Our MSc Computer Engineering is the first in the UK and provides a balanced perspective of both hardware and software elements of computing systems, and their relative design trade-offs and applications. It will build on your knowledge in mathematics, science, and engineering to ensure you have a sound foundation in the areas needed for a career in this field.

Laboratory experiences enable you to understand experimental design and simulation techniques. You will have access to unique computer engineering platforms including our:

Advances in technology are yielding smaller and higher-performance computer systems permeating into a wide range of applications, from communication systems to consumer products and common household appliances. Computer engineering encompasses the principles, methods, and modern tools for the design and implementation of computing systems.

Our School is a community of scholars leading the way in technological research and development. Today’s computer scientists are creative people who are focused and committed, yet restless and experimental. Our work is driven by creativity and imagination as well as technical excellence. That's why we are ranked 6th in the UK for research power in computer science (Times Higher Education research power measure, Research Excellence Framework 2021).

This course is also available on a part-time basis.

Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.

Find out what it's like to live and study at Essex from those who are already here.

Our research covers a range of topics, from materials science and semiconductor device physics, to the theory of computation and the philosophy of computer science, with most of our research groups based around laboratories offering world-class facilities.

Our impressive external research funding stands at over £4 million and we participate in a number of EU initiatives and undertake projects under contract to many outside bodies, including government and industrial organisations.

In recent years we have attracted many highly active research staff and we are conducting world-leading research in areas such as evolutionary computation, brain-computer interfacing, intelligent inhabited environments and financial forecasting.

We are one of the largest and best resourced computer science and electronic engineering schools in the UK. Our work is supported by extensive networked computer facilities and software aids, together with a wide range of test and instrumentation equipment.

Upon graduation, you can look for employment in:

• Heavy industries, designing advanced computer systems and control
• Hardware companies, designing and developing microprocessors, personal computers, and supercomputers
• Communication and mobile phone companies, designing advanced computer systems for communications systems
• Large computer and microelectronics companies, writing software and firmware for embedded microcontrollers, and designing VLSI chips, analog sensors, mixed signal circuit boards, and operating systems
• Embedded system companies, developing advanced computer systems, and mobile applications and phones
• Banks and businesses, designing intelligent distributed systems to serve their operations
• Computer games companies, designing advanced computer games

Our recent graduates have progressed to a variety of senior positions in industry and academia.

Some of the companies and organisations where our former graduates are now employed include Electronic Data Systems, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Bank of Mexico, Visa International, Hyperknowledge (Cambridge), Hellenic Air Force, ICSS (Beijing), United Microelectronic Corporation (Taiwan) and within our University.

We also work with the university’s Employability and Careers Centre to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Read more about computer science and electronic engineering career destinations here.

Our recent graduates have progressed to a variety of senior positions in industry and academia.

Some of the companies and organisations where our former graduates are now employed include Electronic Data Systems, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Bank of Mexico, Visa International, Hyperknowledge (Cambridge), Hellenic Air Force, ICSS (Beijing), United Microelectronic Corporation (Taiwan) and within our University.

We also work with the university’s Employability and Careers Centre to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Read more about computer science and electronic engineering career destinations here.