Computer Science study guide 2023/24

Computer Science at Bristol

At Bristol, you will be taught by internationally renowned experts with a passion for computer science. You can study topics such as high-performance computing, human-computer interaction, cryptology, and image processing and computer vision. You will also develop skills in software development and system design, and gain important transferable skills in teamwork, communication and enterprise. We work closely with industry, enabling you to gain knowledge from leading companies. You will develop your analytical skills and get experience devising practical solutions for real-world challenges during a range of individual and group projects that you will co-create with leading academics. Our teaching facilities include a new collaborative lab, designed for flexibility and usability and equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual technology and Linux machines. It's a brilliant addition to our modern building, which also houses the popular Hackspace – a creative space for hacking, making and crafting – and a large atrium that's a hive of activity.

From 2023/24 onwards, Computer Science will form its own school: the School of Computer Science.

Unit structure

The school offers many classes that are based in a single semester, and can therefore accept unit requests from Study Abroad students who want to join Bristol for just the autumn or spring semester.

Unit levels

The school offers advanced level classes only: Year 3 (Level H/6) and Year 4 (Level M/7). These levels are only suitable for Computer Science majors who have studied this subject for 2-3 years beforehand. Year 4 (Level M/7) are considered postgraduate units.

Unit codes

Unit codes in the School of Computer Science begin with 'COMS'. This is followed by a number indicating the year (1, 2, 3). For example:

COMS30000 = year 3 unit
COMSM0000 = year 4 unit

For more information about each unit, check the University's unit catalogue for 2023/24. Applicants on all study abroad programmes must review the unit details on the catalogue before listing unit choices on their application form. This includes checking the format of assessment for each unit. The unit catalogue for 2023/24 is expected to be updated by the end of April 2023.

Your unit choices cannot be guaranteed. Some units may not have capacity to accommodate all of the unit requests we receive. Registration on a unit also depends on whether you meet the pre-requisite conditions through prior study at your home university.

Important note about our units

In the autumn semester (Teaching Block 1), Year 3 and Year 4 units can be assessed either by examination-only (10 credits) or exam plus coursework (20 credits). Students pick one format of assessment. We recommend that you choose the coursework for the unit you are most interested in. The coursework part of the assessments is undertaken in specific weeks, so they are not available to students taking units outside of Computer Science, as we cannot guarantee that students will be free from conflicting assessments. Students who want to take all their units from Computer Science in the autumn semester must take 2 units assessed by exam-only and 2 by exam plus coursework. The units then add up to the right amount taken in one semester (60 Bristol credits).

Note: Timetables for Year 3 and Year 4 units are made independently. We cannot guarantee conflict free teaching timetable if you take both Year 3 and Year 4 units in the same semester.

Study Abroad (Subject pathway)

If you have been nominated to Bristol on the Study Abroad (Subject pathway), you must take the majority of your credits in this school.

Units available on the study abroad programme in 2023/24

The following units from the School of Computer Science are open to inbound Study Abroad students.

Please note that Computer Science units are only suitable for Computer Science majors who have studied the subject for 2-3 years beforehand. This is due to the advanced level of the units available.

Year 1 (level C/4)

None available

Year 2 (level I/5)

None available

Year 3 (level H/6)

Each topic has 2 unit codes - one is a 0 credit Teaching Unit code that all students take, and the other is co-requisite assessment unit option code: “assessed by exam and controlled coursework” or “assessed by exam only”. Students should list both unit codes on their application document.

Please note that, in the autumn semester (known as Teaching Block 1 - TB1), you can take a maximum of
- 2 x 10 credit units, assessed by exams only (Teaching Block 1).
- 2 x 20 credit units, assessed by exams and controlled coursework (Teaching Block 1).

And, in the spring semester (Teaching Block 2 - TB2), you can take a maximum of
- 3 x 20 credit Mini Project units, assessed by coursework (Teaching Block 2).

List of TB1 options

Advanced Algorithms (TB1) - COMS30042 (teaching unit) and COMS30041 (exam) - there is no exam+coursework option for this unit.

Computer Graphics (TB1) - COMS30020 (teaching unit) and either COMS30018 (exam) or COMS30073 (exam+coursework).

Cryptology (TB1) - COMS30023 (teaching unit) and either COMS30021 (exam) or COMS30074 (exam+coursework).

Design Verification (TB1) - COMS30026 (teaching unit) and either COMS30024 (exam) or COMS30079 (exam+coursework).

Human-Computer Interaction (TB1) - COMS30029 (teaching unit) and either COMS30027 (exam) or COMS30075 (exam+coursework).

