Computer Science BSc (Hons)

Level: Undergraduate

Subject: Computer Science (Informatics)

Year of entry: 2027 (show 2026 entry)

Key facts

UCAS Code

G400

Award

BSc (Hons)

Duration of study

4 years

Delivery

Full-time

Study location

Multiple campuses

Start date

September 2027

School

School of Informatics

College

College of Science and Engineering

Study abroad

Available

Placement

No

Open days and events

About the degree programme

Computer science is about understanding, designing, implementing and using computing systems. These systems can range in scale, and complexity, from the tiny components of a single processor to the globe-spanning internet.

The core concepts of computing come from mathematics, logic and engineering, such as:

  • what it means to compute
  • what can or cannot be computed
  • how computers work

Applications of computer science

Computer science is also about the practical techniques of programming computers to solve real and difficult problems. There are many links to other subjects, including:

  • electronics
  • physics
  • mathematics
  • biology
  • psychology
  • linguistics
  • sociology

This intellectually challenging subject underpins core technologies of the 21st century and can be a route into many different careers.

We offer a wide range of courses delivered by leaders in their field. Our degree flexibility allows you to tailor your experience to your interests and be in control of your learning.

What is the difference between BEng in Computer Science and BSc in Computer Science?

There is almost no difference in content between a BSc and a BEng, but the BEng imposes slightly stricter course selection rules and requires that all honours courses are passed, whereas it is possible to gain a BSc if an honours course is failed but there is an overall average of 40%. 

The British Computer Society accredits the BEng. Employers treat both degrees the same and a BSc or a BEng in Computer Science from the University of Edinburgh should carry weight anywhere in the world. 

The choice of BEng is designed for students who come from countries where computer science is regarded as an engineering discipline rather than a science. 

You can swap between these two programmes if you find one qualification would benefit you over the other. 

Is this degree for me?

You do not need to have taken Computer Science or learned programming as all students are taught computation from a common starting point. You need to have taken mathematics, as enthusiasm for mathematics is key to being successful in our programmes.

Second year entry is not available.

How long it takes to complete this degree programme

This programme is studied over 4 years.

A key benefit to studying a 4-year degree programme is that you have the flexibility to study a range of subjects, outside your chosen degree programme, in Year 1 and Year 2.

This allows you the opportunity to study other courses that interest you or enhance your degree. By the end of Year 2, you can decide which of these subject areas you want to focus on in the honours years of your programme.

How long it takes to complete our degree programmes

Programme rankings

  • 23rd in the world and 4th in the UK for Computer Science in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
  • We consistently rank top 30 globally for Computer Science 

Programme benefits

  • Tailor your experience to your interests and be in control of your learning: choose from a wide range of courses, from the theoretical to those that let you apply what you learn.
  • Gain a degree that opens doors in most industries: our graduates are in high demand not only within the growing technology sector but across a wide range of organisations where Informatics graduates are highly valued.
  • Benefit from research-driven teaching by internationally leading academics.
  • Take advantage of our strong links to industry with local, national and global contacts. Student societies based in our School host industry events, monthly student tech meetups, regular workshops and hackathons.
  • Study in Edinburgh, a vibrant and multicultural city, ranked 2nd best student city in the UK and 15th in the world (QS Best Student Cities 2026).
  • We are the largest Informatics department in Europe. You will be part of a large, vibrant community of students and staff from over 100 countries.  

The programme provides a great balance of theory and practical learning opportunities. We had lectures to teach us the theory, and tutorials and lab sessions to put our fresh knowledge to use right away.

The weekly InfBase and MathBase sessions helped me a lot when I was struggling. I met a lot of people from various cultural backgrounds while studying there, and it was always interesting when we exchanged cultures!

Alvin Bong 3rd Year BSc Computer Science
Alvin Bong

Find your entry requirements

Use the dropdowns to find out your entry requirements.

  1. Select the country or region where you are studying or where you studied your qualification.
  2. Select the qualification you are studying or studied.
United Kingdom,

Tuition fees for BSc (Hons) Computer Science

View the tuition fees for one academic year of BSc (Hons) Computer Science.

Tuition fees for this programme

Additional costs

We recommend you obtain a personal laptop for your studies, although it does not need to be new or powerful. Read our advice on what to buy, or how to borrow a laptop:

Informatics Student Laptop Guidance

All students also have access to computing facilities in Appleton Tower and remote access to computing servers to run software that is too demanding to set up or run on a personal machine.

While some students purchase key academic textbooks, all essential reading materials will be freely available through the University library.

Costs for an optional year abroad

If you study abroad in Year 3 through the University's study exchange programme, you will need to pay related costs. These include:

  • tuition fees
  • accommodation and living costs
  • country-specific expenses like travel, visas and insurance

You can use our budget calculator to help estimate your costs.

