The Department
In the 2005 National Student Survey, the Department was ranked as the top Computer Science department UK overall, scoring the highest mark in five of the seven categories. At its last visit, the Quality Assurance Agency gave the Department the highest available commendation for the standard of its teaching provision. The British Computer Society (BCS) accredit existing single honours programmes and some joint honours programmes.
The Department provides four computer laboratories with 24-hour access for the exclusive use of our students. A team of systems specialists supports these laboratories providing specific departmental requirements designed to complement further computing facilities provided by University Computing Services.- One of our laboratories is a specialist HEFCE-funded lab facility is created for student project work on hardware and robotics.
- Our Intranet provides online access to lecture and other material. This service is now linked to the University’s ‘LEARN’ server – a service available from anywhere in the world, including student rooms in halls of residence,.
- Resources within the Research School of Informatics are also available to our students.
- Each student is allocated a Personal Tutor.
- All courses provide a sandwich option of a year in industry and the additional qualification of Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS).
- Every placement student is allocated an Academic Visitor from the Department, who undertakes the role of personal tutor for the students visited on placement. Visitors visit meet students at their work place twice during the year.
Robotic Drafts project
Sandwich Programmes – a year in industry
Professional training challenges you to relate your university studies to practical situations in the workplace. It gives you real-life experience of the career you can progress to after you graduate. Success brings real benefits.
- Extend your practical and personal skills;
- Earn a salary during the year out – the average is in the region of £12,000 – £14,000 pa;
- Host employers are sometimes able to offer financial support to you during your final year(s) of study – often followed by a job offer;
- The experience and personal contacts help you secure a job after graduation;
- A year on placement boosts your confidence and helps you achieve a better degree result;
- From students who graduated in 2005, 76% of students on a science degree obtained a 2:1 or better, compared with 54% who did not opt for a sandwich year.
Research
The Research School of Informatics is located in the Garendon Wing in the Holywell Park building. This is a relatively new building equipped to the highest standards and is part of a new £100M University expansion in a number of areas.
The school was established in 2004. It acts in an executive and advisory capacity in the initiation, integration, promotion and development of research related to informatics in the University in accordance with the University's strategic objectives and in particular:
- To promote and enable the growth of significant multi-disciplinary working in informatics across the boundaries between single disciplines, departments and faculties;
- To enable integrated strategy development for multi-disciplinary working in informatics and co-ordinate the execution of the strategy;
- To manage the research pipeline particularly to encourage and deliver significant research initiatives in new areas related to informatics where the opportunity requires alliances either across departments within the University or with key external collaboraors;
- To create and encourage a community within the University in Informatics.
