- UCAS course code
- GG41
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
BSc Computer Science and Mathematics with Industrial Experience
- Typical A-level offer: A*A*A including specific subjects
- Typical contextual A-level offer: AAA including specific subjects
- UK refugee/care-experienced offer: AAB including specific subjects
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 38 points overall with 7,7,6 at HL, including specific requirements
Overview
Course overview
- One of the most targeted university by top UK employers (THE Graduate Market, 2024)
- Birthplace of the world's first stored-program computer and home to the first graduates in Computer Science
- Year in industry provides both a competitive edge and important connections
- Ranked shared first place for best Computer Science research environment in the UK (REF 2021)
- One of the most sought after subject combinations in industry, with a broad module selection and vibrant community of students!
A study experience that makes a difference
We place social responsibility at the heart of your learning which means you can take advantage of unique ways to make a difference while studying with us, through your course or through extra-curricular activities.
- Complete our Ethical Grand Challenges to learn how you can create a better world and become more socially responsible.
- Work with an external organisation to tackle real-world sustainability problems through our University Living Lab.
- Discover subjects that broaden your horizon with our interdisciplinary learning opportunities.
Explore how you'll make your mark
Every course at Manchester contributes towards the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, so no matter what you're studying you'll be playing an active role in the protection of people and planet.
You will explore the following goals in your course:
- Goal 4: Quality education
- Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
- Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals
Open days
Contact details
- Department
- Department of Computer Science
- Contact name
- Undergraduate Admissions Team
- Telephone
- +44 (0)161 275 4300
- ug-compsci@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- https://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/
- School/Faculty overview
-
The School of Engineering creates a world of possibilities for students pursuing skills and understanding. Through dynamic research and teaching we develop engineering solutions that make a difference to society in an ethical and sustainable way. Science-based engineering is at the heart of what we do, and through collaboration we support the engineers and scientists of tomorrow to become technically strong, analytically innovative and creative. Find out more about Science and Engineering at Manchester .
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
A-level
A*A*A including A* in Mathematics, and a minimum of one science subject from the following list: Computer Science, Further Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.
Your A Level in Mathematics should include Mathematics with a significant pure element (Use of Mathematics or Core Mathematics does not satisfy this requirement).
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.
Duration of A-level study
Your application will be considered against the standard selection process of your chosen course if you either:
a) sat your examinations early;
or
b) followed an accelerated curriculum and spent three years studying A-levels where the examinations were taken over two years.
If you are studying an advanced curriculum where the examinations are spread over three years, consideration for an offer will be at the discretion of the admissions tutor for that subject.
A-level contextual offer
AAA including Mathematics and a minimum of one science subject from the following list: Computer Science, Further Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.
Your A Level in Mathematics should include Mathematics with a significant pure element (Use of Mathematics or Core Mathematics does not satisfy this requirement).
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.
Contextual offers are available for applicants who:
- live in the UK and will be under the age of 21 on 1 September of the year they will start their course; and
- live in an area of disadvantage or with low progression into higher education; and
- have attended a UK school or college for their GCSEs or A-levels (or equivalent qualifications) that has performed below the national average over multiple years.
See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.
UK refugee/care-experienced offer
AAB, including A in Mathematics, and a minimum of one science subject from the following list: Computer Science, Further Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.
Your A Level in Mathematics should include Mathematics with a significant pure element (Use of Mathematics or Core Mathematics does not satisfy this requirement).
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore 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 offer you will receive.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
UK refugee/care-experienced offers are available for applicants who:
- have been looked after in care for more than three months; or
- have been granted refugee status by the UK government or have been issued a UK visa under one of the Ukrainian schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme).
See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.
International Baccalaureate
38 points overall with 7,7,6 in Higher Level subjects, including 7 in Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches. Applicants should be studying a minimum of one science subject at Higher Level. Science subjects include Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
For this programme of study, we will only accept the following subject to meet our Mathematics requirement: Higher Level Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches.
Applicants studying the International Baccalaureate Career Related Programme (IBCP) should contact the academic School prior to applying so that their academic profile can be considered.
GCSE/IGCSE
Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education. Typically, this is a minimum of five GCSEs/IGCSEs, including GCSE Mathematics at grade B/6, GCSE English Language at grade B/6, and three further academic subjects at grade C/4.
Students eligible for a contextual offer will be required to evidence English language proficiency at GCSE English Language grade C/4.
GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/IGCSE English Language.
Other entry requirements
Other entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.
Country-specific entry requirements
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, please see Accepted Entry Qualifications from your country .
English language requirements
ll applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency. The minimum English Language requirement for this course is either:
- GCSE/IGCSE English Language grade B/6. GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/IGCSE English Language.
- IELTS 7.0 overall, with no subscore below 6.5
- TOEFL iBT 100 overall, with no subscore below 22
- An acceptable equivalent qualification
Students eligible for a contextual offer will be required to evidence English language proficiency at GCSE English Language grade C/4.
If you need to improve your English language skills to meet the entry requirements for your academic course, the University Centre for Academic English (UCAE) summer pre-sessional courses can help. Check if your academic course offers the option of taking a pre-sessional course on the UCAE page .
English language test validity
Fees and funding
Fees
Fees for entry in 2026 have not yet been set. For entry in 2025 the tuition fees were £9,535 per annum for home students, and are expected to increase slightly for 2026 entry.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
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 .
Application and selection
How to apply
Apply through UCAS .
Advice to applicants
Factors contributing to a successful application include:
- Past academic performance
- Predicted academic performance
- Enthusiasm for, and realistic grasp of, chosen degree programme
- Evidence of interpersonal skills and non-academic interests/achievements
Further guidance on how to apply can be found on our How to Apply webpage .
It is only possible to hold an offer for one course in the Department (for Year 1 entry). Please do not apply for more than one course in the Department of Computer Science, as this will use up multiple UCAS choices and will not be considered. If you wish to apply for Year 1 entry and our Integrated Foundation Year, then this would be two separate choices on your UCAS application.
Where you have mitigating circumstances, these should be reported to your education provider and relevant exam board, as we cannot make further allowances.
We would normally only consider applicants who obtained the relevant academic qualification within the two years prior to entry. Applicants who left education more than two years ago should contact the Admissions Office to discuss their particular circumstances.
Applicants studying qualifications above RQF Level 3 may be required to achieve high grades in their most recent relevant studies, in addition to meeting our Level 3 entry requirements.
Home-schooled applicants
If you are a student who has followed a non-standard educational route, e.g. you have been educated at home; your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course for which you are applying. You will be required to demonstrate that you meet the specified academic entry requirements of the course. We will also require a reference from 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.
If you are a home-schooled student and would like further information or advice please contact the academic School for your chosen course who will be able to help you.
Non-standard educational routes
Mature applicants who are returning to studies after a break from formal education will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
If you require further clarification about the acceptability of the qualifications you hold please contact the Department of Computer Science directly.
As a general guide, you will need an approved English language qualification, the equivalent of a good A-Level in Mathematics and experience of relevant study in the year prior to entry. Applicants may also be required to evidence sufficient scientific background. The mathematics requirement may be met by achieving 85% in 60 credits from the following Open University modules: MST124 Essential Mathematics 1 and MST125 Essential Mathematics 2. Other online courses are not accepted.
Find out further information for mature students .
How your application is considered
Applications are considered on the basis of the UCAS form. Strong examination results are the main factor in admitting students to our courses. We consider other information to ensure we admit students with the most outstanding potential. This is assessed within a structured framework and includes prior and predicted grades. Your referee should give realistic grade predictions for all qualifications that you are currently studying at the top of their reference. If you attend a non-UK school or college that does not provide predicted grades your referee should explain this policy within their reference.
Aptitude test requirement
At present, there is no requirement for an additional aptitude test for entry to the course in 2026. Any updates to this policy will be posted here.
Deferrals
Applications for deferred entry are considered equally to other applications up to the point of confirmation.
Deferred entry is granted at the discretion of admissions staff and is normally granted for one year only and up to two years maximum (in exceptional circumstances). In order to be granted deferred entry, you must be able to meet your offer conditions in the admissions cycle in which you apply. Some English Language test results, such as IELTS or TOEFL, are only valid for two years from the test date. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.
Policy for applicants who resit their qualifications
If you have re-sat individual modules to improve your grades, we will consider your application according to the standard selection process.
If you are planning to re-sit the final Year 13 examinations, or have already done so, the University will consider your application, but we may require further information in order to make an informed judgement on your application.
Policy for applicants who take their examinations in more than one sitting
Re-applications
If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again.
Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications, or any previous registrations at the University as a student, when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.
If you are applying for a place for the same year of entry through UCAS Extra, you should provide additional evidence of your suitability for the course. If you are applying through Clearing, you are required to meet the advertised Clearing requirements. In both UCAS Extra and Clearing, places will be subject to availability.
Course details
Course description
Choosing the Computer Science and Mathematics programme allows you to combine the study of these two disciplines, each occupying half of your studies, and explores the reliance of each on the other.
This joint honours degree programme enables you to acquire a useful combination of mathematical and computer science knowledge and skills. It covers the knowledge needed to implement mathematical models in simulations that evaluate real world situations such as stress analysis in bridges and buildings, airflow over aircraft wings, or financial modelling.
The topics studied include a number of important ideas of mathematics, including the concepts of rigorous argument, formal proof and the power of abstract formulation of problems. This is combined with the core computer science topics of programming and software engineering, together with the study of mathematical principals underpinning the foundations of computing.
You will gain not only knowledge and practical experience of the latest technologies, but also a grounding in the underlying principles of the subject. It is this combination of skills that enable our graduates to keep pace with this fast-moving subject, and secure top jobs in industry and research.
The industrial experience element of the programme involves you undertaking a one year work placement in industry between the second and third years of your study at Manchester. Besides the money that you earn during this year, you also gain practical experience that can be invaluable both in your final year project and when competing for graduate jobs. Students with industrial experience not only tend to improve their final degree performance but also tend to develop clearer ideas about their future career path.
