BSc Honours in Computer Science and Physics (GF43)

This degree is offered jointly with the School of Physics.

Mathematical models are used to explain and predict the behaviours of physical systems. Even when these models are simple, their solutions are generally not. Usually, there is no analytical solution in terms of explicit formulas. In such circumstances one has to resort to numerical solution or computer simulation. The resulting calculations are some of the most computationally demanding ever conceived, running for days on powerful computers. The importance of efficient algorithms in these applications is clear. In the other direction, the physical basis for computation is under study by theoretical computer scientists with 'quantum computers' generating much interest lately.

What is special about the Edinburgh degree programme

Edinburgh boasts research and teaching of international standards in both computing and physics. Both the School of Informatics and the School of Physics are initiators of the National Grid project. We believe that the explosive growth of the World Wide Web indicates the potential for a creation of a computational Grid, which will be data, sensor and computation rich. The Grid project is managed by the National e-Science Centre, the Headquarters of which are in Edinburgh. One of the grid members has a long-standing tradition of providing supercomputer facilities to the UK academia: the Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre. EPCC is the leading European provider of supercomputing facilities (Cray T3D supercomputer, now replaced by HPCx) and the main provider of computer power to the UK scientific community. As one of our students you will be well placed to join a range of exciting projects in this area.

For details of degree structure and content see degree programme specification.

Professional Recognition

Graduates fulfil the educational requirement to become Members of the British Computer Society, which is a professional qualification carrying with it both prestige and responsibilities. To achieve the status of Engineering Council Chartered Engineer (CEng) you will have to complete a 'matching section' equivalent to an additional undergraduate year of education, which may be industry based.