find your perfect postgrad program
Search our Database of 30,000 Courses


Posted Nov. 5, 2014

Spotlight on: Postgrad Study in Computer Science

There are around 120 universities in the UK offering postgraduate degrees in the field of computer science, many provide expertise in a number of specialisms and this post aims to highlight some of the options available to you when deciding which one to apply for.

As you will probably already be aware, arranging funding for a postgraduate degree is quite different to arranging it for an undergraduate degree! Once you have decided on funding options and the research topic for your degree, it is time to seek out the right university for you; this may be dependent upon a number of factors including where the university is, the cost of living in the area and resources available to students in your particular field of interest.

A general computer science postgraduate degree will usually offer you more in-depth knowledge and experience in practical and theoretical computer science such as algorithms, databases, programming and software. Alongside this you will normally conduct your own research project that will be linked in some way to your degree. Many universities offer this kind of computer science degree, although the name of it may differ slightly from one establishment to the next; the City University London, for example, calls it Advanced Computer Science MSc, whilst Birmingham City University simply calls it Computer Science MSc – it is a good idea to read through the modules available to see exactly what is offered on the course before applying.

Many universities offer more than one degree in computer science and each one will tend to favour a particular specialism over another, something that can often be evident in the resources available to students studying in that field. Nottingham Trent University seems to be invested in providing its students with high quality resources to aid their studies in computer science; however, there is an emphasis on equipment designed to help with research into gaming and computer engineering such as games console labs, a Human-Interactive laboratory and a variety of useful software programs. Such technology will be extremely beneficial if you decided to study the Engineering (Cybernetics and Communications) MSc or the Computer Games Systems MSc with Nottingham Trent University, which received a score of 82% satisfaction from computer science students, according to a survey by Which? University.

Interest in the field of robotics is quickly gaining momentum and many universities are recognising the need for providing an appropriate degree course to reflect this particular career path. Plymouth University is one such establishment; they offer computer science degrees to their students, but seem to favour specialisms in robotics and this is reflected in the facilities, degrees and research opportunities available to prospective students. In 2012, robots created at the university became the first UK team to play in the RoboCup and the Centre for Robotics and Neural Systems, which is located at Plymouth University, is a trailblazer in the world of degree-level robotic research. As well as the research centre, students also have access to robotics laboratories, expert staff and the opportunity to work on their research with leading institutions from around the world.

Whichever postgraduate degree course you decide to apply for, it is important to ensure that you can cope with the increased level of work and organisation that such a degree demands, especially if you are undertaking a research degree.

Related articles

Leave a comment