Creative Computing BSc (Hons)
Open for 2024 entry
Length:
3 years
UCAS Code:
C100
Institution Code:
N39
Optional Diploma Years:
Creative Professional Development (1 year, Level 5 diploma) available between years 2 & 3
Be part of the Future. Take your digital creativity to a whole new level and equip yourself with the skills needed for a career in the creative tech and digital arts industries.
Our BSc (Hons) Creative Computing has been developed in response to increasing employer demand for graduates who ‘create’ using programming as their medium. You will develop projects to industry briefs and gain an understanding of the potential for – and theory of – computer-based technology in a wide range of digital creative and design sectors.
Through practical project work, you’ll develop core computational thinking and become adept with a range of industry-standard creative platforms. For example, applying coding and creative skills to creative web and app work while thinking about interaction, image and text.
You will explore data from both open and closed networks: finding patterns in data, learning to use data ethically, and exploring why data can exclude rather than explain. You will develop algorithmic thinking and more advanced forms of algorithmic programming. As with all Norwich University of the Arts courses, you’re learning experience will be hands-on.
Why Study with us
- Benefit from well-resourced digital creative teaching facilities including a dedicated Creative Tech Lab and brand-new Immersive Visualisation and Simulation Lab.
- Develop programming and design skills for creative web and app work, focussing on aesthetics, interaction, animation, and usability.
- Explore algorithmic art to further develop your programming skills and produce aesthetically complex outcomes inspired by natural forms.
- Be introduced to AI and machine learning, to add another dimension to your project work and build commercially sought after skills.
- Develop advanced computer programming and software development skills that are truly transferrable.
- Develop team working skills and create amazing outcomes by collaborating with students from other disciplines.
- Engage with a range of contemporary topics such as AI ethics, digital sustainability, digital culture, and tech for good.
Course Content
Year 1
The first year of the course has a shared curriculum with BSc (Hons) Creative Technology and Robotics. This first unit focuses on developing a solid base of technical and creative skills that will serve as a springboard for your learning across the rest of the course. You will explore computing foundations and the fundamentals of coding in the context of the creative web. Starting with the computational thinking that underpins algorithmic structures, your coding skills will develop through a series of practical projects that simulate industry briefs. You will learn about programming styles, data structures and algorithms, as well as industry best practices. Learning by responding to a series of creative challenges, your technical knowledge will develop alongside your creative approach.
40 credits
In this unit, you will explore and experiment with a range of creative computing and technology applications to further develop your programming skills, as well as introducing you to a greater range of creative possibilities. You will learn about programming principles and mathematics applicable to 2D solutions, exploring how to resolve problems common to 2D environments. From 2D, you will progress to working with 3D, on the way expanding your knowledge of relevant principles and processes. You will explore programming for XR platforms such as AR and VR, be introduced to the fundamentals of machine learning as well as exploring creative technology subjects such as physical computing. You will also engage with a range of contemporary topics such as AI ethics, sustainability for the tech sector and toxic digital culture.
80 credits
The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.
An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.
Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.
Year 2
As you progress to Year 2, you will further consolidate and develop your creative programming skills within the context of both industry-standard platforms and more experimental approaches. You will learn commercially valuable skills in app development, developing expertise with industry-standard platforms and processes as well as further enhancing your command of machine learning, for example, by training and implementing your own models. You will develop advanced programming skills through the engineering of complex algorithms, for example by simulating natural phenomena such as organic structures and fluids. You will also explore non-standard methods of interaction such as hand-tracking, providing further opportunity to develop your technical and creative skills together.
80 credits
This unit focusses on how collaborative work can help you channel and enhance your creative thinking, exposing you to new processes and approaches. Students work in multidisciplinary groups, typically responding to an industry brief, and produce significant outcomes suited to inclusion in an employer-facing portfolio. You’ll be introduced to a range of theoretical and practical approaches to managing collaboration, both in lectures and workshops, developing a practical command of suitable tools and platforms as well as applying this knowledge to evaluate your group’s performance. Your understanding of related industries will develop and you will work on a professional career development plan to help you on your journey towards future employment and business ventures.
40 credits
The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.
An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.
Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.
Diploma Year (optional)
Students have the opportunity to spend a year after the second of their degree (or the third year if studying for a degree with an Integrated Foundation Year) enhancing their employability options through a Level 5 Diploma in Creative Professional Development. This course is designed to provide opportunities to gain industry insight, developing employability skills through a series of supported experiences, expanding professional networks and building confidence in the workplace.
Find out more about our Level 5 Diploma in Creative Professional Development.
Final year
This is the first and shorter of the two units that make up your final year of undergraduate study. The primary focus of this unit is the research report, a deep investigation into an area of interest to you and of relevance to the subject of creative computing. Through a structured research process, you will develop and document cutting edge knowledge that will provide you with a greater contextual understanding of your subject, as well as inform future practical projects. You will also be introduced to a series of more advanced theoretical and practical topics such as natural language processing, the technology underpinning chatbots and voice interaction, and shader programming, a powerful methodology used to address the graphics processing unit (GPU) directly.
40 credits
Your final unit allows you to research, conceptualise and create a self-determined final-year project(s), building on the skills and knowledge you have gathered throughout the programme. You’ll explore your digital and creative skill set, how to manage workflows, work to a brief, and success metrics. You’ll be able to participate in competitions, attend conferences, and meet visiting professionals. You’ll have the opportunity to display your final year work as part of our degree show, Grad Fest, showcasing your projects to a network of industry professionals and prospective employers. Additionally, you will be supported in developing a career pack consisting of elements such as a CV and portfolio website, all critical to helping you move forward at the end of your course.
