MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Biomechanics
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BSc (Hons) Computer Science (User Experience) (with a Placement Year)
Twickenham
INTAKE: September
Program Overview
The BSc (Hons) Computer Science (User Experience) (with a Placement Year) at St. Mary's University, Twickenham, is an immersive four-year undergraduate degree specifically designed to equip students with a powerful blend of foundational computer science expertise and highly sought-after skills in user experience (UX) design. This program focuses on the critical intersection of technology and human interaction, enabling graduates to create intuitive, effective, and enjoyable digital products and services. A distinctive and integral component of this degree is the compulsory year-long industrial placement, typically undertaken between the second and final academic years. This placement offers unparalleled real-world experience within UX teams or related digital design roles, fostering crucial commercial awareness and enabling students to build vital professional networks. The curriculum emphasizes practical application through diverse assessments such as UX projects, portfolios, user interaction case studies, and group design projects, moving beyond traditional written examinations. This approach ensures graduates are exceptionally well-prepared to lead and innovate in the rapidly evolving landscape of digital design and technology.
Curriculum: The curriculum for the BSc (Hons) Computer Science (User Experience) (with a Placement Year) is meticulously structured to provide a comprehensive and progressive understanding of both computer science fundamentals and specialised UX principles. The first year establishes foundational computing skills with modules including Computer Systems and Networks, Mathematics for Computer Science, Programming Principles and Techniques, Database Systems, Object-Oriented Programming, 1 and Web Design and Development. As students advance into the second year, they delve into core UX and related computer science concepts through modules such as Data Structures and Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, User Research and Analysis, Data Visualisation, User Interface Design, and a crucial Team Project where students apply their skills to real-world client briefs. The third year is dedicated entirely to the compulsory industrial placement, offering a critical opportunity to apply learned UX and computer science skills and gain professional exposure within a relevant industry setting. The final academic year culminates in a significant Individual Project, allowing for specialised UX research, design, or development, complemented by advanced modules including Software Testing and Quality Assurance, Usability Testing and Evaluation, Advanced Topics in Computer Science, and Advanced User Experience Design, ensuring students are equipped with cutting-edge UX knowledge and its practical applications.
Research Focus: While the BSc (Hons) Computer Science (User Experience) (with a Placement Year) is a highly practical undergraduate program, its curriculum at St. Mary's University is continuously informed by current research and cutting-edge developments within the fields of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), User Experience (UX) design, and broader computer science. The academic staff, many of whom possess significant industry experience, actively integrate the latest insights in areas such as user-centred design methodologies, usability engineering, interaction design patterns, accessibility, and emerging technologies for intuitive interfaces into their teaching. Students are consistently encouraged to develop strong analytical, problem-solving, and user research capabilities throughout the program, particularly through various UX projects, user interaction case studies, and their culminating final-year individual project. This project often involves designing and evaluating innovative user experiences or investigating new methods for enhancing usability, enabling students to engage in applied research and contribute to human-centred technology.
Industry Engagement: Industry engagement is a fundamental and integrated aspect of the BSc (Hons) Computer Science (User Experience) (with a Placement Year) program at St. Mary's University, designed to ensure graduates are highly employable and possess relevant, real-world skills for the digital design and tech sectors. The compulsory year-long industrial placement is a pivotal feature, providing students with unparalleled hands-on experience within UX design teams, software development companies, or other digital agencies. Beyond the placement, the university actively fosters strong connections with the industry through various initiatives. Students benefit from engaging lectures delivered by industry guest speakers from leading tech organisations, participate in hackathons, and attend industry conferences and tech meetups. There are also opportunities for field trips to prominent tech companies and industry partners. The curriculum includes a second-year team project where students often develop software or digital solutions for real clients, providing direct exposure to industry practices and client demands. The university's London location provides exceptional access to networking opportunities and potential career pathways with diverse industry partners seeking UX talent.
Global Perspective: The BSc (Hons) Computer Science (User Experience) (with a Placement Year) program at St. Mary's University integrates a strong global perspective, preparing graduates for the increasingly interconnected and diverse landscape of digital product design. The curriculum explores universal UX principles, methodologies, and design thinking approaches that transcend geographical boundaries, such as international usability standards, cross-cultural design considerations, and the impact of technology on diverse global user bases. Students gain an understanding of designing for global markets, considering cultural nuances and accessibility requirements. The program's emphasis on practical, industry-aligned skills, reinforced by the compulsory placement year, ensures that the expertise developed is highly relevant and transferable across international markets. Moreover, the placement can expose students to multinational corporations or international design teams, fostering an understanding of diverse working environments and cross-cultural collaboration in the global tech and design economy.
