MSc Computer Science Online?

Hello all, as a software engineer, I am looking to advance my career by pursuing a masters degree.

However, due to work commitments, I am only able to do an online program. Does anyone have experience with an online MSc in computer science with a focus on software engineering?

Thank you,

Ben.

Reply 1

WrexhamUniReps

Official Rep

Hi Ben,

Great to hear that you are considering further education, especially in an online format.

A Master's in Computer Science can definitely advance your career and equip you with the practical skills to advance in your field.

There are many benefits to studying part-time as well, you can continue with your work and spread out the costs of a master's. At Wrexham Glyndwr University, we have found that our past students are very happy with the Computer Science Master's program we offer and you can read more about it to discover what makes us different as a university.

The course's key features and what you would learn include:

- Opportunity to study a variety of skills in depth, ranging from commercial programming and mobile application development to computer networking.
- Lectures/tutorials and practical sessions are enhanced with additional online modules, allowing you to continue independent learning through a variety of approaches.
- Taught by staff leading research into the areas of application development and computer networks.
- Research activities are associated with the university’s research centre.
- Learning progresses from design and development, to the building and debugging of applications and networks.
- Options to take external Cisco certification qualifications.

Good luck with furthering your education and let us know if you require any further information about this course!

Best wishes,

Maddy
WrexhamUniReps

Reply 2

brasamical

Original post by BenjaminTheDev

avoid wrexham at all cost, loads of thread in TSR about the dismal experience folks had. University of London online degrees offer a respectable, recognized option.

Reply 3

s8e

Original post by BenjaminTheDev

Hello all, as a software engineer, I am looking to advance my career by pursuing a masters degree.
However, due to work commitments, I am only able to do an online program. Does anyone have experience with an online MSc in computer science with a focus on software engineering?
Thank you,
Ben.

I’m interested in hearing what you went with. I’m currently trying to decide this for myself.

Reply 4

LIBF

Official Rep

Hi @BenjaminTheDev,

It is nice to see that you are thinking about your next steps in higher education.

If flexibility of a degree is important to you, you might want to consider an MSc in Computer Science at LIBF.

Our distance learning programmes help you balance work, life and learning like a pro, with the option of studying day or night at your own pace, from anywhere.

I have attached our study guide for Computer Science, which covers topics like our curriculum, how to prepare for a Computer Science degree, career prospects, salary expectations and much more - https://bit.ly/3TrrFLd

Wishing you all the best in your course search!

Sam

(edited 6 months ago)

Reply 5

hotpud

Original post by BenjaminTheDev

Hello all, as a software engineer, I am looking to advance my career by pursuing a masters degree.
However, due to work commitments, I am only able to do an online program. Does anyone have experience with an online MSc in computer science with a focus on software engineering?
Thank you,
Ben.

When you say "advance your career", what do you mean? Are you hoping that my doing a masters future employers will feel you are qualified for something better than you are currently doing?

In my previous experience of software developing unless a specific company is looking for people with a specific masters, I can't see how it will help much. However, if you are looking to move into a specific role with a specific skill set covered by this masters then go for it. However, I have looked at masters for myself and found that my own skill set from personal experience is at a much higher level and I would therefore not gain much.

In summary - where do you want to go in terms of career and then work backwards. If a masters is the answer then go for it but I suspect if you are being speculative, you will end up disappointed.

Good luck!

Reply 6

polis.h

I have just finished my first week at City University of London studying CompScience degree with AI.
Impressions so far: seems like a new course, they haven't put a lot of money into marketing yet and I couldn't find any info about this course prior to enrolling. The first module is about algorithms, the first week is super basic (data types, intro to python) so it has been an easy ride. I think I completed the first week within 3 hours but I have been in the field for the last 5 years so it is mostly repetition for me. I noticed towards the end of this module they go into searching and sorting algorithms which is something I'm keen to learn so will see how this goes. I will be able to update in a couple of weeks time, I'm keen to finish this degree asap, I think the minimum amount of time it takes is just about one year and a bit.

