1. Overview

Course:	Master of Computer Science (advanced entry) (Research Pathway) (2025)
CP Required:	96
Min FT Duration:	2.00 Years
Min PT Duration:	N/A
Faculty/School:	Faculty of Engineering
Years Offered:	2025, 2024

2. Requirements

Summary

Students must complete 96 credit points as follows:

► A maximum 30 credit points of Foundation units

► 18 credit points of Core units

► A minimum 24 credit points of Specialist units

► A maximum 12 credit points of Elective units

► 12 credit points of Capstone Pathway units, OR

► 24 credit points of Research Pathway units, OR

► 24 credit points of Work Integrated Pathway units

The completion of a specialisation is not mandatory. If a student chooses to do a specialisation, it must be completed within the Specialist units credit points described above. Units of study counted towards one specialisation may not count toward any other specialisation completed.

Candidates in the Master of Computer Science (advanced entry) stream may complete a maximum of two specialisations.

University Handbook

Refer to the university handbook at http://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/ for more information.

3. Semesters

Note: Research Pathway | Important information

Students can view all available specialisations under the `Major/Pathways` tab. We strongly recommend that students complete their Foundation units before enrolling in specialisation units.

The Specialist units chosen may contribute towards a designated Specialisation. See the Majors/Pathways tab for details of each Specialisation.

Students who have completed a minimum of 48 credit points with at least Distinction average marks may take the Research Pathway.

In addition to this page, students should refer to the resources available on the School of Computer Science Canvas page https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/15961/pages/master-of-computer-science-mcs-2

This includes details on academic advising and a link to FAQs specifically for Master of Computer Science students, including those pursuing a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma.

4. Pathways

1. Algorithms and Theory Specialisation

Type	CP	CP From
Computer Science Specialist units	24	Select from COMP5045: Computational Geometry COMP5270: Randomised and Advanced Algorithms COMP5530: Discrete Optimisation CSYS5030: Information Theory and Self-Organisation

2. Cybersecurity Specialisation

Type	CP	CP From
Computer Science Specialist units	24	Select from COMP5618: Applied Cybersecurity CSEC5614: Data Privacy: Theory and Practice CSEC5616: Cybersecurity Engineering INFO5301: Information Security Management

3. Data Science and AI Specialisation

Type	CP	CP From
Computer Science Specialist units	24	Select from COMP5310: Principles of Data Science COMP5318: Machine Learning and Data Mining COMP5339: Data Engineering STAT5003: Computational Statistical Methods

4. Digital Media Specialisation

Type	CP	CP From
Computer Science Specialist units	24	Select from COMP5405: Digital Media Computing COMP5415: Multimedia Design and Authoring COMP5425: Multimedia Retrieval COMP5427: Usability Engineering

5. Human-Computer Interaction Specialisation

Type	CP	CP From
Computer Science Specialist units	24	Select from COMP5047: Pervasive Computing COMP5048: Visual Analytics COMP5427: Usability Engineering IDEA9106: Design Thinking

6. Networks and Distributed Systems Specialisation

Type	CP	CP From
Computer Science Specialist units	24	Select from COMP5216: Mobile Computing COMP5313: Large Scale Networks COMP5416: Advanced Network Technologies COMP5426: Parallel and Distributed Computing

7. Software Engineering Specialisation

Type	CP	CP From
Computer Science Specialist units	24	Select from COMP5347: Web Application Development COMP5348: Enterprise Scale Software Architecture ELEC5618: Software Quality Engineering ELEC5620: Model Based Software Engineering

8. Computer Science Specialist Units (unspecified specialisation)

Type	CP	CP From
Computer Science Specialist units	24	Select from COMP5045: Computational Geometry COMP5046: Natural Language Processing COMP5047: Pervasive Computing COMP5216: Mobile Computing COMP5270: Randomised and Advanced Algorithms COMP5313: Large Scale Networks COMP5318: Machine Learning and Data Mining COMP5339: Data Engineering COMP5347: Web Application Development COMP5348: Enterprise Scale Software Architecture COMP5349: Cloud Computing COMP5405: Digital Media Computing COMP5415: Multimedia Design and Authoring COMP5416: Advanced Network Technologies COMP5425: Multimedia Retrieval COMP5426: Parallel and Distributed Computing COMP5427: Usability Engineering COMP5530: Discrete Optimisation COMP5618: Applied Cybersecurity CSEC5614: Data Privacy: Theory and Practice CSYS5030: Information Theory and Self-Organisation ELEC5618: Software Quality Engineering ELEC5620: Model Based Software Engineering IDEA9106: Design Thinking INFO5301: Information Security Management STAT5003: Computational Statistical Methods

5. Unit Blocks

Block 1 - Computer Science Core units (Min CP: 18,Max CP: 18)

