BSc Computer Science (Human Computer Interaction)

The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability and we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances.

For information about scholarships and bursaries please visit our  undergraduate student finance pages .

Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore there will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken.

Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offers you will receive.

The University of Manchester welcomes the provision of unit information where available.  Like all other information provided by applicants this may be taken into consideration when assessing your application.  Unit grades will not normally form part of an offer conditions.

5  GCSES at Grade  A/7 or B/6   (both numeric and letter grade) including:

• mathematics (please note we do not accept Applied GCSE Mathematics courses e.g. WJEC Mathematics - Numeracy)
• two science subjects from computer science, physics, chemistry, biology or science and additional science

English Language is required at GCSE level with a minimum Grade of  C / 4. GCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE English Language.

Changes to International Baccalaureate Diploma Mathematics Courses from September 2019, first examination 2021. We are aware of the planned changes to the IB Mathematics curriculum. IB students will be able to choose from: Mathematics: analysis and approaches and Mathematics: applications and interpretation from September 2019.

For this programme of study we will accept: Higher Level Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches only.

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. Detailed information on our international entry criteria is available on the  Department of Computer Science Website   

For general requirements not listed above see Accepted entry qualifications from your country

We normally require grade A in Highers Mathematics and grades AAAB in four further Highers subjects with a scientific bias.  The Highers must be taken in one sitting.

Or:

Three Advanced Highers at grades AAB, including two Advanced Highers in the following subjects: Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science and/or Statistics.  Two Highers in different subjects can replace the third Advanced Highers subject.

We also require grade 1 in five academic Intermediate 2 subjects, or grade A in five National 5 subjects, including mathematics and a physical science subject. If a physical science has not been taken at Higher/Advanced Higher we require two science subjects at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 grades AB / Intermediate 2 grades AB / Standard Grade Credit level).

English Language not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 grade C / Intermediate 2 grade C / Standard Grade 3).

We require an average of 85% including a minimum of 85% in mathematics studied for at least 5 periods per week and assessed by a final written examination.  A scientific bias to the specialist subjects studied.

The University recognises a number of foundation programmes as suitable for entry to this undergraduate programme:

Applicants completing the Northern Consortium (NCUK) International Foundation Year or INTO Manchester International Foundation in Science and Engineering programme in 2020 , are required to achieve A*A*A including two subjects from Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology, and an EAP score of B. A good performance in local examinations before starting the foundation year, particularly in mathematics and physical science, is also required.

Applicants studying other Foundation programmes should contact the academic Department to check if their qualification is recognised for entry to this programme and for specific entry requirements.

We consider the National Extended Diploma for entry provided it is in IT or Engineering with grades DDM in combination with grade A* in a A level or with an alternative of DDD in combination with grade A in a A level.  The A level must be in one of the following A level subjects: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Computer Science, Psychology or Statistics.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma

We consider the National Diploma for entry provided it is in IT or Engineering with grades DD in combination with a grade A* or an alternative of grades D*D in combination with a grade A.  The A level must be in one of the following A level subjects: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Computer Science, Psychology or Statistics.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma

We consider the National Foundation Diploma for entry in any subject provided it is in combination with two A levels from the following subjects: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Computer Science, Psychology or Statistics. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Foundation Diploma with grade M plus the two A levels at grades A*A from the listed subjects or an alternative of grade D plus the two A levels at grades AA from the listed subjects.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate

We consider the National Extended Certificate for entry in any subject provided it is in combination with two A levels from the subjects: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Computer Science, Psychology or Statistics.  Our A level entry requirements are grades A*AA and the full National Extended Certificate can be used to replace the third A level.

The University of Manchester welcomes applications from students who have achieved legacy CTEC qualifications (pre-2016) such as the CTEC Extended Diploma, CTEC Diploma, CTEC Subsidiary Diploma, and CTEC Certificate.  The grades required are likely to be the same or vary similar to the new CTEC qualifications (first teaching 2016, awarded 2018). Please contact the Academic Department for clarification.