Image Processing and Computer Vision (TB1) - COMS30030 (teaching unit) and either COMS30032 (exam) or COMS30076 (exam+coursework).

Security Behaviours (TB1) - COMS30038 (teaching unit) and either COMS30036 (exam) or COMS30078 (exam+coursework).

Types and Lambda Calculus (Teaching Unit) (TB1) - COMS30040 (teaching unit) and COMS30039 (exam) - there is no exam+coursework option for this unit.

List of TB2 options

Advanced Computer Architecture (TB2) - COMS30046 (teaching unit) and COMS30047 (coursework) - there is no exam option for this unit.

Applied Cryptology (TB2) - COMS30048 (teaching unit) and COMS30049 (coursework) - there is no exam option for this unit.

CGI (TB2) - COMS30058 (teaching unit) and COMS30059 (coursework) - there is no exam option for this unit.

High Performance Computing (TB2) - COMS30053 (teaching unit) and COMS30052 (coursework) - there is no exam option for this unit.

Interactive Devices (TB2) - COMS30054 (teaching unit) and COMS30055 (coursework) - there is no exam option for this unit.

Year 4 (level M/7)

And, in the spring semester (Teaching Block 2 - TB2), you can take a maximum of
- 3 x 20 credit Mini Project units, assessed by Coursework (Teaching Block 2).

These are postgraduate level units, so suitable for students at this level of study.

List of TB1 options

Advanced Cryptology (TB1) - COMSM0042 (teaching unit) and either COMSM0040 (exam) or COMSM0137 (exam+coursework).

Advanced Topics in Programming Languages (TB1) - COMSM0067 (teaching unit) and COMSM0066 (exam) - there is no exam+coursework option for this unit.

Advanced Topics in Theoretical Computer Science (TB1) - COMSM0068 (teaching unit) and COMSM0069 (exam) - there is no exam+coursework option for this unit.

Applied Deep Learning (TB1) - COMSM0045 (teaching unit) and either COMSM0043 (exam) or COMSM0138 (exam+coursework).

Information Processing and the Brain (TB1) - COMSM0075 (teaching unit) and either COMSM0073 (exam) or COMSM0139 (exam+coursework).

Internet Economics and Financial Technology (TB1) - COMSM0046 (teaching unit) and either COMSM0047 (exam) or COMSM0140 (exam+coursework).

Sustainable Computing (TB1) - COMSM0134 (teaching unit) and either COMSM0135 (exam) or COMSM0136 (exam+coursework).

Systems and Software Security (TB1) - COMSM0049 (teaching unit) and either COMSM0050 (exam) or COMSM0141 (exam+coursework).

List of TB2 options

Advanced Computer Architecture (TB2) - COMS30046 (teaching unit) and COMSM0053 (coursework) - there is no exam option for this unit.

Applied Cryptology (TB2) - COMS30048 (teaching unit) and COMSM0054 (coursework) - there is no exam option for this unit.

CGI (TB2) - COMS30058 (teaching unit) and COMSM0076 (coursework) - there is no exam option for this unit.

High Performance Computing (TB2) - COMS30053 (teaching unit) and COMSM0057 (coursework) - there is no exam option for this unit.

Interactive Devices (TB2) - COMS30054 (teaching unit) and COMSM0058 (coursework) - there is no exam option for this unit.

Unit combinations

Students can build a meaningful "track" by combining sets of units in TB1 and TB2. Those units can be completed by related units. Students can contact the department Study Abroad Academic Director (nirav.ajmeri@bristol.ac.uk) to discuss their choice.

Here are examples of 2 tracks:

Security Track
TB1

Cryptology COMS30023
Security Behaviours COMS30038
Systems and Software Security COMSM0049 [Year 4 unit]

TB2

Applied Cryptology COMS30048

Additionally, in the "Security Track", those interested in cryptography side of security could select Advanced Algorithms (TB1) - COMS30042 and those interested in human aspects of security could select Interactive Devices (TB2) - COMS30054.

Programming Languages and Theoretical Track
TB1

Advanced Algorithms COMS30042
Types and Lambda Calculus COMS30040
Advanced Topics in Programming Languages COMSM0067 [Year 4 Unit]
Advanced Topics in Theoretical Computer Science COMSM0068 [Year 4 Unit]

Note: There may timetabling conflicts if you take Year 3 and Year 4 units in the same term.

Application queries

Contact the Centre for Study Abroad inbound team if you have any queries about the application process for the study abroad programmes:

Phone: +44 117 39 40207
Email: cfsa-inbound@bristol.ac.uk

Auditing

Students cannot audit units. Study abroad students are fully registered on units for credit purposes and must attend teaching only for classes that they are registered on.