BSc Computing Science and Mathematics Joint Honours

Key facts

Key Facts: 3 year full-time or 4 year sandwich course.

UCAS code: IG11

Typical offer level: A Level: ABB-AAB

BTEC National Diploma: DDD (including A level Maths grade B)

IB: 32 (including minimum Grade 6 in Maths at Higher Level)

Specific subject requirements: A Level: Maths Grade B

General studies accepted.

GCSE: English Grade C. A combination of two A Level and two AS level subjects may be accepted.

Tuition fees: £9,000 (£1,000 during placement year) for UK/EU students. (2013). More on fees

Applicants receiving offers are invited to an open day.

Key benefits

Computing Science

Our courses have a practical orientation, combining studies of principles with a focus on the design and construction of high quality computing solutions to real-world problems. This approach is particularly suitable for the Inter-disciplinary study of Computing Science in conjunction with Mathematics.

Mathematics

The Mathematics degree at Aston is a balanced course throughout, with a mix of pure mathematics and applications.
The course gives students an introduction to in-depth, rigorous mathematics at the undergraduate level to prepare students for higher study or for a career in a cross-disciplinary area.

Subject guide & modules

Computing Science

The Computing Science side of this Joint Honours programme aims to produce graduate software developers who will use their knowledge of Mathematics to support the development of computing applications in that domain.

Computing Science is the exciting and rapidly evolving discipline that provides the foundation for our computers everywhere world. It includes how computer systems are organised, how computer applications are developed, and a whole range of tools and techniques like databases, networking, websites, multimedia, computer graphics, and artificial intelligence, i.e. using computers for human activities like vision and reasoning.

By studying Computing Science you will be well placed for numerous challenging and rewarding career opportunities. Surveys in the UK and abroad predict a shortage of computing professionals for the foreseeable future.

Our course is designed to enable students to acquire a high level of technical expertise so they can contribute to the production of quality computer applications.

Mathematics

Like any science, mathematics asks questions, sometimes uses experiments to suggest an answer and significantly uses logic to validate the conclusions. Some questions are concerned with applications, such as, "given a population (dynamical system, economy) and factors which influence it, what is its state at a subsequent time?" Others are more abstract, for example, "are there any common properties to the basic operations as used with numbers, matrices or vectors?" The study of Mathematics can answer these questions.

Year 1

Computing Science

Mathematics

Year 2

Computing Science

Mathematics

Year 3 optional placement year

Professional Placement

See placement year section below or find out more about the Aston placement year.

Final year

The final year lets you choose from a range of options in each of the two subject areas. You may look for options that suit particular interests you have developed, or options that integrate well with your Computing and Mathematics subject. Our final year modules are updated regularly to reflect new developments in computing. All students will complete an individual final year project which requires a combination of Computing and Mathematics skills.

Core Module

Individual Project

Computer Science

Mathematics

Learning, teaching & assessment

Students will be assessed in individual modules by end-of-semester (January & May/June) examinations and by assignments conducted and submitted during the year.

You will experience a wide variety of learning and teaching methods, including:
lectures, tutorials and seminars, laboratory exercises, small group discussions, corporate investigation and analysis, case studies, group and individual project work. You will make use of our extensive computing facilities.

Placement year

This year allows you to have the opportunity to put your knowledge into practice, whilst gaining valuable professional experience (and in most cases getting paid in the process) by choosing to do a placement. This year will enhance your graduate employment prospects and will enable you to make a sound career decision.

You will be given a lot of support and advice on finding a suitable placement and our tutors will keep in touch with you to ensure it is a success. The application process for a placement job is just like applying for a real graduate job, excellent experience in itself.

If you work for a company you can expect to be paid a salary (the average across the university is £11-13,000 per year), but this is not always the case for students working in the public sector. The placement contributes to your finances as well as your CV!

Aston has one of the best records for graduate employment in the UK. Aston University ensures that you will gain academic knowledge as well as developing a wide range of skills that are valued by employers.

All graduates have computational ability and good problem solving skills, applicable to many areas of work. They are able to cope with constant change, to organise and think critically, analyse and interpret data, using analytical and logical thinking. You will train your mind in a way that will never become outdated. You will learn to deal with complex concepts and learn to communicate accurately complex ideas. Graduates achieve a rounded education with a solid background in both Computing and Mathematics, which is highly regarded by employers. With a Computing Science and Mathematics degree from Aston University you will have the chance to hone analytical, computing and problem solving skills, making you highly employable

Find out more about placement years at Aston.

Career Prospects

Computing Science
Career prospects continue to be excellent for Aston University's computing specialists, with their sound understanding of the principles and practical applications of computing. The vast majority of our graduates have found stimulating and rewarding positions in computing-related activities, with suppliers and users, or within a wide range of careers for which a university degree is a prerequisite, e.g. programmer, systems analyst, systems engineer.

There are also opportunities in non-computing areas with a Joint Honours degree, and many graduates from the programme often work in these areas where their computing expertise is of supporting benefit. Management and IT Consultancy are major employers of Computing Science graduates.

Mathematics
Aston University graduates are consistently some of the most employable graduates in the country. Our Mathematics graduates are highly sought after and obtain employment in financial institutions, industry and teaching. With a good degree, there are also opportunities for graduates to go into research in mathematics.