An applied master's degree is a two-year, 240 credit postgraduate course that offers you the opportunity to undertake a placement alongside your on-campus learning. The taught modules ensure you develop a well-rounded set of skills and knowledge in your chosen area, before you begin the placement element of the course and put your new skills into practice.
Our applied master's degrees include:
- MSc Applied Data Science
- MSc Applied Cybersecurity
- MSc Applied Computing
- MSc Applied Project Management
Why study an applied master's degree?
Postgraduate study can lead to a higher salary, quicker career progression and builds on the knowledge and skills you’ve already acquired in your undergraduate degree. But what are the benefits of studying an applied master's degree compared to a typical master's degree?
1. Real-world experience
The addition of a professional placement opportunity will provide you with experience of working in a real-world context where you can apply the academic knowledge and skills you have acquired on your course, and develop the abilities, skills, and behaviours associated with work at this level. If you study one of our computing-related applied master's degrees, you’ll be able to undertake a placement in an industry organisation (subject to availability) or develop professional practice projects, either working in our Digital Incubator, or on research-based projects with one of our academic research teams.
2. Opportunities to network with industry professionals
The strong employability focus of an applied master's degree means you’ll regularly interact with employers and industry professionals, not just through your placement but also through guest lectures and attendance at networking events.
3. Contextualise your master's project
Most master's degrees have a project or dissertation to complete at the end, and applied master's degrees are no exception. You’ll complete your project after undertaking your professional placement, during which you’ll have the opportunity to experience live and ongoing issues. You’ll therefore be able to apply what you have learned during your placement experience to your master's project, cementing your knowledge and potentially increasing your degree classification.
Further information
Join us at our next postgraduate open day to learn more about our applied master's degrees. Discover Sunderland through our Virtual Experience or chat to our students to find out what it’s really like to study at Sunderland.
Published: 13 November 2023