Exception and Accreditation

Introduction BSc degree BSc maths options MSci degree MSci maths options Questions/Answers


This Web page includes information regarding the British Computer Society (BCS) accreditation for the Joint Maths and Computing degrees (BSc and MSci) at Imperial College London. The JMC courses at Imperial College are one of the few (if not the only) Joint Maths and Computing courses in the country to benefit from a full BCS and IET accreditation (for general information about BCS Higher Education Exception and Accrediation see here; for information regarding IET Academic Accreditation click here).

JMC students who have fulfilled the criteria described below will be considered to have fulfilled the academic requirements for registring as a Chartered or Incorporated Engineer (CEng/IEng) and/or as a Chartered Scientist (CSci).

BSc degree

In summary, BCS accreditation will be given to: Figure 1 describes the alternative combinations of computing and mathematics options required for the BCS accreditation.

Figure 1: Pathways of options for BCS accreditation of BSc honours degree



Table 1: Third year maths options relevant to BCS accreditation
Course Code Course Name
M2OD Graphs, algorithms and optimisation
M2S1 Probability and statistics II
M2S2 Statistical modelling
M3S4 Applied probability I
M3S7 Statistical pattern recognition
M3S9 Stochastic simulation
M3S10 Design of experiments and surveys
M3S12 Biostatistics
M3S14 Survival models and actuarial applications






MSci degree

In summary, BCS accreditation will be given to: Figure 2 describes the number of computing and mathematics options required for BCS accreditation.

Figure 2: Pathways of options for BCS accreditation of MSci honours degree



Table 2: Fourth year maths options relevant to BCS accreditation
Course Code Course Name
M4N3 Optimisation with advanced study
M4N4 Computational linear algebra with advanced study
M4S2 Statistical modelling II with applications in finance with advanced study
M4S4 Applied probability with advanced study
M4S7 Statistical pattern recognition with advanced study
M4S9 Stochastic simulation with advanced study
M4S10 Design of experiments and surveys with advanced study
M4S11 Games, risks and decisions with advanced study
M4S12 Biostatistics with advanced study
M4S14 Survival models and actuarial applications with advanced study



Questions and Answers

Do these requirements apply also to IET Accreditation?
At what point of my degree are the requirements for BCS accreditation checked?
Do I have to do my individual project in Computing in order to get BCS accreditation?
Would I still have BCS accreditation if in my second year I have gained three full unit including only one Computing unit?
How should I choose my Maths courses in the third year so to have BCS accreditation?
How should I choose my Math courses in the forth year so to have BCS accreditation?
In what cases my JMC degree can be considered to be NOT eligible for BCS accreditation?
What is BCS Accreditation?

Do these requirements apply also to IET Accreditation?

No. The IET accreditation is unconditional. Both (BSc and MSci) JMC degree have been recognized by the IET professional body for full IET accreditation.

At what point of my degree are the requirements for BCS accreditation checked?

At the end of your degree. Every year in September, a list of the new graduated (BSc and MSci) students eligibile for BCS accreditation is sent to the BCS for their approval. The curriculum of each graduated student is checked against the criteria illustrated above. In particular, the number of computing units gained in the second, third and forth year (for MSci students) is checked, and the typeof individual project. In cases where the student has gained less than two computing units in either year two, or three or four (for MSci), the maths options gained during the degree are checked againsts the lists given in Tables 1 (for third year courses) and Table 2 (for forth year courses).

Do I have to do my individual project in computing in order to get BCS accreditation?

No. You can well choose your individual project in mathematics provided that it includes some practical and problem solving component. This is because it has been recognised that Mathematics projects may also involve steps like specification of a problem, design of a solution and often development of algorithms, as well as some implementation (as is for instance the case with projects in mathematical finance). If so and provided that you have satisfied the requirements for course options illustrated in Figure 1 (if you are a BSc student) or Figure 2 (if you are an MSci student), you will be entitled for BCS accreditation.

Would I still have BCS accreditation if in my second year I gained only one computing unit and two maths units?

You need to have passed the compulsary computing unit C271, at least two exams for the computing options in unit C272 and passed the maths option M2OD. If your case does not fulfill one of these conditions (e.g. failed unit C271, or passed C271 but failed more than one computing exam in C272, or passed C271 and two computing exams from 272 but not chosen or passed the maths option M2OD) then you cannot be entitled to BCS accreditation.

How should I choose my maths courses in the third year so to have BCS accreditation?

If you have chosen 4 computing courses in your third year then you are free to choose any remaining math options you like for the year. If you have chosen the minimum number of computing courses (i.e. 2 computing courses) then you have to make sure that your remaining maths half units have to include at least 2 maths courses from Table1. If you have chosen 3 computing courses then your remaining maths half units have to include at least 1 maths course from Table 1. This applies to both BSc and MSci students.

How should I choose my Maths courses in the fourth year so to have BCS accreditation?

If you have chosen 4 computing courses in your forth year then you are free to choose any remaining math options you like for the year. If you have chosen the minimum number of computing courses (i.e. 2 Computing courses) then you have to make sure that your remaining maths half units have to include at least 2 maths courses from Table2. If you have chosen 3 computing courses then your remaining maths half units have to include at least 1 maths course form Table 2. This obviously applies to MSci students only.

In what cases my JMC degree can be considered to be NOT eligible for BCS accreditation?

Generally speaking when you have less than 2 computing units in some of your years and maths options fall all outside the lists given in Table 1 and Table 2 (for MSci), and your individual project is a pure maths project. An example could be a student who has gained only one computing unit in year three, has taken all maths options from the stream of pure maths, and has undertaken a pure maths individual project. In this case it's argueble that the content of his/her curriculm includes enough computing academic knowledeg to justify a BCS accreditation.

What is BCS Accreditation?

BCS accreditation is the recognition by the BCS professional body that a student graduated with a BCS accredited degree has obatined all the necessary academic requirements for being entitled to register as Chartered or Incorporated Engineer (CEng/IEng) at the BCS professional i nstitution. Students with BCS accredited degrees will not be required to undertake further academic examinations by the BCS institution when they apply to register as Chartered or Incorporated Engineer (CEng/IEng).