Master's in Computer Science in the UK

Look for a suitable university and course: Once you have decided to opt for a masters degree in computer science from the UK, you need to be sure about your academic goals. After that, you need to prepare your application according to the specific guidelines of the university and masters program.

Look for a suitable university and course: Once you have decided to opt for a masters degree in computer science from the UK, you need to be sure about your academic goals. After that, you need to prepare your application according to the specific guidelines of the university and masters program.

**Keep in mind about the deadlines: ** After you have shortlisted the list of universities for pursuing computer science from the UK, the next step is to check the deadlines of the universities you have selected. Visit university websites to know more about the deadlines.

**Check the program requirements: **Once you have set your target, it’s time to know what you need to get there. You must check the requirements for the program that you have chosen. Usually, UK universities provide all the relevant information on their official website.

Academic transcripts: Candidates have to show academic transcripts required by the institution. For MS courses in computer science, students are commonly asked to show documents up to Bachelors program.

Statement of Purpose: A Statement of Purpose talks about the aspirant’s intention to join the university and the reasons behind pursuing a particular program in computer science.

**Letter of Recommendation: **LORs are an evaluation of the aspirant’s potential by an independent body. It may be your professor or your previous employers. Most of the universities in the UK demand 2 – 3 recommendation letters for pursuing masters in computer science.

Resume: UK universities also require aspirants to submit a resume showcasing all their academic as well as professional qualifications.

Submit your application: After you have collected all your required documents, it is time to submit your application for the master’s degree course in the UK. To opt for an MS in CS from the UK, you’ll need to hold an undergraduate degree from the UK or from overseas. You’ll be expected to have obtained a score in a directly relevant subject. You also need to speak English to at least IELTS 6.5 level for most of the courses.

To apply for a masters degree, you need to apply directly to the university through the university’s website, or via a system called UCAS. UCAS Postgraduate portal gives applicants a simpler and more efficient online application platform to apply for a postgraduate course.

You need to complete all your details online and scan and upload the relevant documents such as a copy of your passport and degree certificates. You can also apply to as many universities as you like and applications are usually free. You will increase your chances of acceptance by sending an application that is specific to the course and university you are applying for

Wait for the admission letter: Now, it is time for you to wait and let the university completes its part of the job. Meanwhile, you can use this time to take care of other upcoming issues which are explained in the sections below.

Get your student visa: This is the final step to a successful application to pursue a master’s degree in the UK. To apply for a UK visa, the very first thing you need to do is to check the type of visa you are going to apply for. Use the UK Visas and Immigration website to check the kind of visa you would require. If you’re a student from India, you’ll need the Tier 4 (General) student visa to study in the United Kingdom.

Get your health insurance: Students enrolled at universities in the UK are eligible for free healthcare. The National Health Service (NHS) grants free medical treatment to students as well as their spouses and dependent children if the students are enrolled in full-time programs. Some universities also offer special health policies to their students.

Master’s students can apply directly to their chosen university. Most universities allow you to send your application throughout the year, but some degree courses have their deadlines. Usually, for most of the universities, there are two intakes for the master’s program in CS from the UK. The intakes are in January and September. For some universities, it is also in May. It’s best to contact your chosen university to find out specific details about their graduate application process.

Is GRE required for MS in CS in the UK?

Most of the universities do not require a score in GRE for Masters in STEM courses. But, there are some masters in business courses which require GRE/GMAT.

‘IELTS for UKVI’ is a UK government-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT). This means that IELTS can be used to prove your English language abilities in support of a UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) application. A Secure English Language Test (SELT) is considered by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) authorities as proof of student applicant’s English proficiency. The difference between a SELT and other types of language tests is that a Secure English Language Test is officially recognized and trusted by the British government.

There are many language proficiency standardized tests that measure your English competence. The minimum required IELTS score in the UK to study computer science is 5.5 – 6.5. So, it can be said that 6 is the minimum IELTS score required to study in the UK. The following are English standard examinations universities in the UK require from prospective applicants.

• TOEFL – Test Of English as a Foreign Language
• IELTS – International English Language Testing System
• UCLES – University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate
• PTE – Pearson Test English

There is no upper age limit to pursue a Masters degree in the UK. But it is advised to opt for CS in the UK within 30 -34 is the maximum as visa’s become difficult after that age for Masters. The only requirement is you need to have a graduate degree of three years acceptable or at par with the UK’s Bachelor degree.

