Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The course will be based on a broad foundation in Research Methods, Mathematical Methods in Computing and Advanced Programming and Algorithms. In Term 1, you can pick Foundation modules in two of three areas (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Data Analytics and Cyber Security) to decide whether you want to further specialise in one of the three areas in Term 2.

You will have the opportunity to access dedicated core modules to give you the technical expertise in your chosen specialism to enhance your career prospects.

You will be transferred to the Computer Science MSc and will have to meet the Computer Science MSc course requirements.

You do not need to specialise. If you do want to keep all your options open and aim for a broad degree, you can pick four optional modules in Term 2 in any of the three areas and beyond, and also have significant flexibility to choose an area for the extended Computer Science project running in Terms 2 and 3.

If you have been made an offer to study with us and now wish to defer by a year, you need to email msc dot dcsadmissions at warwick dot ac dot uk to request this. Please include your Warwick ID and reasons for requesting a deferral. These are considered on a case-by-case basis and approval is not guaranteed.

Second deferral requests are not considered.

We don't have specific MSc open days, but if you would like to visit please e-mail us at msc dot dcsadmissions at warwick dot ac dot uk with details of your availability and which course you are interested in, and we'll do our best to arrange a convenient time for you to visit us.

The University offers Warwick Talk and Tours that are held regularly throughout the year, these offer a general overview of the University and a campus tour but are not department-specific. If you're interested in visiting campus for a wander, you can do this at any time, we are an open campus and maps can be obtained from Student Reception at Senate House.

Details on how to find us 

Candidates will normally be expected to have obtained a recognised English Language qualification if their first language is not English. IELTS is the most popular and we require an overall score of 6.5 with no component scores below 6.0 (Band A). For further information on English proficiency, including acceptable alternatives to IELTS and pre-sessional courses, please visit the University's English language requirements website.

Unfortunately not, there are no other external modules available outside of those listed on the course structure webpages.Link opens in a new window

Unfortunately not. Our MSc degree is only available on a full-time basis.

You can use our find a scholarshipLink opens in a new window tool to search for scholarship opportunities by filtering for Postgraduate Taught Level of Study and Department of Computer Science.

You can also visit Postgraduate Taught Bursaries at WarwickLink opens in a new window and Scholarships and Bursaries at WarwickLink opens in a new window for the information of bursaries and other scholarship opportunities that you may be eligible to apply for.

The course is 12 months in length. We have one start date a year and this is at the start of the academic year in the autumn. You will be expected to be present during all three terms and will also continue working on your MSc dissertation during the summer months.

You’ll be assessed through a variety of methods; exams, coursework, presentations, and a dissertation. Exams take place in January and the summer term; usually in May and/or June with dissertations expected to be completed in September.

If you require a Tier 4 student visa, then you will need a CAS in order to obtain this. CAS numbers are issued approximately 3 months before the course start date and only to those who hold an unconditional offer. Therefore you must meet all offer conditions in order to receive a CAS.

Further details around CAS numbers and other useful information can be found on the study pages.

We normally require applicants to have at least a 1st or a high 2:i undergraduate degree in a related subject, such as Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or another STEM subject where your programme features strong mathematical underpinnings as well as at least some foundational exposure to programming.

If you apply, we will consider your entire application to determine whether your academic background is suitable for entry onto our courses. Therefore, we are generally unable to comment on the suitability of a particular course ahead of receiving an application.

Please visit the University's degree equivalency pages for guidance on what your qualification is equivalent to.

If you require further guidance, please complete the relevant contact form with your details. A member of the University's International Team will respond to you.

We are sorry that your application was unsuccessful. Admissions to our MSc courses are very competitive and receive very large numbers of applications each year. Therefore, we are unable to provide individual feedback on why your application was rejected. Common reasons include not meeting the requirements outlined on our website or simply that other applications were stronger.

We require a copy of your degree transcript (or an interim copy if you are still studying), that shows modules taken and marks achieved. We also require a reference (an academic one from someone who taught you as part of your degree), or we can accept a professional one if you’ve been out of education for more than 2 years. A detailed and engaging personal statement should also be included with your application and this should clearly outline your reasons for applying to our course along with an up-to-date CV.

The deadline for applying is 31 July, although we reserve the right to close our courses before this date if they become full. This allows enough time for those requiring a visa to obtain one before the start of the academic year. Home or EU applicants may still apply after this date, providing there are still spaces available (and they have no visa restrictions). We would however encourage early applications where possible.

We review all applications in detail with respect to their own merits and in light of the overall quality of applications we receive for entry in a given academic year. Admissions to our MSc courses are very competitive and receive very large numbers of applications each year. While a few applications may receive a decision relatively quickly, there will be a wait for most applications. You will hear from us once we have made a decision.

If you have been made an offer elsewhere that requires you to accept it by a specific deadline or require an outcome on your application for the purpose of a scholarship application, please contact us at msc.dcsadmissions@warwick.ac.uk with details of the relevant deadlines.