MSc Advanced Computer Science

If you're looking to specialise and deepen your expertise in a supportive and research-active environment, the MSc Advanced Computer Science at Bangor University is designed to give you a strong practical and theoretical foundation in cutting-edge areas of the field. This programme allows you to focus on advanced topics like distributed systems, secure computing, and intelligent systems, preparing you for high-demand roles in the tech industry. You'll be based in our School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, which offers a collaborative learning environment with dedicated facilities to support your hands-on development.

Your learning is built around applying advanced concepts to solve complex problems:

• Specialist Computing Laboratories: You will have access to our networking and cyber security labs, which provide a practical environment for working on secure system design, network configuration, and security testing. These facilities support hands-on learning in a controlled setting.

• Industry-Relevant Software & Tools: You will work with current technologies used in advanced computing fields. This includes opportunities to use tools for distributed systems development, data analysis platforms, and software for secure computing applications.

• Research-Informed Projects: Your learning will be informed by the research activities within the school. You'll have opportunities to work on practical projects that address current challenges in areas like parallel computing or system security.

• Collaborative Development Work: An important part of your experience will involve team-based projects that simulate real-world development scenarios, helping you develop both technical and professional skills valued by employers.

• Individual MSc Project: The programme culminates in a significant research project. This is your opportunity to conduct a substantial piece of independent work in your chosen specialism, creating a major piece of work for your professional portfolio.

• University Resources: You will have full access to Bangor University's library services, including its collection of computing texts, research journals, and electronic resources, as well as general computing facilities.

This programme is designed to help you advance your career in computing. You'll graduate with enhanced specialist knowledge and the practical skills to develop sophisticated computing systems, preparing you for roles that require advanced technical expertise in various sectors of the tech industry.

Graduates of Bangor’s MSc Advanced Computer Science often move into roles such as Software Engineer / Developer, HPC (High-Performance Computing) Specialist, VR/AR / Mixed Reality Developer, or Systems Architect / Research Engineer. Thanks to Bangor’s emphasis on advanced technical topics and its close links with local industry, many alumni are well-prepared to take on challenging tech roles soon after graduation.

Progression & Future Opportunities:

Here are how this programme helps you get there, what services and statistics support it, and what kinds of outcomes are typical:

• University Services that Help Students to Employ (Bangor):

  • Bangor has a Careers & Employability Service that supports students during and after their course: job fairs, one-to-one career coaching, CV and interview preparation.

  • The Skills and Employability Service offers the Bangor Employability Award (BEA), helping you build your CV, reflect on extra-curricular skills, and document them for employers. 

  • Internships are run multiple times per year for postgraduates and undergraduates, giving opportunity to gain workplace experience. 

• Employment Stats & Salary Figures:

  • For Bangor’s Computer Science undergraduates, median salaries ~ £24,000 about 15 months after graduation; rising to ~£30,500 after 3 years, and ~£37,000 at about 5 years.

  • While specific salary data for the Advanced Computer Science MSc is not fully public, the same market trends, local opportunities, and the advanced nature of this MSc suggest graduates may earn salaries similar to or above those of undergraduate CS graduates, especially in specialist or high demand roles.

• University–Industry Partnerships and Research-Led Teaching:

  • Bangor University is strong in research: their School of Computer Science & Electronic Engineering works in fields such as AI, pattern recognition, data visualisation, VR/AR, optical communications, medical simulation etc. That means your learning is informed by what is happening at the frontiers of those areas. 

  • There are local SMEs & IT companies, especially in Wales, that Bangor collaborates with; the MSc benefits from this in terms of exposing students to local industry, possible employment or project-collaboration. 

• Long-Term Value / Professional Recognition / Accreditation:

  • Bangor emphasises professionalism and ethics in the Advanced Computer Science MSc, which is increasingly valued by employers. Ethical deployment of tech is part of the course's stated focus. 

  • The computing / electronic engineering school at Bangor has courses accredited by professional bodies (e.g. British Computer Society / Institution of Engineering & Technology) in some programmes; this helps ensure that skills are aligned with industry standards. 

• Graduation Outcomes:

  • Graduates are likely to leave with strong skills in advanced technical areas: high-performance computing; augmented, mixed, and virtual reality; possibly other specialist electives depending on module choice. 

  • Bangor’s CS graduates are described as being highly employable, especially in local SMEs and public sector roles, because of robust training, ethical grounding, and the technical specializations they acquire. Bangor is also regularly ranked among top UK universities for employability of its graduates in Computer Science.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the MSc Advanced Computer Science at Bangor University, here are logical paths you could follow:

• PhD / Doctoral Research: If you enjoy research, the dissertation + advanced modules are excellent preparation for PhD study in areas such as VR/AR, HPC, machine learning, visualisation, computational modelling etc. Bangor has active researchers in those areas.

• Specialised Certifications or Short Courses: To deepen niche skills (for example specific VR/AR frameworks, HPC tools, GPU programming, cloud infrastructure), you might complement your MSc with certifications that industry recognises.

• Industry R&D or Specialist Roles: With the advanced skill set, you’re well placed for roles in R&D departments of tech firms, maybe focusing on future-facing technologies (mixed reality, simulation, data visualisation) or companies using HPC.

• Leadership / Senior Technical Roles: Over time, with experience, you may move into architect, lead engineer, or specialist technical consultant roles, especially in sectors valuing high computational skills and innovation.

• Teaching or Academic Roles: It’s possible to move into academic or teaching roles, or lab instruction, especially if you stay in research or publish work from your MSc project.