Computer Science - Master of Science Degree Programme


Study programme description for study year 2024-2025

Facts

Credits (ECTS)

120

Studyprogram code

M-DATENG

Level

Master's degree (2 years)

Leads to degree

Master of Science

Full-/Part-time

Full-time

Duration

4 Semesters

Undergraduate

No

Language of instruction

English

The master’s programme in Computer Science at the University of Stavanger is open to Norwegian and international students. With a master’s degree in Computer Science the door is open to some of the most challenging and interesting jobs in the field. The study programme gives a broad foundation within the field of computer science. This is an international study programme, and all courses are given in English. The programme is organised under the Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Programme content, structure and composition

The University of Stavanger offers a master's programme aimed at students who have completed a 3-year engineering degree in computer technology. The two-year master's degree in Computer Science comprises 120 ECTS.

The programme has practical courses that build on mathematics, statistics, and basic computer science courses from the bachelor's degree in Computer Science. The programme contains advanced algorithmic topics, security, networks, distributed systems, machine learning and data minig.

The programme offers a variety of study and learning activities, from traditional lecture series and exercises, project work, self-study and laboratory teaching to introduction and practice in the use of modern software.
Which teaching forms are used varies between different subjects and topics.

The following is described in the individual course description:

  • Forms of work and teaching
  • Evaluation Forms
  • Syllabus
  • Assessment

Using technology for a better world

The UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the world's collective action plan to eradicate poverty, combat inequality, and stop climate change by 2030. With a master's degree in computer science, you gain skills that can directly contribute to achieving these goals for a better world. ICT can be used to help with all the SDGs.

For example, ICT systems can help document, analyze, and streamline resource utilization. For instance, the sharing economy can contribute to more people using the same cars and houses, thus contributing to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

Cybercrime, including fraud and identity theft, is a growing threat. With a master's degree in computer science, you learn how to design secure IT systems, contributing to SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

For SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, a computer science program will teach you about the IT infrastructure behind today's and tomorrow's internet. In the master's program in computer science, you will learn about cloud technology, wireless networks, and the networks of future mobile phones like 6G.

The university aims to offer all the study programmes as planned but must make reservations about sufficient resources and / or students to complete the offer. Over time, it will be natural for the academic content and offering of courses to change due to the general developments in the field of study, the use of technology and changes in society at large.

After admission to the programme, you can apply for a part-time study programme. Alternatively, you can apply directly to a part-time study.

Learning outcomes

After having completed the master’s programme in Computer Science, the student shall have acquired the following learning outcomes, in terms of knowledge, skills and general competences:

Knowledge

K1: Have advanced knowledge in Computer Science including Cloud computing, security, networks, distributed systems, data mining and machine learning.

K2: Have deep knowledge in the subject areas’ scientific theories and methods.

Skills

S1: Use relevant methods for research and software development in an independent manner.

S2: Analyse and relate in a critical manner to different information sources and apply these to structure and formulate professional reasoning within information technology.

S3: Perform an independent, limited research- or development project under guidance and in line with established ethical norms for research.

S4: Exploit knowledge in wireless communication, sensor networking, distributed communication systems, data mining and machine learning.

S5: Design, model, simulate, and develop advanced network-based computer systems with focus on dependability and security.

General Competence

G1: Analyse relevant professional, and research ethical problems.

G2: Apply one’s knowledge and skills to new areas to conduct complex tasks and projects.

G3: Communicate comprehensively about own work and master the subject area’s form of expression.

G4: Communicate professional problems, analyse, and draw conclusions within the subject area, both with specialists and the general public.

Career prospects

Developers and researchers in Computer Science are indispensable in almost all industries. Some examples of businesses where they find employment: consulting companies, telecommunications companies, oil-related businesses, hospitals and other public agencies. We encounter digital technology everywhere, and researchers and developers in Computer Science are crucial in making information society and digitalization a reality.

A completed master’s degree in Computer Science provides the basis for admission to the PhD programme in Information technology, mathematics and physics.

