This programme is designed for graduates with a degree in Computer Science or a related discipline, and a solid foundation in programming. It allows students to broaden their knowledge of cutting edge areas of Computing through the choice of options from a range of advanced taught modules. Drawing on the School’s international research reputation, you will have the opportunity to select from a broad range of advanced modules to reflect your own interests. You will also undertake your own software-development or summer project (which may be research-focused) to deepen your knowledge even further. It is essential preparation for a career in academic or industrial research. The final four months of the programme is spent on a summer project. Each project is assessed by the supervisor and a moderator. Taught modules are assessed in a variety of ways: summer written examination, practical assessment during the semester, or a mixture of both. The importance of project work, together with a very wide range of options, makes this MSc unusually suited as a preparation for a research career in computer science. Students graduating from this programme have usually developed a taste for working on difficult problems and look for a career where they will be able to apply their enhanced analytical and technical skills. Some students go on to a PhD, either at Birmingham, elsewhere in the UK or abroad. Other graduates move into industry, typically taking technically demanding jobs.