Course content

For the Computer Science element you’ll learn the underpinning theories of software, hardware and computing techniques – and how to apply them in the real world.

You’ll learn to use technology to create new opportunities and to solve a wide range of problems, benefiting every aspect of society from the home to business, government and beyond. This means your skills are likely to be in high demand when you graduate. Our teaching is informed by our cutting-edge research, and we also reflect what’s happening now in industry.

Combined honours students can follow a set of modules providing a specialism in information systems, evolutionary systems, or creative computing, whilst single honours students cover all these strands. There’s a strong emphasis on programming – but don’t worry if you don’t have Maths A-level, because the course covers what you need to know. You’ll have 24/7 access to our own computing labs, based on Microsoft Windows and Linux, plus a wide range of software.

Studying Neuroscience, you’ll discover how we learn and remember, how the brain controls the body, and how the brain can be targeted by disease but in some instances can repair itself. Within the course are interesting related disciplines such as neuroanatomy, neuropharmacology and neuropathology.

Working in diverse ways, including in our superb labs, you’ll develop your independent research skills as you learn to acquire, interpret and analyse data from multiple sources. You’ll also understand how neuroscience can help us understand medical problems and improve the quality of life.

Course structure

Our degree courses are organised into modules. Each module is usually a self-contained unit of study and each is usually assessed separately with the award of credits on the basis of 1 credit = 10 hours of student effort. An outline of the structure of the programme is provided in the tables below.

There are three types of module delivered as part of this programme. They are:

• Compulsory modules: a module that you are required to study on this course;
• Optional modules: these allow you some limited choice of what to study from a list of modules;
• Elective modules: a free choice of modules that count towards the overall credit requirement but not the number of subject-related credits.

Computer Science - A summary of the total credit requirements per year is as follows, with a minimum of 90 subject credits (compulsory plus optional) required for each year across both of your Principal Subjects, with at least 60 credits at each level of study (Levels 4, 5 and 6). This document has information about Computer Science modules only; please also see the document for your other subject.

Year	Compulsory	Optional		Electives
		Min	Max	Min	Max
1	45	15	15	0	0
2	15	45	45	0	0
3*	30	30	30	0	0

* in year 3 there is the option to choose to specialise in one of your subjects, taking a minimum of 105 credits in this subject rather than taking modules from both subjects

Neuroscience - A summary of the total credit requirements per year is as follows, with a minimum of 90 subject credits (compulsory plus optional) required for each year across both of your Principal Subjects. This document has information about Neuroscience modules only; please also see the document for your other subject. [Example credit split in the table below – please edit]

Year	Compulsory	Optional		Electives
		Min	Max	Min	Max
1	60	0	0	0	0
2	30	30	30	0	45
3*	15-30	45	45	0	0

* in year 3 there is the option to choose to specialise in one of your subjects, taking a minimum of 90 credits in this subject rather than taking modules from both subjects

Year 1 (Level 4)

Computer Science Year 1 (Level 4)

Compulsory modules	Credits	Optional modules	Credits
Fundamentals of Computing	15	Natural Computation	15
Programming I - Programming Fundamentals	15	Information Systems and Interaction	15
Requirements, Evaluation and Professionalism	15	Computer Animation and Multimedia	15

Neuroscience Year 1 (Level 4)

Compulsory modules	Credits	Optional modules	Credits
Introduction to Neuroscience	30	None
Physiology and Anatomy	30

Year 2 (Level 5)

Computer Science Year 2 (Level 5)

Compulsory modules	Credits	Optional modules	Credits
System Lifecycles and Design	15	Programming II - Data Structures and Algorithms	15
		Database Systems	15
		Mobile Application Development	15
		Computational Intelligence I	15
		Web Technologies	15
		Advanced Programming Practices	15
		Virtual Worlds	15

Neuroscience Year 2 (Level 5)

Compulsory modules	Credits	Optional modules NB: students choose 2 modules from:	Credits
Neuroscience Research Methods	30	Study Abroad Modules	30
		Research and Analytical Skills*	15
		Neuron to Brain	15
		Neurodevelopment	15
		Learning and Memory	15
		Neuropharmacology	15

*These modules are taken by Study Abroad students only in place of Neuroscience Research Methods; they feature as Electives in the Year credit table above.

