Online MSc Computer Science with Software Engineering | Walbrook

Get your Master’s in Computer Science, the Walbrook Way

Study 100% online, from anywhere
- Graduate in as little as 1 year.
- Start within weeks with monthly start dates.
- Competitive tuition – £7,680 total.
12th in UK for employment and further study
- 89% of Walbrook graduates in skilled roles*
- Curriculum driven by emerging technologies.
- 24/7 online Careers Hub and job portal.
For professionals balancing work, home and life
- Study flexibly within a weekly structure.
- Flex between full and part-time.
- Built for digital from day one.

MSc Computer Science with Software Engineering online degree

Software engineering is the UK's second-biggest tech skills shortage (Harvey Nash, 2026). Meeting that demand requires engineers who can build software systems that stay reliable on foundations that last, while AI is reshaping how software gets built.

Why this master's degree?

Build the software solutions and specialist skills the UK's $1.6 trillion tech sector runs on.
For career switchers and engineers ready to master software engineering practices in the age of AI.
Developed in London, the UK’s largest and most dynamic tech hub.

Meet Prof. Alastair Irons, Academic Lead for Computer Science

Your online MSc Computer Science with Software Engineering at a glance

Location:

‣ 100% Online, distance learning

Start dates:

‣ Start any month from October 2026

Duration:

‣ Full-time: 1 year or 13 months

‣ Part-time: 2 years

Tuition fees and funding:

‣ Total programme cost is £7,680

‣ Secure your place by paying for your first one or two modules, depending on whether you choose full-time or part-time study.

Entry requirements:

‣ 2:2 honours degree and above (or equivalent) in a subject other than computing.

‣ Alternatively, you can apply with 2+ years’ relevant professional experience in one or more computing-related roles.

Tuition fees for your online Master of Computer Science with Software Engineering degree

Total programme cost
Full-time: 1 year or 13 months | Part-time: 2 years

£7,680
in total
You'll study 10x 15-credit modules and 1x 30-credit Research Project module in total (approx. 17-30 hrs/week).
Apply now
Cost per module
Full-time: 1 year or 13 months | Part-time: 2 years

£640
per 15-credit module
You'll study 10x 15-credit modules. Your final 30-credit Research Project module will be charged at £1,280.
Apply now

Total tuition fees: £7,680.  You can pay for your MSc Computer Science with Software Engineering degree per module, or in full before you start your studies.

If you choose to pay in full, you’ll receive a 15% reduction on your total tuition fees.

If you choose to pay per module, your payment schedule will depend on whether you choose full or part-time study:

If you apply as a part-time student, you’ll pay for one module upfront, then continue to pay per module before each one begins.
If you apply as a full-time student, you’ll need to pay for two modules upfront to confirm your place, then continue to pay in two-module instalments as you progress.

If you’re a UK student, you may be eligible for a government master's loan from Student Finance England for our online master's degrees. The Student Loans Company (SLC) will pay the loan directly to you after you start your studies. So, it’s your responsibility to make your module payments to us directly. Find out more about funding your Walbrook master's with a UK master's loan >
Want to see exactly when payments are due? Open the payment schedule for our next two start dates below.

October 2026 start date
- Full-time payment schedule – October 2026
- Part-time payment schedule – October 2026
November 2026 start date
- Full-time payment schedule – November 2026
- Part-time payment schedule – November 2026
Alumni receive a 10% tuition fee discount. If you’re eligible, our enrolment team can provide your personalised payment schedule.

Entry requirements for your online MSc Computer Science with Software Engineering degree

Every application is different. If you’re not sure whether you meet the MSc Computer Science with Software Engineering entry requirements, or you have any questions, contact us for advice.

To apply, you’ll need to meet the following entry requirements:
- A UK honours degree at 2:2 or above (or equivalent international qualification) in a subject other than computing.
Or
- 2+ years’ relevant professional experience in one or more computing-related roles.
Thinking of transferring institutions or have you studied before? You can apply to transfer up to 60 credits towards your master's degree. Please note that credits can’t be awarded for the research module of this programme.

These credits must be relevant, current, and aligned with the subject matter of your chosen MSc Computer Science pathway.
- Review our recognition of prior learning process.
- Speak to our Enrolment Team.
- Submit a recognition of prior learning form alongside your application.
Overseas qualifications may be accepted and will be subject to evidence of equivalency normally verified through ECCTIS (UK ENIC).
If English is not your first language, you’ll be asked to provide proof of your English language proficiency. Ideally, your test should be no more than two years old when your course begins. If your test is older, please still apply and our admissions team can review your circumstances.

