January 2027 intake is open at most UK universities. Get an Express Offer in days
Subject guide

Computer Science courses for international students

Computer science is the subject with the clearest line from classroom to career. Every destination we work with has a shortage of software engineers, and most offer post-study work rights that let you fill it. Conversion master's mean you do not need a computing bachelor's to switch in.

What a computer science degree involves

Computer science covers programming, algorithms, data structures, systems, networks, databases, artificial intelligence and software engineering. Master's programmes specialise in data science, AI, cyber security, cloud computing or human-computer interaction; conversion programmes teach the fundamentals to graduates from other fields.

Why study computer science abroad

  • Highest graduate employment of any subject family
  • Post-study work visas favour tech roles in every destination
  • Conversion master's accept non-computing graduates
  • Placement years and industry projects are standard
  • Skills travel: the same stack is used everywhere

Best countries for computer science

CountryWhyTypical annual tuition
United KingdomStrong departments at Southampton, Glasgow, Swansea, BCU; Graduate Route£17,000 to £32,000
CanadaTech hubs in Toronto, Vancouver, Waterloo; PGWPCA$20,000 to CA$45,000
United StatesSilicon Valley, STEM OPT of 3 yearsUS$25,000 to US$60,000
IrelandEuropean HQs of Google, Meta, Apple€12,000 to €25,000
GermanyRWTH Aachen, KIT, Stuttgart at public fees; TU Munich now charges non-EU students€0 to €12,000
AustraliaMelbourne, UNSW, MonashA$35,000 to A$50,000

Universities to consider

Entry requirements

LevelTypical requirement
UndergraduateSecondary school with strong maths (typically 70 to 85 percent), IELTS 6.0 to 6.5.
PostgraduateA bachelor's in computing or a related quantitative subject at 2:2 or above; conversion MSc accepts any degree with evidence of numeracy.
DoctorateA master's or strong bachelor's plus a research proposal and supervisor agreement.

Careers

Software engineerData scientistMachine learning engineerCyber security analystCloud architectDevOps engineerProduct engineerUX engineer

UK graduate starting salaries of roughly £28,000 to £40,000, with London and finance at the top.

Scholarships and funding

Oasis does not award scholarships, but partner universities discount fees for strong applicants and several government schemes cover this subject. See the scholarship guide and our loan partners.

Fees and salaries are indicative for the 2026/27 cycle, change with exchange rates and policy, and should be confirmed with the university or the relevant government before you decide.

Shortlist in one working day

Tell us your grades and budget. We send three computer science courses you can get into.

Get my shortlist
Questions

Computer Science: what students ask

Can I study computer science without a computing background?

Yes. Conversion master's in the UK, Ireland and Australia are designed for graduates of other subjects; you need to show numeracy and motivation.

Which country is best for computer science?

The US for scale and salaries, the UK for a one-year master's and the Graduate Route, Canada for immigration, Germany for cost. It depends on budget and what happens after.

Do I need to know programming before I start?

It helps. Most universities expect some exposure for a bachelor's and assume none for a conversion master's.

Is a computer science degree still worth it with AI?

Yes. Demand has shifted towards people who understand systems, data and AI itself; degrees now teach exactly that.

What is the difference between computer science and IT?

Computer science is theory and building; IT is applying and managing systems. Most employers hire from both.

Ready to study computer science?

A counsellor matches your grades and budget to the right courses and countries. Free.