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma

We consider the Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma for entry provided it is in IT or Engineering with grades DDD in combination with grade A* in a GCE A level or with an alternative of DDD in combination with grade A in a A level.  The A level must be in one of the following A level subjects: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Computer Science, Psychology or Statistics.

OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma

We consider the Cambridge Technical Diploma for entry provided it is in IT or Engineering with grades D*D in combination with a grade A* or an alternative of grades D*D in combination with a grade A.  The A level must be in one of the following A level subjects: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Computer Science, Psychology or Statistics.

OCR Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma

We consider the Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma for entry in any subject provided it is in combination with two A levels from the following subjects: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Computer Science, Psychology or Statistics. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Foundation Diploma with grade MM plus grades A*A in two of the listed A-levels or an alternative of grade DM plus grades AA in two of the listed A-levels.

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate

We consider the Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate for entry in any subject provided it is in combination with two A levels from the following subjects: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Computer Science, Psychology or Statistics.  Our A level entry requirements are grades A*AA and the full National Extended Certificate can be used to replace the third A level.

The University of Manchester welcomes applications from students who have achieved legacy CTEC qualifications (pre-2016) such as the CTEC Extended Diploma, CTEC Diploma, CTEC Subsidiary Diploma, and CTEC Certificate.  The grades required are likely to be the same or very similar.

Conditional offers will be set on an individual basis but are likely to include achieving grade D1-D3 in three Principal Subjects including mathematics and a scientific bias subject.

If you have followed a non-standard educational route and have been, for example, educated at home, your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course to which you applied. You will be required to demonstrate that you meet the academic entry requirements as specified for the course. We will also require a reference which should be written by somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education. Please refer to UCAS for further information: UCAS reference guidelines

Return-to-learn students are those who have had a substantial period away from any formal learning. Often such learners have pursued careers or raised a family. The University understands that students come from many different backgrounds, with varying qualifications, careers and skills, but they often bring to their studies a high degree of motivation and experience.

The University recognises that standard selection measures and procedures may not enable these learners to demonstrate fully their suitability for their chosen course. Where appropriate, admissions officers will seek and consider alternative evidence in order to give such learners equivalent consideration. Where they deem this alternative evidence meets entry criteria fully the learner will not be required to meet the standard academic entry requirements.

• GCSE English Language grade C/4 or;
• IELTS Overall 6.5 (minimum of 6.0 in each component) , or;
• An acceptable equivalent qualification.

The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student from outside the UK and the EU must show evidence of a minimum level of English Language in order to be granted a UK visa (Tier 4 visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level. This level is often referred to as the 'B2 level'.

Additionally, our individual Departments may ask for specific English Language proficiency levels that are necessary for their academic programmes. In most cases these requirements are likely to be higher than the B2 level. Further information about our English Language policy, including a list of some of the English Language qualifications we accept, can be found  here .

Applicants applying from outside the UK will be sent a link to access Virtual Visit Day content after you have received your offer.

Introduces you to HCI and computer science in general, as well as software engineering. You will also gain the basic knowledge and skills that are applicable to all areas of interaction engineering such as object oriented programming, distributed systems, statistical analysis, and mathematics. Further, you will gain basic knowledge and skills that are applicable to all branches of computer science, such as: mathematics; programming; and distributed systems. You will also be introduced to the fundamental principles of Human Computer Interaction and Interactive systems.

Team-working is an important part of the first year which includes a year-long team project culminating in the demonstration and examination of a fully working team application. This project sets the context for HCI design and development and enhances your awareness of current issues.

The second year starts your detailed education in key areas of HCI. Course units in software engineering, operating systems, distributed computing, motor systems, and sensory systems provide the technical foundations for HCI project work. Units in quantitative and qualitative research design and methods, and native HCI methods provide the underlying scientific base. HCI specific tutorials link these aspects into a unified whole. You will also study databases technologies - a key aspect of most modern software systems.

The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability and we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances.

For information about scholarships and bursaries please visit our  undergraduate student finance pages .