Alternatively, you may be accepted if you have previously studied in English at an appropriate level and attended a recognised institution.

IELTS
- Evidence of a score of IELTS Level 6.0 or above with no element below 5.5.
TOEFL iBT®
- Evidence of a score of 79 overall (with 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 21 in writing).
Duolingo
- Evidence of an overall minimum score of 110 with no component score below 100.
Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English
- Evidence of a score of 170 overall, with 160 in each component.

My favourite part of studying with Walbrook is definitely the flexibility that the online degree offers. I think without that there wouldn't have been away for me to achieve this level of qualification. I haven't felt a massive change in my routine and don't feel like I have to give up much either to fit the studying in.

Dean Piper
Walbrook online degree student

I would say just go for it. I am currently in full time employment, so being able to study at my own time and being able to be in control of my own studying was really important, and Walbrook provided that as part of their online degrees.

Aleksandra Anastasova
Walbrook online degree student

MSc Computer Science with Software Engineering programme details

What separates software that works from software that keeps working, and where does artificial intelligence fit into how it all gets built? On this 100% online master's, you'll learn to build the reliable computer systems that organisations depend on, working through the full software engineering lifecycle: gathering requirements, designing software architecture, software testing, version control and continuous delivery.

You'll examine how AI is changing every stage of that work, from generating code to validating it, and build the practical skills to solve computational problems and develop software applications that are reliable, maintainable and built to last. You'll also learn to make the design calls that separate a good engineer from a great one, and work confidently with AI across the software development lifecycle. Throughout, you'll apply what you learn to solve real-world problems, finishing with an applied research project drawn from your own working life.

On this online MSc Computer Science with Software Engineering programme, you’ll study a series of carefully designed modules. With flexible monthly starts, you’ll join the next available module and study alongside a cohort of computer science master's students learning the same subject at the same time.
- Software Engineering
  Apply the software development lifecycle to build reliable, maintainable, high-quality systems. Use modelling techniques, software testing methods, and proven principles such as modularity and abstraction to make sound engineering decisions from the start.
- Principles of Software Engineering
  Engineer software for complex, real-world settings. Apply advanced practices including requirements engineering, software architecture patterns, version control, software testing, continuous integration, and quality assurance, while addressing cyber security, privacy and the professional and ethical questions that come with them.
- Artificial Intelligence and Software Engineering
  Bring AI into every stage of the software development lifecycle. Apply AI, machine learning and natural language processing to requirements, design, code generation, and testing, learning to check AI-generated code and weigh the ethical issues it raises.
- Modern Database Systems
  Understand how database choices affect performance, scalability, and reliability. Design and build relational and NoSQL databases, work with relational databases and document stores, and handle data management including access and transactions using industry-standard tools such as MariaDB and MongoDB.
- Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  Discover how AI and machine learning drive value across business functions, from forecasting to fraud detection. Use industry tools such as Google Cloud AutoML for data analytics, and weigh up the value, ethics, and strategy of putting AI to work.
- Information Systems Development
  Turn user and organisational needs into working web-based systems through hands-on web development, building with web technologies including HTML and CSS alongside responsive frameworks like Bootstrap or Tailwind. Explore the development lifecycle, user-centred design, testing, and version control to deliver software people can actually use.
- Computer Networks
  Explore how networks work and how data moves across them. Study architectures, protocols, and performance, and get hands-on with command-line and GUI tools to configure and secure the computer systems that connect across them.
- Cloud Computing
  Learn to design and deploy solutions in the cloud, where platforms offer computing on demand. Work with service and deployment models, virtualisation, and containerisation while weighing up the benefits, challenges, and security questions cloud platforms bring.
- Project Management and the Computing Professional
  Build the essential skills to lead computing projects and work as a professional in the field. Explore systems development methodologies, professional standards, and ethics, covering project planning, risk management, and stakeholder communication alongside the industry tools to deliver projects well.
- Research Development
  This module aims to prepare you for your applied research project by building essential skills in research. Review the literature, sharpen your research question, plan your methodology, and think through the ethical and professional issues in your chosen area.
- Research Project
  Conduct your own research in an area of software that genuinely inspires you. This final research project is where you bring together your technical expertise, analysis and judgement to design and build a solution to a genuine challenge from your own professional world.

Your module schedule depends on the month you start, and whether you study full or part-time. You'll study each module once, completing all taught modules before moving on to your final two modules: Research Development and Research Project.

Full-time students: start a new 8-week module every month.
Part-time students: start a new 8-week module every other month.

