About our Faculty

Please take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the Faculty of Computing and Engineering. The Faculty consists of four Schools, as well as the Engineering Research Graduate School. The Faculty enjoys a presence on three campuses namely, Coleraine, Jordanstown and Magee. If you are studying a programme at Jordanstown which includes design modules you may also attend classes at the Belfast campus.

A range of undergraduate, postgraduate and professional development programmes is offered by the Faculty, planned in collaboration with industry, professional bodies, and where appropriate government bodies. The programmes are designed to meet the needs of industry - offering a good balance of theory and practice - and most include a one year placement.

The Faculty enjoys strong links with industry - working with businesses to assist in the development of programmes, consultancy, research and development, and through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. These links create excellent opportunities for you in terms of placement opportunities and greatly enhance your employment prospects.

The Faculty of Computing and Engineering is involved in many different aspects of research including Intelligent Systems, Intelligent Multimedia, Smart Home Technologies, Data Mining, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, Information Engineering, Bio-Engineering, Medical Informatics and Statistics, Nanotechnology and Engineering Composites – to name but a few! Once you have finished studying at undergraduate level you may decide that you would like to undertake a postgraduate qualification in one of these areas.

The Faculty provides a diverse, supportive and productive educational environment for you. Staff members actively engage in research and consultancy with national and international partners and then integrate this experience into the classroom environment.

The programme that you are currently studying will be based within one of three computing Schools – Computing and Information Engineering, Computing and Intelligent Systems, or Computing and Mathematics. A synopsis of each School is detailed below – take the time to read these as they will give you an idea of what your fellow students are studying within the Faculty of Computing and Engineering.

The School of Computing and Information Engineering is based at the Coleraine campus on the north coast, within ten miles of the world heritage site, The Giant’s Causeway.  Outdoor pursuits are a big attraction to students studying at this campus – body boarding, surfing, golf, rowing and motor cycle racing are part of life in this area.  As you would expect sporting facilities on campus are excellent.

The School has a strong focus on teaching and research in computer science.  Teaching strengths lie in the development of software systems, artificial intelligence, digital games development and networking.

The School also offers a range of modular programmes combining computer science with subjects such as business, education, modern languages and psychology.  It is also possible to follow specialist streams in Digital Games Development, Artificial Intelligence and Internet Systems.  Research focuses on Information Engineering - data mining and knowledge discovery, artificial intelligence and software engineering.

The School of Computing and Intelligent Systems is based Mageecampus, which is a rapidly expanding city-centre campus close to the River Foyle, city centre shopping and leisure and entertainment facilities. There is always something exciting happening at Magee – it is an excellent place to experience student life to the full.

The School has a strong focus on teaching in the areas of computer science, computer games, ICT, Creative Computing and electronic systems. In particular the School is noted for its strengths in the integration of these areas – a critical aspect for the design of modern computational systems for industry, education, entertainment and commerce. The School also contributes the computing elements of other courses at the campus.

The School’s research has a particular emphasis on intelligent computational systems and has gained support for the establishment of a £20M Intelligent Systems Research Centre which focuses on areas such as computational neuroscience, cognitive robotics and ambient intelligence.

The School of Computing and Mathematics is based at the Jordanstown campus on the shore of Belfast Lough. The campus enjoys a friendly environment with plenty of cafes, sandwich bars and restaurants at which to meet and relax with friends. The campus has excellent sporting facilities including a large fitness suite. There are local amenities and bars for those who choose to live close by.

Computing Science, Computing with Mathematics, Interactive Multimedia Design, Software Engineering, and Information and Communication Technologies are all on offer on a full-time basis within the School. Research within the school focuses on data mining, artificial intelligence, software systems engineering, medical informatics and statistics. 

Also at the Jordanstown campus is the School of Engineering.  The School is noted for its strengths in bioengineering which includes the application of engineering to medicine; nanotechnology, the creation of new materials atom-by-atom for a range of applications, such as bio-sensing, tissue-engineering and drug delivery; and in the development of composite materials for use in the aerospace, automotive and construction industries.  Research interests include bio-engineering, nanotechnology, and engineering composites.

Apart from the strong research activity, a wide range of courses provide rich professional engineering employment opportunities and the school features superb links with industry, extending to all of GB and ROI.  The School offers a range of programmes including mechanical engineering, electrical/electronic engineering, engineering management, (production and manufacturing), technology with design, sports technology and biomedical engineering.  Integrated foundation years in engineering may be offered for candidates who do not have sufficient UCAS points to enter directly at year 1.

This introduction provides you with an overview of what goes on in the Faculty of Computing and Engineering. Remember that you can refer to this at any stage – throughout your time at the University of Ulster. All the very best for your time at university!

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