Location
Twickenham
Score
IELTS 6
Tuition Fee
£ 17100
Undergraduate Entry Requirements
Academic Qualifications: Applicants should have successfully completed their secondary education with a minimum overall score of 70% or equivalent in their respective country's grading system.
English language proficiency:
- IELTS: A minimum overall score of 6.0 or 6.5 with no individual component below 5.5.
- TOEFL: A minimum overall score of 80.
- PTE Academic: A minimum overall score of 55.
- Some programs may have specific subject prerequisites or additional requirements.
St. Mary’s University Twickenham offers a variety of scholarships to support international students in financing their education and rewarding academic achievement. These scholarships are designed to ease the financial burden and recognize the talents and hard work of students coming from all over the world.
International Student Scholarships: St. Mary’s provides International Student Scholarships for students from a range of countries. These scholarships are typically partial fee reductions, aimed at making education more affordable. Eligible students are selected based on academic merit, financial need, and their potential to contribute to the university community. The scholarships are open to both undergraduate and postgraduate international students.
Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship: The Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship is one of the most prestigious awards available to international students at St. Mary’s University. This scholarship offers a significant reduction in tuition fees for high-achieving students, with eligibility determined by academic performance and specific course requirements. Students from a variety of regions, including Africa, Asia, and Latin America, are encouraged to apply for this highly competitive scholarship.
Country-Specific Scholarships: In addition to general international scholarships, St. Mary’s offers country-specific scholarships for students from certain regions. These scholarships provide additional financial assistance and are designed to support students from areas where educational opportunities may be limited. International students from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas are often eligible for these specialized scholarships.
Sports Scholarships: For students excelling in sports, St. Mary’s University provides Sports Scholarships. These awards are available to talented athletes who demonstrate the potential to represent the university in competitive sports. Sports scholars benefit from personalized coaching, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and financial support to help balance academic and athletic commitments.
The BSc (Hons) Computer Science (User Experience) (with a Placement Year) at St. Mary's University, Twickenham, equips graduates with a unique blend of foundational computer science expertise and highly sought-after skills in user experience (UX) design. This program allows individuals to understand both the technical underpinnings of software and the intricate aspects of human-computer interaction, enabling them to create intuitive, effective, and enjoyable digital products. The compulsory year-long industrial placement provides invaluable real-world experience, significantly enhancing their practical abilities, commercial awareness, and professional networks. Graduates emerge from this program exceptionally well-prepared for a diverse array of roles in the rapidly expanding digital design and technology sectors.
UX Designer: This is a core role where graduates apply user research, create user flows, wireframes, and prototypes, and conduct usability testing to ensure optimal user experiences for websites, mobile applications, and software. Their practical experience from the placement year directly translates into a strong portfolio for this role.
UI Designer (User Interface Designer): Focusing on the visual and interactive elements of digital products, UI designers ensure interfaces are aesthetically pleasing, intuitive, and consistent. Graduates leverage their understanding of graphic design principles, typography, and interaction design, often collaborating closely with UX designers.
UX Researcher: These professionals specialise in understanding user behaviours, needs, and motivations through various research methods like interviews, surveys, and usability studies. Graduates analyse data to provide data-driven insights that inform design decisions, acting as the "voice of the user" within development teams.
Interaction Designer: With a strong computer science background, graduates can focus on designing the interactive behaviours of digital products, mapping out user actions, system responses, and animations to create seamless and engaging user journeys. The placement year provides exposure to real-world interaction design challenges.
Product Designer: A holistic role that often encompasses both UX and UI design, product designers are involved in the entire lifecycle of a digital product from conception and strategy to development and post-launch iteration. Graduates' technical understanding, enhanced by their placement, allows them to create feasible and user-centred products.
Usability Analyst/Tester: These specialists rigorously evaluate the ease of use and learnability of digital products. They design and conduct usability tests, identify areas of friction or confusion for users, and provide actionable recommendations for improvement, directly applying the skills gained from the program's emphasis on usability testing and evaluation.
Information Architect: Graduates can specialise in organising and structuring content within websites, applications, and other digital products to ensure users can easily find and understand information. This involves creating sitemaps, navigation structures, and content hierarchies based on user mental models.
Front-End Developer (with UX/UI Specialism): While primarily a coding role, graduates with a UX specialism bring a strong understanding of user needs and design principles to their code. They build the user-facing parts of websites and applications using languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, ensuring visual design and interactions are implemented effectively and meet usability standards.
Accessibility Specialist: These professionals focus on ensuring digital products are usable by people with diverse abilities, adhering to accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG). Graduates apply their deep understanding of human-computer interaction and inclusive design to make technology accessible to all users.
Digital Consultant (UX/Product Focus): Leveraging their strong technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and real-world experience from their placement, graduates can advise businesses on digital strategies, user experience improvements, and product development. They help clients understand user needs and translate them into effective digital solutions.
