Computing Systems, MSc

Programme description

Secure, high performance, and distributed computer systems are highly complex pieces of engineering, and this programme will give you the skills to design, develop and maintain them.

You start by going deep into the fundamentals of how computers work, all the way from the hardware up to the operating systems. From this foundation, you branch deeper into more specialised areas that are of most interest to you, with courses in areas like parallel programming, autonomous vehicle technologies, and cryptography. 

The emphasis throughout is on systems that have to meet real constraints. Systems that can work reliably and efficiently at scale and speed, remaining resilient to cyber attacks and potential failures to deliver services to millions of users. Knowing how to work with and balance these needs is what defines serious computer systems engineering, and that perspective runs through everything you will study.

You will take a hands-on approach, working on projects drawn from real industrial and research challenges, in teams that mix students from different specialisations and backgrounds. These projects might focus on digital health services, automotive engineering, telecoms, cloud security and more, looking at the kinds of efficiency and performance challenges that systems engineers at companies like Ericsson, Volvo, and Google face daily . These are not just theoretical connections: you may be able to carry out your master's thesis in direct collaboration with one of Chalmers’ many industry partners.

By the time you graduate, you will have the technical depth to work on challenging, granular problems, combined with breadth across the stack to understand how everything fits together.

Job opportunities

Graduates are well placed for technically demanding roles wherever systems need to perform reliably and securely at scale. This could cover roles in software development, systems architecture, and high-performance engineering, with relevant industries ranging from autonomous vehicles to cloud infrastructure and gaming. Distributed systems are another possibility, with strong demand across cloud computing, telecommunications, and the Internet of Things. If your focus is on cybersecurity, you could move into roles as a security engineer, penetration tester, digital forensics analyst, or security consultant, with opportunities across safety-critical fields like healthcare, finance or government. The programme also provides an excellent foundation for doctoral studies, either at Chalmers or partner institutions in Europe and beyond.

Research

Teaching staff in this programme collaborate actively with a wide range of industrial and research partners, including Volvo, Google, Microsoft, Saab and AstraZeneca, to name a few. 

In high-performance computing, Chalmers researchers are involved in major EU frameworks including the European Processor Initiative and the Digital Autonomy with RISC-V Europe project. Work in this area spans computer architecture, memory systems, interconnection networks, and reconfigurable computing.

The distributed systems and networks research environment covers areas like fault-tolerant systems, consensus algorithms, peer-to-peer systems, with project-level collaboration with partners including Ericsson and Amazon.

In cybersecurity, Chalmers conducts research across cryptography, language-based security, privacy-enhancing technologies, AI-assisted security and much more. The university is a member of Cybercampus Sweden, connecting it to a national network spanning academia, industry, and the public sector. When you graduate, you will be an attractive candidate for doctoral studies across Chalmers’ different divisions and departments, or at universities elsewhere. 

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in: Science, Engineering or Technology

Prerequisites: Mathematics at least 18 cr. including Calculus (at least 6 cr.), Linear Algebra (at least 6 cr.) and one of the following courses (at least 6 cr.); Discrete Mathematics or Mathematical Statistics or Probability Theory.
Computer Science and/or Computer Engineering at least 18 cr. including Computer Hardware (at least 6 credits in e.g., Digital Logic Design, Sequential and Combinational Circuits, Elementary Processor Design with ALU, Data Path and Memory, and Assembly Programming), and Programming (at least 6 credits in a general-purpose language e.g. C/C++/Java/Haskell or similar), and the remaining credits can be fulfilled by courses in programming, data structures, algorithms, computer networks, computer communication, or similar.

Preferable course experience: Basic Computer Organization, Machine-Oriented Programming, Principles of Concurrent Programming, Mathematical Modelling and Problem Solving, Finite Automata Theory and Formal Languages, Mathematical Modelling and Problem Solving, Functional Programming, Machine-Oriented Programming, Development for Embedded Systems

English language requirements: Prove your English proficiency

How to apply