Program Overview

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What makes MSc Computer Science at Worcester special?

If you are looking to embark on a career in computing but don’t yet have a computing qualification, our Master of Science in Computer Science programme is a postgraduate qualification designed for students without an academic background in Computing.

You will be taught by academic staff who have a wealth of experience in industry, research and teaching. Teaching is undertaken in small groups with low staff-student ratios creating a supportive and friendly environment in which to study.

This program is tailored to individuals who are passionate about technology and come from diverse educational and professional backgrounds. The course mixes both practice and theory so you will learn how to address real-world computing challenges in an applied real-world context.

Graduates will emerge as highly skilled, employable experts with the skills and confidence to forge a career in the Computing sector.

Overview

Key features

• The course is designed to give you a professional understanding of computing practices focused on the design, build, implementation and technical management of computer systems. Although computing is a technical subject, our course will ensure you don’t lose sight of other crucial professional aspects, such as ethical responsibility, entrepreneurship and sustainable systems development.
• The course equips you for a professional mastery in computing and has the following features:
  • Modules that incorporate the latest research and contemporary ideas in the field taught in a small group setting with low staff-student ratios to create a friendly and supportive environment in which to study.
  • Structured learning that will give you an accessible introduction to computing practices and build on these to make you a confident computing professional, researcher and decision-maker.
  • Teaching staff who are expert in the field from a wealth of backgrounds including industrial and business applications as well as advanced research establishments.
  • Hands on experience in exploring the latest technological and computing technologies, such as AI programming, autonomous systems and Internet of Things technologies.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

• An honours degree at 2:2 level or above in any subject (or International students holding a qualification recognised as equivalent by the University).
• Entry to the MSc Computer Science requires all applicants to complete an application form. Where information on the form is insufficient for a decision to be made the applicant will be requested to attend an interview with the Admission Tutor.
• If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the Admissions Office for advice.

Other information

• Students with relevant previous study at postgraduate level or with extensive experience may be considered eligible for recognition of prior learning. Please contact the Registry Admissions Office for further information or guidance.
• International students
  • Students whose first language is not English are required to demonstrate proficiency to a minimum level of 6.5 IELTS (and minimum of 5.5 in each element) or equivalent.
  • We accept IELTS, Pearson and many Cambridge certificates as a proof of English language fluency on our degree courses. Other equivalent English qualifications will also be considered as well as qualifications recognised as equivalent by the University. Some courses may require a higher score for professional accreditation or registration. Find out more about language requirements and support.

Course content

Our courses are informed by research and current developments in the discipline and feedback from students, external examiners and employers. Modules do therefore change periodically in the interests of keeping the course relevant and reflecting best practice. The most up-to-date information will be available to you once you have accepted a place and registered for the course. If there are insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, this might not be offered, but we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative.

Semester 1

• Programming and System Development (15 credits)
• Research Skills (30 credits)
• Determining System Requirements (15 credits)

Semester 2

• Digital Ethics, Security and Governance (15 credits)
• Computer Systems (15 credits)
• Project Skills (30 credits)

Semester 3

• Research Project (Dissertation) (60 credits)

Internship (optional)

• You will have the opportunity to go on an internship for 6 or 12 months.
• You are supported in finding internships and can apply for a vacancy as you would a job. There are dedicated sessions to support you in CV writing, interview skills and job applications as well as access to 1:1 tutorials. Most internships start on completion of the taught modules. The internship will allow you to gain first-hand experience within a real business environment to enhance your future employability and are usually paid. Some students choose to base their research project on a business-related issue arising during the placement. This would give you access to research participants and primary data, and allow you to apply the theories and principles discussed on the programme to a real organisation. While on the internship, you will be supported by a dedicated placements team able to respond to any problems you may be having, an individual tutor who visits you twice while you are on the internship and you will retain access to all the University facilities including e-resources. At the end of the internship, you are required to submit a portfolio containing your learning contract, a satisfactory employer appraisal, a case study and an end of internship presentation. You can get in touch with the Placements Office for more information.

Teaching and assessment

The University places emphasis on enabling students to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip you for lifelong learning and future employment, as well as academic achievement.

A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support from Student Services and Library Services, and also the personal academic tutoring system, will enable you to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences to help you to flourish and be successful.

