Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom
DEGREE TYPE
MSc
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 19,300 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* there is no application deadline for postgraduate courses
** international full-time study |£11,400: home full-time study. Additional fees may apply
Key Summary
Introduction
This course offers the knowledge and skills for designing, developing and operating secure IP-based networks. It offers practical skills in the specification, design, modelling and implementation of software and hardware. You will gain specialist knowledge of digital communications, multimedia communications, wireless networks and security issues. You will study the technologies of LTE and 5G wireless networks and the Internet of Things.
You can combine this course with management studies. The Management Studies pathway is ideal if you aspire to a management position in the industry.
Why choose this course
The MSc in Networking and Data Communications course provides you with the practical knowledge and a critical appreciation of the principles of data communications. You'll learn how to analyse a system and design an appropriate, custom solution.
A project/dissertation will enable you to study an area of interest in depth and gain valuable research skills. Your project is usually relevant to your career, so it provides an excellent selling point when you are looking for a job or promotion. If you are an overseas student, we will help you to carry out a project either based in your home country or that will be of specific relevance when you return home.
Plus, our industry contacts provide demonstrations of current technology for you to explore. We also organise vendor seminars to expose you to current and emerging technologies.
Many of our staff in the Faculty are research-active. This ensures they are in touch with the latest thinking and bring best practice to your studies. Computing research activities are focused around the following main research centres:
- Digital Imaging Research Centre – offering expertise in computer vision, medical imaging, visual surveillance, ambient intelligence, machine learning and computer graphics.
- Wireless Multimedia and Networking Research Group – The research group carries out fundamental and applied research on wireless communications and networking, media streaming and closely related fields.
Accreditation
This degree has been accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS), The Chartered Institute for IT. Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by BCS. An accredited degree entitles you to professional membership of BCS, which is an important part of the criteria for achieving Chartered IT Professional (CITP) status through the Institute.
The Network and Information Security degree (not with Management Studies) has been accredited by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) until September 2026, if you select the option module 'Mobile Security'.
Gallery
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Funding support for postgraduate students
If you are a UK student living in England and under 60, you can apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree on the government's website.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying Networking & Data Communications / with Management Studies MSc at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support:
- Inspire the Future Scholarship
- International scholarships
- Progression Scholarship
- Discounts for Kingston University alumni
- Kevin Walsh Scholarship
Curriculum
The full MSc course consists of an induction programme, four taught modules and a project dissertation. Please note this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.
For a student to go on placement, they are required to pass every module first time with no reassessments. It is the responsibility of individual students to find a suitable paid placement. Students will be supported by our dedicated placement team in securing this opportunity.
The full MSc course consists of an induction programme, four taught modules and a project dissertation. Please note this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.
For a student to go on placement they are required to pass every module first time with no reassessments. It is the responsibility of individual students to find a suitable paid placement. Students will be supported by our dedicated placement team in securing this opportunity.
Core modules
- Advanced Data Communications and AI
- Network and Information Security
- Advanced Network Systems and Applications
- Cloud Computing and Networking
- Project Dissertation
Professional Placement
The Professional Placement module is a core module if you're following a masters programme that incorporates an extended professional placement. It provides you with the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills in an appropriate working environment, and develops and enhances key employability and subject specific skills in your chosen discipline. You may wish to use the placement experience as a platform for a major project or your future career.
It is your responsibility to find and secure a suitable placement opportunity; this should not normally involve more than two placements which must be completed over a minimum period of 10 months and within a maximum of 12 months. The placement must be approved by your Course Leader prior to commencement to ensure its suitability. You will have access to the standard placement preparation activities offered by the Student Engagement and Enhancement (SEE) group.
Teaching and assessment
Guided independent study (self-managed time)
When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.
Support for postgraduate students
As a student at Kingston University, we will make sure you have access to appropriate advice regarding your academic development. You will also be able to use the University's support services.
Your workload
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 180 credits across a year (typical for a postgraduate course) would equate to 1,800 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
- 16% scheduled learning and teaching
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
How you will be assessed
Assessment typically comprises exams (e.g. test or exam), practical (e.g. presentations, performance) and coursework (e.g. essays, reports, self-assessment, portfolios, dissertation). The approximate percentage for how you will be assessed on this course is as follows, though depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose:
- Core pathway:
Year 1: Coursework 59%; exams 40%; practical 1%
Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. If your course includes optional modules, this breakdown may change to reflect the modules chosen.
Feedback summary
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
Class sizes
You will be part of an intimate cohort of 20-40 students which provides dedicated academic guidance and advice as well as the opportunity to build a life-long network of colleagues. Some modules are common across other postgraduate programmes; you may therefore be taught alongside postgraduates from other courses.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Boost your employability
Graduates from this course go on to work in management, engineering and computing roles, as IT managers or consultants, and have become academics. Our alumni have worked for companies such as British Telecom (BT), IBM, Spotify, Meta, Inify Labs, and public organisations such as the NHS, Digital Catapult, and Rail delivery group.
Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education
Kingston University is committed to promoting excellent cyber security education. As such the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment has established the Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education and Culture.
Careers and recruitment advice
The Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing has a specialist employability team. It provides friendly and high-quality careers and recruitment guidance. This includes advice and sessions on job-seeking skills such as CV preparation, application forms and interview techniques. Specific advice is also available for international students about the UK job market and employers' expectations and requirements.
The team runs employer events throughout the year, including job fairs, key speakers from industry and interviews on campus. These events give you the opportunity to hear from, and network with, employers in an informal setting.
Links with business and industry
To ensure your studies are kept up to date and answer the needs of business, our courses are created and reviewed in consultation with an advisory board of key industry experts and senior academics. The Board also provides input and advice on our research portfolio.
Members of the board are from organisations, such as Google, Microsoft, easyJet, games developer Colossal. The board also includes Chief Information Officers from local government. Our Advisory Board therefore represents the diverse spectrum of industries and public sector organisations that make up the jobs market for our graduates.
This course also has links with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), and Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
Academics and industry researchers are often invited to deliver talks to MSc students via the IEEE distinguished lecturer scheme. Invited speakers in the course are also often selected IET members. Students are encouraged to get involved in ACM activities.