Detailed programme and course unit information is available below.
Special features
The CS & Maths course has a real sense of community around it, which helps create a culture of students supporting each other.
The course covers exciting areas such as machine learning and data science which are maths heavy, so this enables students to go in careers or further studies in Maths or Computer Science.
Dr Andrea Schalk / Computer Science & Maths Programme Director
- Ability to get relevant industrial/business experience as part of the degree programme.
- Traditional careers to which both computer science and mathematics graduates progress are open to you.
- By drawing staff from two 'excellent' rated departments students are taught by experts in each field.
Teaching and learning
At Manchester we aim to provide a unique experience. Studying Computer Science with us will give you the chance to follow your academic curiosity and explore a fascinating subject.
A significant amount of your work will be project-based team work, tackling real problems. You will see how computer science is directly applicable to solving problems, across a broad range of areas.
The emphasis throughout is on independent learning, supported by regular meetings in small groups with personal tutors. You receive practical help and support from experienced staff and postgraduates, with leading experts guiding your learning and stimulating your interest. This approach is supported by conventional lectures and comprehensive on-line learning resources. We also provide excellent facilities, including specialist laboratories to support areas such as engineering and robotics.
Coursework and assessment
Unseen examinations account for about 60% of the assessment. These assess your abilities in the selection and application of knowledge, problem solving, and the design and evaluation of software or electronics. Other assessment is mainly through laboratory-based coursework that provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of computer science or electronic principles by tackling specific problems on a more realistic scale, both individually and in groups.
The remaining assessment is through presentations and essays where, in particular, you demonstrate the transferable skills you have acquired. In the third and final year, the non-examination assessment is mainly made up of the practical project.
Course content for year 1
Course units for year 1
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
COMP10120 | 20 | Mandatory | |
COMP16321 | 20 | Mandatory | |
COMP16412 | 10 | Mandatory | |
COMP1ASP | 0 | Mandatory | |
MATH11022 | 20 | Mandatory | |
MATH11121 | 20 | Mandatory | |
MATH11711 | 10 | Mandatory | |
COMP11212 | 10 | Optional | |
COMP13212 | 10 | Optional | |
COMP15212 | 10 | Optional | |
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Course content for year 2
Course units for year 2
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
COMP2ASP | 0 | Mandatory | |
COMP2CARS | 0 | Mandatory | |
MATH21120 | 20 | Mandatory | |
COMP21111 | 10 | Optional | |
COMP23111 | 10 | Optional | |
COMP23311 | 10 | Optional | |
COMP23412 | 10 | Optional | |
COMP24011 | 10 | Optional | |
COMP24112 | 10 | Optional | |
COMP24412 | 10 | Optional | |
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Course content for year 3
Course units for year 3
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
COMP30030 | 30 | Mandatory | |
COMP31311 | 10 | Optional | |
COMP33312 | 10 | Optional | |
COMP33511 | 10 | Optional | |
COMP34111 | 10 | Optional | |
COMP34212 | 10 | Optional | |
COMP34312 | 10 | Optional | |
COMP34612 | 10 | Optional | |
COMP34711 | 10 | Optional | |
COMP34812 | 10 | Optional | |
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Scholarships and bursaries
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 .
What our students say
Todd Davies, BSc Computer Science
I always had the mind-set in my degree that I was learning how to learn. I feel like the BSc in Computer Science gives you a very holistic view of the subject, all the way from logic gates to high-level modules like Computer Vision.
Seb Masaru, BSc Computer Science
The community, the Department, the University, and the city itself are so vibrant in Manchester. You get the sensation that the people here are all extremely approachable.
Facilities
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.
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
The world needs Computer Scientists, and as a graduate of the University of Manchester you will be in particularly high demand. As one of the most Targeted University by Employers in 2024 (The Graduate Market, High Fliers), we equip students with the ability to tackle real-world problems and innovate for the future.
As a Computer Science and Mathematics graduate, you will be especially employable for your deep foundational understanding of the mathematical foundations of much of the logic in computing.
Example careers:
- Actuary
- AI Engineer
- Banker
- Cloud Computing Engineer
- Cyber Security Analyst
- Data Analyst
- Games Designer and/or Developer
- Software Engineer
- Web Designer and/or Developer
- And many more…
Your industrial placement is one of the most effective ways to enhance employability. Increasingly, organisations are looking for graduates who can demonstrate they have first-hand, real-world experience.
On average, our graduates earn £40,000 within 15 months (THE Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2021). Opportunities exist in fields as diverse as finance, films and games, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, consumer products, and public services - covering virtually all areas of business and society.
Which employers actively target our graduates?
- CERN
- EA Games
- IBM
- Microsoft
- And many more…
To see more of where our students have completed internships and where our graduates have gone on to work, explore our Graduate jobs and Industrial Experience Map .
You can also be inspired by students and academics sharing their journey on our Women and Gender-Diversity in Computer Science page, and gain career specific advice from our very own Podcast .
Regulated by the Office for Students
The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.
You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.