City College Plymouth

FdSc Computer Systems Development

We are a College with a national reputation for promoting enterprise, employability and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Study in a friendly, supportive higher education community with dedicated and enthusiastic lecturers delivering courses designed with employers, ensuring that you graduate with industry-relevant skills and knowledge.

Course details

  • Year 1

  • Core modules

    • Object Oriented Programming (CITY1101)

      The object oriented programming paradigm requires a programmer to design and develop code by considering what objects may exist in some system, how these are related to each other and how these may interact with each other. It is a proven method for developing reliable modular programs and encourages reuse which shortens development time. This module provides an introduction to the object-oriented programming paradigm.

    • Computer Systems (CITY1102)

      This module will help learners to understand the fundamental components that are used to form a computer. It will provide an overview of different types of computer and identify various operating systems that are used.

    • Computer Networks (CITY1104)

      Networking is at the heart of modern life, providing the infrastructure for all types of communication. This module introduces the students to the fundamental technology of networks and the underlying concepts and protocols. The module has a balanced mix of theory and practice, with the theoretical concepts discussed in the lectures matched by scenarios to design, implement, configure and troubleshoot in the lab sessions.

    • Database Development (CITY1106)

      Databases underlie many modern business applications, and most software developer will find themselves involved with the development of maintenance of them at some point in their career. It is important to understand the principles of relational database design to underpin and developments in other database models, and this unit will focus on the relational model, but provide some pointers to alternatives.

  • Year 2

  • Core modules

    • Mathematics for Computing (CITY1103)

      This module will develop the students mathematical ability and provide a foundation for computer based algebra, transformations, numerical concepts and relational algebra. Computing packages and calculators will be used throughout the programme.

    • Web Development (CITY1105)

      This module gives the student an introduction to developing web applications. It establishes the fundamental components required to develop software for the web. It provides an introductory understanding and use of programming and scripting languages needed. Security and legal aspects of web applications are introduced.

    • Organisational Systems Security (CITY2111)

      This module will develop the students analytical ability and provide a foundation for computer security. Students will learn of how to protect computer systems and networking against network attacks and develop the techniques, skills and knowledge needed for design methods for and secured a networked system(s).

    • Advanced Computer Networks (CITY2112)

      This module will develop the students networking skills and provide a deeper understanding of routing and switching; IP addressing, designing and troubleshooting of small to large scale networked systems and also analysing network traffic.

  • Final year

  • Core modules

    • Computing Team Project (CITY2105)

      This practical take on systems engineering introduces this as a means of facilitating and assuring the development of a complex computer related technical product. Focusing predominantly on introducing tools and techniques that can be applied at different stages of the product development cycle. It will cover relevant system analysis processes that support project management and will focus on the Agile development model. Students will be given a group project specified by an industrial collaborator which will have well defined targets and timescales for completion.

    • Digital Forensics (CITY2110)

      With valuable personal information in modern society, and the relative anonymity of the internet, criminals are increasingly making use of technology for crime, developing new ways to store/hide/gain access to information. Digital forensics is about the use of systems in order to find information that links to a crime, preserving the validity of that evidence, and communicating it effectively for use in legal processes.

    • Embedded Systems And Robotics (CITY2113)

      This unit will cover the history of robotics and sensors and the mathematics behind them including various types of computer platforms and devices used to control robots and embedded systems. There will be a practical element where students will build and program various embedded systems and robots and sensors for different applications.

    • Computer Systems Architecture (CITY2114)

      This module will help learners to understand the evolution of computer architecture and the factors influencing design of hardware and software elements of computer systems. Topics include: instruction set design; processor micro-architecture and pipelining; cache and virtual memory organizations; protection and sharing; I/O and interrupts; multithreaded architectures; symmetric multiprocessors; and parallel computing.

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

Fees, costs and funding

As this course is delivered by one of our partner colleges, please contact the college directly for information on fees and funding.

How to apply

For further information and to apply for this course, please contact the college's admissions team directly using the contact details below. 

Our partnership with City College Plymouth

The University of Plymouth has developed partnerships with institutions around the world with the sole purpose of making higher education more accessible to those people who need something just a little different.

Our Academic Partnerships enable students to enrol for a degree at a partnership institution closer to home, or engage in distance learning – even when they’re in the middle of the ocean. They are there for those people looking to return to education, or enhance their professional development. Full- or part-time; foundation degree to masters-level – we cater for a huge variety of needs and aspirations.

Many of our partners offer specialist degrees, unique facilities, and smaller class sizes at a competitive price. And as a student of two institutions, you get the best of both worlds; a supportive learning environment as part of a close-knit community, and a university-level qualification awarded by the University of Plymouth. You’ll enjoy not only the facilities and services your partnership institution provides, but also all of the additional support and resources you need from us, and you’ll automatically become a member of our Students’ Union, too.

We are continuing to grow the number of partner institutions and expand our academic community to new locations around the UK and overseas. Why not visit the Academic Partnerships page on our website for a full list of partners and for more details on studying with us?

One of our partners delivers this particular course – so please visit their website for full course details, entry requirements, tuition fees and information on what student life is like there. 

Please contact City College Plymouth to apply for this course:

City College Plymouth
Devonport 
Plymouth 
PL1 5QG

Tel: +441752305300
Email: info@cityplym.ac.uk

Open days

Partner college open days

This course is run at one of our partner colleges. Open days are held at the college and more details of these can be found on the college website. You'll find contact details below, on this page.

University of Plymouth open days

You are also very welcome to attend a University of Plymouth open day, to get a flavour of the courses you can progress to from a partner college. There will however be limited information on this specific course and college.

Studying with City College Plymouth

Just one-and-a-half miles from the University of Plymouth, we’re one of the largest colleges in the South West, with two main sites linked by shuttle buses, with a dynamic Students’ Union and Student Liaison Team.
 
Plymouth students working on a group project