Headstart Course at University of Sheffield - Computer Science

Computer Science at Sheffield

In this exciting course at the University of Sheffield, you will be taught some of the vital foundations of Computer Science, will gain practical experience of modern software engineering techniques, and work in a team to design and build a software project. You will also gain hands-on experience of robotics, text analytics, and various other aspects of software engineering and computer science.

What’s it all about?

This is an opportunity to experience life as a student in our friendly Department of Computer Science. You will be mentored by students from the Department of Computer Science, including those involved with Genesys, the first student-run software company in the UK, and you will have ample opportunity to talk informally with staff. In the evenings, you will take part in a range of social activities and stay in university halls.

Would this course suit me?

You will work in a team on an exhilarating, contemporary-themed software development project. During the course you will learn about a wide range of topics including:

• Programming using the Java language
• Agile development, pair-programming, prototyping and testing
• Machine learning, particularly techniques for classifying data
• Machine understanding of written text
• Computer graphics and user interface design
• Integration with web services such as twitter

At the end of the course, your team will present its project and receive feedback from a panel of industry experts and academics. There will be plenty of variety, too – you will also attend taster sessions covering topics in robotics, mobile app development and virtual reality.

What do I need to be suitable?

This course will suit you if you are considering a career in computer science, software engineering or artificial intelligence. You will be interested both in the practical aspects of implementing software, and in the mathematical foundations of how computer algorithms work.

There is a fee to attend this course, but some bursaries are available.

Applications need to be made by students.