MSc Computer Vision Robotics and Machine Learning

This programme is designed to transform you into an expert in intelligent systems through a deeply practical, research-led curriculum that bridges advanced theory with real-world application. You'll have access to our outstanding facilities in the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, including our Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing (CVSSP) - one of the UK's largest dedicated AI research centres - which houses specialised robotics laboratories, GPU clusters, and motion capture studios. Your learning is powered by cutting-edge tools and culminates in a substantial research project where you will design, implement, and evaluate complex intelligent systems, preparing you for a career at the forefront of AI innovation.

Here’s how you’ll gain advanced, hands-on experience:

• Specialised AI Software & Frameworks: You'll gain deep proficiency in professional tools including OpenCV for computer vision, ROS (Robot Operating System) for robotics, TensorFlow and PyTorch for deep learning, and Point Cloud Library for 3D vision processing.

• The MSc Research Project: The cornerstone of your degree is a six-month research project conducted within CVSSP, where you'll tackle a substantial challenge in vision, robotics, or machine learning, often using our specialist equipment and datasets.

• Robotics Laboratory: You'll conduct experiments in our dedicated robotics lab, working with humanoid robots, drone systems, and robotic manipulators to develop and test autonomous behaviours and control systems.

• Computer Vision Studio: You'll use our motion capture systems, light stages, and 3D scanning equipment for advanced work in visual recognition, scene understanding, and 3D reconstruction.

• GPU Computing Cluster: You'll have access to our high-performance computing facilities with dedicated GPU arrays for training complex deep learning models on large-scale visual and sensor data.

• Signal Processing Laboratory: You'll work with our audio-visual capture systems and processing equipment for multimodal learning and sensor fusion projects.

• Industry Collaboration: Many projects incorporate real-world challenges from our industry partners, including BBC, Surrey Satellite Technology, and Boeing, providing valuable insight into industrial applications of intelligent systems.

• Research-Led Learning: Your practical work is directly informed by the pioneering research conducted within CVSSP, giving you exposure to the latest advancements in deep learning, autonomous systems, and multimodal intelligence.

With this MSc, many graduates move into roles such as Computer Vision Engineer, Robotics Engineer, Machine Learning / AI Specialist, or R&D Engineer. Because of the strong reputation of Surrey’s CVSSP research group and the hands-on and project-oriented nature of the course, you’ll leave well-prepared, and employers often look favourably on these specific technical and research skills.

Progression & Future Opportunities:
Here’s how Surrey supports your launch into a strong tech/AI/robotics career, and what you can expect:

• University services that help students to employ:
  The course includes significant project work including a “major personal project” where you deliver, demonstrate, and document results, evaluated not just by academic staff but also peer and non-expert audiences, which is excellent for building a portfolio. (LO16 & LO17 focus on teamwork and communication skills) link
  Surrey staff also offer module-based employability training, and the CVSSP (Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing) is large and well-connected, giving opportunities for guest lectures, collaborations, and exposure to industry-level research problems. 

• Employment stats and salary figures:
  There isn’t public data specifically for this MSc listing exact salaries, but by analogy robotics engineers in the UK tend to average around £40,000/year, with entry-level roles often in the mid-£20,000-£30,000s, growing notably with experience. Surrey’s mechanical engineering and related engineering graduates register median salaries around £29,000 at ~15 months, rising over time. 
  Alumni from this MSc report roles in R&D and engineering that command competitive salaries especially if you already had some experience or strong technical ability.

• University–industry partnerships (specific):
  The programme is delivered by the Centre for Vision, Speech & Signal Processing (CVSSP), one of the UK’s leading research centres in computer vision, signal processing, and robotics. link
  Also, there are studentships (for example in autonomous robotics and vehicles) which tie you into research networks at Surrey including CVSSP, the Institute for People-Centred AI, and robotics labs. These often involve real research and sometimes collaboration with industry.

• Long-term accreditation value:
  The programme is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), which means it meets the academic requirements for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status and partially contributes toward Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. This gives the qualification professional recognition in engineering fields. 

• Graduation outcomes:
  You’ll graduate with strong theoretical grounding and practical skills: fluent in image/video analysis, feature extraction, robotics control, machine learning, plus a substantial capstone/project work. You'll have both technical depth and communication/team skills. Many alumni work in roles bridging research and development, in robotics firms, vision companies, startups, or in R&D departments of larger tech firms.

Further Academic Progression:
After the MSc you can take several pathways:

• Pursue PhD research, especially within Surrey’s CVSSP or related labs, in areas like robotics perception, autonomous vehicles, applied machine vision, or signal processing.

• Consider R&D roles in industry, which sometimes allow you to collaborate on academic research or publish work.

• Engage in further specialization through short courses or certifications (e.g. in robotics, deep learning, embedded systems) or postgraduate training programmes.