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
Computing Science
MSc, PGDip, PGCert
Develop specialist understanding of computing and cyber security, exploring approaches to protecting systems, networks and data.
Key facts
- Duration
- Full time: MSc - 1 year (12 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
- September 2027
- Level
- Master's and postgraduate
- UCAS code
- P000779
- Location
- Headington
- School
- School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics
About this course
We live in a digital world. We need people like you with specialist technical skills to develop and maintain systems, software, and networks. Computing Science at Oxford Brookes is packed with real-world projects and industry-relevant experience to help you work towards a career in any computing related area.
Programming. Hardware. Software. Networks. You’ll develop specialist skills and expert-level knowledge in a range of IT areas. You’ll be surrounded by experienced professionals and top researchers in subjects ranging from computer vision to system design.
No matter what you studied at undergraduate level, we’ll help you develop your computing skills to a professional standard. Perhaps you’re in a technical industry but want to specialise more on the IT side? Or you’re in a different sector and fancy a career change? If you’ve got a scientific mindset and good work ethic, we’ll help you open up those new opportunities.
Accreditations
- Accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.
Develop technical skills
Learn programming, software engineering, data organisation, and network design and build a solid foundation for a wide range of technical careers.
Original and inspiring research
We’re home to top researchers in areas ranging from digital forensics to computer vision. You can get involved in some of our work, including the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Group.
Accredited by BCS
The chartered institute for IT has given this course their approval, meaning you’ll get a good grounding in the professional issues relevant to a career in IT.
New State-of-the-art facilities
All Computing courses are based innew, custom designed buildings at our main Headington site. 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.
Research expertise
The School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics is home to world-leading and award-winning research.
Our focus is on user-inspired original research with real-world applications. We have a wide range of activities from model-driven system design and empirical software engineering through to web technologies, cloud computing and big data, digital forensics and computer vision.
Staff and students collaborate on projects supported by the EPSRC, the EU, the DTI, and several major UK companies.
Computing achieved an excellent assessment of its UoA (Unit of Assessment) 11 return for REF 2014 (Research Excellence Framework).
You 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 non-computing subject. If your degree contains only a small element of technical computing you can also be considered.
For entry to the Postgraduate Certificate Research Project you should 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
If you join us for the MSc, you’ll complete 6 taught modules of 20 credits each, and a dissertation of 60 credits.
The taught modules cover a full range of academic and professional skills. We’ll help you understand everything you’ll need for your career, from how to conduct research to how to project manage a new piece of software.
We mostly focus on the technical side of the subject. So modules cover topics like programming, data science, networks and IT systems, and secure website development.
You’ll complete your dissertation over the summer, with support from a supervisor. This is your opportunity to put your new knowledge to work on a project of your choice.
Lectures serve to provide a theoretical basis, while the practical sessions are used to strengthen your understanding by active involvement.
Coursework and projects form the basis for continuous assessment. Many of the modules are enriched by the teaching staff's research expertise. There are also visiting lecturers from research organisations and industry.
Assessment
We use the following assessment methods:
- coursework exercises
- projects
- presentations
- lab work
- reports
- examinations.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
COMP7001
20 credits
This module introduces you to problem solving and programming in Python and teaches you core programming techniques essential for performing data science tasks.
COMP7035
20 credits
This module presents an overview of core data science concepts and tools, focusing on real-life data science research questions. This module will teach you to...
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...
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...
COMP5013
15 credits
In this module, we're going to help you learn to craft web applications from start to finish. You'll begin by exploring the art of web interface design. You'll...
LOCAL-G5526
This is 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...
Careers
Computing science is a practical and useful degree that could help you develop your career in almost any industry. Our graduates typically go on to become:
- developers
- engineers
- IT managers
- web developers.
They’re working at organisations of all shapes and sizes, from small startups to the NHS and the public sector. Some also decide to use their technical expertise as a basis for PhD study, perhaps thinking of a career in scientific research.
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)