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Applied Computing (Top-up) BSc(Hons)

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    Overview

    Computers are now ingrained into our society, and we rely on them for many of our daily tasks. The range of industries that are keen to employ qualified and skilled computing graduates is vast, and job roles can vary from software developer to database administrator, web developer or project manager. The top five job titles advertised in the UK for graduate roles associated with Computing courses are Software Engineer, Software Developer, DevOps Engineer, Embedded Software Engineer and Full Stack Developer.*

    For those with good knowledge of computing, our Applied Computing Top-up degree could help you build on your skills. A one-year top-up course, candidates will be expected to have completed at least two years of university or higher education study in a related subject.

    *Lightcast data extracted from Graduate Career Explorer – job postings from Dec 2023 to Nov 2024 showing jobs advertised associated with a selection of relevant graduate roles.

    Why study Applied Computing (Top-up) BSc(Hons) at Huddersfield?

    This course covers a range of vital topics, such as the development of database management systems and distributed and large-scale systems. You'll also have the chance to learn and apply artificial intelligence algorithms, or explore the different technologies that can support the use of information technologies (IT) in organisations.

    Develop your problem-solving techniques and build transferable skills that will benefit you in the future. In addition to core modules, you can tailor your learning with an option module system enabling you to select topics that will suit your career aspirations in the future.

    You will also have the opportunity to grow as a professional in the world of Computing and develop your research and abilities by undertaking an individual project as part of your course. This project aims to push you to work at your best and get under the surface of computing to find talents you didn’t know you had. At the end of the project you will have carried out a major piece of work that demonstrates your capabilities.

    Key Information

    Entry requirements

    A Foundation Degree or HND at Merit, or equivalent in Computing that must include substantial programming in an object oriented programming language, such as Java or C++.

    If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

    Start dates

    21 September 2026

    Duration

    1 year full-time

    Course Detail

    Information Architecture

    This module focuses on the way digital information can be organised to make the content more accessible and more easily understood by users. The module provides you with an introduction to the ways in which information can be organised and structured; for example using metadata, controlled vocabularies, ontologies and classification schemes primarily (but not exclusively) for the Web. Your studies focus on the way these technologies can support formal models of information seeking behaviour.

    Software Architecture

    Modern societies are highly dependent on complex, large-scale, software-intensive systems that increasingly operate within an environment of continuous availability, which are challenging to maintain, and evolve in response to changes in stakeholder requirements. The continual increase in the size and complexity of software systems has made software systems some of the most complex human-made systems ever created. As a result, a structured and systematic approach to design is essential for the success of software-based systems. Software architectures are fundamental to the development of technically sustainable, i.e., long-living, software systems, as they are the primary carrier of architecturally significant requirements (ASRs), such as performance, extensibility, maintainability, and influence how developers are able to understand, analyse, test, and evolve a software system. This module will introduce you to the fundamental concepts, core principles and practical skills of modern software architectures as a key activity within successful software engineering.

    Individual Project

    This module is driven by you. You are asked to select a problem to solve which is relevant to your degree, and of appropriate scope and depth to be tackled within a timeframe of 30 weeks. Carrying out the project enables you to develop and demonstrate your ability to undertake research, manage time, use your initiative, learn independently, discuss and write convincingly on a subject requiring independent learning. A supervisor will support you throughout your project. You’ll use your existing knowledge and be encouraged to acquire additional skills as you carry out your project. The aim of the project is to suggest a solution to an identified problem. Your final report should describe the aims, scope and motivation of the project, the research you have undertaken, and the technical solution provided, including justification for design and development decisions.

    Choose one from a list which may include-

    Data-driven Artificial Intelligence

    Recent advances in information technology have facilitated massive collection of data in numerous areas, leading to major developments in data-driven Artificial Intelligence (AI) approaches. This module allows you to obtain a fundamental understanding of such approaches, particularly advanced machine learning techniques to construct intelligent systems capable to recognise, classify, or decide, among others. We will consider several widely known approaches, including deep learning, and investigate typical applications and potential limitations. You will learn which techniques are appropriate for which learning problem and their advantages and disadvantages. You will have the opportunity to apply this knowledge using industry standard tools and delve into high profile data-driven applications such as medical imaging and natural language processing.

    Advanced Web Programming

    The module covers some of the more advanced approaches to developing web applications, examining both client and server-side technologies. You will explore and compare structured approaches to web development and multiple modern web frameworks, together with a range of contemporary development tools. As your understanding of the technologies and approaches develops, you will aim to critically evaluate them and assess the benefits and risks of using a given approach or framework for a given task.

    Choose one from a list which may include-

    Distributed and Client Server Systems

    This module provides a detailed analysis of a range of techniques for the development of distributed and client-server systems architectures. You will indicatively explore remote method invocation, CORBA (Common Object Request Broker: Architecture and Specifications), web and cloud services. You will also examine some typical distributed systems, including distributed file systems, distributed databases, and other common architectures.

