COMP7037
20 credits
This module is designed to equip you with the tools necessary for the scholarship and research skills needed for the computer science and cyber security fields...
Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
Advanced Computer Science
MSc, PGDip, PGCert
Deepen your computing expertise through advanced study of software, systems and approaches to complex technical problems.
Key facts
- Duration
- Full time: MSc - September Start - 1 year (12 months); January Start - 1.5 years (18 months); PG Dip - 6 months; PG Cert - 3 months
- Part time: MSc - 2 years (24 months); PG Dip - 18 months (12 months study time); PG Cert - 6 months
- Starts
- January 2027, September 2027
- Level
- Master's and postgraduate
- UCAS code
- P008075
- Location
- Headington
- School
- School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics
About this course
Delve into cybersecurity as you learn different ways to assess and secure modern networked computers against hacking threats. Secure Networking then teaches you the principles and practice of secure computer networking as you learn how to create complex systems at scale.
Get hands-on with machine learning and data mining as you discover how data science is revolutionising our world from medicine to industry.
You will explore how to develop and manage software, including testing, maintenance, and scalability. All of these are essential skills for a career in computing. Your final module develops CV-boosting agile expertise through group projects, while your dissertation lets you build a project related to your work or research interests.
Accreditations
- Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.
Industry connections
You can build connections by attending expert talks, working on real client projects, and meeting advisory board members from BMW and Sophos.
Practical focus
Turn theory into CV-friendly practice through case studies and coursework-based assessment.
Research groups
We have active research groups in areas from cybersecurity and augmented reality to visual and ethical AI. They offer exciting opportunities for postgraduate students such as yourself.
Robotics and AI
You can seize opportunities to participate in our robot dog research or join the winning Formula One autonomous vehicle team.
Research expertise
We have a vibrant and growing research community with a wide range of activities:
- model-driven system design
- empirical software engineering
- web technologies
- cloud computing and big data
- digital forensics
- computer vision.
Staff and students collaborate on projects supported by the EPSRC, the EU, the DTI, and several major UK companies. Our course design is informed by state-of-the-art research undertaken in the school.
Students on this course can be involved with research in the following research groups:
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| IELTS | IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 in all skills. For more information, please see our English language requirements. |
To join this course you'll need a 2:2 UK bachelor's degree in a computer-related subject. Those without a computing degree, but have worked in the computing industry can also be considered. If you have no experience or a degree in a computing related discipline then you should consider our MSc in Computing Science.
For entry onto the Postgraduate Certificate Research Project you should be able to provide evidence of experience in research and study methods at an appropriate level.
Fees and funding
Fees
| Fee types | 2026/27 | 2027/28 |
|---|---|---|
| Home full-time | £9,950, £8,950 (PGDip), £4,975 (PGCert) | £10,250, £9,250 (PGDip), £5,125 (PGCert) |
| Home part-time | £4,975 | £5,125 |
| International full-time | £19,600 | £20,800 |
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page.
Questions about fees?
Learning and assessment
Delve into cybersecurity as you learn different ways to assess and secure modern networked computers against hacking threats. Enterprise Networking then teaches you the principles and practice of computer networking as you learn how to create complex systems at scale.
Get hands-on with machine learning and intelligent systems as you discover how robots and autonomous systems are revolutionising our world from medicine to industry.
Big data is computing’s new frontier. You’ll learn how to create the algorithms at the cutting edge of computing as you discover how big data and cloud systems work and get to grips with developing software for the cloud.
Advanced Software Development explores software, including testing, maintenance, and scalability. All of these are essential skills for a career in computing. Your final module develops CV-boosting agile expertise through group projects, while your dissertation lets you build a project related to your work or research interests.
Your understanding will be strengthened with a combination of lectures and practical sessions.
The modules you study will be enriched by our teaching staff's research expertise. We also invite visiting lecturers from research organisations and industry.
To qualify you will need to pass modules amounting to the following levels of credit:
- master’s degree - 180 credits
- postgraduate diploma - 120 credits
- postgraduate certificate - 60 credits.
As a part-time student you can distribute your work over a two-year period.
Assessment
We will assess you throughout your course with coursework and projects. And you will discuss your work and progress directly with your lecturers.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
COMP7030
20 credits
On this module you will learn the ways that computer systems can be secured. This module looks at both the technological and human issues involved in securing...
COMP7029
20 credits
On this module you will focus on current practices, skills and techniques applied to managing software development related projects, individually and in project...
COMP7026
20 credits
This module teaches the principles and practice of setting up enterprise networks protected through standard security mechanisms. You will develop the ability...
COMP7034
20 credits
The module aims to provide you an introduction to the key concepts in data mining and machine learning. It covers the fundamentals of machine learning...
COMP7025
20 credits
In our lectures, we'll explore the theoretical side of secure software design and implementation. But theory alone won't cut it; we're all about hands-on...
LOCAL-G5518
60 credits
An individual research and development project that allows you to study a topic of your choice in depth, guided by your supervisor. The work may be undertaken...
Careers
Our MSc Advanced Computer Science opens doors for you to specialised roles across various industries. Many of our alumni now hold job titles like:
- software developer
- project manager
- data analyst
- product engineer
- IT manager.
Across the course, we offer regular guest talks so you can discover more of the paths available to you and build connections to launch your career. Staff and students also collaborate on projects supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the European Union (EU), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and several major UK companies, where you may be able to meet potential employers.
We’ll encourage you to get involved in our research. It enhances your employability and can launch your academic career towards a research PhD or another specialised master’s. Our current research areas currently include:
- model-driven system design
- empirical software engineering
- web technologies
- cloud computing and big data
- digital forensics
- computer vision.
Study Computing
How to apply
Our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, so module availability and course structures may vary from what is listed here. On rare occasions, we may also need to make updates to our course programmes after publication; for full details, please visit our changes to programmes page (opens in a new tab)