MSc Advanced Computer Science with Software Engineering (January start)
ApplyKey facts
- Start date: January
- Study mode and duration: 12 months full-time
Study with us
- advanced masters designed for graduates with a degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering or a related discipline, with significant software development skills
- enhance your existing practical software engineering skills
- learn the techniques needed for creating large, reliable, secure software systems
- develop the skills to design and deploy sophisticated modern software systems
- skilled computer science professionals are in high demand
- prefer to start your course in September? We also offer our MSc Advanced Computer Science with Software Engineering with a September start date
Why this course?
Computer science supports the build, development and use of computer systems.
There is a growing need across the world for skilled, advanced computer science professionals. This course helps you develop the skills necessary to design and deploy sophisticated modern software systems in a range of application areas.
You’ll improve your practical software engineering skills and learn new theories of software development. This course gives you the necessary qualifications to get a skilled position in the computing industry.
What you'll study
On our Advanced Computer Science with Software Engineering Masters, you’ll study two 11-week semesters, each with three or four modules.
Each module typically has:
- four hours of lectures
- laboratory practicals and/or tutorials
Additional study time is required to enhance and apply your understanding of the topics covered, through further reading, self-directed study and assignments.
In the summer, between June and August, you’ll undertake an in-depth three-month research project.
A range of software systems are used to build reliable, scalable and quality solutions, and you will apply rigorous methodologies through experimental design and exploratory modelling. For example you will:
- look at AI-based approaches in detail and examine how they have been applied to a range of software engineering problems
- become familiar with a number of different cloud NoSQL systems and with the Map-Reduce programming paradigm
- demonstrate the ability to implement selections from a range of the software typically used in mobile environments
Research project
Our project supervision programme ensures a named academic is attached to every MSc student during their project study between May and August each year.
Regular meetings are scheduled during the period of the project work, and where an external organisation is involved, meetings between supervisor, student and external body are standard. We have extensive experience of supporting students in placement and thus are well equipped and experienced to manage both university and placement provider expectations.
Facilities
The course will involve some extensive laboratory-based instruction and student work. The Department of Computer and Information Science utilise their own specialist laboratories to provide practical student tuition on large-scale advanced applications.
The University library also has a sufficient body of resources to support this course.
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Course content
Select 100 credits from elective modules. Please note, elective classes are subject to change.
Learning & teaching
Our teaching and learning methods include lectures, tutorials, laboratory practicals and combinations of individual and group work. These will not only develop your expertise in computer science, but also in communication, team-working and analytical skills which are all essential skills for your future career.
Class material will be placed on Myplace for students to gain access to in their own time. A personal computer (microcomputer, desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet) is required to access teaching materials and attending online lectures/meeting. The computer lab is also available for all students to use.
You’ll have regular contact with our expert staff, many of whom have been nominated for, and won, teaching awards based on nominations by our students.
Assessment
Assessment is through a combination of individual work, group work, exams and practical work in laboratories. Around half the classes are assessed entirely by coursework, the others are a combination of coursework and examination.
Compulsory modules
Research Methods (10 credits)
This module aims to provide you with an understanding of both quantitative and qualitative research processes and associated techniques, including the effective presentation of findings in accordance with the best principles of scholarship.
Elective modules
Please note, for Project Management, Software Architecture & Design, and Human Centred Security, you can only choose one of these three modules.
Distributed Information Systems (20 credits)
This module will give you an extended understanding of the deep, technical issues underlying information systems, in the particular context of distributing content over the world-wide web.
Mobile Software & Applications (20 credits)
By the end of the module you should be able to:
- appreciate and explain the problems associated with mobile software environments
- identify and explain the models and techniques typically employed in the design and development of a range of software for mobile environments, and appreciate the limitations of these
- appreciate the role and impact of context-awareness and persuasion in modern mobile applications
- demonstrate the ability to implement selections from a range of the software typically used in mobile environments
Human Centred Security (20 Credits)
The aim of this module is to:
- understand the fundamental concepts of cyber security, with an emphasis on the human side of cyber security
- understand the influences on human decision-making and how human behaviour can be changed, including the use of nudges
- be able to design an evidence-based intervention which improves the user’s interaction with a security solution
- be able to write information security policies that accommodate the needs of humans
- gain an appreciation of the entire socio-technical system within which users interact with security systems
- gain an appreciation of a range of social engineering techniques and ways of ameliorating these
Research Project (60 credits)
Over the summer semester, from May until August, you'll undertake a significant piece of work that will be your MSc project. This is typically a very practical activity, and can include:
- analysing a problem and designing, implementing and evaluating a solution
- conducting an in-depth experimental analysis of technique or technology
- performing an analysis of a large data set, and building and evaluating models of the data
We'll also have a range of projects available that are sponsored by our staff based on their latest research, and many that come direct from the employers we work with, representing real-world problems they are trying to solve.
Compulsory modules
Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues for the Information Society (10 credits)
This module aims to ensure that you're aware of the legal, social, ethical and professional issues commensurate with the practice of Information Systems Engineering.
Elective modules
Please note, for Project Management, Software Architecture & Design, and Human Centred Security, you can only choose one of these three modules.
Advanced Topics in Software Engineering (20 credits)
This module aims to introduce you to a selection of recent advances in software engineering, along with some of the challenges and outstanding problems.
The current focus of the module is on the use of AI-based techniques to address significant software engineering problems, and to put these into practice on real problems and evaluate their effectiveness.
