Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (with an industrial placement year) BSc (Hons)

Modules

• Year 1 at Sussex

  Your modules

  Core modules

  Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

  Autumn teaching

  • Introduction to Cognitive Science: Minds, Machines and Consciousness
  • Introduction to Programming
  • Mathematical Concepts
  • Programming Concepts

  Spring teaching

  • Data Structures & Algorithms
  • Further Programming
  • Introduction to Computer Systems
  • Professional Skills

  Intersemester Week

  • Global Design Challenge

  Your degree

  Year 1 is where you build the fundamental skills needed for computer science and artificial intelligence (AI). You’ll:

  • learn programming basics
  • explore issues underlying cognitive science (AI, neuroscience, psychology and philosophy)
  • understand algorithms and how computers work.

  The Global Design Challenge is a highlight of Year 1, where you work in a team to tackle a real-world design problem, applying creativity and technical knowledge in a collaborative environment.

  Teaching

  Teaching methods typically include a balanced blend of lectures, seminars and computing laboratory sessions.

  

  60%: Lecture
  5%: Seminar
  35%: Practical

  Assessment

  Assessment methods typically include a mixture of project work, in-term tests and examinations. There’s an emphasis on exams and multiple-choice quizzes to reduce the number of assessments in this introductory year.

  Contact hours and workload

  This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 270 hours of contact time and about 930 hours of independent study.

  Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.

• Year 2 at Sussex

  Your modules

  Core modules

  Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

  Autumn and spring teaching

  • Industry Ready: Mastering the Placement Application Process

  Autumn teaching

  • Databases
  • Design and Analysis of Algorithms
  • Introduction to Data Science

  Spring teaching

  • Acquired Intelligence & Adaptive Behaviour
  • Applied Machine Learning

  Options

  Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

  While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

  Autumn teaching

  • Compilers and Computer Architecture
  • Neurons, Brains, Behaviour and Minds
  • Philosophy of AI and Cognitive Science

  Spring teaching

  • Decision Processes in Human Cognition
  • Language, Mind and Brain
  • Neural Circuits
  • Software Engineering

  Your degree

  Year 2 brings extra depth and complexity with advanced theory modules and more demanding programming tasks. You’ll study cognitive science modules alongside advanced computer science modules.  

  The goals of Year 2 are to:

  • broaden your understanding of how computer systems and AI work
  • start thinking about design choices, trade-offs and efficiency.

  You’ll gain more independent technical ability with larger assignments, more complex projects and group work. A highlight of this year is the jump in challenge combining previous material into more comprehensive systems.

  Teaching

  Teaching methods typically include a mixture of lectures, seminars and computing laboratory sessions.

  

  65%: Lecture
  5%: Seminar
  30%: Practical

  Assessment

  Assessment methods typically include a combination of coursework, practical assessments and examinations. There is more emphasis on technical application and coursework than in Year 1.

  Contact hours and workload

  This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 270 hours of contact time and about 930 hours of independent study.

  Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.

• Placement

  An industrial placement gives you the chance to spend a year working with an organisation, in an area relevant to your course, while being paid. It’s a proven way to fast-track your career.

  Recent students have gone on placements at:

  • Crunch
  • BMW Group – Rolls Royce Motor Cars
  • Brandwatch.

  You develop your technical, team-working and transferable skills, and apply what you have learnt in your studies to a business environment.

  Our careers team offers dedicated support to help you obtain a placement, including:

  • finding an employer
  • drafting an application
  • preparing for interviews
  • ongoing help throughout a placement.

  Don’t worry if you’re not successful in securing a placement, you’ll simply transfer to a non-placement version of your course.

  After one year I was already up to date with most practices and technologies used in the web development universe.”Radu Lupescu
  Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence BSc
  Associate Developer, Estates Gazette (RBI Group)

  Please note that if you’re receiving – or applying for – USA federal Direct Loan funds, you can’t undertake your placement in the USA if the number of credits for the placement/internship exceeds 25% of the total credits for your course. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid

• Year 3 at Sussex

  Your modules

  Core modules

  Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

  Autumn and spring teaching

  • Individual Project

  Autumn teaching

  • Knowledge & Reasoning

  Options

  Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.

  While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.

  Autumn teaching

  • Computational Imaging Methods
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Intelligence in Animals and Machines
  • Introduction to Computer Security
  • Structure and Function of the Brain
  • Topics in the Philosophy of AI and Cognitive Science

  Spring teaching

  • Advanced Natural Language Engineering
  • Current Issues in AI and Cognitive Science
  • Neural Networks
  • Technology-Enhanced Learning Environments
  • Web 3D Applications
  • Web Applications and Services

  Your degree

  In Year 3 you’ll study more advanced modules and options in your areas of interest. You’ll also complete a major individual project where you choose your area of specialism (often in collaboration with industry), and plan and build a substantial software system or develop a course of academic research. 

  The project is often the highlight of your final year. It’s your chance to work in a specific area that you care about, show what you’ve learned and produce a large portfolio piece of original work. 

  The goals of Year 3 are for you to be able to:

  • work autonomously to define a problem
  • research possible solutions
  • implement and evaluate a system
  • document and present your findings.

  All this prepares you for work in industry or research.

  Teaching

  Teaching methods typically include theoretical learning in lectures and seminars with a strong emphasis on independent project work.

  

  50%: Lecture
  5%: Seminar
  45%: Practical

  Assessment

  Assessment methods typically include written reports, code submission and exams. The major focus is the individual project, which is assessed through a detailed written dissertation and a presentation of your research and results.

  Contact hours and workload

  This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 210 hours of contact time and about 990 hours of independent study.

  Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.