The field of Computer Science
Computer science is the study of programming languages that allow the computer to process and interpret a set of data in the form of programs. It enables the use of algorithms to manipulate, store, and communicate information in multiple platforms. A computer scientist studies the process flow and design software systems to facilitate it.
The best gripe of computer science is to understand how computer systems work and build a computer system to do as we wish. They’re also concerned with how computers store, process and interact with people and computers. With the advancement in software engineering, the key areas of study within Computer Science are artificial intelligence, systems and networks, security, bioinformatics and various other aspects of human computer interaction.
If you like STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) subjects and have a love for design, a degree in Computer Science is the program for you. You’ll be designing and learning all about algorithms and the ABC of system software and its functionalities. With a degree in Computer Science, you can get into various careers such as:
- Software Developer
- Database Administrator
- Computer Hardware Engineer
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Computer Network Architect
- Web Developer
- Information Security Analyst
- Computer and Information Research Scientists
- Computer and Information Systems Managers
- IT Project Manager
Top 10 universities for computer science n the world according to QS World University Rankings 2019
Ever wonder which are the top 10 universities in the world? Excel Education has extracted a set of data from QS World University Rankings and compiled a list of the most sought after universities that offer the best Computer Science program in the world below:
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America. Founded in 1861 in response to the rising industrialisation of the States, MIT adopted the European polytechnic university model and stressed laboratory instruction in applied science and engineering. MIT has kept pace with and helped to advance the digital age. In 2001, inspired by the open source and open access movements, MIT launched OpenCourseWare to make the lecture notes, problem sets, syllabi, exams, and lectures from the majority of its courses available online for no charge, though without any formal accreditation for coursework completed.
| Location | United States |
| Program available | Electrical Engineering & Computer Science Degree |
| Intake / Application Deadline | November (Early Application) & January (Normal Application) |
| Entry Requirement | The SAT or the ACT, as well as two SAT Subject Tests: one in math (level 1 or 2), and one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m)(no minimum or recommended scores). (IB & A-Level might not be considered as substitute examination) Enquire |
| English Entry Requirement | TOEFL 90 (Please note that IELTS is not acceptable) |
The indicative annual cost:
| Expense | Cost |
| Indicative Tuition Fee | USD 53,450 Enquire |
| Roughly Roughly Living Expenses (rent+food+misc) (rent+food+misc) | USD 19,710 |
| Indicative Annual Cost | USD 73,160 |
*Disclaimer: The fees are only indicative of what is displayed on online websites. For a detailed breakdown, contact Excel Education.
2. Stanford University, USA
Stanford University is another US private research university located in Stanford, California and founded in 1885 by Leland and Jane Stanford in memory of their only. Stanford is also known for its academic strength, wealth, proximity to Silicon Valley and Ranking as one of the world’s top universities by QS. Apple Founder, Steve Jobs used to hang out around there, it was mentioned in his biography. The university is organised around three traditional schools consisting of 40 academic departments at the undergraduate and graduate level and four professional schools that focus on graduate programs in Law, Medicine, Education and Business.
| Location | United States |
| Program available | Computer Science Degree |
| Intake / Application Deadline | November (Early Application) & January (Normal Application) |
| Entry Requirement | The SAT or the ACT is required for all undergraduate applicants. If no sittings of these tests are offered in your country, IB & A-Level might be acceptable Enquire |
| English Entry Requirement | TOEFL 102 or IELTS 7.5 |
The indicative annual cost:
| Expense | Cost |
| Indicative Tuition Fee | USD 50,703 Enquire |
| Roughly Roughly Living Expenses (rent+food+misc) (rent+food+misc) | USD 20,000 |
| Indicative Annual Cost | USD 70,703 |
*Disclaimer: The fees are only indicative of what is displayed on online websites. For a detailed breakdown, contact Excel Education.
3. Carnegie Mellon University, USA
Carnegie Mellon University is a US private research university based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1990 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical School, the university became the Carnegie Insitute of Technology and began granting 4our-year degrees in 1912. The school renamed as Carnegie Mellon University in 1967 through merged of Carnegie Institute of Technology and Mellon Insitute of Industrial Research. The university consists of seven disciplines covering Engineering, Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Science, Business, Information Systems and Public Policy, and Computer Science.
| Location | United States |
| Program available | Information Systems & Computer Science Degree |
| Intake / Application Deadline | November (Early Application) & January (Normal Application) |
| Entry Requirement | The SAT or the ACT is required for all undergraduate applicants. If no sittings of these tests are offered in your country, IB & A-Level might be acceptable Enquire |
| English Entry Requirement | Both TOEFL & IELTS are acceptable |
The indicative annual cost:
| Expense | Cost |
| Indicative Tuition Fee | USD 54,224 Enquire |
| Roughly Living Expenses (rent+food+misc) | USD 20,399 |
| Indicative Annual Cost | USD 74,623 |
*Disclaimer: The fees are only indicative of what is displayed on online websites. For a detailed breakdown, contact Excel Education.
