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Our Approach to Computer Science

What is Computer Science?

That is a question we are often asked by some potential applicants who have the wrong impression of what Computer Science is:

Both Science and Engineering are about problem-solving. They are about different kinds of problems, and they solve them in different ways, but they have a lot in common.

Science is about finding things out: it is driven by curiosity: it is an end in itself. Nevertheless, most scientists get a warm feeling when a scientific theory finds an engineering application. Conversely, although engineering has many aspects other than science, engineers must know the science of their discipline if they are to innovate.

Both Engineering and Science allow you to explore, to think of new ideas and to test them practically and theoretically. Innovation can be open-ended, creative, and exciting: that is, if you make it so, and if you have prepared yourself for it to be so.

Our flagship degree course, MEng in Computer Systems and Software Engineering, has that title to show that it encompasses all aspects of computer systems; that it takes an engineering approach to the subject; and that it does included software engineering (just in case 'computer systems' was mis-understood).

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Why Our Approach is Different?

Our approach to Computer Science is not just to tell you how other people have done things so that you can do the same, but rather to educate you to the point where you are able to invent new things that nobody has done before. We offer an accredited professional engineering education in computer systems and software engineering, and also, in collaboration with the Department of Mathematics, a scientific education in computer science combined with mathematics. We do not offer training courses restricted to IT, or to computer games, or to the design of web pages - although of course we do consider the theory and practice of all these topics within an engineering context, and we make available to students a wide range of information and tools for their investigation.

Before applying to come to York, consider if you want to spend three or four years in intensive study across the range of the subject: theory and practice, science and engineering, software and hardware. Although you can specialise as you proceed through the years of the course, nevertheless you will be required to cover ground that is necessary for the accreditation of an engineering education. Our engineering-accredited courses deal with the engineer in his/her environment, which involves requirements from customers, consideration of how those requirements are met (and the measurement of how well they are met), and, more generally, the engineer in society.

That phrase "the engineer in society" means, among other things, can people of all kinds use what you have designed? Does what you have designed help the economy generally, and the ability of individuals to earn their livings? Is it easy to use? For everybody? Is it adaptable as requirements change? Is if safe to use? If it goes wrong, what will happen - loss of time - loss of money - loss of life? How likely is it to go wrong? How can people be protected from the consequences?

If your concerns are narrowly technical, you should pause and consider whether you are likely to be happy with our courses, and whether they will give you what you are looking for. Nevertheless, do not be put off if you see yourself mainly as a provider of bright new ideas. There is always a market for ideas, even if others have to put them into practice: but you will need to be able to explain your ideas to the others.

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What Do We Teach?

To get an idea of the range of topics included in Computer Science, visit:

  • the complete list of courses we offer - giving access to details of their contents
  • a list of recent final year projects undertaken (3rd year and 4th year)

You can also see a wider view of the Department's interests, and therefore an idea of what you might choose yourself to undertake as a project, by looking at:


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