Top 10 Universities For Masters In Computer Science UK: Eligibility, Admission, Jobs

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Master of Science (MS) in Computer Science is a challenging degree pursued by engineers and computer science students. The intricate coursework and an ideal teaching environment expand students’ knowledge and understanding of development, troubleshooting, etc.

Masters in computer science UK is popular owing to the quality of education, learning environment and amazing job opportunities. Needless to say, MS degrees obtained in the UK enjoy worldwide acceptance and returning graduates also get better career prospects in their native countries.

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Go through this article to know about the best British Universities offering exceptional MS courses in Computer Science.

masters in computer science uk

Top 10 UK Universities for MS in Computer Science 

University of Oxford

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World Rank

The University of Oxford ranks #1 in the World University Ranking 2021.

Location 

Oxford, Oxfordshire

It offers courses in many Computer Science disciplines. Some of the modules that they teach for masters in computer science UK at the University of Oxford include:

  • Algorithms & complexity theory
  • Artificial intelligence & machine learning
  • Automated verification
  • Computational biology & health informatics

Eligibility Criteria for Indian Students

  • First-class degree in Computer Science or Mathematics
  • IELTS 7.5
  • TOEFL iBT 110
  • 60-70% for undergraduate degrees
  • Knowledge of Mathematics and Programming

Take a look at some of the courses, their fees and duration.

Name of CourseTuition Fee (in £)Duration
Advanced Computer Science (MSc.)29,0001 year
Software & Systems Security (MSc)15,0002-4 years
Software Engineering (MSc)15,0002-4 years

Some of the scholarships provided by the University of Oxford in the Computer Science department are given below. 

Name of ScholarshipAmount (in £)
St Catherine’s College: Wilfrid Knapp Scholarship (Sciences)5,000
Kellogg College Scholarship (part-time)3,500

University of Cambridge

World Rank

The University of Cambridge ranks #6 in the World University Ranking 2021

Location

Cambridge

The postgraduate CS degree at the University of Cambridge is an MPhil course, and it allows students to carry their studies further to a PhD. Some of the topics students will be covering are:

  • Networking
  • Category theory
  • Natural Language Processing
  • Systems Measurements

Eligibility for Indian Students

  • First Class Degree from an Indian University
  • IELTS 7.5
  • TOEFL 107
  • 70-75% in an undergraduate course with Mathematics
  • Knowledge of Programming

Here is a list of the courses of masters in computer science UK offered by Cambridge University. 

Name of CourseTuition Fee (in £)Duration
Advanced Computer Science (MPhil.)47,000 per year9 months Full-time 
Machine Learning and Machine Intelligence 49,00011 months

Imperial College London

World Rank

Imperial College London ranks #11 in the World University Ranking 2021

Location

South Kensington, London

Offering a vast array of subjects for those who want to pursue and further their knowledge of computer science, Imperial College London is ideal for MS in computer science in UK

Eligibility for Indian Students

  • First Class Degree from an Indian University in any specialization 
  • IELTS 6.5-7.0
  • TOEFL 92-100
  • 60-70% in an undergraduate course 

Here is a list of the courses available for Computer Science graduates. 

Name of CourseTuition Fee (in £)Duration
MSc Computing34,0001 year
MSc Advanced Computing34,0001 year
MSc. Artificial Intelligence34,0001 year

Some of the scholarships available at Imperial College are: 

Name of ScholarshipAmount (in £)
Chevening ScholarshipTuition fees, living costs, and flights
Commonwealth PhD and Master’s Scholarships1100 to 1300 

University College London

World Rank

University College London ranks #16 in the World University Ranking 2021 

Location

Bloomsbury, London

Students opting for an MSc. in Computer Science at University College London will need to have a Computer Science background and a strong foundation in programming.

Some of the modules you will have to undertake here are:

  • Algorithmics 
  • App Engineering 
  • Computer Architecture & Operating Systems 
  • Database and Information Management Systems

Eligibility for Indian Students

  • A Bachelor’s degree with a minimum overall CGPA of 7.75/10, 5.75/7.0, 6.25/8.0, 4.25/6.0, 3.3/4.0, or 60% where a GPA scale is not used. 
  • IELTS 6.5-7.0
  • TOEFL 92-109

Here is a short list of the courses available for Computer Science graduates. 

Name of CourseTuition Fee (in £)Duration
MSc Computer Science31,0001 year
MSc Data Science & Machine Learning31,0001 year
MSc Software Systems Engineering31,0001 year

Scholarships available at University College London are: 

Name of ScholarshipAmount (in £)
UCL Engineering Dean’s PrizeCost of outstanding fees
Cisco Scholarship25,000
DeepMind Scholarship25,000

University of Edinburgh

World Rank

The University of Edinburgh ranks #30 in the World University Ranking 2021

Location

South Bridge, Edinburgh

During a computer science course at the University of Edinburgh, there will be two taught semesters with project work, tutorials and written assignments. Candidates need to have strong programming skills in C, C++ and Java with a complete understanding of core mathematics.

