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Embarking on your academic journey with Arden means laying a solid foundation for your future in computing. Our BSc Computing with Foundation Year is tailored to equip you with essential academic study skills, preparing you for success at the university level. As you progress, you'll delve into advanced computing concepts, mastering the practical skills needed to meet the demands of today’s ever-evolving computing landscape.
Advanced computing skills are in high demand in today’s global job market, providing you with ample opportunities to fill industry gaps, specialise, and progress your career. That’s why we’ve structured your learning to give you a foundation for ongoing skills development.
What you’ll learn
Our BSc (Hons) Computing with Foundation Year offers in-demand skills sought after in today’s tech industry. Our modules cover areas of computing such as programming (Java, Python, PHP), web development (HTML, CSS, Javascript), databases (MySQL), cloud computing, cyber security, data analysis, human-computer interaction, and computing ethics.
You can tailor the skills you learn by choosing between two curated pathways depending on your aspirations: a technical pathway and an information systems pathway.
Learn by doing
Many of our modules are ‘hands-on’ and designed to equip you with the practical skills you need for your career. Unlike many computing courses that lack real-world preparation, our programme focuses on practical, authentic assessments. As such, you'll engage in coding, database creation, web document development, data analysis, and working with cloud services before engaging in assessments that allow you to demonstrate these skills.
Our award-winning curriculum has been designed to give you the modern skill set needed to start your career on the right footing.
Your modules take a hands-on approach to provide you with transferable real-world skills for your future. After reviewing key academic study skills, you’ll have the opportunity to master coding, database and web document creation, data analysis, cloud computing, IT project management, systems analysis soft skills, and more.
Just some of the fascinating modules available on this course include:
Data Mining
In the modern workplace and wider society, data reigns supreme. Learn how to manipulate and visualise data to make informed business decisions across various sectors. Develop skills in Python, one of the most popular programming languages in data science.
Web Application Development
Today, applications are as likely to run in a web browser as on a desktop. Showcase your ability to create interactive web-based systems by combining the diverse skills you've acquired in databases, programming, web design, and user experience.
Ethics, Quality and Sustainability in Technological Environments
Examine the dilemmas that IT practitioners face and explore the potential impacts of their decisions using current examples. Utilise ethical frameworks and professional codes of conduct relevant to IT professionals. Recent news events highlighting the impact of faulty computer systems underscore the importance of embedding ethical practices and behaviours throughout an organisation.
I have learned a lot from the course program and it has given me a good foundation for me to expand my knowledge. The module structure is designed according to my knowledge requirements of my personal IT goals.
Please note that if you study via our blended learning study mode, not all modules may be available at every Arden study centre. However, timetables will be coordinated to accommodate students who need to travel to other study centres or participate in live online classes.
We offer two pathways starting from Level 5, allowing you to tailor your degree to your career goals – giving you the choice to build your skills on the technical side or develop the strategic skills needed to help companies grow:
Build on your programming, database, and web development skills on this path. If your ambition is to excel in software development, database design, or web development, the technical pathway is the ideal choice for you.
This pathway focuses on digital transformation, ethical considerations, and strategic approaches to system security. If you aim to pursue leadership roles in IT management or seek strategic positions, the information systems pathway equips you with the necessary insights into contemporary workplace challenges.
We align our resources with industry leaders like Oracle, Cisco, and Amazon, offering you the chance to pursue certifications and badges that enhance your employability. You will have access to a variety of free courses offered by these vendors. While we don’t cover certification costs, our programme prepares you for these exams, allowing you to pay for them when you are ready.
Only one exam (Level 4, Introduction to Computer Systems and Security), through a time-controlled assessment. The rest of your modules involve hands-on activities directly relevant to computing roles.
You'll engage in creating databases, coding websites and web applications, writing programs, crafting project documents, analysing case studies and scenarios, and using spreadsheets for data visualisation and analysis, including working with large datasets. All of this will allow you to start building a professional portfolio of work to show to future employers.
At Arden University we consider applications on a case by case basis. If you have significant work experience, have qualifications you have gained elsewhere, or a degree or qualification that isn't a clear pathway to this degree - we are more than happy to discuss your application.
Our aim is to make learning as accessible as possible by ensuring that you can study in a flexible and convenient way. That's why we keep our requirements simple. All you need is a laptop or desktop PC (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good internet connection. Through ilearn, our online university campus in the cloud, you'll be able to access your course calendar, support services, learning materials, and our online library containing thousands of ebooks, as well as tools for creating assignments, keeping notes, and collaborating with other students on your course.
To be able to study this course, we need to see that you have:
Candidates for our computing with foundation year undergraduate degree are required to submit a personal statement (of between 350-550 words) which tells us about your motivation for studying this course. You may also be invited to attend an interview to demonstrate your ability to study the course successfully.
This statement should include:
We also offer an internal English test for applicants. More information on this can be found here.
Arden University’s industry aligned computing programmes are focused on your needs as a student and the skills required by employers. We provide you with one-to-one support and contextualised learning so that you fully understand the latest developments and concepts being put into practice in data analytics, cloud-based technologies, software development and databases. I look forward to welcoming you to the Arden University family.
The ever-evolving nature of technology ensures a continuous demand for skilled computing professionals, offering our graduates a wide range of fulfilling and lucrative career paths to choose from.
(sourced from Reed Salary Tracker on 3rd April 2024)
IT, data mining, cloud computing, and programming skills are in high demand all over the world. CompTIA’s “State of the Tech Workforce U.K.” reports that organisations are projected to employ approximately 2.06 million tech workers in 2023.
Through our programme, you'll gain:
Your computing degree with Arden University sets you up for any number of possible career paths after graduation. Here are just some of the professions you could go on to explore:
Once you’ve enrolled with Arden, our careers centre is easily accessible directly from inside our online platform, ilearn. The careers centre is here to help you discover the areas of your academic and professional life that you find most meaningful and rewarding, and then apply this to your career pathway.
Just a few of the career tools you’ll find in the careers centre include:
Study an industry-relevant course alongside your degree. Employers highly value graduates who have their degree plus an industry recognized certification. During the course you’ll acquire some of the most in-demand skills used in computing currently, allowing you to independently acquire certification in Azure Data Fundamentals and Security Fundamentals from Microsoft to add to your degree qualification.
To help support your academic journey, Arden University pays for your student membership in the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).
The IET is recognised globally as a hallmark of quality and professionalism and can help boost your prospects with tips, tools and techniques you’ll use for life. It is home to more than 154,000 engineering and technology professionals in 148 countries.
As a student member of the IET, you’ll have access to the student hub, which includes a digital library (IET’s research and intelligence resources), virtual library (thousands of online eBooks, eJournals, magazines, and reports), IET.tv, and valuable mentoring opportunities.
All Arden students will have free access to LinkedIn Learning through the Library Portal. LinkedIn Learning is a video-based online learning platform offering over 16,500 expert-led courses across a wide range of subjects including business, technology, and creative skills.
With LinkedIn Learning, you can:
