BSc (Hons) Computing (top-up)
Course Overview
The University of Bolton's BSc (Hons) Computing (top-up) taught at our London Academic Centre by our learning partners Regent College London is a wide-ranging, industry-informed programme. Building on your previous studies, you'll have the opportunity to focus on aspects of the subject in which you have personal interests and strengths or that support your career or further study goals.Our strong links with business mean you'll have the chance to work on 'live briefs' in your coursework assignments, allowing you to enjoy real-world context and application for the skills and knowledge we'll help you develop.
With intentionally small class sizes, we can offer you more meaningful and personalised interaction with our dedicated and enthusiastic lecturers, many of whom are active researchers and come with extensive industry insights and experience. Meanwhile, guest speakers and lecturers give you access to highly relevant and up-to-date input from industry settings.
All of this is backed by our well-equipped IT suites, where you'll get to apply and develop your learning individually and in groups, with expert guidance and support.
Highlights
- Your teaching and tutorial team brings an impressive range of professional experience and technical prowess to the course, so you'll have the chance to explore and evaluate a range of perspectives relating to your studies.
- We continually monitor and update the course to reflect current and ever-changing computing issues and keep your learning in line with technological advances and innovations.
- A big part of our commitment to your progress is helping you develop your employability and industry networks. So we'll encourage you to attend guest lectures that give your learning context, offer industry contact, and contribute to your underlying professional development.
- By structuring our module content, assignments and projects to mimic industry processes and standards, we aim to provide an industry-relevant education that leads you towards a successful career.
- The London Academic Centre and Regent College London offer excellent IT facilities, as well as WiFi and well-appointed teaching, learning and study areas.
- Upon successfully completing this course, you'll be awarded a BSc (Hons) Computing (top-up) from the University of Bolton.
Key Features
- Face-to-face sessions and one-to-one support is offered by our team of highly experienced, enthusiastic and dedicated experts.
- We'll focus on your individual needs and provide personalised support to help find the learning strategies that best support your learning and ultimate success.
- Our dedicated laboratories, servers and end-hosts feature high-specification hardware and the latest software, so you'll have industry-equivalent hands-on experience.
- As you'd expect, many of our computing facilities are accessible online, so you can work on your assignments wherever you are and whenever inspiration kicks in.
- We'll help you build a portfolio of work that demonstrates your skills in developing content for a range of different target devices. This can put you in an advantageous position when you come to approach potential employers.
- Free Pre-sessional English classes are available if you need support to improve your English language skills to meet the English language requirements for this course.
- You'll benefit from dedicated student and academic support during your time at our London Academic Centre.
- We offer Success, Character, Opportunity and Progress Enhancement (SCOPE) sessions that are designed to support your growth and enable you to develop wider thinking across your curriculum.
- You'll be able to take advantage of our Thinking into Character (TiC) suite of educational programmes that focus on helping you to think bigger, aim higher and achieve your dreams.
- A link tutor provides academic communication between our London Academic Centre at Regent College London and the University of Bolton's academic school so that the experience you receive as an off-campus student is equivalent to that of an on-campus student.
- As an off-campus student, you'll also have access to the support of the University's dedicated off-campus team and resources to help make you truly feel part of the institution.
- You’ll also have access to the University’s e-learning resources, an extensive e-library and the support of University librarians.
Entry Requirements
- You'll have successfully completed a foundation degree (FdSc) or higher national diploma (HND) in computer networking or computer security (or another relevant qualification comprising at least 120 credits at HE4 and 120 credits at HE5). Alternatively, you may hold a professional qualification in computer science at an equivalent level; for instance, an APTECH Advanced Diploma in Software Engineering with an overall credit or distinction profile.
- We'll be happy to consider your application if you have non-standard qualifications and/or proven relevant experience in the computing industry.
- You’ll be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
- Please visit www.rcl.ac.uk to find out more about our London Academic Centre and Regent College London.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
With computing technologies playing a greater role in all aspects of modern life, our graduates find their skills in high demand across a wide range of industries.
Our BSc (Hons) Computing (top-up) degree combines theoretical study and practical projects. You can learn subject-specific skills such as programming, systems, databases, computer platforms, website production and networking. This degree also supports you in developing soft skills such as communication, leadership and organisation, all of which are highly sought after by employers.
Completing your honours-level studies should prove valuable in helping you achieve your career goals.
What can I do with this qualification?
Some typical employers include IT consultancies and IT service providers. However, most businesses rely on computers to function effectively, so there are also opportunities within telecommunications, aerospace and defence, financial services, retail, healthcare, manufacturing and the public and third sectors.
After completing this degree, you might also set up your own web design or IT consultancy business.
A common postgraduate route is teaching. Alternatively, you might choose to continue your development within computing via a master's degree or PhD in areas such as networks and security or software engineering.
Alternative career options
Graduates can use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Some possibilities include the following:
- Teaching
- Research and development
- Network engineering
- Cyber security
- Information systems management
- Games development
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
International applications are not possible for this course
As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the restrictions on your visa.
We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our Course Search.
Bursaries
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2025-26 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
International Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
Partner Organisation Applicants
Option currently unavailable.
Teaching & Assessment
Lectures introduce the core course content, while practical laboratory sessions give you practical experience and help consolidate your learning. Tutorials offer you the chance to ask specific questions and discuss topics and techniques you've covered in lectures and laboratory sessions. Case studies and practical scenarios allow you to apply theory to practice and enjoy real-world insights into computing in commercial environments.
Small class sizes mean we get closer to you as an individual and better understand and support your learning preferences and ambitions.
Regarding assessment, you can expect a combination of assessed practical demonstrations, reports, coursework, and others. These summative assessments contribute to your final marks and are your chance to show you've met the learning outcomes for the course. Formative assessments, on the other hand, feature throughout your studies. While they don't contribute to your module or final marks, they inform and support your development by helping you build on your strengths, overcome any perceived weaknesses, and find the study strategies that best support your ultimate success.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Research and Professional Issues
- Undergraduate Project
- Emerging Technologies
- Applied Machine Learning
- Software Quality Management
- Information Security Management
- Operations Management
- Natural Language Processing
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 90% Written exams 10% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 77% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 23% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