Unit Code	Unit Name	CP	Sessions Offered
INFO5990	Professional Practice in IT	6	Semester 1 Semester 2
INFO5992	Understanding IT Innovations	6	Semester 1 Semester 2
INFO6007	Project Management in IT	6	Semester 1 Semester 2

Block 2 - Computer Science Foundation units (Max CP: 30)

Unit Code	Unit Name	CP	Sessions Offered
COMP9001	Introduction to Programming	6	Semester 1 Semester 2
COMP9003	Object-Oriented Programming	6	Semester 1 Semester 2
COMP9017	Systems Programming	6	Semester 1
COMP9110	System Analysis and Modelling	6	Semester 1
COMP9120	Database Management Systems	6	Semester 1 Semester 2
COMP9121	Design of Networks & Distributed Systems	6	Semester 2
COMP9123	Data Structures and Algorithms	6	Semester 1 Semester 2
COMP9201	Software Construction and Design 1	6	Semester 2
COMP9601	Computer and Network Organisation	6	Semester 1
STAT5002	Introduction to Statistics	6	Semester 1 Semester 2

Block 3 - Computer Science Specialist units (Min CP: 24,Max CP: 66)

Unit Code	Unit Name	CP	Sessions Offered
COMP5045	Computational Geometry	6	Semester 1
COMP5046	Natural Language Processing	6	Semester 1
COMP5047	Pervasive Computing	6	Semester 2
COMP5048	Visual Analytics	6	Semester 1 Semester 2
COMP5216	Mobile Computing	6	Semester 2
COMP5270	Randomised and Advanced Algorithms	6	Semester 1
COMP5310	Principles of Data Science	6	Semester 1 Semester 2
COMP5313	Large Scale Networks	6	Semester 1
COMP5318	Machine Learning and Data Mining	6	Semester 1 Semester 2
COMP5339	Data Engineering	6	Semester 1 Semester 2
COMP5347	Web Application Development	6	Semester 1
COMP5348	Enterprise Scale Software Architecture	6	Semester 2
COMP5349	Cloud Computing	6	Semester 1
COMP5405	Digital Media Computing	6	Semester 1
COMP5415	Multimedia Design and Authoring	6	Semester 2
COMP5416	Advanced Network Technologies	6	Semester 2
COMP5425	Multimedia Retrieval	6	Semester 1
COMP5426	Parallel and Distributed Computing	6	Semester 1
COMP5427	Usability Engineering	6	Semester 1
COMP5530	Discrete Optimisation	6	Semester 2
COMP5618	Applied Cybersecurity	6	Semester 2
CSEC5614	Data Privacy: Theory and Practice	6	Semester 2
CSEC5616	Cybersecurity Engineering	6	Semester 1 Semester 2
CSYS5030	Information Theory and Self-Organisation	6	Semester 2
ELEC5618	Software Quality Engineering	6	Semester 1
ELEC5620	Model Based Software Engineering	6	Semester 2
IDEA9106	Design Thinking	6	Semester 1 Semester 2
INFO5301	Information Security Management	6	Semester 1 Semester 2
STAT5003	Computational Statistical Methods	6	Semester 1 Semester 2

Note: The Specialist units chosen may contribute towards a designated Specialisation. See the Majors/Pathways tab for details of each Specialisation.

In your enrolment portal, please choose the 24cp of Specialisation units from the relevant specialisation collection.

Block 4 - Computer Science Elective units (Max CP: 12)

Unit Code	Unit Name	CP	Sessions Offered
CISS6022	Cybersecurity	6	Semester 2
DATA5207	Data Analysis in the Social Sciences	6	Semester 1 Int December
ELEC5507	Error Control Coding	6	Semester 1
ELEC5508	Wireless Engineering	6	Semester 2
ELEC5509	Mobile Networks	6	Semester 1
ELEC5510	Satellite Communication Systems	6	Semester 2
ELEC5514	IoT Wireless Sensing and Networking	6	Semester 2
ELEC5517	Software Defined Networks	6	Semester 2
ELEC5619	Object Oriented Application Frameworks	6	Semester 2
INFO5010	IT Advanced Topic A	6	Semester 1 Semester 2
INFO5011	IT Advanced Topic B	6	Semester 1 Semester 2

Block 5 - Computer Science Research units (Min CP: 24,Max CP: 24)

Unit Code	Unit Name	CP	Sessions Offered
COMP5702	IT Research Project A	12	Semester 1 Semester 2
COMP5704	IT Research Project B	6	Semester 1 Semester 2
INFO5993	IT Research Methods	6	Semester 1 Semester 2

Note: Research Pathway Units

Students who have completed a minimum of 48 credit points with at least Distinction average marks may take the Research Pathway.

Candidates in the Research Pathway must take all 24 credit points of the Research Pathway units of study (COMP5702, COMP5704 and INFO5993).

Candidates who choose the Research Pathway will be required to undertake a project in an area related to the specialisation.