Computer science and informatics

Why study with us

Range of degrees

We offer a range of both specialist and conversion degree programmes to suit a variety of backgrounds whether you have knowledge of the subject from your undergraduate degree or are moving into computing from another discipline.

Paid work placement

Gain valuable work experience on professional work placements and projects with leading industrial practitioners.

Assisting your study

All MSc students will be provided with a laptop during induction week that will remain with you throughout the duration of your course.

I originally gained employment after graduating with an undergraduate degree from Oxford University, but I soon realised I was on a career trajectory that I hadn’t actively chosen. I decided to do a conversion course so that I could start afresh with more options open to me. I chose Cardiff because the course modules seemed more relevant to the skills I would need in the job market than other conversion courses I looked at. Also, Cardiff seemed to have really good support for postgraduates. This MSc has definitely opened up job opportunities that were just not available to me at all before taking the course.

Matilda Rhode, MSc Computing graduate

Our talks

School overview and welcome

Head of School Professor Stuart Allen provides a useful overview of Computer Science and Informatics at Cardiff, including how we support our students and some of the inspiring ways they contribute to the wider community.

Taster lecture: Artificial Intelligence: Computers vs People?

Join Professor Alun Preece as he takes you through a fascinating taster lecture exploring how AI can work alongside people.

MSc Software Engineering

Find out more about MSc Software Engineering taught at the National Software Academy in Newport.

Studying MSc Advanced Computer Science

Manoj from India talks about studying MSc Advanced Computer Science at Cardiff University, and what it's like being a student in Cardiff.

MSc Computing: A Student Perspective

MSc Computing with Placement student Teresa Bryant, talks about what it's like studying this conversion course with us, giving an insight into how she has gone from having little knowledge of programming at the start of the course, to being taught everything she needs to know.

International MSc Advanced Computer Science student

Kruthi Rajashekar from India is studying MSc Advanced Computer Science with us. She gives an insight into the course, and what additional support you can expect to receive, as well as the fantastic facilities and opportunities available to students.

I chose to study in Cardiff because of the open day. The atmosphere at Cardiff was friendly and inviting, the students showing us the university were enthusiastic about Cardiff, the facilities for my course were modern, and the labs were brightly lit, providing a good environment for study. Cardiff offers many career fairs to assist in getting a career, provides personal tutors to help with any course related issues and the high-quality teaching on offer by the professors.

Ian Cox, MSc Advanced Computer Science graduate

Postgraduate taught programmes

We are proud to cater for a diversity of interests, backgrounds and aspirations for graduates from the UK and overseas. As a School we have significant experience of running MSc programmes, both conversion and specialist.

Course	Qualification	Mode
Advanced Computer Science	MSc	Full time, Part time
Advanced Computer Science with a Professional Placement Year	MSc	Full time with sandwich year
Artificial Intelligence	MSc	Full time
Computational and Data Journalism	MSc	Full time
Computing and IT Management	MSc	Full time, Part time
Computing and IT Management with Placement	MSc	Full time with sandwich year
Computing	MSc	Full time, Part time
Computing with Placement	MSc	Full time with sandwich year
Cybersecurity	MSc	Full time, Part time
Data Science and Analytics	MSc	Full time, Part time
Software Engineering	MSc	Full time

Discover more reasons to choose us

Breakout room at the National Software Academy

Explore the National Software Academy

MSc Software Engineering is delivered at the National Software Academy; take a 360 tour of the building in Newport

Considering a conversion course?

Hear one student's experience of undertaking a conversion MSc with us in this blog, and discover other experiences from our postgraduate students.

Image of the proposed new Computer Science and Mathematics building

New building for School of Computer Science and Informatics

Our brand new purpose-built facility shared with the School of Mathematics will be finished this Autumn.

Stay in touch

Exterior shot of Abacws, the new building which will be home to the School of Computer Science and Informatics, and the School of Mathematics.

Feature staircase of Abacws, which is due to open September of this year.

There will be multiple pc labs in the new building with some being able to accommodate as many as 100 students.

Abacws has been designed in collaboration with students and academic staff to create interdisciplinary, flexible and creative workspaces,

Abacws features flexible lecture theatres and seminar rooms with innovative layouts to encourage interaction.

The new £39m building will pioneer a way of working for Cardiff University which embodies collaboration and shared vision.

The single six-storey building is situated on Senghennydd Road next to Cathays railway station.

Data Science Academy

A number of our MSc degrees are taught at the Data Science Academy which was established to respond to the demand for highly-skilled and employable graduates in areas including data science.

By working together with industry, we aim to expose students to a broad range of techniques for understanding data and use these to apply cutting-edge analytical methodologies to a range of real-world problems.

Find out more about the Data Science Academy

Postgraduate research programmes

We have a global reputation for our strong and dynamic research culture, along with dedicated, multi-platform teaching facilities.

Research in computer science and informatics

Conducting research in computer science and informatics is exciting and challenging and we offer you the opportunity to work alongside our research staff who are leaders in their areas of expertise.