Advanced Computer Science - MSc

Broaden your knowledge of cutting-edge areas in computing. This programme is designed for graduates with a degree in Computer Science or a related discipline, and a solid foundation in programming.

Drawing on the School’s international research reputation, you will have the opportunity to select from a broad range of advanced modules to reflect your own interests. You will also undertake your own software-development or summer project (which may be research-focused) to deepen your knowledge even further. It is essential preparation for a career in academic or industrial research.

Course details

In the first eight months of the course you study your choice of taught modules to a total of 120 credits, which may include a mini-project. In the final four months, you will work on your summer project and dissertation, individually supervised by a member of the research-active staff in the school.

In previous years, students have surprised themselves by their achievement, regularly producing project work at the level expected of a very good first year research student. Your project supervisors are able to draw on their research experience to help you develop your ability to work confidently on difficult tasks.

Learning and Teaching

Each project is assessed by the supervisor and a moderator. Taught modules are assessed in a variety of ways: summer written examination, practical assessment during the semester, or a mixture of both.

In addition to the opportunity to learn from staff who are experts in their fields and working at the cutting-edge of computer science research, we also support you by providing training in transferable skills relevant to your project work and in your future career.

Our extensive computing facilities are available 24 hours a day (including a wireless network) to allow you to link in to our services from your own machine. We also offer many information resources (specialist library, information retrieval databases, electronic journals, etc) to support your project and course work.

Employability

The importance of project work, together with a very wide range of options, makes this MSc unusually suited as a preparation for a research career in computer science.

Students graduating from this programme have usually developed a taste for working on difficult problems and look for a career where they will be able to apply their enhanced analytical and technical skills.

Some students go on to a PhD, either at Birmingham, elsewhere in the UK or abroad. Other graduates move into industry, typically taking technically demanding jobs.

University Careers Network

Preparation for your career should be one of the first things you think about as you start university. Whether you have a clear idea of where your future aspirations lie or want to consider the broad range of opportunities available once you have a Birmingham degree, our Careers Network can help you achieve your goal.

Our unique careers guidance service is tailored to your academic subject area, offering a specialised team (in each of the five academic colleges) who can give you expert advice. Our team source exclusive work experience opportunities to help you stand out amongst the competition, with mentoring, global internships and placements available to you. Once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CVs and job applications will help give you the edge.

If you make the most of the wide range of services you will be able to develop your career from the moment you arrive.

Visit the Advanced Computer Science - MSc page on the University of Birmingham website for more details!