AS and A-level Computer Science – September 2024
| Funding information: | Free For Eligible 16-18 year olds and First Full L3 for 19-23 year olds. Adult Learner Loans available, course costs apply. |
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| Duration: | 1 Year AS 2 Years A Level |
| Attendance: | Full-time subject |
Course Overview
A-Level Computer Science is a challenging and fast-paced subject which considers the way that technology transforms our lives in an increasingly digital world. It has computational thinking at its core, which encourages us to take a complex problem and develop possible solutions using decomposition, abstraction, logical thinking, and algorithms.
Computer Science is also a creative subject that involves the innovative thinking and development of ideas through coding.
Course Content
Modules on this course include:
- Fundamentals of programming
- Fundamentals of data structures
- Fundamentals of algorithms
- Theory of computation
- Fundamentals of data representation
- Fundamentals of computer systems
- Fundamentals of computer organisation and architecture
- Consequences of uses of computing
- Fundamentals of communication and networking
- Fundamentals of databases
- Big Data
- Fundamentals of functional programming
- Systematic approach to problem solving
- Non-exam assessment – the computing practical project
Entry Requirements
You will need a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade 5 or above, including maths and English and at least one grade 6 in a written subject. Must need a 5 in computer science and physics/maths.
Assessment Methods
- Paper 1: On-Screen Exam: 2 hours 30 mins (40% of A-Level)
- Paper 2: Written Exam: 2 hours 30 mins (40% of A-Level)
- Non-exam assessment: Problem Solving: 75 Marks (20% of A-Level).
Progression
HE Courses including:
- Computer Science pathways
- Engineering
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Application analyst
- Applications developer
- Cyber security analyst
- Data analyst
- Forensic computer analyst
- Game designer
- Games developer
- Machine learning engineer