Find out more about costs for studying abroad

You can also use a tool like Numbeo to compare the cost of living abroad to Edinburgh or your home town or city.

Numbeo

If you are away on exchange or placement, you may receive a reduction in your tuition fees for the year. This depends on:

  • the type of placement you are on
  • how long you are away

As an indication, you can see the reductions for students studying away in 2026-27. These are reviewed annually and are subject to change.

Study away fees for 2026-27

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that a single student can potentially spend £1,023 to £2,043 each month on living costs, depending on your accommodation.

This estimate covers the costs of:

  • accommodation
  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel within Edinburgh
  • health and wellbeing costs

See a breakdown of living costs

Scholarships and funding

Funding information

You can find detailed information on financial support available, based on where you are living, in our funding section.

Funding

What you will study

Our programmes start with a mostly common core of mathematics courses and informatics courses, with increasing choices for specialisation in later years depending on your interests.

If you are taking a joint degree, you will also have to take compulsory courses in your second subject, and the precise mathematics you take may differ.

Each year you will have 120 credits worth of courses spread across two semesters. Some of these credits will go toward compulsory courses and the remaining will go toward option courses. Option courses may be in schools outside the School of Informatics.

Curriculum renewal

We are undertaking an ongoing curriculum renewal, which may result in changes to this degree programme.

This renewal makes sure we equip you for an exciting career in the ever-changing world of computer science.

The information provided reflects the current structure and content of our programmes and courses, and may change in future years based on the needs of the School and its students.

Degree overview

Flexibility

Most Informatics students take the same, or compatible, compulsory courses in their early years. Therefore, you can normally switch between programmes offered by the School of Informatics after Year 1, and sometimes in later years. It is more complicated, and often not possible, to transfer from a degree in other schools.

You will be introduced to basic principles of programming and computation. 

What you will study: 

  • how information can be represented and processed in computer systems
  • computer programming
  • how to solve problems using computer programs
  • an introduction to critical skills and professional practices which will inform your career, including ethics, critical thinking and communication skills 

This year also includes at least one mathematics course necessary for all areas of informatics. Depending on the level of your previous mathematics qualifications, you may be required to take an introductory course that provides extra preparation in key topics from advanced high school level mathematics and further supports your transition to university.

You must take a diagnostic mathematics test, which will be available from mid-August. You will get your result straight away. Based on your result and previous qualifications, you may be advised to enrol in the introductory mathematics course.
This course counts towards your 120 first-year credits. If you take it, you may have fewer options when choosing option courses.

Together, these form the foundations for more in-depth study of computation in future years. You can also choose from optional courses from various schools across the University. 

Find courses

The courses you can study will vary from year to year and may be different for your year of entry.

You can get an idea of what you might study by viewing the latest course information for this programme.

Find Year 1 courses (2025-2026 academic year)

You will build on Year 1, covering more advanced programming and data structures with the related mathematics, and broader professional and societal issues. 

You will develop a greater understanding of: 

  • software development
  • foundations of data science
  • algorithms and data structures
  • the internals of computers and/or computer systems
  • the professional, social and ethical context of computing 

You can also choose from option courses from various schools across the University. 

Find courses

The courses you can study will vary from year to year and may be different for your year of entry.

You can get an idea of what you might study by viewing the latest course information for this programme.

Find Year 2 courses (2025-2026 academic year)

Your studies will become more focused and you will have more choice in selecting specialised courses. We offer a range of options specific to computer science and other courses in informatics. 

Your coursework assignments will typically provide you with experience in: 

  • practical work
  • independent problem solving
  • group work 

Your exact curriculum depends on your chosen courses. Third year courses cover a range of exciting topics, including: 

  • robotics
  • computer security
  • machine learning and AI
  • computer systems and networks
  • software engineering
  • algorithms 
Find courses

The courses you can study will vary from year to year and may be different for your year of entry.

You can get an idea of what you might study by viewing the latest course information for this programme.

Find Year 3 courses (2025-2026 academic year)

You will choose from a large number of advanced courses to build a portfolio according to your interests. 

Year 4 includes an individual honours project where you will develop a viable project starting from a given topic. You will have a variety of choices when selecting your topic with a supervisor to guide you. 

Find courses

The courses you can study will vary from year to year and may be different for your year of entry.

You can get an idea of what you might study by viewing the latest course information for this programme.

Find Year 4 courses (2025-2026 academic year)

Study abroad

In Year 3, you may be able to study abroad at one of our partner universities.

The University of Edinburgh has a wide range of partners across the world. Some of our partner universities are located in:

  • Australia
  • USA
  • Canada
  • Europe
  • Singapore
Subject-specific agreements

Subject-specific exchanges are also open to students of the School of Informatics. Destinations of recent placements completed by students include:

  • Germany
  • Switzerland
  • Spain
  • USA

Exchanges are for a full academic year.  

