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What makes our Computing Foundation Year special?

Do you want to work as a professional in the technology sector? Do you want to study Computing but do not have the appropriate qualifications or entry points needed to get a place? Whether you are new to the subject or have spent some time away from education this course will enable you to access your desired degree and career path.

You will study a range of Computing, Mathematics, and Study Skills modules that will position you to be able to go on to your chosen degree course with confidence and armed with the tools you will need to succeed at the ³ÉÈËBÕ¾ in Computing.

Overview

Overview

Key features

  • Covers the core skills to advance to a degree level Computing course such as Computer Coding, Mathematics for Computing, Creative Computing, Web Development, Games Design, Networks and Security and Studying with Confidence
  • Gives you the opportunity to progress onto any of the courses available within the Computing Department at the ³ÉÈËBÕ¾
  • An inclusive and supportive learning environment hosted by excellent, highly experienced teaching staff
  • A focus on contemporary practical skills in a modern learning environment
Entry requirements

Entry requirements

40
UCAS tariff points

Entry requirements

40 UCAS Tariff points and English and Mathematics Level 2 (GCSE) at C Grade / 4 or above.

The University welcomes applications from candidates holding qualifications outside the UCAS Tariff including those awarded by professional bodies and overseas qualifications, including the International and European Baccalaureate.

T Levels may be used to meet the entry tariff requirements for this course. Find out more about T levels as UCAS tariff points here.

Other information

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk for advice.

Further information about the UCAS Tariff can be obtained from the

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Course content

Course content

Our courses are informed by research and current developments in the discipline and by feedback from students, external examiners and employers. Modules do therefore change periodically in the interests of keeping the course relevant and reflecting best practice. The most up-to-date information will be available to you once you have accepted a place and registered for the course. 

Foundation Year (Year 0)

  • Studying Computing with Confidence     
  • Introduction to Coding 
  • Mathematical Fundamentals  
  • Computing and Digital Technologies

Degree level (Years 1, 2 and 3)

After successfully completing the foundation year you will be able to progress onto the Computing degree of your choice:

Teaching and assessment

Teaching and assessment

The University places emphasis on enabling students to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip you for lifelong learning and future employment, as well as academic achievement.  A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support from Student Services and Library Services, and also the personal academic tutoring system enables you to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that will help you to flourish and be successful.

Teaching

You are taught through a combination of interactive workshops, lectures, seminars, laboratory sessions, practical activities etc. Interactive workshops take a variety of formats and are intended to enable the application of learning through discussion and small group activities.  Seminars enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered in lectures, and laboratory practical sessions are focused on developing subject-specific skills and applied individual and group project work. 

 In addition, meetings (both individual and group) with personal academic tutors are scheduled throughout the academic year.

The University places emphasis on enabling students to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip them for lifelong learning and future employment, as well as academic achievement. A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support from Student Services and Library Services, and also the personal academic tutoring system enables students to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that will help them to flourish and be successful graduates

³ÉÈËBÕ¾ time

In a typical week you will have around 12-13 contact hours of teaching. 

Typically class contact time will be structured around:

  • Information giving, facilitated discussions, small group work, presentations
  • Practical skills – the opportunity to practise group facilitation, presentation, communication and listening skills
  • Visiting speakers and opportunities to visit other settings are regular features of the course.
  • Most of the computing seminars take place in state-of-the-art PC labs using a variety of software specific to each module

Independent self study

In addition to the contact time, full-time students are expected to undertake around 24 hours of personal self-study per week, plus additional preparation for assessments. Typically, this will involve meeting with individual tutors to discuss progress and feedback, completing online activities, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library and online. In addition to this, students will spend time sharing ideas with fellow students, taking part in extracurricular learning activities.

Independent learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, including the Hive and library resources, the virtual learning environment, and extensive electronic learning resources as well as our network of employers and entrepreneurs.

Duration

1 year full-time or 2 years part-time

Timetables

Timetables are normally available one month before registration. Please note that whilst we try to be as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week; and some classes can be scheduled in the evenings.

Teaching staff

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes senior academics, professional practitioners with industry experience, and visiting speakers with specialised expertise.  Teaching is informed by the research and consultancy work carried out by staff and you can learn more about the staff by visiting our staff profiles.

