Computer Science MSc

Postgraduate

Elevate your expertise in computer science by integrating foundational theories with practical applications. Cover a range of advanced topics to give you a comprehensive understanding of the major challenges and opportunities of the field.

Year of entry

2024-25 2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
With Professional Placement

Duration

1 year full-time
Up to 2 years full-time with professional placement

Course code

EEST029

Start date

September 2025
November 2025
January 2026
March 2026
May 2026
June 2026

How to apply

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Course overview

This course aims to equip you with the skills needed to drive innovations in fields like weather prediction, financial forecasting, medical diagnostics and customer behaviour analysis.

Master core concepts: gain a deep understanding of essential computing principles, applications and technologies
Explore fascinating fields: master practical skills and theoretical knowledge in artificial intelligence, cyber security, data science, and parallel and distributed computing, and learn how these areas continue to drive major developments and innovations in the domain of computer science
Engage in vocationally driven study: course content is informed by professional practice and the needs of industry with a focus on your employability
Hone your skills: specialise in cutting-edge fields like machine learning, big data, cloud computing, or high-performance computing.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Ranked 9th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

Develop practical skills: engage in hands-on projects using modern, industry-standard hardware and software, preparing you for real-world challenges
Gain industry-relevant professional skills: work with peers on real-world programming and software projects.
Drive innovation: equip yourself with the skills needed to lead and innovate in the rapidly evolving computing industry.
Gain practical experience: boost your CV with an additional professional placement. See the modules for more details.²

Accreditation and professional recognition

Chartered Management Institute

This course is designed¹ to include the criteria set by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) for the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice. It is expected that students who successfully pass the Advanced Software Development module will be eligible to gain the award as an additional qualification.

Collaborations

Visual Paradigm supports Coventry University with the use of UML tools, BPMN tools and agile story mapping tools, under the Academic Partnership Program.

Being part of this MSc course is one of the best decisions I have ever made. The course has provided me with the required problem-solving and IT skills to effectively apply knowledge in the real-world environment. I am truly grateful for this experience and would recommend it for any student.
Chidiebere Okeke, Computer Science MSc, 2022

Outside of the Frank Whittle building on a summer day

What you'll study

Essential theoretical foundations are balanced with practical, hands-on experience through projects, research and industry advisory inputs, aiming to equip you with the latest skills to pursue a career in technology leadership, research, and development across diverse industries.

Modules

Advanced Programming – 30 credits

Develop advanced programming skills essential for modern industrial and real-world computing applications. This module critically examines key applications and approaches. You will explore different programming paradigms and approaches, including their applications, and learn to critically evaluate the best choice for a given application space. The module will cover languages such as Python, C++, Haskell, Prolog, Z3, or similar.

Compulsory

Advanced Software Development – 30 credits

Learn and apply advanced software development techniques informed by leading industrial practices. This module provides a comprehensive overview of advanced techniques, methodologies, and tools used in modern software development. Through a group project, gain practical experience in applying these techniques to develop complex, high-performance, and scalable software systems, adhering to professional standards.

Compulsory

Secure Computing Systems – 30 credits

In our dedicated labs, build your cyber security skills by focusing on network security, cryptography, and threat intelligence for both networks and the cloud. Learn to spot vulnerabilities, apply strong security measures and handle threats in different environments. By the end of the module, you should be able to identify and manage security threats, implement protective strategies and investigate incidents using advanced tools. You should also gain a critical understanding of legal, ethical and professional issues while evaluating new and emerging advancements in network security.

Compulsory

Machine Learning and Big Data – 30 credits

Explores how machine learning is used in fields such as healthcare, agriculture, bioinformatics, image recognition and natural language processing. Develop skills to address real-world challenges involving big data. Learn about various machine learning models, including supervised learning, unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning and neural networks.

Compulsory

Master’s with professional placement

If you successfully secure a placement in industry within your first semester, this master’s with professional placement option allows you to extend your 12-month master’s course up to an additional year to complete the placement before starting your final 60-credit module.

Gain valuable industry insights and skills as you apply your academic knowledge and skills to a professional placement.
The placement must be sourced and secured by you during your first semester. Our careers and employability team are available to support you with the sourcing process.
Start your professional placement after completing the first 120 credits of your course.
The professional placement will be integrated into your course learning and outcomes. This will take the form of a reflective diary demonstrating your learning and engagement with the placement experience.

The professional placement option is subject to additional fees, living costs, visa requirements, availability, competitive application and university approval of the placement.² For full terms and conditions please visit the extended master’s landing page.