80 credits
The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.
An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.
Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.
Careers Information
Employability and entrepreneurship sessions will allow you to develop excellent transferrable skills in teamwork, project management, communication and problem-solving; and you will have opportunities to work with digital creative businesses in the University’s network.
In your final year you’ll produce a research report on a relevant area of theory, industry or practice, realise a significant portfolio project of your own choosing and develop a career plan that will help launch you from graduation into industry.
As a graduate of the course, you’ll be a technology-led creative professional, with top-level creative design and coding skills to embark on a graduate career in creative software development, immersive experiences, digital media, emerging technology, AI and machine learning. This course will also give you the skills and confidence to take roles and opportunities at the forefront of the discipline yet to be defined.
Typical career paths include
- Creative developer
- Design engineer
- Mobile app developer
- Web developer
- Audio/visual researcher
You’ll also get specialist creative careers advice from our Business and Employability Team to help support you as you plan your career.
Tabbed Section
Typical UK offers
A / AS Levels – GCE
GCE A/AS Levels 3 A-level qualifications at grades BCC (104 UCAS Tariff points) or above. Where candidates are not taking 3 A-levels, Norwich University of the Arts will consider combinations of A-level/AS-level and other Level 3 qualifications.
BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction, Merit, Merit in an art, design or media related subject
BTEC Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction*, Distinction* in an art, design or media related subject
T Levels
A T Level in any subject with overall grade Merit or above
UAL Extended Diploma
Merit
UAL Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
UAL Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
Access to Higher Education Diploma (Art and Design)
Pass
International Baccalaureate Diploma
A minimum of 26 points
Norwich University of the Arts welcomes applicants of all ages from all backgrounds. Your application will be primarily assessed through your portfolio (if required), responses to questions asked and personal statement, so even if you have no formal qualifications or do not meet our typical offers it can still be worth applying.
If you are studying at the time of your application and your application is successful it is likely that you will receive a conditional offer.
If the qualification that you are studying is not shown, do not worry as we are able to accept other pre-entry qualifications as well as combinations of different qualifications. Please do contact our Student Recruitment Team if you have any queries.
International applications
We accept qualifications from all over the world. To find our entry requirements from a specific country, please check our dedicated international pages.
Most international students are required to hold an English language qualification. Applicants are required to have a minimum UKVI approved IELTS exam score of 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each section. Equivalent English language qualifications are acceptable such as, IB English language syllabus A or B/English Literature (Grade 4).
We also accept some alternative English qualifications. Learn more about our English entry requirements.
You can email us on international@norwichuni.ac.uk if you’d like to discuss your application individually.
2024/25 University fees for new entrants
Norwich University of the Arts will assess students’ tuition fee status using the guidance provided by the UK Council for International Student Affairs
Students from the UK or Ireland and EU students with ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-Settled’ status will be charged ‘Home’ fees if they meet the relevant residency requirements. They will usually be eligible for a tuition fee loan from the UK government, meaning that they won’t have to pay Norwich University of the Arts’ tuition fees upfront.
Students who do not meet the necessary residency requirements will usually be charged ‘Overseas’ fees and will not be eligible for the UK government tuition fee loan. Since 2021/22, this includes new entrants from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland who do not have ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-Settled’ status, because the UK has now formally left the EU.
| Fee status | Course | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| Home | Undergraduate degree (full-time three and four year degree) | £9,250 |
| Overseas | Undergraduate degree (full-time three and four year degree) | £18,000 |
Inflation in subsequent years
The rules for inflation on fees in subsequent years depend on the type of fee status and level.
- For Home undergraduate students starting in 2024, inflation may be applied to your fees in later years, if the UK government were to increase the fee cap beyond the current limit of £9,250 per year. If such an increase were to apply, we would confirm this in advance to you of each academic year, and we would limit the increase to the maximum allowed by the Office for Students.
- For Overseas undergraduate students starting in 2024, inflation will be applied to your fees in later years. We will confirm this in advance to you of each academic year, and we will limit the increase to no more than the Office for Students’ recommended inflationary measure, which is RPI-X. RPI-X is calculated by the Office for Budget Responsibility. In setting fees for the following year, we will use the Office for Budget Responsibility’s RPI-X forecast for quarter 3 of the relevant year.
For Home and overseas postgraduate degree students starting in 2024, fees will remain the same for each year of your course.
Financial support for UK students in 2024
Tuition fee loans and loans for living costs are usually available to UK and some EU students, as well as non-repayable Norwich University of the Arts bursaries based on family income. Find out more about applying for funding.
International students
We offer a range of scholarships for international students to support your studies with us.
- Group briefings
- Academic tutorials
- Group tutorials
- Lectures
- Workshops
- Critiques (crits)
- Seminars
- Finished pieces of work
- Presentations
- Written work
- Your research
- A reflective journal
Work-based Learning Opportunities
Between Years 2 and 3 of this course, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake one of the following additional qualifications:
Creative Professional Development (1 year, Level 5 Diploma)
Our Creative Professional Development Diploma gives you the chance to spend a year exploring your post-uni job options through a structured programme of input sessions and work-based learning. This year offers two much-sought-after industry placements – the first lasting six weeks, the second 12 weeks, and a group project or ‘hackathon’ exploring freelancing and business start-up.
Creative Computing (1 year, Level 5 Diploma)
Our Creative Computing Diploma introduces you to coding and computational skills that will advance and complement your creative practice. No prior experience of coding is needed, just a curiosity about creative computing and a desire to push your own practice into new realms. You’ll also develop a wider knowledge of the creative tech industries, available roles and opportunities.
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