Module start date	Module name	Assessment details
5 October 2026	Project Management and the Computing Professional	1. Group presentation – 20% 2. Group report – 30% 3. Individual systems proposal – 50%
2 November 2026	Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence	1. Individual report – 30% 2. Individual assignment – 20% 3. Individual report – 50%
7 December 2026	Modern Database Systems	1. Graded discussion board – 10% 2. Presentation – 20% 3. Technical implementation and Query report – 70%
4 January 2027	Cloud Computing	1. Graded discussion board – 10% 2. Assignment 1 – 30% 3. Assignment 2 – 60%
1 February 2027	Information Systems Development	1. Individual written assignment – 20% 2. Design diagrams and narrative – 20% 3. Technical report with implementation evidence – 60%
1 March 2027	Software Engineering	1. Graded discussion board – 10% 2. Systems proposal report – 30% 3. System design report – 60%
5 April 2027	Computer Networks	1. Graded discussion board – 10% 2. Technical report 1 – 30% 3. Technical report 2 – 60%
3 May 2027	Principles of Software Engineering	1. Report - 20% 2. Requirements report and associate diagrams - 30% 3. Design proposal - 50%
7 June 2027	AI and Software Engineering	1. Presentation – 20% 2. Requirements report and associate diagrams – 40% 3. Critical analysis of case study – 40%
5 July 2027	Project Management and the Computing Professional	1. Group presentation – 20% 2. Group report – 30% 3. Individual systems proposal – 50%
2 August 2027	Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence	1. Individual report – 30% 2. Individual assignment – 20% 3. Individual report – 50%
6 September 2027	Modern Database Systems	1. Graded discussion board – 10% 2. Presentation – 20% 3. Technical implementation and Query report – 70%
4 October 2027	Cloud Computing	1. Graded discussion board – 10% 2. Assignment 1 – 30% 3. Assignment 2 – 60%
1 November 2027	Information Systems Development	1. Individual written assignment – 20% 2. Design diagrams and narrative – 20% 3. Technical report with implementation evidence – 60%
6 December 2027	Software Engineering	1. Graded discussion board – 10% 2. Systems proposal report – 30% 3. System design report – 60%
3 January 2028	Computer Networks	1. Graded discussion board – 10% 2. Technical report 1 – 30% 3. Technical report 2 – 60%
7 February 2028	Principles of Software Engineering	1. Report - 20% 2. Requirements report and associate diagrams - 30% 3. Design proposal - 50%
6 March 2028	AI and Software Engineering	1. Presentation – 20% 2. Requirements report and associate diagrams – 40% 3. Critical analysis of case study – 40%
3 April 2028	Project Management and the Computing Professional	1. Group presentation – 20% 2. Group report – 30% 3. Individual systems proposal – 50%
1 May 2028	Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence	1. Individual report – 30% 2. Individual assignment – 20% 3. Individual report – 50%
5 June 2028	Modern Database Systems	1. Graded discussion board – 10% 2. Presentation – 20% 3. Technical implementation and Query report – 70%

Final research modules

Module name

Assessment details

Research Development

1. Literature review – 20%

2. Project plan and enhanced literature review – 80%

Research Project

1. Thesis – 80%

2. Portfolio – 20%

Across your MSc, you’ll complete a mix of assessments designed to stretch your thinking, strengthen your communication skills, and bring your learning to life. Each module (except your final research modules) includes three assignments – helping you build confidence, test ideas and apply theory in more than one way.

Here’s a snapshot of the main types of assessments you’ll complete across your core modules.
- Technical report: produce a detailed, well-structured analysis of a technical problem, solution, or system, often with screenshots, code snippets, or configuration evidence.
- Design or implementation project: plan and design a solution (or document one you've built) using industry-standard tools and practices, from data models to system architecture.
- Case study analysis: evaluate a real or simulated scenario, identify challenges, and propose solutions grounded in computing principles and current best practice.
- Discussion board contribution: engage in structured, tutor-led online debates, demonstrating critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration.
- Portfolio: reflect on your development as a computing professional, capturing the knowledge, skills and competencies you've built and how they relate to your career goals.
- Ethics or strategy briefing paper: advise an organisation, client, or committee on a complex technology issue, balancing technical, ethical, and commercial perspectives.
- Presentation or video demonstration: explain your project or technical findings in a recorded or live presentation, sometimes paired with a live or narrated system demo.
- Research dissertation: complete an in-depth research project that tackles a significant computing challenge, presenting your findings, methodology, and technical recommendations in a formal dissertation.