Year 3 (Level 6)

Computer Science Year 3 (Level 6)

Compulsory modules	Credits	Optional modules	Credits
30-credit Project	30	Software Engineering Project Management	15
		Advanced Information Systems	15
		Advanced Databases and Applications	15
		Games Computing	15
		Bioinformatics	15
		Evolution of Complex Systems	15
		Computational Intelligence II	15
		Communications and Networks	15
		Advanced Web Design	15

Neuroscience Year 3 (Level 6)

Compulsory modules	Credits	Optional modules NB: students choose 3 modules from:	Credits
Students taking Neuroscience and Biochemistry: Life Sciences Double Experimental Project (with research skills assessment) Or Double Applied Life Sciences Placement1,2	30   30	Behavioural Neuroscience	15
		Brain Disease	15
Students taking Neuroscience and a subject outside of the School of Life Sciences: Life Sciences Single Experimental Project (with research skills assessment) Or Life Sciences Non-Experimental Project Or Life Sciences Dissertation Or Single Applied Life Sciences Placement1	15   15   15   15	Special Senses	15
		Regeneration and Repair in the Nervous System	15
		Current Research Topics in Neuroscience	15

¹ The Applied Life Sciences Placement modules may replace Life Sciences Experimental Project (with research skills assessment) modules if the nature of the placement is deemed suitable and the work carried out meets the criteria of the research project module.  

² If a student fails the Life Sciences double experimental project module (or the alternative Double Applied Life Science placement module) but has it condoned, then they will not be eligible for an RSB accredited degree, but shall instead be eligible for the award BSc Studies in Biochemistry

If you choose to specialise in Computer Science in your final year you require at least 105 Computer Science credits. These 105 credits must include the compulsory 30-credit Project module.

In choosing options, students should also be mindful that some level 5 modules are required in order to be able to take certain level 6 optional modules.

If you choose to specialise in Neuroscience in your final year you will study the following modules:

Compulsory modules	Credits	Optional modules	Credits
Behavioural Neuroscience	15	None
Brain Disease	15
Special Senses	15
Current Research Topics in Neuroscience	15
Regeneration and Repair in the Nervous System	15
Life Sciences Double Experimental  Research Project (with research skills assessment)2 Or Double Applied Life Sciences Placement1	30   30
Life Sciences Non-Experimental Project Or Life Sciences Dissertation	15   15

For further information on the content of modules currently offered, including the list of elective modules, please visit: www.keele.ac.uk/recordsandexams/az

Entry requirements

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate’s application. Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements for United Kingdom, European Union and International students.

A Level requirements

• A Level requirement ABC / BBB
• 1 Science A level (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Applied Science, Statistics and Sports Science).  

GCSE requirements

• Maths at C (or 4) 
• English at C (or 4)

BTEC

• BTEC requirements DDM
• You must have taken sufficient Science units, please contact us for advice.

International Baccalaureate

• 32 points to include a Higher Level Science subject at 6 or above.

Access to HE Diploma requirements

• Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 122 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction. You must also have taken sufficient Science credits, please contact us for advice.  

Fees and funding

Going to university can be a daunting as well as an exciting experience. It can be difficult to understand the true costs of being a student, as well as the financial support that is available to help you meet those costs.

We can help you to manage your funds, create a budget and ensure that you receive any funding for which you may be eligible. We also offer financial support such as the Keele University Hardship Fund and emergency loans.

For more information visit our money, advice and guidance section.

Career prospects

Keele enjoys high rates of graduate employment, achieving 96% graduate employability in 2017 in the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey.

Recent Keele graduates have gone to work for companies as diverse as Apple, BAE Systems, Barclays, Capgemini, EA Games, Experian, Microsoft and the Ministry of Defence. 

You’ll also have the solid grounding you’ll need to apply for postgraduate study.

Your degree will open up exciting careers in sectors as varied as healthcare, scientific research, pharmacology, IT, publishing and more. You might choose to work as a research scientist in academia or the drug industry, or work as a clinical neuroscientist in the hospital sector. With or without further study, you might go on to become a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, doctor, pharmacologist or systems analyst.

If you choose to do a four year course, with a year’s industrial placement, you’ll have the added benefit of significant work experience to offer to employers.