Cardiff School of Technologies>Courses>Computing with Creative Design - BSc (Hons) Degree

Computing with Creative Design - BSc (Hons) Degree

Entry Year

Our Computing with Creative Design degree will enable you to develop your computing skills with a particular focus on the creative and design opportunities that are presented within the discipline.

In addition to learning the fundamentals of developing computer-based and software-driven systems, you will be encouraged to incorporate modern design thinking into your technical work. During the programme students will be introduced to key Human-computer interaction principles exploring how design is used for user ​experience (UX) and interaction.

You will be introduced to a wide range of technologies and tools that facilitate the design and creation of new hardware and software solutions, helping you develop your analytical abilities whilst looking at human-centred design processes. This will enable you to establish yourself as a ‘hybrid’ individual, well equipped to bridge the gap between the technical and creative worlds to create innovative solutions to problems old and new.

You will also have the opportunity to work collaboratively with other schools to help foster your skills in other disciplines. In particular our Computing with Creative Design degree has a close partnership with programmes in the Cardiff School of Art and Design to allow students to build further on creative skills. With access to both the cutting-edge new facilities of our School of Technologies, and the open spaces for creative design in our School of Art and Design, you’ll enjoy the best of both worlds. All this will prepare you for exciting career paths bridging the gap between the technical and the creative worlds.​

This degree has been accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by BCS. An accredited degree entitles you to professional membership of BCS, which is an important part of the criteria for achieving Chartered IT Professional (CITP) status through the Institute. Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.


Foundation Year

​This degree can be studied as a three-year full-time degree or a four-year degree that includes a year of foundational study. Our foundation year is intended to prepare you for your subsequent years of studying, offering you the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence.

The foundation year will be relevant to:

  1. Students who have not achieved the required A-level points (or equivalent) score to enter the first year of the degree programme.
  2. Mature students who have been out of the formal education system for some time.


Find out more about the foundation year.

Please note: You will need to apply using a specific UCAS code if you wish to undertake the 4 years including foundation. Please refer to Key Course Information at the bottom of this page.

Course Content

Degree

The degree programme is comprised of a number of compulsory modules, with a range of options in the final year to develop your specific interests and expertise.

Students also have the option to complete a year-long placement in industry in Years 2 and 3.

All modules are 20 credits, unless specified.


Year 1:

  • Design Thinking
  • Technology and Society
  • Principles of Programming
  • Human Computer Interaction
  • Explore
  • Web Design & Databases


Year 2:

  • Mobile & Web Technologies
  • Physical Computing
  • Expand
  • Collaborative Project
  • Creative Design and Innovation

Optional modules:

  • Multimedia & Interaction
  • Digital Business


Year 3:

  • Development Project (40 credits)
  • UX and Digital Content
  • Professional, Sustainable & Ethical Technology
  • Advanced Web Technology

Optional modules (select one):

  • Social Humanoid Robotics
  • Technology Project Management
  • Industrial Work Experience

Learning & Teaching

A student-centred approach to learning and teaching is encouraged through the use of a broad range of teaching strategies, such as technical labs and individual and group projects. This is further enhanced by real world case studies and guest talks from industry experts, and supported by Teams and Moodle, our virtual learning environments.

Due to the nature of the programme, online and campus-based practical workshops are key to developing students’ technical understanding and abilities, underpinned by solid theoretical foundations. Students are expected to further develop their knowledge and understanding through directed self-study and independent learning time - in additional to the timetabled delivery - so as to develop a professional portfolio of project work and software artefacts as they move into graduate employment.

Students are supported academically and pastorally by the Programme Team, led by the Programme Director. Each student is also appointed a Personal Tutor from within the School, who provides a point of contact for general academic and pastoral issues. Students are also supported by Student Coaches; the Student Coach role is for current 2nd, 3rd year and Master’s students who provide peer support in Modules.

Assessment

The assessment strategy for the programme varies to ensure the most appropriate method for each specific module and subject area. Modules are assessed through a combination of methods, such as formal examinations, practical programming assignments, written assignments, technical reports, presentations, in-class tests, peer assessments and case studies.

Employability & Careers

Given the growing application of digital technology across many sectors and domains, the need for tools and applications built with the relatively unskilled human user at their centre has never been more important.

