Computer Science with International Foundation Year

This is a 4-year undergraduate degree programme with a fully embedded International Foundation Year.  During the International Foundation year, you will develop your English language, academic skills, and subject knowledge, in a favourable learning environment at INTO, designed to meet your specific needs.  Your learning is well paced and supported with a generous allocation of teaching time.

The Foundation year of the programme consists of:

·         Two academic content modules

·         A module in English language for academic study

·         A module in current issues and research skills.

You will explore the academic content modules through studying and applying core concepts and principles, whilst developing the relevant technical and communication skills.

The Foundation year will give you experience of the expectations of study as a university student, while at the same time enabling you to benefit from small-group academic tuition and tutorial support.  In the following year, depending on your achieving the required academic and linguistic standards, you will move to the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy (FESE) and join the first year of a Computer Science degree programme

The BSc Computer Science degree programme offers an education in Computer Science that is both broad and deep. As well as covering basic elements such as computer fundamentals, programming, information systems, enterprise computing, social and professional issues, and the world-wide web, it also has a distinctive flavour from, firstly, its emphasis on applied computing (drawing on inter-disciplinary research and computing across the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences), and secondly, through its engagement with the research interests of the Computer Science group within the College, notably Machine Learning, Pattern Recognition, and Knowledge Representation.
 

The Foundation year of the BSc Computer Science with International Foundation Year programme aims to help you meet the linguistic and academic requirements for progression to the first, and subsequent stages of a Computer Science degree at Exeter.

Through the International Foundation Year of the programme, we aim to:

• Enable you to increase your knowledge and skills in your given discipline to a level equivalent to A-level study
• Help you to improve your English to the level required for entry onto a BSc Computer Science degree at the University of Exeter, making sure that you can use written and spoken language appropriately in an academic context
• Help you to develop the necessary study skills and approaches to learning required in undergraduate level study
• Develop your independent research and study skills
• Provide you with the technical, communication and personal skills that you will need both in your further studies and in employment
• Introduce you to the culture of academic study in a UK higher education institution

Through the BSc Computer Science stages of the programme we aim to:

• Provide you with knowledge and understanding of how computer systems are organised and how they work
• Give you a thorough grounding in computer programming techniques and skills, including both procedural programming and object-oriented programming
• Give you practical experience and understanding of a range of techniques for developing and maintaining software
• Give you experience of applying computer science techniques to a range of problems in science and business
• Provide you with the mathematical and logical techniques underpinning computation
• Introduce you to some current research topics in computer science
• Engage you in extended project work both as an individual and as a member of a team
• Foster an awareness of the social, legal, and ethical dimensions to the work of computer professionals
• Help you to attain the necessary speaking, writing, and presentation skills to communicate your ideas effectively.

The BSc in Computer Science with International Foundation year is a 4-year programme of study at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 6 (as confirmed against the FHEQ). This programme is divided into 4 ‘Stages’. Each Stage is normally equivalent to an academic year.  The programme is also divided into units of study called ‘modules’ which are assigned a number of ‘credits’. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with 1 credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work.

The Foundation year of your programme will be taught by INTO University of Exeter with the subsequent 3 stages being taught by the Computer Science department at the University.

Exit Awards

If you do not complete the programme you may be able to exit with a lower qualification. If you have achieved 120 credits in the Foundation stage, you may be awarded a Foundation Certificate.  If you have achieved 120 credits following stage one, you may be awarded a Certificate of Higher Education in Computer Science, and if you achieve 240 credits, where at least 90 credits are at NQF Level 5 or above, you may be awarded a Diploma of Higher Education in Computer Science.

Credit

The programme consists of 480 credits with 120 credits taken at each stage. Normally not more than 75 credits would be allowed in any one term. In total, students normally take no more than 150 credits at NQF Level 4, and must take at least 90 credits at NQF Level 6.

The pass mark for award of credit in an individual module is 40%.

Progression

You can progress from the Foundation stage to stage 1 provided that you have achieved a mark of at least 60% in Mathematics and Statistics (INT0065), 65% in Foundation Academic English (INT0052), and an average mark of at least 63% across the following 90 credits:  INT0053, INT0065, and one module to be chosen from INT0063, INT0064, INT0066, INT0067, INT0068, INT0069, INT0070.

You can then progress to the next stage (or in the final year, to proceed to the award of an honours degree) once at least 90 credits have been passed in a stage, and provided that an average of at least 40% has been achieved over the 120 credits of assessment for that stage.