How you'll study

Studying online with Walbrook is designed to be flexible and engaging, giving you access to everything you need to succeed:

Full-time students should set aside around 30 hours per week.
- You'll start a new 8-week module each month, so while you’re beginning your learning in one module, you’ll be preparing for assessment in the other.
Part-time students should set aside around 17 hours per week.
- You'll start a new 8-week module every other month, making it easier to fit your studies around work, family and everyday life.
Your self-study will include:
- Engaging programme content delivered via our online study platform.
- Case studies and applied tasks that link theory to real business scenarios.
- Preparation for assessments including reports, proposals and project work.
Our support is built around you and your success. From enrolment to graduation, you’ll have access to digital academic tools that help you study in a way that works for you, and people who are here to help.

You'll benefit from:
- Digital learning materials including key readings, videos, and research resources.
- Access to a digital library to support your independent research.
- Support to help you stay on track and direct you to the right teams when needed.

Apply to start your MSc Computer Science with Software Engineering degree this October

Applying to study an online master's at Walbrook is simple, and you can do it directly.

1. Check programme entry requirements
Review our entry requirements to make sure you meet them.
2. Complete your application online
Apply through our secure online application portal and upload your documents as you go.
3. Accept your unconditional offer
By paying for your first module (part-time) or first two modules (full-time).

Contact us about our online degrees

Any questions about our online degrees or studying at Walbrook? Our Enrolment Advisors are here to help.

Our office is open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 5.30pm UK time (excluding UK public holidays).

contact-image-enrolment-team

Career opportunities: MSc Computer Science with Software Engineering

Software engineering is the UK's second-largest tech skills shortage, behind only AI, with 24% of employers reporting a gap (Harvey Nash, 2026 Tech Talent & Salary Report). The same report puts the average software engineer salary at £70,000 and lists two software engineering roles among the fastest-growing tech occupations of 2025. Skilled software engineers are among the most sought-after professionals in tech, and this isn't a passing trend: 86% of employers expect AI to reshape their business by 2030 (World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Report 2025), and the engineers who can use AI well will be the most highly sought-after.

An online MSc Computer Science with Software Engineering degree puts you at the centre of it. On successful completion, you'll be able to engineer reliable software systems, make sound software architecture decisions, and bring AI into the software development lifecycle.

Lead Systems Architect
Average UK salary: £76,908

Lead Systems Architect: job description

Systems architects decide how software and computer systems fit together. They choose the patterns and technologies a system is built on, and making the trade-offs between performance, scalability and cost. They also set technical direction and document designs whole teams build from. The module on Principles of Software Engineering develops the architectural patterns and design thinking this demands, while the module on Software Engineering builds your grounding in modelling, modularity and choosing the right software development approach.

Average UK salary: £76,908
Senior Systems Reliability Engineer
Average UK salary: £65,435

Senior Systems Reliability Engineer: job description

Reliability engineers keep critical systems running – designing for resilience, automating deployment, and making sure software holds up as demand grows. They diagnose what goes wrong and build the safeguards that stop it recurring. The module on Principles of Software Engineering develops the testing strategies and software quality assurance reliability depends on, and the module on Cloud Computing builds your skills in deployment, containerisation and designing for scale.

Average UK salary: £65,435
Lead Software Engineer
Average UK salary: £78,253

Lead Software Engineer: job description

Lead engineers set the standard for how software gets built. They make the key design decisions, reviewing code, and guiding a team to deliver software development to a high standard of quality. They balance technical trade-offs against deadlines and increasingly decide where AI fits into the work. The module on Software Engineering builds your foundation in software development methods, testing and the principles behind software quality, while the module on AI and Software Engineering prepares you to bring AI into the development lifecycle responsibly.

Average UK salary: £78,253

FAQs: Why study for an MSc Computer Science with Software Engineering degree?

Yes. In fact, that's exactly who this programme is built for. It's a conversion MSc designed for graduates whose first degree is in a subject other than computing, so you're not expected to arrive with any software engineering or programming experience. You'll gain knowledge of the fundamentals of computer science and software engineering – including working with programming languages – building a comprehensive understanding as your confidence grows.

Our typical academic requirement for applicants is a UK second class honours degree at 2:2 or above, or an equivalent international qualification, in any subject other than computing. If you don't hold a degree but have more than two years of relevant professional experience, we will still consider your application.
Computer science is a broad field. It covers the theory and fundamental concepts behind computing: how systems work, how data is structured and managed, and the principles that underpin everything from databases to artificial intelligence. Software engineering is a discipline within computing, focused on how software actually gets designed, built and maintained to a high standard.

