4.2 Welcome to the School of Computing and Communications

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The School of Computing and Communications offers broad-based computing undergraduate and postgraduate degrees covering software engineering, data science, cyber security and networking. Most modules award 30 credits, requiring a student to complete four modules or 120 credits for each undergraduate stage. Our postgraduate degrees require 180 credits in total and are all taught at a single stage.

The undergraduate degrees, which follow a traditional three-year degree format, allow students to study computing and another subject or top up previous study. Most of our students study part-time and can study as little as 30 credits a year, often alongside a full-time job and family responsibilities. We also offer degree apprenticeships in computing subjects in England, Scotland and Wales.

Our postgraduate study options allow students to study subjects at greater depth and normally require students to have completed an undergraduate degree in computing or have equivalent practical experience of the subject. We offer a range of study options including an MSc and a level 7 apprenticeship in Cyber Security in Scotland.

All of our modules are taught at a distance, primarily though our online virtual learning environment, although some modules also provide printed books containing the module material. Many modules have the option of some face-to-face tutorials, which take place in locations around the country.

For example, TM129 (Technologies in practice) offers students 8 hours of online tutorials and 6 hours of either online or face-to-face tutorials across 27 locations in the UK. However, most tutorials are delivered online through Adobe Connect.

Details of the degrees and the pathways within them can be found on the OU website for undergraduates [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] and post graduates. We also summarise them in this downloadable PDF.

4.3 What could you teach?