University of York

What you'll study

The programme is centred on an extended independent research project conducted under the guidance of an academic supervisor and advisory team. Students work on a topic aligned with departmental research strengths — for example machine learning and data science, security and privacy, formal methods, distributed and parallel systems, human-centred computing, or computational biology — and are expected to produce a substantial written thesis and undergo an oral examination.

Alongside the core research, students complete training in research methods and professional skills. Typical research training covers literature review and critical appraisal, experimental design, statistical and reproducible research practices, research ethics and governance, software engineering for research, and dissemination (writing for publication and presenting at conferences). Many students also attend regular research seminars, reading groups and lab meetings and may take selected advanced taught modules from the department to support their project, such as advanced machine learning, algorithms, security engineering, formal verification, human-computer interaction, or distributed systems.

Assessment is primarily by the final research thesis and an oral viva voce. Progress is monitored through milestone reports and supervisor meetings during the year.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally required to hold a good undergraduate degree in computer science, a closely related discipline, or a relevant taught master's. Typical offers expect evidence of strong academic performance (for UK applicants, usually at least an upper second-class honours degree or equivalent) and demonstrable technical skills relevant to the proposed research area.

Applicants must submit a research proposal or statement of research interests that matches departmental expertise, and will usually be asked to name potential supervisors or research groups. Relevant prior experience — such as project work, technical employment, publications, or coding portfolios — strengthens an application. International applicants must meet the University's English language requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates commonly use this programme as preparation for doctoral study; many progress to PhD programmes at York or other research institutions. Those seeking employment enter roles such as research scientist or engineer, data scientist, machine learning engineer, software developer in specialist teams, security analyst, or R&D engineer in industry, government laboratories, and research organisations.

The skills developed — independent research, advanced technical specialism, experimental design, scientific writing and presentation — are also valued in technical consultancy, product development, and roles that require evidence-led problem solving and innovation.

Why study at University of York

The Department of Computer Science at York has an active research community with groups covering AI and data analytics, security and privacy, formal methods, human-centred computing and systems research. Students benefit from close supervision, regular seminar series, and opportunities to collaborate across departments and with industrial partners.

York provides dedicated support for postgraduate researchers through researcher development programmes, access to computing facilities and high-performance computing where needed for projects, and a campus environment that fosters cross-disciplinary contact. The department emphasises research integrity, reproducibility and impact, helping students prepare outputs suitable for academic publication or transfer to industry.

Overall, the MSc by Research is suited to motivated students who want an immersive research year, strong supervisor support and a pathway into further research or specialist technical careers.