From singing greeting cards to sophisticated digital cameras, all but the very simplest electronic products now use embedded computer systems. Creating these products increasingly requires programming skills, as functions move from electronics to software. This degree integrates software development, computer science and electronics to equip graduates with the knowledge and understanding to be effective developers of embedded systems. Students will develop an in-depth awareness of all phases of software development, an understanding of computer hardware, and practical experience of software development for embedded hardware. In the third year you are given the opportunity to spend the year on work placement, preparing for a successful career by applying the skills you have already acquired in years 1 and 2 to the workplace, gaining valuable experience in the process. The Department uniquely offers a number of guaranteed industrial placements in its own commercial software development unit (SEED), as well as supporting students’ own search for placements, both in the UK and abroad.

The applications of computers and computing continue to grow in industry, in commerce and in pure and applied research. Our graduates have moved into all of these areas for their first employment – joining computer manufacturers, software houses and IT departments – while others have undertaken postgraduate study and research. Hull graduates have recently gained employment with, among others, Sony, the BBC, Government Communications Headquarters, Logica, Dell Computers, Fujitsu and News International. In designing our degree programmes, we aim to provide you with a good theoretical and practical training which will interest potential employers and equip you with the tools to undertake further study. The University has an excellent Careers Service, which gives individual advice to students about possible careers. It also arranges recruiting visits by prospective employers during your final year. The University does consistently well in the ‘graduate employment’ category of national surveys, and it has one of the lowest graduate unemployment rates in the UK. Research is an important part of the department’s academic work, and there are opportunities for graduates to undertake research leading to an MSc or PhD, or both. Current research interests in the department include Dependable Systems, Intelligent Systems, and Simulation and Visualisation.