Some of the modules in Masters in computer science UK available here are:

  • Advanced Databases
  • Blockchains and Distributed Ledgers
  • Computational Complexity
  • Computer Networking

Eligibility for Indian Students

  • A Bachelor’s degree with a minimum overall 60% score. 
  • IELTS 6.5
  • TOEFL 92

Take a look at the tuition fee and duration of some popular courses here. 

Name of CourseTuition Fee (in £)Duration
MSc Computer Science34,0001-2 years
MSc Data Science 34,0001 year
MSc High-Performance Computing29,0001 Year

Some popular scholarships available at the University of Edinburgh are mentioned below. 

Name of ScholarshipAmount (in £)
John Fisher High-Performance Scholarships50% of the tuition fee. 
School of Informatics ScholarshipThe total cost of tuition fees, research & stipend. 
DeepMind AI Scholarship30,000

King’s College London

World Rank

King’s College London ranks #35 in the World University Ranking 2021

Location

London

King’s College is a reputed institute offering a wide variety of courses for students in Computer Science. Some of the critical topics covered here are:

  • Algorithms and Data Analysis
  • Cybersecurity
  • Distributed Artificial Intelligence
  • Human-Centred Computing

Top Universities For Masters in Cyber Security in USA   

Eligibility for Indian Students

  • A first-class degree with a score of 70-75%. 
  • TOEFL 109

Some of the courses along with their fees and duration are discussed below.

Name of CourseTuition Fee (in £)Duration
MPhil Computer Science Research 25,0001-2 years
MSc Data Science 27,0001 year
MPhil Robotics 23,0001 year

University of Manchester

World Rank

The University of Manchester ranks #51 in the World University Ranking 2021

Location

Oxford Rd, Manchester

To pursue an MS degree in CS at this University, students will require an undergraduate degree in Computer Science and a strong foundation in Mathematics. Some of the modules that you will need to undertake in this field are:

  • Automated Reasoning and Verification
  • Modelling Data on the Web
  • Data Engineering 
  • Foundations of Machine Learning

Eligibility for Indian Students

  • IELTS 7.0
  • First or Upper Second Class degree with at least 50% Computer Science content.

Listed below are some of the top courses and their fees and duration.

Name of CourseTuition Fee (in £)Duration
MSc Advanced Computer Science26,5001 year
MSc Data Science (Computer Science Data Informatics) 25,0001 year

University of Warwick

World Rank

The University of Warwick ranks #77 in the World University Ranking 2021

Location

Coventry

The postgraduate program at the University of Warwick aims at graduates with a strong background in computer science, mathematics, or any other life science programs. Some of the course modules are:

  • High-Performance Computing
  • Algorithmic Game Theory
  • Formal Systems Development
  • Image & Video Analysis

Eligibility for Indian Students

  • 60-80% marks in the undergraduate course 
  • IELTS 6.5 

Take a look at some of the best MS courses and the approximate fees and duration for each.

Name of CourseTuition Fee (in £)Duration
MSc Computer Science27,0001 year 
MSc. Data Analytics 27,0001 year 
MSc. Cyber Security Engineering 27,0001 year 

University of Bristol

World Rank

The University of Bristol ranks #91 in the World University Ranking 2021

Location

Bristol

Students need to possess a firm understanding of mathematics and computers to opt for this course. Here are some of the other modules that you will have to cover.

  • Large-Scale Data Engineering 
  • Introduction to Artificial Intelligence 
  • Text Analytics
  • Visual Analytics 
  • Technology, Innovation, Business, and Society 

Eligibility for Indian Students

  • An undergraduate degree, is equivalent to the UK’s upper second-class degree.
  • English language proficiency Profile E

Given below are the details of some popular MS courses in CS at this university. 

Name of CourseTuition Fee (in £)Duration
MSc. Research in Computer Science23,9001 year
MSc. in Data Science24,0001 year

University of Glasgow

World Rank

The University of Glasgow ranks #92 in the World University Ranking 2021

Location

Glasgow

Choosing a Computer Science program at the University of Glasgow will require you to cover several crucial modules, some of which include:

  • Programming & Systems Development
  • Introduction to Data Science and Systems
  • Internet Technology
  • Programming

Eligibility for Indian Students

  • IELTS 6.5
  • GPA 3.0 

In this table, some of the courses and their fees and duration have been listed.

Name of CourseTuition Fee (in £)Duration
MSc. Information Technology 24,0001 year
MSc Data Science 24,0001 year
MSc Computing Science24,0001 year

Reasons to Study MS in Computer Science in the UK

One of the main reasons to study MS in Computer Science in the UK is the institutions’ quality of education. Many of the UK’s premier institutes rank in the top 100 of Times Higher Education; this includes the University of Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College London.