Course assessment

Schemes for quality assurance and evaluation of studies are stipulated in the Quality system for education

Study plan and courses

  • Compulsory courses

    • DATMAS: Master Thesis in Computer Science

      Year 2, semester 3

      Master Thesis in Computer Science (DATMAS)

      Study points: 30

  • 3rd semester at UiS or Exchange Studies

    • Courses at UiS 3rd semester

      • Recommended elective courses 3rd semester at UiS

        • DAT535: Data-intensive Systems and Algorithms

          Year 2, semester 3

          Data-intensive Systems and Algorithms (DAT535)

          Study points: 5

        • DAT640: Information Retrieval and Text Mining

          Year 2, semester 3

          Information Retrieval and Text Mining (DAT640)

          Study points: 10

        • DAT655: Blockchain Technologies and Application

          Year 2, semester 3

          Blockchain Technologies and Application (DAT655)

          Study points: 5

        • ELE510: Image Processing and Computer Vision

          Year 2, semester 3

          Image Processing and Computer Vision (ELE510)

          Study points: 10

      • Other elective courses 3rd semester at UiS

        • DAT530: Discrete Simulation and Performance Analysis

          Year 2, semester 3

          Discrete Simulation and Performance Analysis (DAT530)

          Study points: 10

        • DAT620: Project in Computer Science

          Year 2, semester 3

          Project in Computer Science (DAT620)

          Study points: 10

        • ELE680: Deep Neural Networks

          Year 2, semester 3

          Deep Neural Networks (ELE680)

          Study points: 5

        • STA510: Statistical Modeling and Simulation

          Year 2, semester 3

          Statistical Modeling and Simulation (STA510)

          Study points: 10

    • Exchange 3rd semester

  • Compulsory courses

  • 3rd semester at UiS or Exchange Studies

    • Courses at UiS 3rd semester

      • Choose one course

      • Recommended elective courses 3rd semester at UiS

        • DAT530: Discrete Simulation and Performance Analysis

          Year 2, semester 3

          Discrete Simulation and Performance Analysis (DAT530)

          Study points: 10

        • DAT535: Data-intensive Systems and Algorithms

          Year 2, semester 3

          Data-intensive Systems and Algorithms (DAT535)

          Study points: 5

        • DAT640: Information Retrieval and Text Mining

          Year 2, semester 3

          Information Retrieval and Text Mining (DAT640)

          Study points: 10

        • DAT655: Blockchain Technologies and Application

          Year 2, semester 3

          Blockchain Technologies and Application (DAT655)

          Study points: 5

      • Other elective courses 3rd semester at UiS

        • DAT620: Project in Computer Science

          Year 2, semester 3

          Project in Computer Science (DAT620)

          Study points: 10

        • ELE510: Image Processing and Computer Vision

          Year 2, semester 3

          Image Processing and Computer Vision (ELE510)

          Study points: 10

        • ELE680: Deep Neural Networks

          Year 2, semester 3

          Deep Neural Networks (ELE680)

          Study points: 5

        • STA510: Statistical Modeling and Simulation

          Year 2, semester 3

          Statistical Modeling and Simulation (STA510)

          Study points: 10

    • Exchange 3rd semester

Student exchange

Schedule for the exchange
3rd semester

Students can go on a study abroad experience during the 3rd semester of the master's programme in Computer Science.Abroad, you must choose courses that provide an equivalent specialization in your field of study, and these must be approved before you leave. It is also important that the courses you are going to take abroad do not overlap with courses you have already taken or will take later in your studies. One tip is to think about your specialization and/or your field of interest. You must choose at least one non-science/technological course equivalent to 5-10 ECTS (e.g. economics, languages, ethics, project management, green transition or similar).

More opportunities

In addition to the recommended universities listed below, UiS has a number of agreements with universities outside Europe that are applicable to all students at UiS, provided that they find a relevant subject offering. Within the Nordic region, all students can use the Nordlys and Nordtek networks.

Find out more

Contact your student adviser at the Faculty if you have questions about guidance and pre-approval of topics: Sheryl Josdal

General questions about exchange:
Go to the exchange guide in the Digital student service desk

Student exchange

  • All countries

    Aalborg Universitet

    Aalborg Universitet (AAU) er kjent for å benytte seg av problembasert læring i grupper, noe som kan by på en spennende læringsprosess.

    Grenoble Institute of Technology

    Bli Erasmus+-student og studer i de franske alper i Frankrikes beste studentby Grenoble!

    Lodz University of Technology

    Do you want to study at one of the best technical universities in Poland? Apply to Lodz University of Technology (TUL) and enjoy a 70 years long tradition and experience in Engineering education!

    Politecnico di Milano University

    Politecnico di Milano er Italias største tekniske universitet med om lag 40.000 studenter og er høyt rangert på en rekke internasjonale rankinglister.

