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Advanced Computer Science

MSc or PGDip or PGCert

Start dates: September 2025 / January 2026 / September 2026

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

Location: Headington

School(s): School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

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Overview

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.
 

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Why Oxford Brookes University?

  • 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.

  • Brand new facilities

    All Computing courses are based in our brand new, custom designed buildings at our main Headington site. These buildings open in the 2024/25 academic year. You'll benefit from state-of-the-art facilities and equipment including a VR cave, digital, computing and robotics labs, as well as social learning spaces, teaching rooms and cafe space.

  • Accreditation(s)

    The British Computer Society

    • The British Computer Society

Course details

Course structure

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.

Female student working on laptop with headphones in

Learning and teaching

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. 

Start this course in January or September

You can start this course in January if a September start doesn't suit you or is not currently offered for this course.

If you start in January you will study a range of modules between January and May. During the summer months of June, July and August you will study further modules and begin work on your dissertation. Between September and December you will complete your final modules and focus on your dissertation.

Find out more about January entry

Study modules

The modules listed below are for the master's award. For the PGDip and PGCert awards your module choices may be different. Please contact us for more details.

Taught modules

Compulsory modules

  • Research Methods (20 credits)

    This module equips you with the tools necessary for the scholarship and research skills needed for the computing field as well as equipping you with the professional skills and outlook needed for a lifelong career in the computer industry.

  • Principles of Cybersecurity (20 credits)

    This module studies the ways that computer systems can be secured. This module looks at both the technological and human issues involved in securing and assessing modern networked computer systems. The topics covered in this module span across the governance, management and operational aspects of cybersecurity.

  • Group Software Project (20 credits)

    This module teaches you the current practices, skills and techniques applied to managing software development in a team related. The module uses real case scenarios  to underpin the learning and considers requirements engineering, project management, risk, quality assurance, usability and HCI issues.
     

  • Secure Networking (20 credits)

    This module teaches the principles and practice of setting up enterprise networks protected through standard security mechanisms. You will develop the ability to understand standard security  vulnerabilities in networked systems and will apply security mechanisms to harden the enterprise network.

  • Machine Learning and Data Mining (20 credits)

    This module introduces you to the fascinating and increasingly important worlds of Machine Learning and data Mining. This module covers the key current technologies in these areas, illustrates how these technologies are being used to revolutionise business, and exposes you to current research directions in this rapidly evolving field.

  • Secure Programming (20 credits)

    This module looks at the analysis, design, and implementation of secure software. It considers what software engineering principles can and should be used to help ensure the security of software in a range of environments. You will be taught the common classes of vulnerability at design and implementation stages and how they can be defended and mitigated against.

Final project

Compulsory modules

  • MSc Dissertation in Computer Subjects (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 in close co-operation with a research, industrial or commercial organisation. You undertake your dissertation over the summer period.

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Research

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:

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.

Entry requirements

International qualifications and equivalences

How to apply

Application process


Apply now

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£10,700 (Masters); £9,700 (Diploma); £5,350 (Certificate)
Home (UK) part time
£5,350
International full time
£17,900
Home (UK) full time
Masters: £11,250; Diploma: £10,250; Certificate: £5,625
Home (UK) part time
£5,625
International full time
£18,950

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2024 / 25
Home (UK) full time
£10,700 (Masters); £9,700 (Diploma); £5,350 (Certificate)
Home (UK) part time
£5,350
International full time
£17,900
2025 / 26
Home (UK) full time
Masters: £11,250; Diploma: £10,250; Certificate: £5,625
Home (UK) part time
£5,625
International full time
£18,950

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

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

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

International Student Scholarship - CAS ready Part-Time UK Faculty Scholarship Postgraduate Master's Loan - England

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.