
About this program
PG Cert Computer Science
This short conversion course will introduce you to the fundamentals of computing. It is intended for individuals interested in the field of computing who don’t have the required academic background or work experience to break into this in-demand industry.
Through this PG Cert Computer Science, you will explore current trends, best practices and gain technical skills, as well as developing your ability to collaborate with others and problem solve. By the end of your studies you will have gained computing knowledge and skills that will prepare you for a number of career paths in this rapidly growing industry. You will also be able to continue your studies and advance onto our PG Dip or Masters programme.
Admission requirements
At University of Essex Online, we believe that everyone should be able to access education. That is why we offer two different entry routes onto our PG Cert Computer Science, which take into account both academic and work-based experience.
Our courses are taught in English so to study with us you must have an IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 or equivalent. If you don’t hold an IELTS or equivalent qualification, you will be required to pass a free online English test to assess your proficiency.
Does this course require proof of English proficiency?
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Scholarships & funding
A range of scholarships are available subject to applicants meeting certain criteria. To find out whether you're eligible for scholarships, please contact the school.
Program delivery
Teaching methods and style
We’re a 100% online education provider, so we use a state-of-the art virtual learning environment (VLE) to deliver our teaching, resources and assessments. Our system tracks and manages the learning process in real-time and provides you with immediate access to your learning materials. The VLE is accessible 24/7 and allows both students and tutors to actively take part in real-time conversations and live seminars.
For our PG Cert Computer Science, there’s no need to download different software packages – all programming languages are included within the tuition fee and all work is carried out on an online development environment.
Assessment
All assessments are delivered through our virtual learning environment (VLE). There is no requirement to go to external test centres; instead you will submit written assignments through the VLE. For the few courses where exams are required, we use a virtual system which allows you to take academically rigorous exams from the comfort of your own home.
We believe you get the most out of your time spent studying when you are kept informed of your performance, and we achieve this by:
- assessing you throughout modules rather than waiting for end of year exams
- showing your marks in your grade book which can be viewed whenever you log onto the VLE
- rapid turnaround on work assessed to ensure your grade book is always up to date
- ensuring you have regular contact with your Student Support team
We also have a policy of ensuring that the work submitted by students is authentic – we use a well-established electronic monitoring system to check for plagiarism.
Tuition
The tuition fee for this program is £3,741 (2020/2021)
The tuition fee includes all teaching materials and required reading, and there aren’t any hidden charges for assessments or resits.
- Monthly payment plan available for those who are self-funding.
- 10% discount if you pay the full course fee upfront.
- Postgraduate student loans are available in England for the full Masters degrees only.
For more information about tuition fees, please contact the school.
Career paths
There is a huge level of demand for computer science professionals and this course is designed to enable you to make a career change to this technical field. After completing your studies, you will be prepared to succeed in roles such as: Entry Level Software Developer or programr, Web Developer or programr, and Information System Administrator.
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About this institute

University of Essex Online
University of Essex Online provides a wide range of 100% online and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses in business, computing, education, health, law, criminology and psychology. Our students benefit from a flexible approach to learning while receiving the same dedicated...
Contact info
University of Essex Online
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