Joel graduated from the University of York in 2025 with an MSc in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence. 

Having already transitioned into a programming, he chose York’s online degree to deepen his technical foundation and gain the academic rigour that self-study couldn’t offer. Drawn by the flexibility of online learning, Joel balanced study with work while broadening his career options across analytical and technology-focused roles. 

Why did you choose to study the MSc in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence at York? 

I wanted to develop a good foundation in computer science. I understand that I could have used online resources to do this, but studying psychology, learning research methods and statistics taught me that there are core aspects of a field of study that one needs to master to truly understand it. 

The danger of self-teaching is that you may skip these areas because you don’t understand how crucial they are. Self-teaching is great, but there’s something about the rigour you develop within academia that I’m drawn to. Within the context of computer science, I learned that area is algorithms and data structures. 

Where were the main reasons for choosing this course? 

The price was competitive and seemed to be flexible enough to meet my needs at the time. 

What were the benefits of doing this course? 

The flexibility of being able to study when you want and an online community of students in the exact same boat. I had already successfully switched careers and was a programmer before starting this course. However, even before finishing the course, simply adding the course in progress on my CV boosted the quantity and quality of attention I received from employers. 

What has the course changed for you? 

The course has opened my options much more than I realised. Almost any role which requires an analytical mindset is open to computer science graduates. It’s great for people who know exactly what they want to do and those who are not sure but want to maximise options within the context of analytical roles.