Teaching

• The course equips you for a professional mastery in computing. The aims of the course are:
  • Provide an intellectually challenging and vocationally relevant learning experience that incorporate the latest research and contemporary ideas in the profession.
  • Progress students through structured learning that will give you an accessible introduction to computing practices and build on these to make you a confident computing professional, researcher and decision-maker.
  • Provide a high-quality and highly relevant learning environment with teaching staff from a wealth of backgrounds including industrial and business applications, and advanced research establishments.
  • Create practical experience in exploring the latest technological and computing technologies.
• You will be taught through a combination of interactive workshops, lectures, seminars and laboratory practical’s, fieldwork, practical activities etc. Interactive workshops take a variety of formats and are intended to enable the application of learning through discussion and small group activities. Seminars enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered in lectures, and laboratory practical’s are focused on developing subject specific skills and applied individual and group project work.
• In addition, meetings with Personal Academic Tutors (PAT) are scheduled during your studies. Meetings are also scheduled with the Research Project supervisors throughout the execution of the project.
• Your Personal Academic Tutor will normally be a subject specialist and will advise you of when they are available and how they prefer to be contacted. You should see your Personal Academic Tutor as your first point of contact to discuss any wider issues or problems that arise during your time at University. Your Tutor will listen, offer initial advice and, if necessary, direct you to other appropriate sources of help, including the broad range of services available within the University.
• You will have access to a range of dedicated teaching resources including dedicated computer labs and study areas.

Contact time

• In a typical week there will be at least 12 hours of timetabled teaching in lectures, seminars and small-group work. The precise contact hours will depend on the semester of study. For part-time students, this will depend on the number of modules being taken. Typically, class contact time will be structured around:
  • Delivery of theoretical content to address contemporary challenges in Computer Science.
  • Practical in-class tasks relating theory to practice.
  • Discussion and group activities.

Independent self-study

• In addition to the contact time, you are expected to undertake around 30 hours of personal self-study per week. Typically, this will involve completing online activities, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library and online, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations.
• Independent learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, including The Hive and library resources, the virtual learning environment, and extensive electronic learning resources.

Duration

• Full-time: 1 year
• Part-time: At least 2 years (maximum registration is 6 years)

Timetables

• Timetables are normally available one month before registration. Please note that whilst we try to be as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week; and some classes can be scheduled in the evenings.

Assessment

• The course provides opportunities to test understanding and learning informally through the completion of practice or ‘formative’ assignments.
• Each module has one or more formal or ‘summative’ assessments which are graded and count towards the overall module grade. Assessment methods include written examinations and a range of coursework assessments such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations and a final year independent studies project.

Feedback

• You will receive feedback on practice assessments and on formal assessments Feedback is intended to support learning and you are encouraged to discuss it with personal academic tutors and module tutors as appropriate.
• We will provide you with feedback on formal course work assessments within 20 working days of hand-in.

Programme specification

• For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please download the latest programme specification document.

Meet the team

• You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes senior academics, professional practitioners with industry experience, and visiting speakers with specialised expertise. Teaching is informed by the research and consultancy work carried out by staff and you can learn more about the staff by visiting our staff profiles.

Careers

Our MSc will equip you with skills to pursue your career in computing and digital technologies and will also pave the way for studying this field at PhD level, should that be your desire.

Opportunities for computing professionals include:

• System Developer
• Programmer
• Requirements Analyst
• Artificial Intelligence Engineer
• Games Developer
• Data Scientist
• System Support
• Computer Project Manager
• Digital Start-up Entrepreneur

Beyond specific technical skills, our MSc will give you the opportunity to develop a range of transferable skills which are highly valued, such as, problem solving, team leadership, presentation skills, adaptability, and a sustainability mindset.

Careers and Employability

• Our Graduates pursue exciting and diverse careers in a wide variety of employment sectors.
• Find out how we can support you to achieve your potential

Fees and funding

Full-time tuition fees

• UK and EU students: The standard tuition fee for full-time home and EU students enrolling on MA/MSc/MBA/MRes courses in the academic year 2025/26 is £9,450 per year. For more details, please visit our course fees page.
• International students: The standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on MA/MSc/MBA/MRes courses in the academic year 2025/26 is £17,900 per year. For more details, please visit our course fees page.

Part-time tuition fees

• UK and EU students: The standard tuition fees for part-time home and EU students enrolling on MA/MSc/MBA/MRes/PGCert/PGDip courses in the academic year 2025/26 are £788 per 15-credit module, £1,575 per 30-credit module, £2,363 per 45-credit module, and £3,150 per 60 credit module. For more details, please visit our course fees page.
• International students: The standard tuition fees for part-time international students enrolling on MA/MSc/MBA/MRes courses in the academic year 2025/26 are £1,492 per 15-credit module, £2,983 per 30-credit module, £4,475 per 45-credit module, and £5,967 per 60 credit module. For more details, please visit our course fees page.

Additional costs

• Every course has day-to-day costs for basic books, stationery, printing and photocopying. The amounts vary between courses.
• If your course offers a placement opportunity, you may need to pay for an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Accommodation

• Finding the right accommodation is paramount to your university experience. Our halls of residence are home to friendly student communities, making them great places to live and study. We have over 1,000 rooms across our range of student halls. With rooms to suit every budget and need, from our 'Traditional Halls' at £131 per week to 'Ensuite Premium Halls' at £228 per week (2025/26 prices). For full details visit our accommodation page.

Postgraduate loans

• The Government will provide a loan of up to £12,471 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2024 per eligible student for postgraduate Masters study. It will be at your own discretion whether the loan is used towards fees, maintenance or other costs. For more details visit our postgraduate loans page.