Individuals who marry the skills of creativity and design with the ability to build reliable and supportable software will be increasingly in demand. This course is designed to achieve just such an interdisciplinary skillset and equip graduates for a variety of opportunities across fields such as the arts, entertainment/games, mobile application development, multimedia, product/web design and other interactive systems, across all sectors.

Real world experience can be obtained as part of your studies by completing an optional sandwich year placement / industrial internship. Over the past few years, our students have been successful in obtaining placements in nationally competitive schemes with Microsoft, HP, General Electric and the Met Office.

On successful completion of this degree programme, there are also further taught postgraduate study options across computing and information systems here at Cardiff Met, as well as research and PhD programmes.

Entry Requirements & How to Apply

Typical Offers

​The following requirements are based on typical offers relevant to entering year 1 of the degree.

If you do not meet these entry requirements, we also offer a Foundation Year which allows progression to Year 1 upon successful completion.​

  • Tariff points: 104-112
  • Contextual offer: See our contextual offers page.
  • GCSE: Five GCSEs at Grade C / 4 or above to include English Language / Welsh First Language, Mathematics / Mathematics – Numeracy.
  • English Language Requirement: Academic IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in all elements, or equivalent.
  • A level subjects: Minimum three A levels to include Grades CCC. No specific subjects required. Welsh Baccalaureate – Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate considered as a third subject.
  • BTEC National / Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: DMM
  • T Level: Merit. No specific subjects required.
  • Access to Higher Education Diploma: No specific subjects required.
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 2 x H5. No specific subjects required.
  • Irish Leaving Certificate: 2 x H2 grades. No specific subjects required. Higher level subjects only considered with a minimum grade H4.
  • Scottish Advanced Highers: Grades DD. No specific subjects required. Scottish Highers are also considered, either on their own or in combination with Advanced Highers.

Combinations of the above qualifications are accepted if they meet our minimum requirements. If your qualifications aren’t listed, please contact Admissions or refer to the UCAS Course Search.

Further information on Overseas qualifications can be found here.

If you are a mature applicant, have relevant experience or RPL that you would like us to consider, please contact Admissions.


How to Apply

Further information on how to apply can be found here.

Contact Us

For general enquiries please contact the Admissions Team on 029 2041 6044, email askadmissions@cardiffmet.ac.uk or tweet us @CMetAdmissions

For course specific enquiries, please contact the Programme Director, Joel Pinney:
Email: JPinney2@cardiffmet.ac.uk

We endeavour to deliver courses as described and will not normally make changes to courses, such as course title, content, delivery, and teaching provision. However, it may be necessary for the university to make changes in the course provision before or after enrolment. It reserves the right to make variations to content or delivery methods, including discontinuation or merging courses if such action is considered necessary. Please read our Terms and Conditions for the full information.

Key Course Information

UCAS Codes:
G300 - 3-year degree​
G30F - 4-year degree (including foundation year)

Place of Study: Llandaff Campus

School: Cardiff School of Technologies

Course Length:
Three years full-time.
Four years full-time if undertaking year-long industry placement.
Four years full-time if undertaking foundation year.
Five years full-time if undertaking foundation year and year-long industry​ placement.​

MEET THE TEAM
Joel Pinney

Technology has always been something I have found interesting, from a young age exploring how it is designed to considering how we interact with it. I am now very fortunate to be able to teach and research in this area. As technology continues to advance, it will further influence our everyday lives, and the core appreciation of how humans and technology can work harmoniously has never been so critical.

Teaching in a multidisciplinary programme has bought its rewards in allowing me to continue to explore cutting-edge technology whilst continuing my appreciation for other disciplines, including how creativity influences the fields of data science (visualisation) and robotics. Following this approach has allowed me to bring different skill sets into my teaching that were developed in other areas.

Joel Pinney
Lecturer and Programme Director for BSc Computing with Creative Design at Cardiff School of Technologies

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A virtual tour of Cardiff School of Technologies

Take a virtual walkthrough of our brand new Cardiff School of Technologies.

STUDENT & GRADUATE EXPERIENCE
How studying Computing with Creative Design at Cardiff Met led me to start up my own business and develop an App

Bradley tells us about his experience of studying Computing with Creative Design and about the exciting new App for Students he is developing which has been funded by Cardiff Met & Tramshed Tech.

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