COMP4004
30 credits
Our goal is to equip you with the skills you need to create computer software. We'll take a thorough approach, helping you learn essential programming skills...

Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
Explore software, computing systems and problem-solving, developing programming and technical skills.
Is your interest in information systems or software product development? What about software engineering or data structures? On our Computer Science degree you can take your first step into computer science. Through your learning, studies and development you build everything you'll need for a successful career in any area of computing.
You will solve difficult problems, and you will sharpen your technical skills. We believe that learning goes beyond the classroom. Our award-winning Formula Student autonomous team, one of the UK’s finest, provides students with the opportunity to learn through a fun, educational competition. Student-led societies – such as Computing, Gaming and Women in Computing – are a great place to learn and make friends.
We are a community that values teamwork. We enjoy seeing our students thrive and we love inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs. Our innovation hub, the IceCube, is supported by the Royal Society. It provides a space for students to grow their ideas.
Whatever your aims are, we will help you to reach them.
The degree is accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS), the Chartered Institute for IT.
All Computing courses are based in new, custom designed buildings at our main Headington site. You'll benefit from state-of-the-art facilities and equipment including a VR cave, digital, computing and robotics labs, as well as social learning spaces, teaching rooms and a cafe.
You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Brookes. Most exchanges take place in the second year. Although we will help as much as we can with your plans, ultimately you are responsible for organising and funding this study abroad.
Our university-wide language programme is available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| UCAS tariff points | 112 |
| Contextual offer tariff points | 88 |
| A-level | BBC |
| BTEC Extended Diploma | DMM |
| International Baccalaureate | 27 |
| GCSE English Language | Grade 4 (C) or above |
| GCSE Maths | Grade 4 (C) or above |
If you don't know about Computing already, our first year modules will quickly get you up to speed. Any previous experience you have might help you to get started more comfortably, but even if you think you know a lot about computing already there will still be many new things for you to learn.
Having an A-level or BTEC Level 3 qualification in a computing-related subject will not exempt you from taking any first-year modules, because we want to make sure that we give you a quality introduction to all of the relevant topics.
If you don't have the right qualifications to apply for a place on one of our degree courses, we may be able to consider you for our Computing Foundation course. This course, which lasts one year, is an excellent preparation for any of our computing degree courses.
We welcome applications from candidates with alternative qualifications, and from mature students.
Transitional Year One in Chengdu, China
If you are based in China, you can complete the first year of your programme in Chengdu, before joining us in Oxford for Years 2 and 3. Please visit our Chinese website and the China country pages to explore options for in-country study or contact us on globalpartnerships@brookes.ac.uk to find out more.
| Fee types | 2026/27 | 2027/28 |
|---|---|---|
| Home full-time | £9,790 | £10,050 |
| Home part-time | £1,220 per single module | £1,255 per single module |
| Home placement year | £1,905 | £2,010 |
| International full-time | £18,250 | £19,300 |
| International placement year | £1,905 | £2,010 |
Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.
For further information please see our tuition fees FAQs.
Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
In your first year, you will focus on developing core computer science skills. Expect to be introduced to new concepts in computer programming, mathematics, and project management. These will give you the grounding you need to be successful on the rest of the course.
Your training in computer programming will go deeper in the second year. You will start to explore the foundations of software development and our researchers will teach you about security both as a programmer and a developer.
We encourage you to make the most of our links with industry. The optional work placement will help sharpen your skills. It will also create more attractive employment prospects for you.
Our academics will introduce you to the latest developments in the world of computing and cybersecurity through their research. In your third year, you will be supported with your chosen final project, which is a great opportunity to showcase your learning.
You will learn relevant theory and strong practical skills.
Our teaching methods include;
| Contact hours | Total workload | Timetabled |
|---|---|---|
| about 11 hrs a week | 1,200 hrs a year | Mon–Fri, 09:00–18:00 |
All your modules will include continuous assessment. If they include written examinations, these are worth 30%, 50% or 70% of the module.
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Oxford Brookes Computer Science graduates enjoy great success in the workplace. On average, computer science graduates earn £29,000 per year within 6 months of graduating, according to Unistats. You will be rewarded for your practical and technical skills.
Previous students have gone on to work in different industries, and for many different employers. Companies include:
Our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, so module availability and course structures may vary from what is listed here. On rare occasions, we may also need to make updates to our course programmes after publication; for full details, please visit our changes to programmes page (opens in a new tab)