Frequently Asked Questions

No travel or contact sessions are required. You can access course content and study anytime, anywhere on a variety of mobile devices so you have the flexibility to earn a Masters degree at a world-class, Russell Group university while balancing your studies around business and personal commitments.

Yes, technology support is included in the programmes.

To make progressing through your programme easier, you will be instructed on how to access and use the online portal as part of your first module.

Tuition fees are set for the degree programme and are fixed for the duration of your programme. You can choose to pay in full at the start of your programme or pay pro-rata as you select each module. Module fees are calculated pro-rata based on the number of academic credits each module is worth. Each module is worth 15 academic credits, or a multiple thereof, to a total of 180 credits.

Tuition fees for the current academic year can be found on the tuition fees page. Fees for new starters increase annually in August. The University reserves the right to alter the level of fee.

If you’ve successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a ten per cent Masters fee discount.

You may be entitled to a Government-backed loan to help fund your Masters study.

You should be prepared to pay for additional items such as textbooks and PC equipment in order to complete your studies.

When you select your first module you can choose either to pay for your whole programme in advance, or to pay for each module separately.

You need to pay your tuition fees before the registration deadline for each module. Paying your tuition fees early will give you access to pre-learning materials and study skills modules.

You can’t access learning materials until you’ve paid your tuition fees. If you miss the deadline, you will unfortunately not be able to start your module/programme.

When you choose your first module you will decide how to pay for your course. You can either pay for your whole course in advance, or pay pro-rata as you select each module. You can’t change your decision later.

You must pay your fees online, using a debit or credit card. Alternative payment methods are not currently available.

  • Refunds will only be made after payment has been received.
  • If you pay-per-module, you have 8 days after module start to withdraw from your studies and receive a full refund of the tuition fees you have paid for that module. After this time period no refund will be made.
  • If you withdraw part way through the programme after paying in full, you will receive a refund for any modules not yet started.You will also get  a refund for the current module, if you withdraw within 8 days of that module starting.
  • All refunds will be made to the credit/debit card that was used to originally pay the fees online.

You’ll need to be able to access widely used software to complete the computer science MSc programmes. We’ll provide you with access to what you need through our Virtual Desktop or other online services. If you prefer, you can download and install your own versions where possible. There will be no additional cost for access to software or tools required for successful completion of this course.

You’ll need to be able to establish a VPN connection for the Cyber Security programmes. This (and access to the virtual desktop service) may be restricted by local legislation and practices in the location in which you are studying.

There are no specific technical requirements to complete this course though it is recommended that you have access to a PC or Mac that is five years old or newer running a supported version of Windows or Linux. You should also have access to a stable internet connection (min speed 1 MB/S), particularly if you are unable to download and install software.

In general there are no issues supporting overseas students, other than the usual legal issues around exporting encryption software to certain countries, and potential issues around “hacking tools” in certain countries.

In addition to paying tuition fees, you should be prepared to pay for textbooks for your online Masters programme. These could be e-books or physical textbooks.

Your programme comprises 180 credits in total, of which 150 are taught and 30 are for your own independent research project. Each taught module is worth 15 credits and comprises seven weeks of teaching and, for most modules, one week for final summative assessment. At the end of your programme, you will undertake an independent research project which is worth 30 credits and lasts 16 weeks. Your programme is designed to be completed in two years of part time study (18.75 hours per week), studying one module at a time. You will therefore study six modules per calendar year unless you take a break.

All of the teaching for your programme will be delivered through Canvas, an online learning management system. You will study one module at a time and each module will be made available to you at 9am (UK time) on the start date for teaching for that module. Each module is offered on rotation and your Student Success Coordinator will provide you with your schedule of modules and will also contact you prior to the start of each module to explain what happens next.

Within each module, you will participate in weekly activities which could include reading chapters from academic textbooks and journal articles and watching short educational videos, including micro-lectures. Depending on your area of study and the module learning outcomes, you will also be expected to participate in a variety of other activities including simulation exercises, reflective blogs, discussion forums with staff and other students, and analysing case studies. All teaching is asynchronous, so you don’t have to log on at a particular time.

To pass each module you will be required to submit at least one piece of summative assessment. You may also be expected to undertake formative assessments, which won’t contribute to your final mark but will help you develop the skills and understanding needed to do well in your summative work. The type of assessment you do will depend on the programme but may include essays, exams, and practical applications of your learning such as case study reports and computer programming.

Your programme is designed to be flexible, allowing you to take time out between modules if your other commitments are likely to get in the way of successful study. Your Student Success Coordinator will be able to advise you on how to take a break and when missed modules will next be available for you to take. Taking a break will extend the length of your programme.

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