    RWTH Aachen University

    Er du på utkikk etter en spennende mulighet i Tyskland er RWTH Aachen University det naturlige valget! Universitetet streber etter å bli det beste tekniske universitetet i Tyskland og er på god vei til målet.I tillegg er de høyt rangert innen økonomi. Bli med på en del av reisen – bli utvekslingsstudent i Aachen!

    Technical University of Munich

    The Technical University of Munich, also known as TUM, accounts for major advancements in the field of natural sciences. TUM is one of the best universities in Germany and has several awarded scientists and Nobel Prize winners. The Technical University of Munich strives for excellent teaching and research quality.

    The University of Adelaide

    Universitetet ligger i Adelaide, Australias femte største by. Med sine 1.2 millioner innbyggere er Adelaide en trygg, kosmopolitisk by som er betraktelig rimeligere å bo i enn flere sammenlignbare byer i landet. Universitetet er medlem av Group of Eight, en koalisjon av de åtte ledende universitetene i Australia.

    University of Pisa

    Study at one of Europe's oldest and most prestigious universities - founded as early as 1343.

    University of Twente, Enschede

    Opplev Europa og det internasjonale studiemiljøet i Nederland. University of Twente er UiS` partneruniversitet i ECIU-nettverket og tilbyr utvekslingsmuligheter for mange studenter ved UiS. Det er et moderne og innovativt campus-universitet som satser stort på entreprenørskap.

  • Australia

    The University of Adelaide

    Universitetet ligger i Adelaide, Australias femte største by. Med sine 1.2 millioner innbyggere er Adelaide en trygg, kosmopolitisk by som er betraktelig rimeligere å bo i enn flere sammenlignbare byer i landet. Universitetet er medlem av Group of Eight, en koalisjon av de åtte ledende universitetene i Australia.

  • Danmark

    Aalborg Universitet

    Aalborg Universitet (AAU) er kjent for å benytte seg av problembasert læring i grupper, noe som kan by på en spennende læringsprosess.

  • Frankrike

    Grenoble Institute of Technology

    Bli Erasmus+-student og studer i de franske alper i Frankrikes beste studentby Grenoble!

  • Italia

    Politecnico di Milano University

    Politecnico di Milano er Italias største tekniske universitet med om lag 40.000 studenter og er høyt rangert på en rekke internasjonale rankinglister.

    University of Pisa

    Study at one of Europe's oldest and most prestigious universities - founded as early as 1343.

  • Nederland

    University of Twente, Enschede

    Opplev Europa og det internasjonale studiemiljøet i Nederland. University of Twente er UiS` partneruniversitet i ECIU-nettverket og tilbyr utvekslingsmuligheter for mange studenter ved UiS. Det er et moderne og innovativt campus-universitet som satser stort på entreprenørskap.

  • Polen

    Lodz University of Technology

    Do you want to study at one of the best technical universities in Poland? Apply to Lodz University of Technology (TUL) and enjoy a 70 years long tradition and experience in Engineering education!

  • Tyskland

    RWTH Aachen University

    Er du på utkikk etter en spennende mulighet i Tyskland er RWTH Aachen University det naturlige valget! Universitetet streber etter å bli det beste tekniske universitetet i Tyskland og er på god vei til målet.I tillegg er de høyt rangert innen økonomi. Bli med på en del av reisen – bli utvekslingsstudent i Aachen!

    Technical University of Munich

    The Technical University of Munich, also known as TUM, accounts for major advancements in the field of natural sciences. TUM is one of the best universities in Germany and has several awarded scientists and Nobel Prize winners. The Technical University of Munich strives for excellent teaching and research quality.

Admission requirements

A bachelor´s degree within the following disciplines is required:
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science, Informatics or similar with at least 50 ECTS credits in computer science/computer engineering

Applicants must have the equivalent of 25 ECTS credits in mathematics, 5 ECTS credits in statistics and 7,5 ECTS credits in Physics.

If you have completed studies/courses outside the University of Stavanger, you must upload course descriptions that have clearly defined curriculum (learning outcomes), together with your transcript of records. The course names and codes on the course descriptions must match the transcript of records. If you do not provide course descriptions, you might risk your application to not be prioritized.

The course descriptions should be submitted in English or in Norwegian, but a translation does not have to be provided by an authorized translator.

Admission to this master's programme requires a minimum grade average comparable to a Norwegian C (according to ECTS Standards) in your bachelor's degree. Applicants with a result Second-class lower Division or lower are not qualified for admission.

Contact information

Faculty of Science and Technology, tel 51 83 17 00, E-mail: post-tn@uis.no.

Study Adviser: Sheryl Josdal.