Designing Usable Systems (20 credits)
In this module, you'll develop research-level understanding of the design and evaluation of interactive systems and interfaces for newly emerging technologies and computing domains, such as:
- ubiquitous and mobile computing
- universal access
- domain-specific applications (e.g. older adults, education, health, children)
Big Data Technologies (20 credits)
In this module you will learn to:
- understand the fundamentals of Python to enable the use of various big data technologies
- understand how classical statistical techniques are applied in modern data analysis
- understand the potential application of data analysis tools for various problems and appreciate their limitations
- be familiar with a number of different cloud NoSQL systems and their design and implementation, showing how they can achieve efficiency and scalability while also addressing
- design trade-offs and their impacts
- be familiar with the Map-Reduce programming paradigm
Project Management (20 credits)
This module will help you develop an understanding of:
- the basic process of project management
- the role and activities of the project manager
- a range of methods and tools used in project management
- the organisational contexts in which project management is useful
- current debates in the field of Project Management
- ongoing developments in theory in the field of Project Management
Software Architecture & Design (20 credits)
By the end of this module you should be able to:
- understand some of the challenging design issues that software engineers face and the trade-offs associated with the solutions to these
- understand the principles behind software patterns and be able to apply a number of the fundamental patterns
- understand the need for software architecture and the principles of the classic architectural styles
- understand the issues behind the construction and use of a software framework, and to be able to put this into practice
- understand the major approaches to automated software analysis achievable through static and dynamic analysis
- demonstrate practical competence in the application and construction of tools to support automated software analysis
Entry requirements
| Academic requirements | Minimum second-class (2:2) Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in computer science, software engineering, or a closely-related discipline Significant software development skills, ideally in Java or another object-oriented language, are essential. |
|---|---|
| English language requirements | You must have an English language minimum score of IELTS 6.0 (with no component below 5.5). We offer comprehensive English language courses for students whose IELTS scores are below 6.0. Please see English language teaching for full details. As a university, we now accept many more English language tests other than IELTS for overseas applicants, for example, TOEFL and PTE Cambridge. View the full list of accepted English language tests. |
Learn how artificial intelligence can be used to solve software engineering problems. In this course, we look at how strategies such as genetic algorithms can tackle challenges such as prioritising test cases and requirements, creating estimates of project cost, automatically generating test data, and even fixing buggy programs!
Course Leader
International students
We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.
Fees & funding
All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.
Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.
All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.
Annual revision of fees
Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that the majority of fees will increase annually. The University will take a range of factors into account, including, but not limited to, UK inflation, changes in delivery costs and changes in Scottish and/or UK Government funding. Changes in fees will be published on the University website in October each year for the following year of study and any annual increase will be capped at a maximum of 10% per year.
| Scotland | £11,900 |
|---|---|
| England, Wales & Northern Ireland | £11,900 |
| Republic of Ireland |
If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status. For more information and advice on tuition fee status, you can visit the UKCISA - International student advice and guidance - Scotland: fee status webpage. Find out more about the University of Strathclyde's fee assessments process. |
| International | £30,250 |
| Available scholarships | Take a look at our scholarships search for funding opportunities. |
| Additional costs | International students may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information. |
Please note: the fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year. Find out more about fees.
How can I fund my course?
Scottish postgraduate students
Scottish postgraduate students may be able to apply for support from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). The support is in the form of a tuition fee loan and for eligible students, a living cost loan. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from England
Students ordinarily resident in England may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance England. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from Wales
Students ordinarily resident in Wales may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance Wales. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from Northern Ireland
Postgraduate students who are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland may be able to apply for support from Student Finance Northern Ireland. The support is a tuition fee loan of up to £5,500. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
International students
We've a large range of scholarships available to help you fund your studies. Check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city
Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.
Careers
There will be opportunities for you to meet industry employers and take part in recruitment events, in addition to taking advantage of a wealth of support offered by our award-winning careers service.
We have a dedicated careers fair for our computer science and information management students each year, with over 30 leading companies, including:
- Amazon
- JP Morgan
- Morgan Stanley
- British Telecom
- Bridgeall
- Kana
- Skyscanner
- ThinkAnalytics
As a graduate of our Advanced Computer Science with Software Engineering, you could be an analyst, architect or developer. There's a demand for advanced practitioners and researchers in the growing area of embedded systems development.
How much will I earn?*
| Job role | Salary |
|---|---|
| Systems analyst | Junior analysts can expect to earn between £20,000 and £25,000, while more experienced analysts earn, on average, in excess of £40,000 |
| Applications developer | Graduate salaries for applications developers start at around £20,000. Once established, you can expect to earn £34,000 to £40,000. As a senior applications developer, your salary will be in the region of £45,000 to £70,000 |
| Data scientist | Salaries for junior data scientists tend to start at around £25,000 to £30,000, rising to £40,000 depending on your experience. With a few years' experience you can expect to earn between £40,000 and £60,000. Lead and chief data scientists can earn upwards of £60,000, in some cases reaching more than £100,000 |
| Software engineer | Typical graduate software engineer salaries start from £18,000 a year. The average annual salary for a software engineer is between £25,000 and £50,000. At senior or management level, software engineers can earn £45,000 to £70,000 or more per annum. Bonus schemes may be available |
*Information is intended only as a guide. Salary information acquired from Prospects, January 2023.
Apply
To apply for September 2025 entry, please visit MSc Advanced Computer Science with Software Engineering.
Start date: Jan 2026
Advanced Computer Science with Software Engineering (January)
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