Computer Science
Computer science is the study of computation in the deepest and most general sense: the theory of what can be computed, the design of algorithms and data structures, the construction of software systems, and the application of computational thinking to problems across every domain of human activity. It is a discipline that rewards both mathematical precision and creative problem-solving, and its graduates sit at the centre of the digital economy, designing the systems, platforms and applications that increasingly shape how the world works.
At the University of Essex, this three-year full-time degree builds a strong foundation in both the theoretical and practical dimensions of the subject. You will study algorithms, data structures, programming languages, software engineering, operating systems, networking, artificial intelligence and the mathematical underpinnings of computation, developing the ability to write code and design systems but also to reason precisely about what those systems can and cannot do. Essex has a strong track record in research-led teaching, and the programme connects theoretical study to real-world applications in areas such as machine learning, cybersecurity, natural language processing and computer vision.
Typical entry is around 120 UCAS tariff points.
Computer science graduates are among the most sought-after in the graduate labour market. Careers span software development, data science, machine learning engineering, cybersecurity, cloud computing, systems architecture, games development, financial technology and research. Almost every sector of the economy employs computer science graduates, and the skills developed, particularly the ability to think algorithmically and to build complex systems, remain in demand as the specific technologies of any given moment evolve.
Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in computer science, data science, artificial intelligence or related fields, and some pursue doctoral research in areas at the frontier of the discipline.