Computer Science courses
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.
What you study
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.
Levels available
Why students choose it
- 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
Entry requirements
Undergraduate,Secondary school with strong maths (typically 70 to 85 percent), IELTS 6.0 to 6.5.,Postgraduate,A bachelor's in computing or a related quantitative subject at 2:2 or above; conversion MSc accepts any degree with evidence of numeracy.,Doctorate,A master's or strong bachelor's plus a research proposal and supervisor agreement.
Where it leads
Software engineer, Data scientist, Machine learning engineer, Cyber security analyst, Cloud architect, DevOps engineer.
Typical graduate salary: UK graduate starting salaries of roughly £28,000 to £40,000, with London and finance at the top. Indicative and taken from published national data.
Where to study it
United Kingdom
Strong departments at Southampton, Glasgow, Swansea, BCU; Graduate Route
Read moreCanada
Tech hubs in Toronto, Vancouver, Waterloo; PGWP
Read moreUnited States
Silicon Valley, STEM OPT of 3 years
Read moreIreland
European HQs of Google, Meta, Apple
Read moreGermany
RWTH Aachen, KIT, Stuttgart at public fees; TU Munich now charges non-EU students
Read moreAustralia
Melbourne, UNSW, Monash
Read moreUniversities that teach it
Questions 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 start?
Tell us your results and your budget. A counsellor will come back with a shortlist you can get into and afford.