MSc Computer Science

Heriot-Watt University

1st in Scotland for Artificial Intelligence

Ranked 1st in Scotland and 6th in the UK for Artificial Intelligence in the Daily Mail University Guide 2026

20-96 months

8 courses total and a final project, 16-18 hours per week

£9,261 total cost

No application fee. Pay as you learn. All materials and assessments included

Performance-based admission

Successfully complete the first course to qualify - no bachelor’s required

Coursera Career Academy

Unlimited access to 500+ industry courses from global titans Google, IBM and Microsoft

Develop industry-relevant expertise for the next generation of technology and AI careers

Heriot-Watt University is the highest ranked university in Scotland (and second in the UK) for graduate outcomes (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024).

84% of our graduates are in employment or further education 15 months after graduation. 15.76% of our students have transitioned into CEO or managing director roles - the highest percentage found anywhere in the UK.

As organisations increasingly adopt AI technologies, graduates with strong computer science foundations and AI expertise are in demand across sectors. Career opportunities include software developer, cloud architect, DevOps engineer, data analyst, technology consultant, AI solutions developer, machine learning engineer, and AI engineer.

As an added benefit, all MSc Computer Science program graduates will automatically retain access to Coursera’s Career Academy, allowing you to stay ahead in your career with access to industry-aligned learning tools.

Develop critical skills to boost your employability

Heriot-Watt graduates are highly employable with 84% in employment or further study after 15 months, with many of our alumni holding senior positions in the tech industry.

Recognised professional certifications

The MSc Computer Science programme includes courses and professional certification from leading tech companies including IBM and Google.

Increase your earnings with AI skills

Professionals with AI capabilities earn a median global salary of £103,186 (Lightcast, 2026).

Connect knowledge with industry

Our School of Mathematical and Computer Science enjoys very strong links with the UK ICT sector, with more than 30 companies on our Industrial Advisory Board.

Applications for the January 2027 cohort are open!

Application priority deadline: November 30, 2026
Classes start: January 18, 2027

Upcoming events

Stay tuned!

Additional resources

Questions? Please do not hesitate to get in touch via hwoadmissions@hw.ac.uk
Watch the recording of the latest Admissions webinar
Watch the recording of the MSc Computer Science webinar overview
View the Programme Guide

January 2027 priority deadline: November 30

Don’t miss your chance to join the cohort!