When viewed from the aspect of job and career prospects, London IT firms increased their job intake by 11.7% in the period 2019. Average pay in this sector also increased by 2.7% in the same year. Thus, the availability of jobs translates to more influx of international students. 

Plus, Britain is among the top G7 countries and boasts of a stellar reputation in technology.

Admission Requirements for MS in CS in UK

Aspiring students must meet the following requirements to send in an application for MS in computer science in UK:  

  • Bachelor’s degree in computer science or any discipline with Mathematics 
  • English translation of non-English transcripts of all the board exams and college exams
  • MPhil programs project proposal
  • Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL) 
  • Letter of Recommendations from past professors, teachers or mentors
  • Updated resume highlighting all accomplishments

Course Structure of MS in Computer Science in UK

Computer science programs in the UK come under MS, MPhil or MEng. degrees.

  • MS degrees are more theoretical than MPhil degrees which are research-oriented.
  • In the last semester of MPhil, students need to submit a thesis. 
  • Also, the submission of a project is required to complete the degree.
  • MEng. deals with a narrower field compared to MS and MPhil.

Here are some of the courses that you will be studying while pursuing MS in Computer Science in UK: 

  • Programming
  • Machine Learning for Domain Specialists
  • Software Engineering
  • Project Management for Engineering
  • Algorithmics
  • Architecture and Hardware 
  • Database and Information Management Systems
  • Design

Also Read: Artificial Intelligence Engineer Salary in USA

Cost of Living in the UK

While pursuing a prestigious MS degree in the UK is lucrative indeed and comes with a promising future, one must keep a tab on the cost of living as well. Tabulated below is a list of the approximate costs of living in the UK, including essentials like accommodation and transportation.

Expense headCost per year (in £)
Accommodation5100-5500
Transportation250
Food1300-1700
Course material & books400

Career & Job Prospects after MS in CS in the UK

Globally-acclaimed tech companies like Apple, Samsung and Google look to hire professionals with an MS degree in Computer Science from a reputed institute. However, career opportunities and job prospects are excellent in the UK as well. Hence, after a student completes his/her MS degree in a renowned British university, he/she can gain employment in several sectors, some of which are mentioned below:

  • Software Developer with an average annual salary of 30,000-35,000 GBP
  • Web Developer with an average annual salary of 25,000-30,000 GBP
  • Java Developer with an average annual salary of 35,000-40,000 GBP
  • Software Engineer with an average annual salary of 41,000 GBP

*GBP = British pound sterling

An Overall Snapshot to Pursue MS in CS in UK

Take a look at some of the key highlights of pursuing an MS degree in Computer Science from a British University.

  • Average duration: 1-4 years
  • Degree type: MS, MPhil, and MEng.
  • Tuition fees: £22,000-£43,000
  • The average salary offered after degree completion: £40,000 per year
  • Top recruiters: JP Morgan Chase & Co., BT Group, Capgemini, Barclays Bank PLC, IBM Corp

Many students aspire to complete their postgraduation at a reputed college abroad to increase their chances of getting a lucrative job. Also, several students are interested in research and doctoral studies. However, gaining admission into your dream university abroad is a taxing process that some might find challenging. LeapScholar can be of great help in such cases. 

masters in computer science uk

Conclusion

LeapScholar is a brilliant one-stop platform that provides students with loans and scholarships, so they can realize their dreams of studying abroad. Apart from this, the platform also offers IELTS coaching and helps students get visas with a 98% success rate.

Now that you know about the best UK Universities for MS in Computer Science, take your time to reach a decision and send in your application.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is UK good for MS in Computer Science?

    Yes, the UK is still an excellent place to study computer science at the Master’s level. In the 2017-2018 period, around 14,000 students enrolled in this course in British Universities. 

  • Is an MS in computer science in UK worth it?

    Yes. Those with a Master’s degree earn around 18% more than those with a Bachelor’s degree.

  • Is an MS in computer science in UK hard?

    The degree is pretty difficult, requiring you to possess an in-depth knowledge of Mathematics and algorithms. Also, many advanced research-based topics like artificial intelligence and natural language processing are to be covered. 

  • What are the subjects in MS in computer science?

    Ans: Some of the topics are algorithms and complexity theory, artificial intelligence and machine learning, automated verification and computational biology and health informatics. 

  • When should I pursue Masters in computer science UK?

    Ans: The best time to pursue an MS in computer science is after you are done with your Bachelor’s degree or after 2 years of work experience.

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Saket Kohli

An International Higher Ed professional with 7+ years of experience studying, working, and living across three geographies, currently on a mission to share his journey as an International Student.

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