MSc Degrees in Computer Science and Information Technology

Postgraduate Programme Application Procedures

Research Degrees

• PhD or MPhil Computer Science
• MSc Advanced Computer Science

MSc/PG Diploma Degrees

• Advanced Internet Applications
• Artificial Intelligence
• Business Information Management
• Computer Systems Management
• Creative Software Systems
• IT (Business)
• IT (Software Systems)
• Software Engineering

Postgraduate Foundation Degrees

• Graduate Diploma in Information Technology

Students may also apply to study English to give them the English required and then take one of these postgraduate programmes.

Making Applications

Applicants to all Postgraduate degrees and to the Graduate Diploma in IT should complete the "Application for Postgraduate Study and Research" in either the

• hardcopy form
• online form

The hardcopy form is obtainable as a PDF file or from the address given below along with further written details on the department. Online applications are preferred.

Exchange students applying to us under an established exchange scheme such as Erasmus should agree a programme of study with our school's subject area coordinator, fill in and submit their own university's application form and then fill in and submit our exchange student application form.

All applicants should ensure that they

• demonstrate that they fulfill the admissions requirements
• provide complete address, e-mail address and a telephone number
• give expected source of finance - self, CDL, SAAS, parents, government sponsor
• supply 2 academic references or the names and addresses of 2 referees

Research degree applicants for MSc Advanced Computer Science, PhD or MPhil Computer Science should also submit a 2 or 3 page research proposal describing their intended field of research in Computer Science. This should normally be in an area of research of an academic in the Computer Science department.

Normally the following documents will need to be supplied in order for us to be able to make you an unconditional offer of a place

• 2 academic reference letters
• transcripts of programmes taken and their marks in the most relevant previous degrees
• degree certificates with the class of degree awarded
• certificate of English proficiency for non-native English speakers (IELTS, TOEFL etc)
• financial guarantee or deposit

Colour scanned copies of the whole of these documents may be attached to e-mails sent to msc-request@macs.hw.ac.uk in order to speed up the application process. We will inform you about seeing the originals.

Applications for scholarships are made separately from programme applications.

Processing Applications

Before making offers both referees will be contacted to seek references, if references have not been supplied with the application. Delay in receiving these references from referees is the most common reason for delay or a halt to processing an application.

No applicant will be considered for nomination for any kind of award until the applicant has accepted a conditional or an unconditional offer of a place on a postgraduate programme.

Information about accommodation will be sent to applicants who have accepted an offer of a place and fulfilled any academic conditions on their offer. Applications for accommodation should be made online with the Accommodation Service.

If you are an applicant to one of our MSc programmes from outside the European Union or EFTA, you will usually need a tier 4 visa to enter the UK to study on a full-time programme. If you are not a native English speaker, you will also need to prove your English level to both our satisfaction and to the level required by the UK Borders Agency. You won't need a JACS code or ATAS certificate unless you are applying for the MSc Advanced Computer Science.

Addressing Applications

Paper form applications should be sent to the Admissions Officer of the postgraduate programme in question at

School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences

Heriot-Watt University

Riccarton, Edinburgh, Scotland EH14 4AS