.uk
- For specific fee queries, please contact fees@canterbury.ac.uk
Regulated by the Office for Students
The Office for Students (OfS) regulates Canterbury Christ Church University. The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education in England. It aims to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. Further details about its work are available on the OfS website.
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*We are advertising this course as ‘subject to approval.’ When we add new courses or update existing courses, we advertise the course as ‘subject to approval’. We do this to let you know the University still needs to agree to run the course. It is rare for a course not to gain approval, but it is not guaranteed. There may be changes to course and module titles, content and assessment, but we will tell you about these if there is a change. You can still apply to study a course subject to approval. We have prepared some questions and answers to tell you more.