International Year One in Computing

Academic English Skills aims to provide thorough training in the language and related academic skills which will enable international students to best achieve their academic potential at university. Our Academic English programme is validated by UK ENIC, the UK government agency responsible for providing information and expert opinion on qualifications and skills worldwide. 

You will develop awareness and competency in a range of language-related academic skills, including the processes of academic writing, effective and extensive reading strategies, effective participation in seminars and delivery of presentations, and listening to and recording information effectively from lectures. You will also develop the accuracy and range of written and spoken language required to use language effectively and appropriately, with clarity and confidence in an academic context. 

Alongside your classes, your studies will be supported by an online learning platform, providing you with a range of tasks and activities specifically designed to develop and extend your language and academic skills outside the classroom and to give you more control over your own learning. 

This module introduces students to the principles of object-oriented programming (OOP) using Java, a widely adopted, robust, and scalable programming language. Through a structured and applied approach, students will explore core OOP concepts, including encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction, while developing essential problem-solving and computational thinking skills. Practical application is central to the module, with students learning to implement data structures and algorithms, manage file input/output, and build graphical user interfaces using JavaFX. The module also emphasises good programming style, maintainability, and technical communication, supporting students in developing software that is functional, secure, and user-friendly.

This module introduces students to the foundational principles of computer systems, exploring how hardware and software components interact to perform computing tasks. Students will examine the internal structure and operation of digital systems, gaining an understanding of how data is represented, processed and stored within a computer. Core topics include digital logic, processor organisation, instruction execution, memory hierarchy and input/output mechanisms.

The module also explores the role and key features of modern operating systems, providing insight into how they manage hardware resources, control processes, handle files and enable user interaction. Students will investigate concepts such as scheduling, memory management, file systems and system security to understand how operating systems support reliable and efficient computing. Through a systems-thinking approach, learners will develop a holistic understanding of how hardware and software components integrate to create functional and dependable computer systems in real-world contexts.

This module provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the professional, ethical, legal, and technical responsibilities expected of computing professionals, alongside practical skills in data management and modelling. Through the module, students explore the principles of professional practice, including codes of conduct, roles and responsibilities within multi-disciplinary teams, mentoring, continuing professional development, and the pathways to professional certification.

Students engage critically with legal, ethical, and societal issues, including intellectual property, data protection and privacy (e.g., GDPR), environmental and political considerations, health and safety, and the ethical implications of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automated surveillance systems.

In addition, the module develops project and organisational skills, including understanding organisational structures, team dynamics and project planning. Students gain hands-on experience with tools such as Excel and Power BI, enabling them to manipulate, present and interpret data effectively.

Finally, the module introduces relational database concepts and data modelling techniques, covering entity-relationship modelling, schema design, normalisation, and SQL querying for data manipulation and retrieval.

By integrating professional practice with relational database skills, and tools such as Excel and Power BI, this module prepares students to function competently, ethically and responsibly as computing professionals capable of managing and structuring data in real-world contexts. 

This module provides students with the theoretical foundations and practical skills necessary to design, develop and secure modern web-based systems. It introduces the core principles of web design and usability, enabling students to create accessible, interactive and visually coherent. Students will focus on client-side development, gaining hands-on experience with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, DOM Manipulation, JSON and third-party libraries commonly used in professional front-end development environments.

This module provides a rigorous introduction to the mathematical concepts and techniques that underpin modern computer science and artificial intelligence. It builds the foundational knowledge necessary for algorithm development, data structures, machine learning, graphics, and formal reasoning. Students will explore both discrete and continuous mathematics, including algebra, logic, set theory, calculus, graph theory, linear algebra, numerical methods, and probability. The module is designed to develop mathematical fluency, abstract thinking, and analytical problem-solving skills which are essential tools for computing professionals in a data-driven and algorithm-intensive environment.

This module introduces students to key principles and practices that underpin collaborative software development and problem-solving in professional computing environments. It equips learners with both technical and interpersonal skills essential for working effectively within software teams. Students will begin by exploring team-working principles, understanding the various roles and responsibilities within a development team - such as developer, tester, reviewer and project manager - and learning collaborative coding practices. Emphasis is placed on clear communication, effective documentation, and conflict resolution, mirroring real-world professional development environments. Alongside teamwork and problem-solving, students will gain practical experience using collaboration tools integrated within modern IDEs.

This module provides a strong foundation in the core topics underpinning Software Engineering. It engages students in applying discrete mathematics, logic and set theory to practical problems and demonstrates how these concepts relate to the production of software. The module facilitates appreciation and understanding of professional software engineering practice, including project planning, requirements engineering, software specification, modelling and testing. It also develops a logical and structured approach to the construction of quality software using the Software Development Lifecycle, with consideration of both the application of Artificial Intelligence in software development and traditional development approaches.

This module introduces students to the practical principles of team-based software design, development, and evaluation within a collaborative environment. It aims to strengthen programming competence through increasingly complex software projects while developing essential professional Software Engineering practices. Students will engage with core object-oriented concepts, code quality techniques, and software design principles, applying these in realistic team settings that mirror industry workflows. Emphasis is placed on effective teamwork, communication, documentation and the use of modern collaboration tools such as Git/GitHub and Integrated Development Environments (IDEs). Through these activities, students will gain practical experience in project planning, version control and collaborative problem-solving, preparing them for professional software development roles.

This module introduces students to the key principles and practices of cyber-crime investigation and digital forensics. With a balance of theoretical knowledge and hands-on technical skills, students will explore the fundamentals of computer security, the nature of digital crime, and the role of the digital forensic examiner. They will also gain practical experience with industry-standard forensic tools and techniques for the collection, analysis and reporting of digital evidence. The module also addresses the legal, ethical and professional responsibilities involved in forensic investigations and prepares students for further study or employment in cyber security and digital forensics roles.

The increasing sophistication and frequency of cyber threats demand professionals who can approach security challenges with both technical expertise and systematic problem-solving skills. This module provides students with a foundational understanding of how to analyse, model and solve cyber security problems that span technical, human and organisational dimensions.

Students are introduced to the nature of cyber security problems and develop a problem-solving mindset that emphasises critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and creativity. Through structured approaches, students gain the ability to decompose multifaceted security issues into manageable components that can be effectively addressed using suitable techniques.