University of Tromsø

What you'll study

The programme is a two‑year master's level course of study that combines advanced compulsory subjects with electives and an independent master's thesis (research project). You will build on foundational topics and choose specialisms to match your career goals or research interests.

• Core topics: advanced algorithms and data structures, software engineering and software architecture, and formal methods for reliable software.
• Specialisation areas: machine learning and data mining; distributed and cloud systems; embedded and real‑time systems (including IoT and sensor networks); high performance computing; cybersecurity and privacy; human‑computer interaction and visualisation; and robotics/autonomy.
• Practical training: project courses, laboratory work, and team software development assignments that emphasise engineering practices, testing and deployment.
• Research project / master's thesis: a substantial independent research or industry‑applied project supervised by department staff, often in collaboration with regional companies, public sector organisations or national research institutes.
• Electives and cross‑disciplinary options: opportunities to take electives from other faculties such as physics, mathematics, or polar/environmental science to support interdisciplinary work (for example sensing platforms, data analysis for environmental monitoring or space applications).

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally required to hold a relevant bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology or a closely related field with a sufficient number of credits in computing and mathematics. Typical preparation includes programming, discrete mathematics, algorithms, databases and computer systems.

• Official transcripts and diploma showing a completed undergraduate degree from an accredited institution.
• Proof of sufficient academic background in core computing subjects; deficiencies may be addressed by taking supplementary courses.
• Proof of English language proficiency if your previous education was not conducted in English (accepted tests and levels follow university regulations).
• Some applicants include a brief statement of purpose and academic references; project experience or relevant work experience strengthens an application.

Career prospects

Graduates from the Applied Computer Science master’s proceed into a wide range of technical and research roles. The programme prepares students for both industry positions and continued academic study.

• Industry roles: software engineer, backend/frontend developer, embedded systems developer, cloud and distributed systems engineer, data scientist, machine learning engineer, DevOps/SRE, and cybersecurity specialist.
• Sector relevance: graduates work across sectors including ICT, maritime and offshore technology, energy, health technology, defence, space and environmental monitoring—particularly in organisations operating in northern regions where UiT has strong connections.
• Research and academia: many graduates continue to PhD programmes or take research engineer roles in university labs and national research institutes.
• Entrepreneurship and consultancy: the applied emphasis and industry projects provide a foundation for start‑ups or consulting work focused on software and systems for niche applications (e.g. sensor networks, autonomous systems, polar data services).

Why study at University of Tromsø

The University of Tromsø (UiT) combines strong academic research in computer science with practical, regionally relevant applications. The Department of Computer Science has active research groups in machine learning, distributed systems, embedded platforms and robotics, offering students access to supervisors and projects that address real‑world technical challenges.

• Research and facilities: access to modern teaching laboratories and research infrastructure, and opportunities to take part in ongoing research projects and collaborations.
• Industry links: established cooperation with local and national technology companies and public agencies, facilitating industry projects, internships and thesis collaborations.
• Arctic and interdisciplinary focus: unique opportunities to apply computing skills to Arctic‑relevant domains such as sensor networks, environmental monitoring, maritime systems and space technology.
• International environment: programmes taught in English with a multinational student body and staff, making it suitable for international applicants seeking an English‑taught master's in the Nordic research context.