    Systems Strategy

    In increasingly complex systems it is important to have tools that help make sense of this complexity. Systems’ thinking takes a holistic approach to understanding how systems influence one another. This module aims to introduce the key concepts of the subject area to help you understand problems. It covers a specialised language, methods, and set of techniques that can be used to address highly complex problems that can help in the design of enduring solutions in any system. This module aims to help you make sense of the complexity within systems and how to assess the impact of decisions made beyond the immediate environment.

    Large-Scale Software Engineering

    Modern software engineering projects have become increasingly larger, in terms of hardware, source code, numbers of users or data volume. This module provides an analysis of the problems associated with large-scale software engineering projects and the practices, procedures, techniques and tools designed to address these issues. You will investigate all stages of a large-scale project: choosing a process model, scheduling, cost estimation, requirements engineering, risk management, security, modelling and design, quality assurance, testing and maintenance and overall management of the project. You will consider issues within these stages arising due to large scales, along with optimal solutions that can guarantee successful and timely delivery of a large-scale software project.

    This course has modules making up 120 credits over the 1 year , with each credit being 10 hours of study (1200 in total). An average approximately * 13% (103 hours) of the study time on this course is spent with your tutors face to face or online in lectures, seminars, tutorials, practicals and workshops. The remainder of the time will be spent on independent study. Assessment is varied and includes primarily coursework, quizzes, in-class tests, presentations and demonstrations. There are opportunities for group working, in addition to individual assessments.

    *Subject to mode of study.

    **Based on current core and compulsory modules.

    Calculated using data from the academic year 2024/25, as of November 2024.

    Teaching

    The teaching year for most courses normally starts in September with breaks at Christmas and Easter, finishing with a main examination/assessment period around May/June. Teaching on other courses including professional courses, postgraduate taught, research, distance learning and apprenticeship may have other start dates including January and May. All start dates can be found on each course page and term dates are also available. Students on a full-time course may have to attend every day of the week. Students who choose to study a full-time course on a part-time basis will generally attend modules at the same time as our full-time students. Timetables are normally available one month before registration.

    Our courses are taught at our University campus and you can expect that your lectures and seminars will be held face to face, except in cases of emergency or if specifically stated otherwise in the module description.

    Feedback

    Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results. Feedback on exam performance/final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.

    Progression

    You may progress to the next stage of your course or research degree, subject to meeting University assessment criteria and professional, statutory or regulatory body guidelines.

    1. The University of Huddersfield has been rated Gold in all three aspects of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. We were the only university in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West to achieve Gold ratings in all three aspects of the TEF among those announced in September 2023. In fact only 13 Universities, out of the 96 that were announced in September 2023, were Gold in all three ratings.

    2. Our teaching staff rank first in England for the proportion with higher degrees and teaching qualifications, as well as being top five for those holding doctorates (HESA 2025). So you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.

    3. We are joint first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 23 since 2008 (2024 data).

    4. We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

    Read more about academic staff at the University of Huddersfield

    At Huddersfield, you'll study the Global Professional Award (GPA) alongside your degree* so that you gain valuable qualities and experiences that could help you to get the career you want, no matter what your field of study is. On completion of the Award, you'll receive a GPA certificate from the University of Huddersfield, alongside the specialist subject skills and knowledge you gain as part of your degree, which may help to set you apart from other graduates.

    Giving students access to the Global Professional Award is one of the reasons the University won ‘Best University Employability Strategy’ award at the National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2021. Find out more on the Global Professional Award webpage.

    *full-time, undergraduate first degrees with a minimum duration of three years. This does not include postgraduate, foundation, top-up, accelerated or apprenticeship degrees.

    Computing

    A tour of our Department of Computing facilities

    Ever wondered how you will use our facilities as part of your course? Follow Isobel on a tour who explains all.

    24 hour media lab
    Group work in Sparck Jones building
    Sparck Jones building

    Discover more about the course

    Your Career

    See how our graduates thrive in amazing jobs at top companies.

    Career Support

    Check out the personalized guidance we offer students.

    Further Study

    Learn about pursuing a masters or PhD here post-graduation.

    Research Excellence

    See how our innovative research shapes what you'll learn.

    Student Support

    Discover all the support available so you can flourish.

    Important information

    Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

    When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by our terms and conditions, Handbook of Regulations and associated policies. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.

    Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

    Changes to a course you have applied for but are not yet enrolled on

    If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment. We may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will discuss with you other suitable courses we can transfer your application to. If you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

    Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

    Changes to option modules:

    Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have an equivalent range of options to that advertised for the course. We will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

    Major changes:

    We will only make major changes to non-optional modules on a course if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that substantially changes the outcomes, or a significant part of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum. For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators or a commissioning or accrediting body. We may also make changes to improve the course in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback or to ensure you are being taught current best practice. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment, or pandemics.

    Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but may happen sooner in an emergency. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

    In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed in accordance with the student protection plan.

    The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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