Condonement

Condonement is the process that allows you to be awarded credit (and so progress to the next stage or, in the final stage, receive an award), despite failing to achieve a pass mark at a first attempt. You are not entitled to reassessment in condoned credit.

You must have registered for and participated in modules amounting to at least 120 credits in the stage.

You must pass the modules marked with a Yes in the ;non-condonable column in the tables above.


Assessment and Awards

Assessment at stage one does not contribute to the summative classification of the award. The award will normally be based on the degree mark formed from the credit-weighted average marks for stages 2 and 3 combined in the ratio 1:2 respectively.
 

In accordance with University policy a system of personal tutors is in place for all students on this programme.  A University-wide statement on such provision is included in the University's TQA Manual.  As a student enrolled on this programme you will receive the personal and academic support of the Programme Coordinator and will have regular scheduled meetings with your Personal Tutor; you may request additional meetings as and when required. The role of personal tutors is to provide you with advice and support for the duration of the programme and extends to providing you with details of how to obtain support and guidance on personal difficulties such as accommodation, financial difficulties and sickness. You can also make an appointment to see individual teaching staff.


Information Technology (IT) Services provide a wide range of services throughout the Exeter campuses including open access computer rooms, some of which are available 24 hours, 7 days a week.  Help may be obtained through the Helpdesk, and most study bedrooms in halls and flats are linked to the University's campus network.


Additionally, the College has its own dedicated IT support staff, helpdesk and computer facilities which are linked to the wider network, but which also provide access to some specialised software packages.  Email is an important channel of communication between staff and students in the College and an extensive range of web-based information (see https://student-harrison.emps.ex.ac.uk/index.php) is maintained for the use of students, including a comprehensive and annually revised student handbook.


The Harrison Learning Resource Centre is generally open during building open hours. The Centre is available for quiet study, with four separate rooms that can be booked for meetings and group work. Amongst its facilities, the Learning Resource Centre has a number of desks, four meeting rooms with large LCD screens, and free use of a photocopier. Also available are core set texts from your module reading lists, and undergraduate and MSc projects from the past two years.


Online Module study resources provide materials for modules that you are registered for, in addition to some useful subject and IT resources. Generic study support resources, library and research skills, past exam papers, and the 'Academic Honesty and Plagiarism' module are also available through the student portal.

For the Foundation stage, INTO University of Exeter also provides

·         Its own computer suites, printing facilities and AccessAbility

·         One-to-one language tutorials to support subject assignments

·         Dedicated support for applications for further study

·         Language counsellors who speak a range of languages and who provide pastoral care and can communicate in the student’s own native language

·         A social programme specifically for INTO University of Exeter students

Student/Staff Liaison Committee enables students & staff to jointly participate in the management and review of the teaching and learning provision.

All applications are considered individually on merit. The University is committed to an equal opportunities policy with respect to gender, age, race, sexual orientation and/or disability when dealing with applications. It is also committed to widening access to higher education to students from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience.

Candidates must satisfy the general admissions requirements of the University of Exeter.

For entry to the BSc Computer Science with International Foundation Year, academic entry requirements are:

Normal completion of 12 years of education;

A-Levels at grades DDE 64 points (140 old) (local language A/AS Levels are accepted); IB 20 points; Country-specific entry qualifications can be obtained from INTO Admissions.

English:  IELTS 5.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in all subskills (or equivalent)

Minimum grade C in GCSE Maths; IB Maths SL 3 / HL 2 or A/AS grade E/D in Maths if not offered at O Level / GCSE;

Unless otherwise specified, subjects recognised must relate to ‘academic’ subjects or modules only.

Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures. The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice.  See the University's TQA Manual for details.

The University and its constituent Colleges draw on a range of data in their regular review of the quality of provision.  The annual produced Performance Indicator Dataset details admission, progression, completion and first career destination data, including comparisons over a five-year period Progression statistics form part of routine internal monitoring and review processes (see 18 below).

The BSc (Hons) Computer Science is accredited by the BCS (the Chartered Institute for IT) for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional, and (on behalf of the Engineering Council) for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer. A programme of accredited further learning will be required to complete the educational base for CEng. Note, this degree programme, BSc Computer Science with International Foundation Year, is closely related to BSc Computer Science but is not accredited.

Accreditation is awarded for a maximum of 5 years under each assessment exercise. The dates applicable to the current accreditation of this degree programme can be viewed on the BCS list of accredited degrees: https://www.bcs.org/, and on the Engineering Council list of accredited degrees: www.engc.org.uk/acad.