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.
Go through this article to know about the best British Universities offering exceptional MS courses in Computer Science.
Top 10 UK Universities for MS in Computer Science
University of Oxford
World Rank
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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 Course | Tuition Fee (in £) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Computer Science (MSc.) | 29,000 | 1 year |
| Software & Systems Security (MSc) | 15,000 | 2-4 years |
| Software Engineering (MSc) | 15,000 | 2-4 years |
Some of the scholarships provided by the University of Oxford in the Computer Science department are given below.
| Name of Scholarship | Amount (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 Course | Tuition Fee (in £) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Computer Science (MPhil.) | 47,000 per year | 9 months Full-time |
| Machine Learning and Machine Intelligence | 49,000 | 11 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 Course | Tuition Fee (in £) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSc Computing | 34,000 | 1 year |
| MSc Advanced Computing | 34,000 | 1 year |
| MSc. Artificial Intelligence | 34,000 | 1 year |
Some of the scholarships available at Imperial College are:
| Name of Scholarship | Amount (in £) |
|---|---|
| Chevening Scholarship | Tuition fees, living costs, and flights |
| Commonwealth PhD and Master’s Scholarships | 1100 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 Course | Tuition Fee (in £) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSc Computer Science | 31,000 | 1 year |
| MSc Data Science & Machine Learning | 31,000 | 1 year |
| MSc Software Systems Engineering | 31,000 | 1 year |
Scholarships available at University College London are:
| Name of Scholarship | Amount (in £) |
|---|---|
| UCL Engineering Dean’s Prize | Cost of outstanding fees |
| Cisco Scholarship | 25,000 |
| DeepMind Scholarship | 25,000 |
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 Course | Tuition Fee (in £) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSc Computer Science | 34,000 | 1-2 years |
| MSc Data Science | 34,000 | 1 year |
| MSc High-Performance Computing | 29,000 | 1 Year |
Some popular scholarships available at the University of Edinburgh are mentioned below.
| Name of Scholarship | Amount (in £) |
|---|---|
| John Fisher High-Performance Scholarships | 50% of the tuition fee. |
| School of Informatics Scholarship | The total cost of tuition fees, research & stipend. |
| DeepMind AI Scholarship | 30,000 |
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 Course | Tuition Fee (in £) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MPhil Computer Science Research | 25,000 | 1-2 years |
| MSc Data Science | 27,000 | 1 year |
| MPhil Robotics | 23,000 | 1 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 Course | Tuition Fee (in £) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSc Advanced Computer Science | 26,500 | 1 year |
| MSc Data Science (Computer Science Data Informatics) | 25,000 | 1 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 Course | Tuition Fee (in £) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSc Computer Science | 27,000 | 1 year |
| MSc. Data Analytics | 27,000 | 1 year |
| MSc. Cyber Security Engineering | 27,000 | 1 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 Course | Tuition Fee (in £) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSc. Research in Computer Science | 23,900 | 1 year |
| MSc. in Data Science | 24,000 | 1 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 Course | Tuition Fee (in £) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSc. Information Technology | 24,000 | 1 year |
| MSc Data Science | 24,000 | 1 year |
| MSc Computing Science | 24,000 | 1 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 head | Cost per year (in £) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | 5100-5500 |
| Transportation | 250 |
| Food | 1300-1700 |
| Course material & books | 400 |
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.
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
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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.Â
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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.
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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.Â
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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.Â
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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.
