BSc Computer Science (Human Computer Interaction) / Course details

Computer Science - and more specifically Human Computer Interaction (HCI) - is radically changing the way in which we experience our world through the development of new applications in science, engineering and business. HCI is concerned with optimising the interaction between computer systems and their human users, at the intersection of computer science, behavioural sciences and social science. Here at Manchester we equip you with the skills needed to contribute to this exciting and rapidly evolving field. We provide you with the highest level of education in understanding and improving future generations of user interfaces and interactions, up to and including specialisation in advanced topics. Our course attempts to delve much deeper than other HCI related courses, in that key course units are delivered by specialists in their field, from neurophysiology to advanced social network analysis, from complex software engineering and application development to qualitative research design and methods - and everything in between.

Your first year will give you a comprehensive, broad-based foundation from which to choose your area of specialisation. You will gain not only knowledge and practical experience of the latest technologies, but also a grounding in the underlying principles of the subject. CS(HCI) is a flexible programme, allowing you to choose course units to reflect your developing and changing interests. Furthermore, a wide range of themes from across the discipline allow you to specialise in the third year. It is this combination of skills that enable our graduates to keep pace with this fast moving subject, and secure rewarding careers that can be pursued almost anywhere in the world.

The aim of the course is to give you a deep understanding of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) from neurophysiology to advanced social network analysis, from technically complex software engineering and application development to qualitative research design & methods - and everything in between. More specifically you will learn of the tools, techniques, and the mindset necessary to approach highly challenging HCI work; or move on to advanced research, be that in a commercial R&D division, as part of a skunkworks project, or within academia.We aim to instill not just a theoretical knowledge of HCI as a science and engineering discipline, but also a solid base of practical skills, an understanding of design, comprehension of the commercial world and competence in transferable skills  such as problem solving, team working, and creativity.

• Allows you to plan, design, develop, and evaluate all aspects of interactive systems, device interfaces, and interaction scenarios.
• All topics are taught by experts in their field, and students attend course units from Neuroscience, Social Science, and the Statistics Unit giving them cross-disciplinary experience.
• All required Advanced Mathematics is taught as part of the course.
• Course units and themes of relevance to Human computer Interaction include: Fundamental to Advanced Human Computer Interaction, HCI Methodology, Software Engineering and Agile Design, Statistics and Advanced Statistical Analysis, Advanced Social Network Analysis, Human Motor and Sensory Systems, Human Learning, Memory and Cognition.
• You have access to all the core Software Engineering units and all the additional HCI specific units only available to specialist HCI students
• You can specialise very quickly allowing a more detailed view of HCI than on other courses.
• The course equips you with skills that are in high demand from industry

At Manchester you will be taught by academic staff who are leading experts in computer science, in a diverse and inclusive learning environment. Teaching and Learning will be delivered using a variety of methods, including:  

• Lectures
• Tutorial classes
• Practical laboratory sessions 
• Group activities
• PASS sessions and peer mentoring 

Some activities will be delivered face-to-face and others online, following a blended learning approach.

The course contains strong practical elements: a year-long group project focused on the design and development of a web application in Year 1; development of software engineering skills through engagement with industrial mentors in Year 2; and a year-long individual project in Year 3. Each year aims to progressively build your skills, knowledge, and confidence in practical computer science. 

A typical week in your first year of study will comprise 40 hours of activity, of which approximately 20 hours will be timetabled study and 20 hours will be independent or self-directed study. The timetabled study is a mix of practical and theoretical sessions.

As you progress through the course an increasing emphasis will be placed on independent study, and this reflects you applying your knowledge and skills in substantial individual and group projects. In your third year of study, between 25 and 30 hours each week will typically be independent study. You will be supported by staff through all of your independent study, and this transition to being able to explore your own ideas through project work is an important attribute of a graduate computer scientist.

PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions) and Peer Mentoring  

We're proud of our innovative PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions) and Peer Mentoring scheme. The PASS scheme provides additional support around the current week's tutorial. It's entirely voluntary and consists of second, third and fourth-year current students helping first years to tackle problems defined by the content of the current tutorial. The emphasis is on showing students how to think about the problems, how to develop problem-solving skills and how to get the most from the educational resources available.  

More about blended learning

Some of your activity will be synchronous, where you learn live with your lecturer / peers and can interact as appropriate, helping you get support and feel part of a community. At other times it will be asynchronous, where you access materials like presentations, video content, online discussion boards or collaborative documents in your own time (within a framework provided by your programme).   

We believe this blended approach will help each individual study in a way that works best for them and will ensure students receive the best student-experience.

The course is assessed by a variety of methods, each appropriate to the topic being assessed. These methods include practical exercises, presentations, practical demonstrations, and written and online examinations. You will also have opportunities to monitor your progress using online quizzes and tutorial exercises.

As you would expect from leaders in the field, we offer some of the most up to date facilities in the world. Amongst the wide range of facilities available to you are:

• Newly refurbished computing labs furnished with modern desktop computers, available with Linux and Windows
• Access to world leading academic staff
• Collaborative working labs complete with specialist computing and audio visual equipment to support group working.
• Over 300 Computers in the Department dedicated exclusively for the use of our students.
• Access to a hardware library, with top of the range equipment, including drones, robots and oculus rifts.