Assessment

All modules have both formative and summative assessment elements. Formative assessment allows tutors and students to recognise strengths and weaknesses in learning and to address those issues immediately. Summative assessments are graded and count towards the final module grade, and they are assessed against the specific module learning outcomes.

Typically, 30 credit modules will have 2-3 assessments

Throughout the year the concept of continuous assessment and/or building up expertise in different assessment types applies. A variety of assessment types(report, portfolios, presentation, and case study) are designed to suit different learning styles

Different types of employability skills are embedded in all modules.

Programme specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please 

Meet the team

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes senior academics, professional practitioners with industry experience, and visiting speakers with specialised expertise. Teaching is informed by the research and consultancy work carried out by staff and you can learn more about the staff by visiting our staff profiles.

Here are a few of the current members of the department who teach on this course:

Headshot of Bradley Carwardine

Bradley Carwardine

Bradley has extensive industry experience in many technology sectors. He has worked in commercial programming, networking infrastructure installation and has supported the UK Special Forces in a variety of technological integration projects. Bradley is a qualified teacher and has been teaching computer science for over 15 years. He has been teaching in the FE and HE for the last 5 years.

andrew-robinson

Andrew Robinson

Andrew has worked in the computer graphics industry for over 25 years, for a wide range of blue-chip clients.

He now teaches Creative Computing and Web Design and Applied Drone Technology to undergraduate students, supervises graduate and undergraduate projects, and provides support to students in the Business School Media Lab.  

Chris Blythe

Chris Blythe

After a varied career Chris completed a Bachelors in Computing at the ³ÉÈËBÕ¾, then studied at the University of Helsinki followed by working at the University of Huddersfield as a researcher on Augmented Reality for Dementia. Chris is currently the Course Leader for the Computing undergraduate degrees, and teaches on modules in programming, web development, games design & development, and mobile development. His interests include Game Based Learning, Education for Sustainable Development and Augmented Reality for Dementia.

Akinola Olumide Siyanbola

Akinola Olumide Siyanbola

Akinola is a Lecturer in Web Application Development with the Computing department at Worcester Business School. He has previously worked as a Senior Web developer before venturing into academics and Cyber security.

Akinola completed a BSc in Computer Science at Lagos State University, Nigeria, and proceeded to undertake his MSc in Cyber Security at Birmingham City University. Then, he secured a fully funded PhD research program with Birmingham City University, which is nearing completion soon. In addition, he completed a PGCert in research practice and a SEDA course in “Preparing postgraduates to teach in Higher Education”.

His research focuses on applying an intelligent and sematic-based methodology to cyber security application domains.

Careers

Careers

Employability

Following successful completion of from your Foundation Year you will be able to enrol onto your chosen degree programme within the Computing Department of Worcester Business School.

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Careers and Employability

Our Graduates pursue exciting and diverse careers in a wide variety of employment sectors.

Find out how we can support you to achieve your potential
Costs

Fees and funding

Full-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The Government has announced that it will increase tuition fees and maintenance loans by 3.1% from the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to 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 the standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees will be £9,535 per year.

For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.

International students

The standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the 2025/26 academic year is £16,700 per year.

For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.

Part-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The Government has announced that it will increase tuition fees and maintenance loans by 3.1% from the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to 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 the tuition fees for part-time UK and EU students on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees will be £1,190.83 per 15-credit module, £1,587.77 per 20-credit module, £2,381.66 per 30-credit module, £3,175.55 per 40-credit module, £3,572.50 per 45-credit module and £4,763.32 per 60 credit module.

For more details on course pages, please visit our course fees page.

Course-related costs not included in the fees

Every course has day-to-day costs for basic books, stationery, printing and photocopying. The amounts vary between courses. 

24/7 access to computers is provided at the University and software is made available at either no additional cost or minimal cost.  Students may also want to purchase a new PC/laptop or upgrade existing equipment for their own usage.

Accommodation

Finding the right accommodation is paramount to your university experience. Our halls of residence are home to friendly student communities, making them great places to live and study.

We have over 1,000 rooms across our range of student halls. With rooms to suit every budget and need, from our 'Traditional Halls' at £131 per week to 'Ensuite Premium Halls' at £228 per week (2025/26 prices).

For full details visit our accommodation page.

Sources of financial support

Most financial support is available from The University’s Money Advice Service can provide information about student money; this can be accessed through

How to apply