As for the motivation to do the course, I have 5 years of experience in the field, but I feel my lack of degree sometimes stops me from applying for the best jobs and City University of London is quite high in the ranking (especially the London options)

Reply 7

whynot83

Original post by polis.h

I have just finished my first week at City University of London studying CompScience degree with AI.
Impressions so far: seems like a new course, they haven't put a lot of money into marketing yet and I couldn't find any info about this course prior to enrolling. The first module is about algorithms, the first week is super basic (data types, intro to python) so it has been an easy ride. I think I completed the first week within 3 hours but I have been in the field for the last 5 years so it is mostly repetition for me. I noticed towards the end of this module they go into searching and sorting algorithms which is something I'm keen to learn so will see how this goes. I will be able to update in a couple of weeks time, I'm keen to finish this degree asap, I think the minimum amount of time it takes is just about one year and a bit.
As for the motivation to do the course, I have 5 years of experience in the field, but I feel my lack of degree sometimes stops me from applying for the best jobs and City University of London is quite high in the ranking (especially the London options)

Really interested in your experience as I'm exploring an MSc in Comp Science with Cyber Security and have been going round in circles looking at available courses and then reading reviews that just rip them to pieces. I have an interest in computers and a basic understanding so would be completely new to the field from a studying perspective.

How have you found communication from tutors etc. as a lot of the other reviews I have read for other institutions say that it's terrible. All the best with you studies.

Reply 8

polis.h

Original post by whynot83

Really interested in your experience as I'm exploring an MSc in Comp Science with Cyber Security and have been going round in circles looking at available courses and then reading reviews that just rip them to pieces. I have an interest in computers and a basic understanding so would be completely new to the field from a studying perspective.
How have you found communication from tutors etc. as a lot of the other reviews I have read for other institutions say that it's terrible. All the best with you studies.

I will be able to say more in a couple more weeks when I will be finishing my first module. So far, I only interacted with the teacher once (in the introduction forum). I'm half way the first module and I find it very easy. I wish they added more exercise after each section in a module, they usually give just a couple but in my opinion that is not enough. Anyway, I will be able to tell more as the time progress 🙂

Reply 9

EveEA777

Original post by BenjaminTheDev

Hello all, as a software engineer, I am looking to advance my career by pursuing a masters degree.
However, due to work commitments, I am only able to do an online program. Does anyone have experience with an online MSc in computer science with a focus on software engineering?
Thank you,
Ben.

Hi Ben,

I realise that this is probably too late for you, but I'll answer anyway as it may help someone else that comes across this post.

I spent a long time looking at online MSc Computer Science courses, and after much deliberation I went for the University of Hertfordshire online MSc Computer Science. You can do straightforward Computer Science or you can combine it with a specialism, such as Software Engineering (which I chose), AI, Cyber Security, Data Science etc.

I found that a lot of the other universities don't teach the courses themselves, they simply give their name as an affiliate, but then the actual course has little to do with the Uni and is outsourced to a third party company, with their own instructors & materials. I read lots of mixed experiences of this model, more bad than good, when I was looking into the options.

At the University of Hertfordshire, the courses/materials are put together by an actual lecturer from the university (matching specialists to the particular module in question), and you have 4 hours of live sessions per 8 week module with that tutor (as a group), and they are always available to answer any questions at any time - I have certainly found this to be the case. They also set and mark the coursework/tests themselves, so there is a lot of assistance and feedback should you want it. You feel like you are actually part of the university to some extent (as much as you can with online learning!).

I am really enjoying my course, it does take time & effort, and it is mostly self study of the materials provided, so it's very different to an on-campus experience (I did my bachelor's in the traditional way). You have to be fairly disciplined and self motivating, but I have learnt so much and am finding it a great & rewarding experience.

Hope this helps someone else who is at the researching stage, as I was last year!

Eve

Reply 10

ControlAlt

Original post by polis.h

Thanks for sharing. What are your impressions after a few weeks?

Reply 11

Heskey09

In the same position myself. Looking at Herts, LIBF, Northumberland and York. The later two have some very bad reviews online but they distort the picture somewhat. A jump to a level 7 qualification does usually mean a lot more independent study. That’s at least what friends have told me.

Leaning towards Herts as I did my undergraduate there. Can can anyone shed any light on the maths element? Not my favourite subject but appreciate maths does feature heavily. Last studied maths at GCSE.