BSc (Hons) Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence

Why study this subject?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industry – and the world we live in. Experts are applying their skills to improve care in hospitals, control robots in space, help companies understand buying habits, and more. By 2035, it’s predicted that AI activity could be worth an impressive £630 billion in the UK. A degree in this field will help give you the skills and knowledge you need to help play your part in shaping the future!

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

Give yourself an edge in the graduate market by studying a hands-on degree. You’ll have the opportunity to learn the latest industry knowledge alongside working with industry professionals to gain invaluable practical experience whilst building your network base. Studying our programme allows you to learn fundamental vocational skills such as analysis, programming and testing, networking and security, software engineering and databases.

We are a student focused and employer-led university which means that you are at the forefront of all that we do. We provide you with a thorough understanding in computing and systems, web development and programming and our modules are designed to reflect the latest issues in the constantly changing area of computing to ensure you graduate ready for employment or further postgraduate study.

Not only will you be learning vital information, you will be learning from innovative, forward-thinking and highly motivated expert lecturers. Our lecturers have close industrial links and all work together to ensure that you have the best possible enriched and stimulating learning environment. 

To further enhance your education, we invite in guest lectures to share their experience and expertise and host day-long interactive events run by leaders in their field giving you the chance to put your knowledge into action.

Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in both your first and second year from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers.

Our specialisms

Buckinghamshire New University gives you the opportunity to choose your specialism for your future career after your experience of the core curriculum in year one. Rather than having to make your big decision before you join us, we introduce you to various specialisms and offer you the flexibility to choose the specialism which leads to your chosen speciality. You can choose between BSc (Hons) Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence or BSc (Hons) Computer Science. 

These specialisms are also offered as four-year programmes, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate programme.

What facilities can I use?

BNU has invested in our facilities to ensure that you can learn on industry standard systems and software, meaning that you can make an easy transition from education into employment. Quite simply we are committed to making sure we provide you with the best learning experience possible.

We make sure we keep the University’s computing facilities well maintained and equipped. We have a range of large labs; some being enhanced with cyber and A.I. specific facilities. Furthermore, many of these rooms are filled with dual-screen, dual boot (Windows and Linux) systems. Latest industry standard software is also included on devices to allow you to develop your skills to what is needed in the workplace.

Labs have been custom built to provide the best spaces to nurture the specific skills needed for game and internet development. These allow you to build your skills within key areas of future employment.

Hands-on experience is what we are all about. We have numerous devices that will provide the basis for various supervised projects you will carry out across the programme. These include but are not limited to Virtual Reality headsets, 3D printers, Raspberry Pi microcomputers, EEG headsets.

Furthermore, we provide online facilities to enhance your independent learning, via our Virtual Learning Environment. This will provide you with access to additional material and collaborative learning tools 24/7. And our virtual server technology will allow you to use our operating systems remotely.

What will I study? 

On our BSc (Hons) Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence degree, you’ll look at AI in depth and understand how machines search, reason and problem solve. At the same time, we’ll also explain the role of classical logic in machine intelligence, algorithms to search state spaces, and natural language processing systems. Then we’ll put your knowledge to the test. 

In workshops, you’ll work as part of a team to build AI machines – whether these are in the form of Expert Systems, Intelligent Agents or robots. You’ll also become confident using a range of AI-related tools and techniques including MATLAB and Jason with AgentSpeak.

You’ll be expected to integrate, apply and evaluate the knowledge you have gained through independent, work-relevant study as part of a major project or extended written piece of work. The course provides, through the choice of research topic and via selection of particular option modules, for you to tailor your studies to suit your own individual interest areas and future career ambitions.

There will be progression and development in your learning through the programme, from initially learning the fundamentals in areas such as web and mobile development, IT support, software development, programming, analysis, design and network industries, before going on to apply what you have learned to various individual and team assignments. You’ll have the chance to develop skills in machine learning and artificial neural networks, data analysis, fuzzy and expert systems. But AI is also underpinned by mathematics, logic, philosophy, cognitive psychology, linguistics and sociology, so you’ll explore these areas too.

You will also get opportunities to expand your knowledge both inside and outside of the lecture theatre. Students have previously visited sites of historical importance, including Bletchley Park, to learn more about the history of computing and how it impacted the world.

How will I be taught and assessed?

At Buckinghamshire New University we like to foster an interactive and student-focused teaching style where we have a combination of formal lectures, tutorials, practical lab sessions, seminars and guest speakers to enhance the learning experience.

We like to design our course to reflect the workplace so you will have the opportunity to carry out independent study, supported through distance learning technologies such as Blackboard, our Virtual Learning Environment. We will also provide reading lists and suggested resources to enhance independent study.

You are more than a number at BNU, and we are here to support you through your education journey. We have in place regular contact hours with our tutors and provide you with informal feedback throughout the programme of study.

Over the years of your course, you will be assessed and graded in a multitude of ways to allow you to develop and expand on your abilities and skills. Assessments for the various modules will mostly take the form of practical coursework, lab tests and written exams, with the focus being on testing the practical application of the various concepts and techniques being conveyed.