Computer Science

Computer science is the study of computation, algorithm design, data structures, software engineering and the theoretical foundations that underlie all digital systems. It is both a rigorous intellectual discipline and a practically powerful one, providing the tools to build the software and systems that digital life depends on and the analytical skills to understand and improve them. At York St John University this three-year programme develops your technical and creative skills across the discipline, preparing you for a field where change is constant and the ability to learn and adapt is as important as current technical knowledge.

You will develop your programming ability, study the design and analysis of algorithms, explore databases, networks, operating systems, software engineering principles and the emerging areas of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The programme encourages both technical depth and creative thinking, recognising that the most interesting work in computer science tends to arise where rigorous engineering meets imaginative problem-solving. A sandwich year and work placements provide professional experience in technology roles, developing the applied skills and industry connections that employers look for and that a purely academic education cannot fully replicate.

Graduates work across the full range of the technology industry and beyond. Software development, web development, data engineering, systems architecture, UX and interface design, IT consulting, technical project management and cybersecurity are among the most common roles, and the demand for computer science graduates across sectors from finance and healthcare to media and public services is consistently strong. Some graduates establish their own technology companies or develop freelance practices.

Others go on to postgraduate study in computer science, data science, AI or cybersecurity, building on the undergraduate foundation to develop more specialist expertise in rapidly growing areas.