Welcome to Computer Science at Norwich

We hope that you are having a good summer and looking forward to beginning your journey at Norwich University of the Arts. Welcome Week starts on Monday 15 September, and this is when we will meet you on campus and introduce you to our buildings and facilities. You will meet the staff team and other students on your course and take part in some introductory activities designed so you can get to know each other and remain safe on campus. You will be invited to a session to collect your ID card, and you will also have the opportunity to watch some videos about the services and facilities the University offers. Above all, this week is about having fun and making connections so we have a full and exciting timetable of social events and activities you can sign up to in conjunction with our fantastic Students’ Union team.

Key staff member includes Jawwad Chattha, Course Leader, who will meet you during the Welcome Week. Our introductory session will start on Monday morning around 9:30am where we start to get to know each other. The first official taught day of your course is Monday September 22, 2025. Teaching days for computer science students are Monday, Thursday and Friday during which time you will participate in a mix of workshops, lectures and tutorials. Bring a pen and paper and be prepared to take notes to get the most out of these sessions – although session slides will always be made available to you. Classes will generally be on-campus.

The rest of the week will usually be independent study time for you to research and develop your projects. Note that Wednesday afternoons are reserved as non-taught periods to allow you to participate in clubs, sports or any other activities you might be interested in.

It will be necessary for you to have at least a basic computer you can work on from home, however you don’t need to bring your machine into classes as the University will provide you with access to suitable computers during taught sessions and via computer labs accessible in the evenings and on Saturdays during term time. Our general IT equipment guidance will give you further insight into buying a computer for university and has a recommended specification which will be more than adequate for BSc Computer Science. If you are thinking about buying a new computer, you are advised to talk to your course team first as they will be able to provide you with specific guidance and highlight any special offers that may be available to you.

Leisure reading and activities before you start

• Computer Science: An Overview by J. Glenn Brookshear; Pearson, 2014.
• Codecademy provides a fun introduction to programming.
• Isaac Computer Science– free online learning platform