For admission to an MS program in computer science, applicants should have at least a Licence, Bachelor or Master degree with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 14.0/20.0 or 3.5/4.0. Your GPA must be approximately a minimum of 2.3 on the Canadian 4.0 scale. Higher ranked universities will request a GPA minimum of at least 3.3.

Read More - Comprehensive Guide to Studying Business Analytics in UK

Some universities in Singapore and Germany accept admissions to postgraduate courses through the scores in GATE. Universities in the UK do not require GATE for an MS in CS from the UK. Also, work experience is not necessary to pursue an MS in Computer science from the UK.

Cybersecurity expert: A cybersecurity expert identifies where breaches could occur and strengthens the electronic defenses of the organization they work. The role of cybersecurity expert will involve customer data that a business may need posses, which needs to be held securely and in compliance with new GDPR legislation.

Salary range: £25,000 – £35,000 (fresher)

Salary range: £57,000-£84,000 (experienced)

IT Manager: An IT project manager can work for a particular company or as a part of a consultancy guiding on and organizing the implementation of new computer projects. The job role involves figuring out what the client requires, planning the workout, budgeting, and creating a timescale and minimizing any risk to the business.

Salary range: £30,000 – £45,000 (average)

Salary range: £45,000 – £70,000 (experienced)

Software engineer: A software engineer is a highly technical role which involves writing diagnostic programs as well as designing the new code for operating systems in an organization.

Salary range: £25,000 – £50,000

**Test Analyst: **The role of a test analyst is highly skilled and sophisticated. It requires a significant amount of analytical skills as well as the ability to define, develop, and implement tests on a particular software. Salary range: £37,000 – £57,000+

**Software Analyst: **The work involves analyzing existing computer systems and improving or creating new policies, setting together detailed proposals, writing code, testing the product along with maintaining and enhancing the system once it’s up and running.

Salary: £32,000 – £80,000+

The average salary of an individual with an MS in computer science from the UK is £42K per year.

• Amazon.com Inc
• Facebook Inc
• Royal Bank of Scotland
• Bloomberg LP
• Microsoft
• Samsung
• Apple
• IBM
• Ubisoft

The UK’s tech sector is positively flourishing. Presently, contributing around £184 billion towards the British economy, the value of the tech sector has grown by £14 billion this past year. According to the latest Tech Nation report, the tech sector has developed 2.6 times faster than the average industry rate of advancement,

This is a sector where the demand far exceeds supply. Approximately 50 percent of UK businesses identify a shortfall in qualified IT graduates, with a recent study from Computer Weekly predicting that 800,000 professional computer science and IT roles in the UK will remain unfilled by 2020.

Students would primarily benefit from the concentration of high-tech industries in places like Bristol and the Southwest. The UK itself is home to several renowned technical companies, which include Hewlett- Packard, STMicroelectronics, Infineon, and Toshiba, besides start-ups like Xmos, Clementine, and Netsight, promising fantastic industry opportunities for students and graduates alike. Students gain access to some of the most prestigious companies in this domain, which include Credit Suisse, IBM, Google, Microsoft, GlaxoSmithKline, British Telecom, and Accenture.

Best universities to pursue an MS in CS from the UK

• University of St Andrews
• University of Cambridge
• University of Oxford
• Loughborough University
• Imperial College London
• University of Warwick
• Durham University
• University of Southampton
• University of Leeds
• University of Surrey

University of St Andrews

Rankings:

• 3rd in the Times University Guide 2019
• 3rd in the Guardian University Guide 2019
• 97th in the QS World University Rankings 2019

Programs:

• MSc Advanced Computer Science
• MSc Artificial Intelligence
• MSc Computer Communication Systems
• MSc Computation and Information Technology
• MSc Data-Intensive Analysis
• MSc European Masters Dependable Software Systems
• MSc Human-Computer Interaction
• MSc Information Technology
• MSc Management and Information Technology
• MSc Software Engineering

University of Cambridge

Rankings:

• 1st in the Times University Guide 2019
• 1st in the Guardian University Guide 2019
• 6th in the QS World University Rankings 2019
• Program: MPhil in Advanced Computer Science

University of Oxford

Rankings:

• 2nd in the Times University Guide 2019
• 2nd in the Guardian University Guide 2019
• 5th in the QS World University Rankings 2019

Programs:

• MSc in Computer Science
• MSc in Mathematics and Foundations of Computer Science

Loughborough University

Rankings:

• 5th in the Times University Guide 2019
• 4th in the Guardian University Guide 2019

Programs:

• Advanced Computer Science (Taught)
• Internet Computing and Network Security (Taught)
• Vision, Imaging and Autonomous Systems (Research)
• Networks and Systems (Research)
• Theoretical Computer Science (Research)

Imperial College London

Rankings:

• 4th in the Times University Guide 2019
• 7th in the Guardian University Guide 2019
• 8th in the QS World University Rankings 2019

Programs:(Four-year courses)

• MEng Computing
• MEng Computing (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning)
• Men Computing (International Program of Study)
• MEng Computing (Management and Finance)
• MEng Computing (Security and Reliability)
• MEng Computing (Software Engineering)
• MEng Computing (Visual Computing and Robotics)
• MEng Mathematics and Computer Science

University of Warwick

Rankings:

• 10th in the Times University Guide 2019
• 8th in the Guardian University Guide 2019
• 54th in QS World University Rankings 2019
• Program: MSc in Computer science

University of Durham

Ranking:

• 7th in the Times University Guide 2019
• 5th in the Guardian University Guide 2019
• 74th in the QS World University Rankings 2019

Programs:

• MSc in Scientific Computing and Data Analysis (MISCADA)
• MSc in Business Analytics

University of Southampton

Rankings:

• 18th in the Times University Guide 2019
• 23rd in the Guardian University Guide 2019
• 96th in the QS World University Rankings 2019

Programs:

• MSc Computer Science
• Masters in Electronics and Computer Science

University of Leeds

Rankings:

• 11th in the Times University Guide 2019
• 10th in the Guardian University Guide 2019
• 93rd in the QS World University Rankings 2019

Programs:

• MSc Advanced Computer Science
• MSc Advanced Computer Science (Cloud Computing)
• MSc Advanced Computer Science (Data Analytics)
• MSc Advanced Computer Science (Intelligent Systems)
• MSc High-Performance Graphics and Games Engineering
• MSc Mathematics and Computer Science

University of Surrey

Rankings:

• 23rd in the Times University Guide 2019
• 21st in the Guardian University Guide 2019
• 248th in the QS World University Rankings 2019

Programs:

• MSc Information Systems
• MSc Information Security

The cost of MS in CS from the UK can start from £7,392 per year and it can go up to approximately £ 25,000 per year for some universities. Postgraduate Master’s courses in the UK take just one year to complete.

A masters in Computer Science from the UK is fast-paced. It can be a big adjustment coming from an undergraduate program where you have plenty of time to pace yourself and work steadily through your courses, but the hard work of masters programs in the UK pays off. The intensive learning is over in just a year, meaning lower tuition costs and starting your career sooner rather than late.

UK is one of the world’s most popular locations for studying higher education, coming second to the USA, with over 500,000 international students enrolling each year. With an excellent reputation for world-class research and top-notch institutions, a masters degree in computer science from the UK is recognized and revered by employers and academics worldwide. Even better, you’ll find yourself in one of the hottest travel destinations in the world.

The UK is also home to some of the most highly regarded universities in the world. International students can surround themselves with like-minded individuals who value education and take their studies seriously at almost any university in the area, not just the ones with world-renowned names. No matter where you study a masters degree in England, you’ll receive a quality education.

The computer science masters in the UK require much more independence. The courses are more research-paced, requiring individual study. Many masters programs in the UK involve regular meetings with advisors, but very few exams and routine assignments. You’ll be in full responsibility for pacing yourself and keeping up with the work.

This era of digitalization needs computer scientists. Computer Science students from the UK have a pretty fair chance of being professionally employed, within six months of leaving the university. Since every industry makes use of computers, naturally, computer scientists can work in any industry. Computers can solve problems in science, computers can solve engineering, health care, and in other areas.

Computer science departments usually benefit from having one of the more culturally diverse cohorts at their respective universities. According to HESA (Experts in higher education data and analysis) data, almost 20,000 computer science students come from overseas to the UK.

A year abroad at the UK studying computer science will provide you with a deeper understanding of how computers are used around the world, allowing you to experience varied cultures, and also gain some language skills in the process. Many of these academics are working with companies to implement research into practice when it comes to new products.

This often paves the way for new job opportunities for graduate students. You will also find a massive growth in applications to courses that link with fast emerging sectors like data science, business analytics, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI). There is also a thirst for courses which allow you to link together all these technologies.

Courses are now helping you develop the techniques you need to model and manipulate data with no hassle. A master’s degree in computer science with professional work placements that are offered at the universities will allow you to put your skills and ideas into best practices.