What are my choices for going abroad?

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

You will be taught by leaders in their field through a combination of:

  • lectures
  • tutorials
  • practical classes

In later years, you will spend more time working on projects that involve:

  • building computer systems from scratch
  • developing systems
  • doing experimental work

Assessment

You will be assessed by:

  • coursework assignments
  • larger projects
  • exams

You will undertake some project work individually and some with other students. 

You will complete a large individual project in Year 4.

All of our programmes start with a common core of mathematics courses and informatics courses, with increasing options for specialisation in later years depending on your interests.  

Monday 
  • 10am to 10:50am Calculus and Algebra Fundamentals – Mathematics 1 (lecture)*
  • 2:10pm to 3pm Introduction to Computation – Informatics 1 (lecture)
  • 4:10pm to 6pm Computer Workshop - Informatics 1 (optional) 
Tuesday  
  • 10am to 11am Elective/Joint Subject (tutorial)
  • 2:10pm to 3pm Introduction to Computation – Informatics 1 (lecture)
  • 2pm to 3pm Elective/Joint Subject (lecture) 
Wednesday  
  • 10am to 10:50am Calculus and Algebra Fundamentals – Mathematics 1 (lecture)*
  • 12:30pm to 2pm Calculus and Algebra Fundamentals – Mathematics 1 (workshop)* 
Thursday  
  • 9:30am to 10:50am Introduction to Computation – Informatics 1 (tutorial)
  • 2:10pm to 3pm Calculus and Algebra Fundamentals – Mathematics 1 (lecture)*
  • 4:10pm to 6pm Computer Workshop - Informatics 1 (optional) 
Friday  
  • 11:10am to 12:30pm Introduction to Computation – Informatics 1 (lecture)
  • 2pm to 3pm Elective/Joint Subject (lecture) 

*Calculus and Algebra Fundamentals is required depending on the level of your previous mathematics qualifications. You may be required to take an introductory course that provides extra preparation in key topics from advanced high school level mathematics and further supports your transition to university. Students not taking this course will need to take a further 20 credits. 

Optional peer-assisted learning sessions for computing (InfPALs) and mathematics (MathPALS) are available throughout the week. 

This timetable is only intended to give you an idea of how your time might be spent in Year 1, Semester 1 based on courses offered in 2025.   

We are undertaking an ongoing curriculum renewal, so expect these courses and contact hours to change.

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services throughout your degree. 

Student Advisers 

You will have a named Student Adviser who you can visit in Appleton Tower. They provide guidance and support to you at key points in your study journey, or with changes to your personal circumstances.

Where appropriate, they will liaise with other University Support Services, so they can provide the best possible support and advice for you. They can also help with a wide range of administrative and practical issues to do with your degree programme. 

My Student Adviser 

Cohort Lead

A Cohort Lead is an academic member of staff who supports a group – or cohort - of students, usually on the same degree programme, with their studies. They create an academic community through group activities such as academic drop-ins and celebrations of key events.

Peer support 

Students in the School of Informatics have access to services that support their learning, particularly at the beginning of their degree. We continually review the support services on offer, but recently these have included:

  • InfPALS is a peer support service for Year 1 students focusing on material covered in courses and general topics related to informatics. 
  • InfBase is a drop-in help desk for Year 1 and 2 students to get additional tutoring and support with their courses. 
  • Academic families connect Informatics students across all years for community, mentorship and fun through small "families" led by upper-year students. 

Where you will study

Study location

You will be mostly based in the School of Informatics with lectures, tutorials and classes held in Appleton Tower. The building is located in the University's Central Campus area and provides purpose-built facilities and dedicated learning and teaching spaces.

You will also attend classes in the Nucleus building at the King’s Buildings campus. The King’s Buildings campus is around 15 minutes by bus from the Central Campus. The Nucleus building is a new shared learning, teaching and social hub, built to a sustainable and environmentally efficient design.

Academic facilities

You will have access to high-spec computer laboratories in Appleton Tower and quality software support. You will also be able to use the University’s facilities, including libraries and common student spaces. 

Informatics Makerspace 

Situated in Appleton Tower, the Informatics Makerspace has a variety of manufacturing equipment, programmable platforms and robots which are all available for student use. These include:

  • farm of UltiMaker 3D printers
  • Arduinos and Raspberry Pi devices
  • robots, arms and parts
  • laser cutters
  • benchtop mill, PCB mill and printer
  • soldering stations
  • 3D scanners 

Career paths

Our graduates have excellent career prospects in the IT industry and beyond. We have a great reputation with local, national and global industry connections and contacts.

Our graduates are typically recruited to a wide variety of jobs, with popular roles including: 

  • software engineer
  • hardware engineer
  • app developer
  • web developer
  • programmer

Graduates increasingly work as data analysts, data scientists or business analysts in the financial sector.