4. University of California, Berkeley (UCB), USA
The University of California, Berkeley is a US Public Research University located in Berkeley, California. Founded in 1868 to served as the flagship institution of the ten research universities affiliated with the University of California system. The University of California, Berkeley is ranked among the top 15 universities in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (15th overall). The university is considered one of the “Public Ivies”, meaning that it is a public university offering a quality education that is comparable to the Ivy League.
| Location | United States |
| Program available | Computer Science Degree |
| Intake / Application Deadline | November (Early Application) & January (Normal Application) |
| Entry Requirement | The SAT or the ACT is required for all undergraduate applicants. If no sittings of these tests are offered in your country, IB & A-Level might be acceptable Enquire |
| English Entry Requirement | Both TOEFL & IELTS are acceptable |
The indicative annual cost:
| Expense | Cost |
| Indicative Tuition Fee | USD 46,170 Enquire |
| Roughly Living Expenses (rent+food+misc) | USD 18,900 |
| Indicative Annual Cost | USD 65,070 |
*Disclaimer: The fees are only indicative of what is displayed on online websites. For a detailed breakdown, contact Excel Education.
5. University of Cambridge, UK
The University of Cambridge is a UK public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. Founded in 1209, Cambridge is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world’s fourth-oldest surviving university. The university initially grew out of an association of scholars who left the University of Oxford after a dispute with the neighbourhood. The university has made it one of the most prestigious universities in the world after years of history and influence.
| Location | United Kingdom |
| Program available | Computer Science Degree |
| Intake / Application Deadline | July – October (Applicants from outside EU) |
| Entry Requirement | Both IB & A-Level are acceptable but you are required to be the top one or two per cent of your year group, and doing very well in the subject area you’d like to study. Enquire |
| English Entry Requirement | TOEFL 110 or IELTS Academic 7.5 |
The indicative annual cost:
| Expense | Cost |
| Indicative Tuition Fee | £32,214 Enquire |
| Roughly Living Expenses (rent+food+misc) | £10,950 |
| Indicative Annual Cost | £43,164 |
*Disclaimer: The fees are only indicative of what is displayed on online websites. For a detailed breakdown, contact Excel Education.
6. University of Oxford, UK
The University of Oxford is a collegiate UK research university based in Oxford. There is evidence of teaching traced as early as 1096, making it one of the oldest universities in the world. The university is ranked first by the QS World University Rankings as of 2019 and is consistently ranked among the top ten universities in the world. Oxford has educated many notable alumni, including twenty-seven prime ministers of the United Kingdom and many heads of state and government around the world.
| Location | United Kingdom |
| Program available | Computer Science Degree |
| Intake / Application Deadline | July – October (Applicants from outside EU) |
| Entry Requirement | A*AA including at least an A in Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Computer Science. Those taking Further Mathematics A-level or AS-level are expected to achieve at least Grade A. IB is acceptable. Enquire |
| English Entry Requirement | TOEFL 110 or IELTS Academic 7.5 |
The indicative annual cost:
| Expense | Cost |
| Indicative Tuition Fee | £34,678 Enquire |
| Roughly Living Expenses (rent+food+misc) | £10,950 |
| Indicative Annual Cost | £45,628 |
*Disclaimer: The fees are only indicative of what is displayed on online websites. For a detailed breakdown, contact Excel Education.
7. Harvard University, USA
Harvard University is a UK private Ivy League research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 and named after for its first benefactor, clergyman John Harvard, Harvard is the US’ oldest institution of higher learning, and its influence, and wealth have made it one most prestigious universities in the world. Harvard was ranked the world’s best university every year since the QS World University Rankings was first released in 2011. Harvard has produced eight U.S. presidents, more than thirty foreign heads of state, 62 living billionaires, 359 Rhodes Scholars, and 242 Marshall Scholars. Ever wonder why Harvard has held the top spot every year.
| Location | United States |
| Program available | Computer Science Degree |
| Intake / Application Deadline | November (Early Application) & December (Normal Application) |
| Entry Requirement | The SAT or the ACT, as well as two SAT Subject Tests: one in math (level 1 or 2), and one in science (physics, chemistry, or biology e/m)(no minimum or recommended scores). (IB & A-Level might not be considered as substitute examination) Enquire |
| English Entry Requirement | TOEFL and other proficiency exams |
The indicative annual cost:
| Expense | Cost |
| Indicative Tuition Fee | USD 46,340 Enquire |
| Roughly Living Expenses (rent+food+misc) | USD 33,674 |
| Indicative Annual Cost | USD 80,014 |
*Disclaimer: The fees are only indicative of what is displayed on online websites. For a detailed breakdown, contact Excel Education.
