The Masters in Computing Science provides you with a thorough grounding in professional software development, together with experience of developing a project proposal and conducting a development project: preparing you for responsible positions in the IT industry.

• If you have a good undergraduate degree in computing and you wish to advance your knowledge and software development skills, this MSc programme is designed for you.
• You will benefit from having 24-hour access to a computer laboratory equipped with state-of-the-art hardware and software.
• You will have opportunities to meet industrial speakers who contribute to our professional skills & issues course. Employers also come to make recruitment presentations, and often seek to recruit our graduates during the programme.
• In the most recent independent review of research quality (RAE 2008), computer science and informatics at Glasgow was rated in the UK’s top ten.

Programme overview

• MSc: 12 months full-time; 24 months part-time
• PgDip: 9 months full-time; 21 months part-time
• PgCert: 9 months full-time; 9 months part-time

You will attend lectures, seminars and tutorials and take part in lab, project and team work.

Core courses

• Professional software development
• General readings in computing science
• Research methods and techniques
• Professional skills and issues
• Development project proposal
• Development project.

Optional courses (six courses chosen)

• Advanced networking and communications
• Advanced operating systems
• Algorithmics
• Artificial intelligence
• Computer architecture
• Constraint programming
• Digital image processing
• Distributed algorithms and systems
• Enterprise computing
• Functional programming
• Human–computer interaction
• Information retrieval
• IT architecture
• Internet technology
• Machine learning
• Mobile human–computer interaction
• Modelling reactive systems
• Multimedia systems and applications
• Safety critical systems
• Security and cryptography
• Software engineering processes.

Career prospects

Career opportunities include responsible software development positions, not only in the IT sector but also in many other sectors such as education, engineering, health services, financial services, government, manufacturing, retail, and transport.

You will also be well qualified to proceed to study for a PhD in computing science.

A minimum of a 2.2 Honours degree or equivalent (eg GPA 3.0/4 or equivalent) with computing as a major subject.

English language

If your first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. See English Language Requirements.

The online application is the quickest and easiest way of applying to the University of Glasgow. The system allows you to fill out the standard application form online and submit this to the University immediately. You can also attach supporting documents including references, certificates and a transcript of previous studies. You will find instructions throughout the online form to help you complete your application. You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish before submitting it.

See: How to apply for a taught degree