MSc Computing Admissions FAQ
Q: How many places are available on the MSc Computing?
We usually aim for around 20 students on the course each year. Most people will be studying full-time but there will also be a small number of part-time students.
Q: How many people apply each year?
We receive around 100 applications each year. As we are aiming to recruit around 20 students you can see that we will not be able to accept every applicant.
Q: How quickly will you respond to my application?
Decisions are normally made within a week or so of your completed application being received in the School. However the University needs to send you a formal offer letter and this can take another week or two at busy times as they have to send letters for all postgraduate courses in the University.
Q: I’ll have some spare time this summer before I start the course, how can I prepare?
If you have no experience of programming, you may find it helpful to borrow a book on programming from your local library and work through the first few chapters. We will be teaching programming (using the Java language) from scratch, but your first few weeks on the course will be much easier if you already have some idea of the concepts.
During August we will send you a list of suggested background reading, this is not compulsory. It is not based on recommended course texts and is designed solely for those who would like to extend their background knowledge prior to the start of the course.
Q: How much time will I spend in lectures?
Full-time students will normally have 12 hours of lectures each week. This will be supplemented by lab classes, exercise classes, tutorials and workshops. A sample Autumn semester timetable can be found on the current course documents page.
Part-time students attend all day on Tuesday in their first year and Thursday in their second year during the Autumn semesters. During the Spring semester your pattern of attendance will depend on your choice of option modules, check the course documents page for details. In the third year of part-time study you will be undertaking an individual project and can arrange your attendance flexibly to suit you and your project supervisor.
Q: Will you advise me on my choice of option modules?
During November the lecturer for each option module will give a short talk which will give you an overview of the module. The majority of students find that these talks enable them to make provisional decisions about their option modules, all of which run in the Spring semester, but for those in doubt, further advice is available from their personal tutor.
Q: How will I be assessed?
Some modules are assessed by a mixture of coursework and examination and some solely by coursework, this varies depending on what is most appropriate for the knowledge and skills being assessed. Examinations for modules completed during the Autumn semester take place in January, the remaining modules are examined in May/June. During the summer you undertake an individual project and submit a dissertation based on this in September.
Q: Will you help me find a job at the end of my course?
There is a dedicated careers advisor for the School of Computer Science & Informatics students based at the University's Careers Service.
Q: What are the fees?
The University sets the fees for all its courses each year, these tend to rise annually in line with inflation. The University's Finance Division publishes a list of fees.
Q: Can I pay by installments?
Yes, you can pay your fees in three installments. Information about this can be obtained from the Finance Division.
Q: Is there any funding available?
Most of our students are self-funding, though a few are funded by overseas governments or by their employers. For ideas about funding possibilities look at the funding information on the University's main site.
Q: Am I guaranteed a place in University residences?
All overseas/EU postgraduate students are guaranteed a single occupancy place in University residences if they submit an online application and make a pre-payment in line with the deadline date relevant to that session. Unfortunately we are unable to guarantee UK postgraduates a place in University residences. For further information on the guarantee of residences, University residences and associated residences fees, please visit the Residences web site.
Q: What if I want to take just a single module?
All modules in the programme can be undertaken as an associate student. Associate students undertake exactly the same educational activities as full Master’s students, including examination and assessment, and any credits gained as an associate may be directly transferable to the degree programme.
Q: Where can I get further information?
If you have any questions about the course or the application process please contact the Admissions Tutor,