MSc Computer Science

Students on the MSc Computer Science programme at Edinburgh don’t just learn theory—they get hands-on experience using high-performance computing clusters, advanced labs, and networking with research groups. There are specialist software tools, group and individual projects, and access to research labs and institutes that enhance both technical and collaborative skills.

Some of the key practical / facility-based features include:

• Access to the Edinburgh Compute & Data Facility (ECDF / Eddie), which gives postgraduate students significant GPU- and CPU-based cluster resources for running computationally heavy or large-scale projects. 

• Use of Informatics Labs, including computer labs in Appleton Tower and other buildings, where there are over 250 high-spec machines for teaching, coursework, and practical coding work. 

• The Laboratory for Foundations of Computer Science (LFCS): a research institute focused on areas like concurrency, logic, algorithms, and complexity, allowing students to engage with theoretical computer science in active research settings. 

• A variety of specialist research laboratories in the School of Informatics: robotics labs, cyber security labs, autonomous systems labs, speech / perception labs, human-computing interaction spaces, etc. These support coursework and thesis work.

• Facilities for remote and on-campus software use, including virtual labs or remote access to certain compute nodes, so you can work from outside the university buildings when required. 

Graduates from this MSc are highly sought after for their strong problem-solving, technical, and research abilities. They move into both academic and industry roles, contributing to cutting-edge projects in technology, data, and research. Typical career paths include: software engineer, data scientist, machine learning specialist, research associate.

Students benefit from Edinburgh’s strong employer links and dedicated career services:

• Careers Service support with tailored workshops, employer presentations, and one-to-one guidance.

• Industry partnerships with leading tech firms such as Amazon, Google, Skyscanner, and Microsoft, offering recruitment pipelines and project collaborations.

• Graduate outcomes: Edinburgh consistently reports high employment and further study rates for informatics graduates.

• Salary prospects: Computer Science graduates from Edinburgh command competitive UK and international salaries.

• Long-term value: Accreditation and international recognition of the University of Edinburgh enhances professional credibility worldwide.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates may continue with doctoral studies (PhD) in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or Theoretical Computer Science at Edinburgh or other top global universities.