8. EPFL – Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne,
Switzerland
Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) is a Switzerland research institute and university located in Lausanne. Established in 1853, the university specialises in engineering and natural sciences. EPFL is one of the world-leading universities in almost all fields. The QS World University Rankings by subject ranked EPFL 8th in the world in 2019. In connection with research activities, EPFL operates a nuclear reactor CROCUS, a Blue Gene/Q Super computer, a Tokamak Fusion reactor and P3 bio-hazard facilities.
| Location | Switzerland |
| Program available | Communication Systems & Computer Science Degree |
| Intake / Application Deadline | 01 November – 15 December |
| Entry Requirement | Both IB & A-Levels or other equivalent qualifications with a final grade average 70 per cent or more of the maximum grade is acceptable Enquire |
| English Entry Requirement | TOEFL 95+ or IELTS Academic 7.0 |
The indicative annual cost:
| Expense | Cost |
| Indicative Tuition Fee | USD 1,275 Enquire |
| Roughly Living Expenses (rent+food+misc) | USD 24,000 |
| Indicative Annual Cost | USD 25,275 |
*Disclaimer: The fees are only indicative of what is displayed on online websites. For a detailed breakdown, contact Excel Education.
9. ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich) is a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) university located in Zurich, Switzerland. Founded in 1854 by the Swiss Federal government with the stated mission to educate engineers and scientists to serve as a national centre of excellence in science and technology and provide a hub for interaction between the scientific community and industry. in 2019, the university was ranked 10th in the world by Times Higher Education World Rankings 2018.
| Location | Switzerland |
| Program available | Communication Systems & Computer Science Degree |
| Intake / Application Deadline | 01 November – 15 December |
| Entry Requirement | Both IB & A-Levels or other equivalent qualifications with a final grade average 70 per cent or more of the maximum grade is acceptable Enquire |
| English Entry Requirement | TOEFL 95+ & IELTS Academic 7.0 |
The indicative annual cost:
| Expense | Cost |
| Indicative Tuition Fee | USD 4,700 Enquire |
| Roughly Living Expenses (rent+food+misc) | USD 19,223 |
| Indicative Annual Cost | USD 23,923 |
*Disclaimer: The fees are only indicative of what is displayed on online websites. For a detailed breakdown, contact Excel Education.
10. National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore
National University of Singapore (NUS) is a research university based in Singapore. Founded in 1905, NUS offers a wide range of Disciplines, including the sciences, business, medicine and dentistry, design and environment, law arts and social sciences, engineering, music and computing in both undergraduate and postgraduate levels
| Location | Singapore |
| Program available | Bachelor of Computer in Computer Science (With Honours*) |
| Intake / Application Deadline | December (Aug Intake) & June (Jan Intake) |
| Entry Requirement | Both IB & A-Levels or other equivalent qualifications with a final grade average 70 per cent or more of the maximum grade is acceptable Enquire |
| English Entry Requirement | Both TOEFL and IELTS are acceptable |
The indicative annual cost:
| Expense | Cost |
| Indicative Tuition Fee | SGD 37,550 Enquire |
| Roughly Living Expenses (rent+food+misc) | SGD 11,286 |
| Indicative Annual Cost | SGD 48,836 |
*Disclaimer: The fees are only indicative of what is displayed on online websites. For a detailed breakdown, contact Excel Education.
Choosing the best university to study Computer Science?
As an International student, employment opportunity is what you might consider when choosing a country or university to study abroad. Therefore, you should aim to study at countries which allowed you to work during or upon completion of your studies. This may not come as a surprise that Australia is one of the best destinations for Computer Science course. International students who have completed computer science degree in Australia are eligible to apply for post-study-work visa to further stay for another 2-3 years either to continue their studies or look for employments. Besides, Australia is also known as one of the best places for migration, great living experience international students with its diverse mixed of cultures.
Want to know more about international student life in Australia? Find out more here.
Can’t find a university in your budget? Click here to find the most affordable universities in Australia for international students.
Need help applying for a scholarship? Check this article out and you’ll be good to go: Tips on applying for a scholarship to Australia
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About Post Author
Michelle Phan
Michelle is a freelance content writer graduated from Curtin University with a degree in Communication (Commercial writing). Michelle loves to travel and enjoys walking by the beach. Michelle also feeds on psychology quotes and will give away just about anything to cuddle with furry felines.