Popular employers

Popular employers include:

  • Google
  • Meta
  • Amazon
  • IBM
  • SkyScanner
  • Intel
  • Samsung
  • ARM
  • Nvida
  • Keysight
  • RockStar North
  • NatWest
  • J.P. Morgan
  • Citigroup

Further examples of industries where our graduates have found employment:

  • media (for example, BBC)
  • communications (Ericsson, Huawei)
  • energy (British Gas)
  • medicine (Canon Medical Systems)

Start-ups and spinouts

The University of Edinburgh has a long track record of start-up companies and innovations, including key players in the industry set up by Informatics alumni:

  • FanDuel, a 'unicorn' company
  • Robotical
  • PlayerData
  • Speech Graphics
  • RISE Nutrition
  • Carbon Glance
  • Predictiva 
Edinburgh Innovations – start-up opportunities 

We have fantastic resources through the University’s commercialisation service, Edinburgh Innovations, to help you successfully nurture your entrepreneurial ideas and launch your own enterprise. 

Edinburgh Innovations 

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals.

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies.

With the Careers Service, you can:

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events such as the annual Careers in Tech and Data Fair which gives you the opportunity to meet recruiters actively looking to recruit our students
  • go to practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions

Visit the Careers Service website

Further study

After you complete your programme, you may want to go onto further study at Edinburgh or a different university. You could progress to:

  • a masters degree
  • a postgraduate diploma or certificate
  • a PhD
  • a second undergraduate degree

Find out about options for further study

How to apply

You must submit a full application through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) before the relevant deadline.

Guidance on applying through UCAS

Apply to one Computer Science degree  

Apply for only one Computer Science degree as we are only able to consider one application to this subject area.  

What you need to apply

As part of your application, you will need:

  • your academic qualifications
  • a personal statement
  • evidence of your English language skills (with relevant qualifications)
  • a reference

How we select

If you have met, or are predicted to meet, all our entry requirements by the relevant deadline, then your application will go into our selection process.

As part of this selection process, we will review all the information you submit in your UCAS application when we decide who to select for this degree programme.

How we select applicants

When to apply

  • 2027 entry UCAS deadline: 13 January 2027 (6:00pm GMT)

This is the deadline for all UK, EU and international applicants to non-medicine and veterinary medicine programmes.

To find out if any degree programmes have spaces after 13 January 2027, search the University of Edinburgh on the UCAS website.

Search degrees that are open on the UCAS website

Key application dates and deadlines

After you apply

After you have applied for your degree programme, we suggest you have a look at the following information to help you prepare for university:

Applying as an international student

As an international student, you apply for this degree programme through UCAS.  

Find out more about applying through UCAS  

Visas and immigration 

If you do not have the right to live in the UK, you will need to apply for and secure a Student visa before the start date of your degree programme.  

Our Student Immigration Service can help you with the Student visa application process. 

Applying for a visa  

Agents

An education agent is someone who can help you with the application process as an international student. 

We work with education agents around the world and have a list of local offices you can contact.  

Find contact details for an education agent

What our students say

Hear from Informatics students and staff as they share their experiences of studying on Central Campus.

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single undergraduate students from outside Edinburgh. To be eligible, you need to meet all criteria and apply for accommodation by 16 August in the year of your entry to the University.

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

Our societies and sports clubs will help you:

  • develop your interests
  • meet like-minded people
  • find a new hobby
  • socialise

There are numerous tech societies hosting:

  • hackathons
  • student tech meetups
  • regular workshops
  • social and industry events

Some recent industry speakers from our societies' events include:  

  • Spotify 
  • Meta  
  • Amazon 

Two of the most popular societies connected with our School are CompSoc, Scotland’s largest tech society, and Hoppers, our women and gender minorities in technology group. 

CompSoc 

Hoppers 

Our students also join several subject-related societies, including: 

  • Beneficial AI (Artificial Intelligence) 
  • EdIntelligence (Machine Learning) 
  • HumanED (robotics) 
  • Endeavour (rocketry) 
  • Edinburgh University Formula Student (automotive technology) 
  • Hyped (Hyperloop) 
  • Eclipse eSports (Esports) 
  • Women in STEM  

We also have School-specific sports teams in addition to the range of University sports teams you can join. 

School of Informatics Societies and Sports  

University Societies  

University Sports clubs

The city of Edinburgh

Hear from Informatics students and staff as they share their experiences of living in Edinburgh.

Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies. A city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. 

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include:

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustment

Health and wellbeing support services

Hear from Informatics students and staff as they share their experiences of the School community.

Contact us

Contact us through our enquiry team if you have any questions about this programme.

Open days, events and visits

Find out when our next open days will be taking place

Open days, events and visits

Chat to our students on Unibuddy

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