Graduate Diplomas in Computer Science

Each Graduate Diploma is made up of six 15-credit modules in addition to a 30-credit final project module.

For each module, a full-time student would be expected to study 10-12 hours a week. At this pace of study, the Graduate Diploma could be completed within a minimum period of one year. Students have up to 5 years to complete so could choose to study only one or two modules a year.

View modules:

• Graduate Diploma in Data Science
• Graduate Diploma in Games Development
• Graduate Diploma in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
• Graduate Diploma in Mobile Development
• Graduate Diploma in Physical Computing and the Internet of Things
• Graduate Diploma in User Experience
• Graduate Diploma in Virtual Reality
• Graduate Diploma in Web Development

Download Programme Specification.

View Programme Regulations.

These programmes have two intake dates per year: April and October.

You can study this online programme from anywhere in the world. The flexible approach to learning enables you to fit your studies around your commitments whilst providing the academic rigour and structure of an on-campus programme.

Are you affected by US-imposed restrictions?

Our suite of graduate diplomas use creative interactive approaches delivered through Coursera, the world’s largest online learning platform, to provide immersive learning experiences.

United States export control regulations prevent Coursera from offering services and content to users in certain countries or regions. More information about which countries or regions are affected can be found on Coursera's website.

Coursera must enforce this restriction in order to remain in compliance with US law and, for that reason, we advise that all learners check this information before applying to the programme.

Study materials

We provide you with all of the resources and study materials you need to complete the programme successfully, including the essential reading for each module. You can access these through a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) on a range of devices. This learning platform is provided by Coursera, the world’s leading MOOC providers.

Our online learning resources typically include multimedia content, activities and exercises (e.g. multiple choice quizzes, reflective exercises and self-assessment questions), as well as facilities for you to interact with your tutor and fellow students. You’ll also receive access to an onboarding course that will help you get the most from your studies.

Online support

When you register, we will give you access to your Student Portal. You can then access your University of London email account and other key resources:

• The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) - Here, you can access electronic copies of all printed study materials, resources including audio-visual, and forums to discuss course material and work collaboratively with others.
• The Online Library provides access to over 100 million academic electronic items comprising E-books, E-journals, conference proceedings, etc. In addition, students can request items which are not held in the library via the library's Inter-Library loans service with the British Library.
• Senate House Library provides free reference access for all registered distance and flexible learning students.
• Access to academic support and feedback from London-based support teams. Tutors introduce the modules, respond to queries, monitor discussions and provide guidance on assessments.

Tutor support

All students receive tutor support and feedback while studying this programme. Tutors introduce the modules, respond to queries, monitor discussions and provide guidance on assessments.

Web supported learning: if you register for a module as a web supported learner, you join an online tutor group.

Teaching centre supported learning: if you enrol for a module with a local teaching centre, you receive face-to-face tuition. We work with several teaching centres in a number of countries and will recruit more to support the programme.

Student Support

We are committed to delivering an exceptional student experience for all of our students, regardless of which of our programmes you are studying and whether you are studying independently or with a Recognised Teaching Centre.

You will have access to support through:

• The Student Advice Centre – provides support for application and Student Portal queries.
• TalkCampus – a peer support service that offers a safe and confidential way to talk about whatever is on your mind at any time of day or night.
• Student Relationship Managers - a team of Student Relationship Managers (SRMs) are here to support and advise you throughout your studies. They aim to ensure that you are fully up-to-date with important and useful information about how best to complete your studies.

Time commitment

Study at your own pace, either part-time or full-time. Once you begin a module it is generally expected that you will complete it in the six-month session. Each module presents about 150 hours of study. Over a 22-week session, a 15-credit module will typically require five to seven hours of work/effort per week, and a 30-credit module will typically require 10 to 12 hours of work/effort per week.

Assessment

Each module, excluding the final project, includes a mix of assessments. During your study period you will undertake formative assessments, which help you to measure your progress but do not count towards your grade, and summative assessments Summative assessments do count towards the final grade. These include a mid-session coursework submission and an unseen written examination (or final project) at the end of the session.

Written examinations are held twice a year. You can defer sitting an exam once (subject to a fee) but you cannot defer the submission of coursework.

More about exams.

What qualifications do you need?

