Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.

Develop technology that will define the future.On this BSc (Hons) Computer Science degree, you'll build a solid foundation of core computer science concepts – everything from program design, data structures and algorithms, networking and operating systems to cyber security.Further strengthen your knowledge on an optional placement, following past students who've gained industry insight at global organisations like IBM and BAE Systems.

The 3-year Bachelor's degree (BSc) and 4-year integrated Master's degree (MEng) share many of the same modules in years 1–3.The MEng allows you to achieve a Master’s level degree with an extra year of undergraduate study, which can further enhance your career prospects. In the final year of your MEng, you'll study advanced topics and complete an interdisciplinary project to get practical experience in the field.

- Specialise in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, robotics, data mining, cryptography and the Internet of Things (IoT).- Take part in fast-paced hackathons and visit companies with specialist computer science departments.- Learn from experts researching artificial intelligence that could save lives and winning awards for prototype software to predict a Covid-19 diagnosis.

This course is accredited by the British Computer Society, partially meeting the educational requirement for CITP.

More than 40,000 'open' roles advertised in April 2021 asked for related computer science skills and qualifications. And 90% of our graduates who are in work 15 months after they graduate are in highly skilled, professional-level occupations.The skills you get on this course will set you up for a career implementing the latest computer science concepts in innovative global companies. Our graduates have worked for companies such as:- BAE Systems- Aviva- Capita- NHS- Penningtons Manches Cooper- Honeywell / Trend Controls- MASS- DQ Global- ServicenowRoles you could go onto include:- applications engineer- data analyst- systems analyst and developer- information security analyst- artificial intelligence and machine learning engineer- research and development (R&D) scientistYou could also become a qualified teacher by taking the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) pathway – you'll save an extra year of study and get a £9,000 bursary.

Taking an optional placement year gives you the experience you need to increase your chances of landing your perfect role after graduation. You could work in a paid role in a professional organisation or set up your own business, giving you the change to grow your professional network and enhance your CV.We'll give you all the support you need to find a placement that prepares you for your career, and we'll continue to mentor you throughout your placement.