Master of Science in Computer Science

Become the expert needed to design secure and performant computer systems for smart digitalisation in society and the industry.

Updated on
About the programme
Duration

2 years (4 semesters)

Language of instruction

English

ECTS credits

120

Start of studies

August every year

Flere studenter sitter ved et stort bor og jobber på laptoper.

 

Adoption of Artificial intelligence, and continued digitalisation, in both industry and society at large, requires increasingly complex computer systems. With a master’s in Computer Science, you become the expert needed to architect, develop, and deploy such systems and ensure their security and performance. 

Building on a bachelor’s in computer science, the master covers a broad range of more advanced topics, including network security and efficient data processing. You will learn to design and implement systems that utilize complex infrastructure, including the cloud, wireless networks and blockchain. Furthermore, you will also learn about the technology behind Artificial intelligence. 

The programme places a strong emphasis on practical skills, offering hands-on experience. You apply and extend your knowledge in programming assignments and course projects.  

You can write your master’s thesis in collaboration with industry, and participate in innovation and research. 

Revised information about career prospects, learning outcomes, study plan and course descriptions for the academic year 2025/2026 will be published on 1 February 2025.

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.

Learning outcomes

All study programmes at the UiS have a set of defined learning targets. Read more about the learning outcome for this study programme.

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.

Study plan and courses

Already a student? Find the full study programme description and study plan here
  • Compulsory courses

  • 3rd semester at UiS or Exchange Studies

    • Courses at UiS 3rd semester

      • Choose one course

      • Recommended elective courses 3rd semester at UiS

        • Discrete Simulation and Performance Analysis

          Year 2, semester 3

          Discrete Simulation and Performance Analysis (DAT530)

          Study points: 10

        • Data-intensive Systems and Engineering

          Year 2, semester 3

          Data-intensive Systems and Engineering (DAT535)

          Study points: 5

        • Information Retrieval and Text Mining

          Year 2, semester 3

          Information Retrieval and Text Mining (DAT640)

          Study points: 10

        • Blockchain Technologies and Application

          Year 2, semester 3

          Blockchain Technologies and Application (DAT655)

          Study points: 5

      • Other elective courses 3rd semester at UiS

    • Exchange 3rd semester

Academic 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 20 ECTS credits in mathematics or statistics

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.

Supplementary rules for admission (PDF)

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.

Supplementary rules for admission (PDF)

Application and admission

Student life at UiS

Student exchange

By going on exchange to one of our partner institutions abroad as part of your studies, you will have an opportunity to get a unique education. In addition to improving your career opportunities, you grow as a person and gain the ability to greater reflect on the topics you study as part of your degree. All about 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.

Frequently asked questions

Questions about the study programme? Find more information here.

What do you learn when you choose Computer Science?

Master’s programme in Computer Science teaches you the management, design and programming of computer systems. The ability to integrate knowledge and skills in security, reliability and scalability together with algorithm theory and statistics is necessary to respond to challenges in computer systems in all industries.

The programme provides a basis for work with the development and planning of commercial computer systems for various purposes. You gain knowledge and skills in network security, reliability of distributed systems, simulation and modeling.

What do you learn when you choose the Data Science programme?

Master’s programme in Data Science teaches you to extract relevant information from a compilation of large data sets from different sources. The ability to create, manage and utilize data has become one of the most important challenges for practitioners in almost all disciplines, sectors and industries.

Data Science provides a basis for work in data analysis and development of data processing systems for the entire data life cycle. You gain knowledge and skills in advanced statistics, data mining, machine learning and processing large amounts of data. The study will be highly sought after in the future labor market, with the development of smart solutions such as in smart cities, with smart energy and digitalisation.

Contact

Higher Executive Officer
51831747
TN ekspedisjonen
Faculty of Science and Technology
Faculty Administration TN
Kontor for utdanningsadministrative tjenester
Associate Professor
51832062
Faculty of Science and Technology
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science