Optional

Individual Research Project – 60 credits

Develop essential components of research from conceptualisation to dissemination. You will learn about different research designs, data collection methods, and analysis techniques while learning the importance of ethical research practices and effective time management. By the end of the module, you will be well-prepared to conduct your own research and produce a substantial piece of original work.

Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

Teaching methods may include:

lectures
seminars
tutorials
presentations
group projects
workshops
practical laboratory sessions.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time postgraduate student, you will study modules totalling 180 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours, and guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average you will have between 8 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the opportunity to attend optional sessions including time with a Success Coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

Guided and independent study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You will be digging deeper into topics, reviewing what you’ve learnt and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress to the end of your studies, you’ll spend more time on independent learning.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods may include:

reports
tests
essays
coursework
assignments
group work
presentations.

The Coventry University assessment strategy aims to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Post studies, I secured a position as a Researcher/Software Developer for an SME in Cyprus, focusing on conducting research in the security domain through European funding. Having the opportunity to study at Coventry University has provided me with all required skills to secure this position. The constant updates of material throughout my course provided me with every chance possible to learn and use the latest and most useful technologies.
Kyriakos Georgiades, Computer Science MSc, 2022

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in a computational discipline.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in a computational discipline.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£11,200 per year £1,500 professional placement fee (if placement secured) per year	Not available
EU	£11,200 per year with EU Support Bursary £1,500 professional placement fee (if placement secured) per year with EU Support Bursary £18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary £1,800 professional placement fee (if placement secured) per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£18,600 per year £1,800 professional placement fee (if placement secured) per year	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

People walking in front of a building which has a big library sign

Lanchester Library

The library is usually open 24/7, in term-time. It’s where you can access your course’s specialist Academic Liaison Librarian. It’s also home to specialist teams which can support you with your academic writing and maths and statistics questions.

Glass modern building with a spire in the background

The Hub

The Hub is the centre of student life on campus. Facilities include a food court, convenience store, multi-faith centre, medical centre, hairdresser, coffee shops and the Your SU offices. It has fully licensed function spaces and a bar.

Two people working together with a laptop in front of them

Careers and employability

Get one-on-one career and employability guidance lasting up to 36 months from the end of your course. We’ll help you find placements and graduate roles, offer CV and application checks, mentoring, skills workshops, employer events and more.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion of the course, you may choose to pursue a career as:

Software Developer (App/web developer, embedded software developer / Internet of Things developer, cloud developer)
Data Scientist
Data Analyst
Cloud Solutions Architect
Cybersecurity Engineer
Machine Learning Specialist
AI developer or specialist
Software Engineer.

On successful completion of the course, you will be able to:

demonstrate advanced expertise across a range of programming paradigms and computing resources including parallel and distributed computing
develop and understand algorithms to solve problems; identify algorithmic complexity; deploy a range of approaches to solving computationally hard problems
understand key issues on cybersecurity, engage in ethical hacking, ensure software security across a range of platforms according to standards
show proficiency in data science techniques and advanced AI and machine learning approaches to interrogating data
create advanced software according to contemporary industrial practice and standards, involving teamwork, entrepreneurial skills, and leadership.
become intellectually independent, develop and apply critical skills, identify research and innovation opportunities, motivate, develop and demonstrate solutions
be familiar with professional practice, and act ethically, responsibly and sustainably
demonstrate skills in strategic management and leadership practice.

Where our graduates work

Successful graduates of this course have gone on to work for companies such as:

Infinitive
Unity
Next
Loycol
Booker Group
Morse Micro
Wordplay.

The course forced me out of my comfort zone and pushed me to learn for myself through building varied projects and learning to apply my knowledge in new ways. Wonderful lecturers shared their valuable practical experience and encouraged me to try new approaches even if it wasn't strictly necessary. It was a great year where I made friends from all over the world and experienced a modern university committed to continuously improving.
Bassel Ballout El Mawla, Computer Science MSc, 2022

Exterior view of the EEC building on a summers day

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online. Please read the entry criteria page before applying.

Full-time applications

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

International students

Full-time international students should apply directly to the university. Please read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degrees view our International hub.

You can also download our international mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

applications.io@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations, partnerships and memberships

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply. See the relevant body website for more details). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships are subject to successful renewal in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. If the accreditation, recognition or membership of this course changes, we will seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

Where relevant, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) module content is undergoing assessment by the CMI to confirm that all criteria are met to the required standard. Whilst it is expected that students who successfully pass the module will be eligible to be considered by CMI for the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice as an additional qualification, we cannot confirm this until the accreditation is approved. This is a normal part of the continuous improvement process for our courses to ensure they remain up-to-date and reflect best practice.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.