On this programme you get both. You'll build a critical understanding of computer science through core modules in databases, networks, cloud computing and AI, and specialise in key concepts of software engineering. It means you graduate with the theoretical knowledge to understand the field and the practical skills to engineer reliable software within it.
Our Computer Science with Software Engineering master's degree is a fully online MSc, built for digital from day one. There are no fixed lectures or timetables. You study around your work and life, accessing everything through our virtual learning environment whenever it suits you.

Online doesn't mean studying alone. You'll join a cohort working through the same module at the same time, take part in tutor-led discussions, and get academic feedback and career support throughout. With flexible monthly starts, you can begin when you're ready rather than waiting for a September intake.
An MSc in Computer Science tends to cover the field broadly – theory, algorithms, data structures and a wide range of computing topics. A dedicated MSc Software Engineering, like other Software Engineering degree programmes, usually focuses more closely on building software: methodologies, architecture, testing and delivery.

This programme is designed so you can develop expertise in both. It pairs a broad computer science core with a specialist software engineering focus through two dedicated modules: Principles of Software Engineering and AI and Software Engineering. You'll also complete a research project applied to a software engineering problem.
A MEng (Master of Engineering) is usually a four-year degree course that combines bachelor's and master's level study in one. An MSc (Master of Science) is a standalone postgraduate degree, taken after you've already completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree.

That difference matters if you're already working or have graduated. This MSc is built for exactly that situation: a postgraduate degree you can study online, around a job, whatever your first degree was in. You don't need an engineering or computing bachelor's to join: you'll develop your software engineering practices here at Walbrook.
Software engineering is the UK's second-largest tech skills shortage (Harvey Nash, 2026 Tech Talent & Salary Report), and employers consistently struggle to find people with the right skills. A postgraduate degree that builds both advanced computer science breadth and software engineering depth puts you in a strong position.

What makes it worth it is the practical application. You won't just gain theoretical knowledge – you'll apply it to real-world problems across every module, finishing with a research project rooted in your own working life. Paired with professional experience, it's designed to open up genuine career paths in a field where highly sought-after skills command strong salaries.
Salaries depend on your role, experience and location, so we can't promise a figure. As a guide, the average software engineer salary in the UK is £70,000, and senior and specialist roles regularly climb past £100,000 – architecture roles, for example, reach £105,000 to £130,000 at the upper end reaching £100,000 (Harvey Nash, 2026 Tech Talent & Salary Report).

A master's degree alone doesn't set your salary, but combined with relevant experience, it can help you move towards senior, specialist roles where earning potential is higher. The potential career paths from this programme include systems architect, reliability engineer and software engineering advisor, all of which sit at the well-paid end of the field.
Yes. You can complete this master's degree in as little as 1 year when you study full-time, depending on your start date.

A few full-time start dates follow a 13-month structure, instead of 12 months. When your final taught module is one that directly feeds into your research – like Research Methods or one of two modules directly related to your programme topic – we want to make sure you have the time to complete that module in full, before you move into your final research project.

We can confirm the exact duration for your chosen start date when you request information about a programme. Or, if you'd prefer to study over a longer period, you can also study part-time over 2 years.
Your MBA is delivered through an online study platform, where you’ll study either one or two modules at a time depending on your study mode. Full-time students take two modules in parallel (with a short gap between start dates), while part-time students complete one module at a time.

Here’s what you can expect:
- Weekly learning units to guide your progress
- Readings and case studies
- Videos and narrated presentations (mini-lectures)
- Online discussion forums
- Quizzes and tasks to check your understanding
You’ll have the freedom to plan your study time around work and life – but within a guided schedule that helps you stay focused, connected, and on track to succeed.
To get the best learning experience, you’ll need a reliable computer, internet, and audio setup. We recommend a laptop or desktop with at least an Intel i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and 500GB storage (Windows is our primary environment, though you can use Mac or Linux). A stable internet connection (5Mbps download, 2Mbps upload), webcam, and microphone are essential, and we strongly suggest using headphones for online sessions.

For smoother study, extra resources like a second monitor, noise-cancelling headphones, 16GB+ RAM, SSD storage, and an external hard drive are recommended. Walbrook provides access to the required software, though some programmes may ask you to set up a VPN. Our technical support is Windows-based, but you’re welcome to work on Linux or macOS if you prefer.
Yes – both home and international students are welcome to apply. If your first language isn’t English, you’ll need to meet our English language requirements – further information can be found in the 'entry requirements' section above. This 100% online MSc allows you to study from anywhere in the world, connect with a diverse network of fellow students, and develop the data science skills to excel in a global job market.

The Walbrook Way: Digital from day one. Designed for your career.

Graduate in as little as 1 year, or flex to part-time.
Ranked 12th for employment outcomes in the UK*
Total fees: £7,680 – pay in full or pay per module.

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