Facilities and expertise in Computing

Undergraduate

With our BCS accredited computing degrees, you can be sure that our facilities will include everything you need to get ahead of the competition. 

Our courses have a strong practical focus to ensure you learn all the hands-on skills you need to succeed in industry when you graduate. As a student here you'll get full access to our cutting-edge software and industry-standard equipment from major manufacturers including Cisco and Juniper within our dedicated networking, cyber security and robotics labs. You will also have access to our specialist environments for usability testing and software development.

We have strong partnerships with Juniper, Amazon Web Service and CISCO, and are members of their academies which allows us to use best practice from those industrial partners to teach you the technology that you'll need to use when you graduate. 

Computer labs and software

We have a host of industry-standard labs and workstations that run both Windows and Linux operating systems. Our facilities include:

  • Network labs with over 400 industry-standard network devices, switches, routers, firewalls, wireless LAN controllers and network traffic generators
  • Cyber lab with a dedicated and isolated network
  • Real-time robotics lab for embedded software programming and electronic design
  • iMac lab for iPhone and iPad development
  • Usability lab with cameras and eye-trackers
  • Data analytics software 
  • Software development environments for desktop, mobile and enterprise applications
  • Smart Zone where you can bring your ideas to life using the latest digital and immersive technologies in our unique maker spaces.

Over my four years at Staffordshire University, the staff helped me grow as a person and made me believe in myself, whilst giving me both technical skills and professional advice. They encouraged me to be bold and daring in my studies and future career plans.

Stanley Mugabe

Graduate, Development programmer for Seven Trent PLC

Facilities

Cyber/Biometrics Lab

Our Cyber Lab contains dual screen PCs bound within a dedicated isolated network. Our in-house developed virtual machines and environment enables several types of cyber protection to be developed, and ethical hacking investigations to take place. Read more

Find out more: Networks and Cyber Security. 
Watch video View virtual tour

Networking Labs

The networking labs consist of three fully equipped Cisco labs with around 340 devices, plus a Juniper set-up which can be incorporated into courses. Read more

Find out more about our networking facilities. 
Watch video

Real Time Lab

Our Real Time Lab has a suite of 20, 6 axis programmable robotic arms, autonomous vehicles, micro-controllers, motors, sensors and state-of-the-art design suites for embedded software programming and electronic design.

Watch video View virtual tour

Software Development Tools

You'll have access to development environments for desktop, mobile and enterprise applications. Plus access to our mobile/smart devices development lab, with a variety of mobile devices for testing.

Usability Testing

Observations, eye-tracking data and recorded usability video footage can be used to analyse how people interact with software systems such as games, web and mobile applications.

Data Analytics Tools

Get access to software including Oracle and SQL Server, and NoSQL data stores such as MongoDB. You'll also have physical and virtual environments to develop practical skills.

Our staff

Dr Russell Campion

Head Of Department - Computing & Esports

Russell started at the University in 1990, studying a BA, then MRes, and finally a PhD before going into full-time teaching. He currently runs the Department of Computing. Previously he has managed the Information Systems group at Stafford befor…

Russell's profile

Dr David Dyke

Course Director

David's expertise focuses on control engineering, electrical circuit analysis, analogue electronics and hardware-based digital electronics. His research interests focus on social implications of technology and the use of AI for power systems design.

David's profile

Christopher Howard

Course Director

Chris is a networking professional with over 30 years’ experience in the technical and academic field. He is currently the course director for Cyber Security and Networks.

Christopher's profile

Robin Oldham

Course Director

Robin Oldham is Course Director for Computer Science and Digital Apprenticeships at Staffordshire University having worked in Higher Education for 20+ years as a Lecturer, Manager and Technology Professional

Robin's profile

Dr Mostafa Tajdini

Senior Lecturer

Mostafa is Course Leader for BSc (Hons) Cyber Security course at Staffordshire University as well an active researcher in Cyber and Network Security. His main area of the interest is Intrusion Detection/Prevention System in IPv6 and Phishing Attack.

Mostafa's profile

Fiona Knight

Senior Lecturer

Fiona is a senior lecturer in Computer Science, specialising in web development, user interfaces and mobile application development. She is a second-year leader for Computer Science, and is a specialist on the web and software development routes.

Fiona's profile

Dr Justin Champion

Senior Lecturer

Justin has worked for the University for a number of years as a Senior Lecturer in Networking. He is a member of the university's CISCO teaching team and has a wide set of experiences within this field, and has mostly specialised in the area of…

Justin's profile

Dr Janet Francis

Associate Professor

I am an Associated Professor of Life-long and Life-wide Learning. I work in the Department of Computing and Esports specialising in Information Systems and Business Computing.

Janet's profile

Dr Mohammad Hasan

Senior Lecturer

Mohammad is a Senior lecturer who is involved in postgraduate research supervision, MSc course management, postgraduate and undergraduate teaching.

Mohammad's profile
Supportive and helpful

The facilities here have been fantastic. The library is open 24/7 and most of the computers in the library have the software that I need to do assignments. Mellor building (which is where all the Cisco equipment is kept) is also open 24/7 as well so you can come and do work whenever you feel like doing so. 

The staff are always willing to help, and they also have drop in slots where they are able to talk one-on-one with you in private. They have been very supportive and helpful. They have shown me where I’ve gone wrong, they’ll help me to rectify the mistake and I don’t make them again. Or if I do make them again, I can then rectify it without their help. 

Tobi Popoola

BSc (Hons) Computer Science (Cyber Security)

Got a question about Computing?

Our friendly enquiries team are on hand to answer any questions you may have about your course, life at University of Staffordshire and much more.

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021