To be eligible for this Graduate Diploma programme you must have one of the following:

• an *acceptable bachelor’s degree; 
• an *acceptable master’s degree (or any other appropriately accredited Level 7 award) provided this is at least 1 year full time in duration; 

 Plus:

• GCSE Mathematics (Grade A – B) or equivalent.

Students currently enrolled on either the Graduate Diploma or the Graduate Certificate are eligible to also study a BSc award. This is subject to a new application, that can only be submitted once the student has completed all Graduate award studies and the final results have been provided.

*Please contact us if you would like further advice on whether your degree is considered acceptable.

English language requirements

You need to demonstrate a good level of English to be admitted to our programmes. We accept a range of evidence, including proficiency test scores. If you don’t have evidence but believe you can meet the standard, we may consider your case.

Do I meet the language requirements?

Computer requirements

As this is a technical programme, you will need access to suitable IT facilities. For this programme, you will also need a media player (such as VLC) to play video files. All students must have regular access to a computer (or mobile device*) with an internet connection to use the University of London website and the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). These are where the programme’s study resources are located.

More about computer requirements.

You may also require additional capabilities and software for specific modules, such as:

• Video and audio recording
• Programmer’s text editor such as Atom; integrated development environment software (IDE)
• Additional software: Xamarin and Games development; 3D Graphics and Animation, and Virtual Reality all use Unity3D
• Access to hardware: Android or iOS device; VR Head mounted display and a microcontroller like Arduino

See the programme specification for details.

The Programme Fees below refer to the October 2022 and April 2023 session only and are effective from 1 January 2022. These may increase by up to 5% per year.

The fees depend on whether you live in a developing (Band A) or developed (Band B) nation. See the list of Band A and B countries [PDF]

Important: the table below does not include fees payable to a third party, such as tuition costs payable to a Recognised Teaching Centre or fees charged by your local examination centre, or local VAT, Goods and Services Tax (GST) or sales tax.

Disclaimer: Currency conversion tool.

*The indicative total is a guide to what you would pay if completing four x 15 credit modules in April 2022, and two x 15 credit plus one x 30 credit module in October 2022.

More about programme fees.

Additional Costs

You will also need to budget for:

• Exam centre fees, which are paid directly to the venues where you sit your exams
• Tuition costs if you study at a Recognised Teaching Centre (if applicable).

How to pay your fees.

Please note: all student fees shown are net of any local VAT, Goods and Services Tax (GST) or any other sales tax payable by the student in their country of residence. Where the University is required to add VAT, GST or any other sales tax at the local statutory rate, this will be added to the fees shown during the payment process. For students resident in the UK, our fees are exempt from VAT.

Further information on Sales Tax.

Your payment provider may apply additional transaction fees (if in doubt, please check with them before making a payment).

More information about fee payment options can be found in the “How to pay your fees” link above.

As, upon graduation, you are expected to have a strong background in programming and good skills in at least one programming language, you will be a suitable candidate for most of the jobs in the computing industries that do not require a strong specialisation and/or significant work experience.

Jobs such as software developer, programmer, web developer, system analyst, database application developer, junior games developer, junior data scientist, etc. in areas including the technology sector, media industries, the health sector, transport, the financial sector, e-government, etc., are all open to you. Your skills will be equally suited to small start-up companies and large organisations.

As an alternative route, you could consider continuing your professional development with postgraduate studies in any more specialised field of computing.

To find out more about the career support available to our students please visit our Careers Service page.

In some countries, qualifications earned by distance and flexible learning may not be recognised by certain authorities or regulators for the purposes of public sector employment or further study. We advise you to explore the local recognition status before you register, even if you plan to receive support from a local teaching centre.

What do employers think of our graduates?

Academic direction is provided by the Department of Computing at Goldsmiths, one of the UK’s top creative universities. Goldsmiths' unique hands-on project-based style works for a diverse range of interests - from computer and data science to art and music to social science and journalism.

Its multi-disciplinary staff are actively involved in a wide range of innovative applications of computer science. Research and teaching includes computer science but also extends to more surprising topics, including computational art, virtual reality, computer music, digital sociology and education technology.

Without the cost of moving to London, studying for your University of London diploma anywhere in the world represents excellent value for money. However, there may be additional sources of support depending on where you live.

More on funding your study.