Program Overview

MSci Computer Science - 2026 entry

Overview

Develop practical skills in the specification, design and implementation of computer systems, as well as an understanding of the theory behind them. Benefit from excellent facilities spanning a wide range of machine types and software ecosystems. Our world-class teaching is informed by active, up-to-the-minute research of international standing in developing fields including machine learning, artificial intelligence, and nature-inspired computation. Opportunities for industry experience are available through summer placements. Comprehensive, relevant programmes inspired by the Computer Science development cycle: theory, design, develop, test and apply. We maintain excellent teaching links with computer-related industry partners such as IBM, The Met Office, NATS and Motorola.

Entry Requirements

• Typical offer: A levels: AAA - AAB, IB: 36/666-34/665, BTEC: DDD
• Contextual offers: A-Level: ABB-BBB, IB: 32/655-30/555, BTEC: DDM
• Required subjects: GCE A-Level Maths grade B, HL 5 in Mathematics (Analysis and approaches or Applications and interpretations)
• GCSE: Grade 4/C in GCSE English language
• Access to HE: 30 L3 credits at Distinction Grade and 15 L3 credits at Merit Grade
• T-Level: T-Levels not accepted

Course Content

The 4-year MSci Computer Science programme provides the opportunity to study more advanced material and obtain a higher-level qualification.

Year 1

• Compulsory modules:
  • ECM1400: Programming
  • ECM1407: Social and Professional Issues of the Information Age
  • ECM1410: Object-Oriented Programming
  • ECM1413: Computers and the Internet
  • ECM1414: Data Structures and Algorithms
  • ECM1415: Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science
  • ECM1416: Computational Mathematics
  • COM1011: Fundamentals of Machine Learning

Year 2

• Compulsory modules:
  • ECM2414: Software Development
  • ECM2418: Computer Languages and Representations
  • ECM2419: Database Theory and Design
  • ECM2426: Network and Computer Security
  • ECM2427: Outside the box: Computer Science Research and Applications
  • COM2020: Team Project
• Optional modules:
  • ECM2423: Artificial Intelligence and Applications
  • ECM2425: Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing
  • ECM2433: The C Family
  • COM2021: Web Development
  • Free Choice Elective

Year 3

• Compulsory modules:
  • ECM3401: Individual Literature Review and Project (for students not taking Study Abroad)
  • ECM3429: Term of Computer Science Studies Abroad (for students taking Study Abroad)
  • ECM3430: Computer Science Individual Project (for students taking Study Abroad)
• Optional modules:
  • ECM3408: Enterprise Computing
  • ECM3412: Nature Inspired Computation
  • ECM3422: Computability and Complexity
  • ECM3428: Algorithms that Changed the World
  • ECM3446: High Performance Computing
  • EMP3001: Commercial and Industrial Experience
  • COM3021: Data Science at Scale
  • COM3031: Probabilistic Machine Learning
  • COM3030: Security Assessment and Validation
  • COM3029: Social Networks and Text Analysis
  • COM3024: Computer Vision
  • Free Choice Elective

Final Year

• Compulsory modules:
  • ECMM427: Group Development Project
  • ECMM428: Individual Research Project
• Optional modules:
  • ECMM409: Nature-Inspired Computation
  • ECMM422: Machine Learning
  • ECMM423: Evolutionary Computation & Optimisation
  • ECMM424: Computer Modelling and Simulation
  • ECMM426: Computer Vision
  • ECMM447: Social Networks and Text Analysis
  • COMM510: Multi-Objective Optimisation and Decision Making
  • COMM515: Digital Twins and Simulation
  • COMM113: Deep Learning
  • COMM116: Generative AI Applications
  • COMM117: Large Language Models and Applications
  • COMM118: AI in Healthcare
  • COMM119: AI in Environment
  • COMM039: Network Science
  • COMM040: Text Mining and Natural Language Processing
  • ECMM463: Building Secure and Trustworthy Systems
  • ECMM464: Security Assessment and Validation

Fees

• Tuition fees for 2025 entry: UK students: £9,535 per year, International students: £30,900 per year
• Scholarships: The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year.

Learning and Teaching

• Lectures, seminars and workshops: We make use of a variety of teaching styles, including lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials.
• Virtual learning environment: We’re actively engaged in introducing new methods of learning and teaching, including increasing use of interactive computer-based approaches to learning through our virtual learning environment.
• A research and practice led culture: We believe every student benefits from being taught by experts active in research and practice.

Your Future

• Career opportunities: Computer scientists are in high demand and can be found working in the private and public sector in areas such as software engineering, health, communications, education, life sciences, physical sciences, finance and manufacturing.
• Career paths: As an Exeter Computer Science and IT graduate you may find yourself working with business IT systems, the web, mobile communications, games technology, or in the management and development of the safety-critical systems that control planes, trains and power stations.
• Industrial experience: As part of the four-year degree, you can choose to take an optional Commercial and Industrial Experience module during the vacation before the third year (subject to availability).