Computer Science and Informatics

Computer science and informatics at Teesside University develops both the foundational knowledge of computing as a discipline and the applied skills needed to work with information systems in real organisations. Computer science provides the algorithmic and theoretical underpinning, including data structures, complexity, programming languages and software engineering; informatics extends this to the study of how information is organised, stored, retrieved and used to support decision-making and knowledge management in organisational and social contexts. This three-year full-time degree includes a sandwich year and work placement, giving you extended professional experience in a computing or technology role as part of your undergraduate education.

You will study algorithmic design and data structures, developing the ability to select appropriate computational representations for different problems and to analyse the efficiency and correctness of algorithms. Programming, database management, systems analysis and the practical skills of building and evaluating software systems are developed alongside the theoretical content. The sandwich placement gives you professional experience in a technology company, IT department or digital organisation, building the practical competence and professional network that employers consistently value above almost any other attribute in graduate candidates.

A typical entry tariff of around 88 points makes the programme accessible to students from a range of educational backgrounds.

Graduates work as software developers, systems analysts, database administrators, IT project managers, data analysts and technology consultants across every sector of the economy. The combination of computing knowledge and informatics understanding is particularly valuable in roles that require both technical competence and the ability to understand how information systems serve the people and organisations that use them. Many graduates also proceed to postgraduate study in computer science, data science or information management.