Postgraduate Taught

£240,000 scholarship fund. Are you eligible?

Our Courses

Computing is increasingly about constructing large and complex software systems. Our Masters programmes are designed to give you a wide range of knowledge so that you can build a career in this fast-moving industry. The programmes are taught by recognised experts in each field, offering you, the student, a cutting-edge experience and a qualification which is both academic and commercially relevant. You will be exposed to the latest science and technology in your chosen specialist area, to complement previously-gained knowledge and skills from your undergraduate degree.

You can specialise in one of 3 areas: Software Systems, Human Computer Interaction and Internet Systems and Security.

The Programmes

 The MSc programmes are full-time courses that last either 12 months (intensive route) or 16 months (placement route). The placement route is designed to give six months' work experience as well as the academic experience. All programmes are made up of a class-based component and then an extended research-type project. Beginning in October, you will spend the first eight months studying in classes at the University.  All MSc students follow two core taught units: Formal Methods and Programming, and Research Project Preparation. You also follow a series of units specific to your chosen degree.

On successfully completing these classes, you will devote your time to a project in the area of your programme of study. Projects are based on either (1) intensive study from June to September at the University or (2) paid work outside the University in a placement from June to January, subject to the availability of a suitable partner organisation.

Teaching and Learning Methods

You will encounter a variety of teaching and learning methods, including lectures, tutorials, seminars, problem classes and project work. This is an advanced programme and it is expected that you devote a significant amount of time to self-directed learning and to evaluating facts in order to develop critical thinking. You will be assessed by a variety of methods including coursework, written examination and the research project.

For additional information on the programmes content please see the reading lists [PDF 29KB].

Research Project

The research project is an exciting opportunity to work with an internationally leading academic on a topic in your specialist area. It will be conducted after you have successfully demonstrated your competence in the taught classes of your particular specialist programme. The project is your chance to show what you as an individual can achieve and is an exciting way to bring your study to its conclusion.

• Intensive projects are based on researching state-of-the-art approaches to a problem in your specialist area, coupled with innovative computer science research at the University, normally including the creation and examination of a novel prototype software system as an expression of the key aspects of the problem area.
• New for 2012: Placement projects in association with industry will relate state-of-the-art approaches to a problem in a specialist area to contemporary practice in a particular setting, through a combination of literature-based research and case-study reporting. Such projects are subject to the availability of a suitable partner organisation.

Your Future

The majority of our Masters graduates move directly into computer science careers in software development or consultancy. Employment opportunities are very wide, and our Masters graduates have moved into computing careers in the leading computer companies, major international banks, communication companies, government agencies and educational establishments.

Our Facilities

MSc students occupy a dedicated purpose-built computing lab in the new East Building.   It has its own network which can be detached from the University's network, allowing for experimentation with operating systems and networking as well as ordinary programming.