Computer Networking with Project Management | University of Bedfordshire

Why choose the School of Computing, Engineering and Creative Industries

In the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2025, our computing courses rank 4th in their subject field overall; they rank 1st for support, student engagement and sense of community.

Our block delivery course structure gives you year-round entry points so you can tailor your learning to fit around your life.

Gain workplace-ready skills with our practical, hands-on approach and integrated project management units.

About the course

Computer networks and security systems underpin today’s digitally driven society, and there’s a high demand for talented individuals who can navigate them. Our two-year Computer Networking with Project Management MSc gives you an in-depth understanding of the field’s core principles before exploring rapidly progressing developments such as wireless technologies, advanced security and parallel architectures. With our focus on project management skills and real-world application, you graduate well prepared for a fulfilling future within the sector.

Facilities and specialist equipment

Contemporary STEM building with purpose-built facilities, including a high-tech CCNA Academy computer networking suite and dedicated computing rooms
Industry-standard software from Cisco and VMware to emulate the professional workplace
Bespoke lecture theatres, presentation rooms and group study spaces

Student experience

Learn from our industry-experienced academics with expertise in areas such as big data management, digital health initiatives and enhanced AI applications.

Explore specialist topics and ground-breaking new developments with our forward-thinking syllabus.

Our faculty’s active involvement in real-world research and consultancy feeds directly into the course delivery, ensuring you are kept up-to-date with the latest advancements in the field.

Expand your horizons with industry visits and seminars from external speakers.

Prepare for the workplace through practical experience and hands-on training.

Boost your lifelong career trajectory with integrated project management units and employment-focused skill improvement, including effective communication; critical evaluation; personal development planning; and understanding of key ethical dimensions.

Explore your interests with a specialist research project of your choosing.

Benefit from your own personal academic tutor.

Course Leader - Dr Sijing Zhang

Dr Sijing Zhang obtained his BSc and MSc degrees, both in Computer Science, from Jilin University (Changchun, China) in 1982 and 1988 respectively. He earned a PhD in Computer Science from the University of York (York, UK) in 1997.

Sijing joined the Network Technology Research Centre (NTRC) of Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in 1996, and he then returned to the UK to work as a Research Fellow with the Centre for Communications Systems Research (CCSR) of the University of Cambridge (Cambridge, UK) in 1998.

Find out more about Dr Sijing Zhang

Course Leader - Dr Sijing Zhang

Find out more about Dr Sijing Zhang

Course Leader - Dr Sijing Zhang

Find out more about Dr Sijing Zhang

Course Leader - Dr Sijing Zhang

Find out more about Dr Sijing Zhang

Course Leader - Dr Sijing Zhang

Find out more about Dr Sijing Zhang

Course Leader - Dr Sijing Zhang

Find out more about Dr Sijing Zhang

Studying our Computer Networking with Project Management MSc course will provide you with the technical and project skills for the field of networking and telecommunications. You will explore the roles of different wireless technologies in the context of broadband communications and pervasive computing in our Wireless Networking unit. In practical sessions, you will have the opportunity to experiment with network simulation tools and demos. In areas of business, you will critically review the design and implementation of network systems in the context of real-world business requirements in our Network Systems and Administration unit. You will also examine network technologies, managing and troubleshooting of network systems and emerging trends in the field.

Aside from this, you will be introduced to advanced computer and network security issues while deepening your knowledge of security principles, practices and techniques to deal with new emerging threats in our Systems and Network Security unit. Through an integrated approach, you will discover how leadership and operations management work closely together in contemporary organisations in our Leading and Managing Organisational Resources unit while analysing how this impacts financial performance. Based on contemporary research, you will evaluate the role of Project Management in a business setting as well as analyse key project management approaches and methodologies that will enable you to approach new projects and successfully complete them. Finally, you will complete an MSc Project in Computer Networking that will allow you to bring your acquired skills and knowledge together in practice.

You can take this opportunity to work on a topic of interest to you that is relevant to your field of study. To help you with this, you will be equipped with the skills and knowledge around Research Methodologies and Project Management that will prepare you to engage with scientific work, data analysis, establishing hypotheses and understanding research. To add to this, our unit in Developing Independent Research will support you in producing a good research proposal where you will learn to present your critical evaluations and conclusions to a professional standard. In addition, to prepare you for your career, our Personal Professional Development unit will support your career progression by enhancing your employability skills as you shape your own professional development journey and goals with help from our scheduled coaching.

The assessment strategy used is a balance of written Academics examinations (coursework) assignments in-class tests computer based assessment and oral viva. The method used will depend on the nature of the subject being taught in the unit and the most appropriate method has been chosen. Coursework assignments have incorporated formative feedback so that you can gain an insight into whether your work is meeting the necessary targets.

The feedback on your submitted assessments will be provided within 15 working days. The lecturers are expected to take every effort to provide you the feedback as early as possible before the next assessment if any. If you fail an assessment and need to retake or resit the assessment you can do so in the next available opportunity which is normally in the assessment week of the next block. If you fail a unit and need to retake this unit you can do so when the unit is run again.

Careers

As a graduate of this course, you will have gained practical skills much sought after in the business world. Career opportunities include IT and help desk support; network technician or administrator; systems analyst; systems or network designer; systems administrator; network engineer or architect; computer networking instructor; network infrastructure manager; university academic; and ICT teacher (after further training).

Fees for this course

UK

The total fee for a 2-year taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £13,000. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit gov.uk/postgraduate-loan

Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk