When Prerana Kottapalli first joined Durham University, they were duly impressed by what they saw. A world-leading university, with a cathedral and a castle on a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of its campus. Globally outstanding teaching and research excellence, with cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art computer labs and over 1000 clubs, societies and teams make it a remarkable place to study.
“The year at Durham as a whole was unforgettable,” says the former Physics and Astronomy undergraduate major at the University of California, Santa Barbara. “The best parts about living in Durham are how pretty the city is, the cultural enrichment from the student population, and the many theater and arts activities.”
Living and learning here is a once-in-a-lifetime experience with no shortage of camaraderie, cultural exchange, and mutual understanding. The university is home to a unique collegiate system that allows for an exceptional student experience – you’ll have an inspiring place to live and learn from a choice of 17 colleges, all committed to providing support, challenge, participation, teamwork, and leadership opportunities. This is just one of the many ways Durham provides a warm and welcoming home away from home for international students like Kottapalli, who hails from New Jersey in the US.
“My goal before going to Durham was to pursue a PhD in astrophysics and continue in academia doing research,” says Kottapalli, who took the year-long MSc in Scientific Computing and Data Analysis (MISCADA). “I chose to study at Durham because the MISCADA course suited my needs at the time, and I was familiar with its strong Computer Science and Astrophysics programs.”
At Durham, Kottapalli was part of the thriving Department of Computer Science, enjoying its leading-edge study and the enriching student experience. The setting for this combination? A brand new, purpose-built building, complete with state-of-the-art equipment, labs, guest speakers, teaching spaces, and dedicated areas for student activities and enterprise pursuits. The department also holds the Athena Swan Silver Award in recognition of its commitment to advancing gender equality.
Many more factors contribute to the department’s reputation for excellence, particularly its Taught Degrees. Those pursuing the MISCADA, like Kottapalli, will learn to run challenging computations and data sets while gaining the professional skills to challenge modern scientific computing problems. Different specializations are available as well – choose between Astrophysics, Computer Vision and Robotics, Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Financial Technology.
“The MISCADA program allowed me to stay engaged with Astrophysics, while learning new skills in computer science that would aid a possible PhD, or prepare me for a career in the tech industry,” explains Kottapalli. “This way, I had flexibility in future prospects: if I stayed in academia, the skills learned here would make me a valuable prospective PhD student, and if not, I had the training to go into industry.”
Such progression is natural at Durham. The university is ranked fifth in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025, and the department is joint sixth place for student employability in the Complete University Guide 2025. An education here translates to excellent career prospects for its graduates, who go on to diverse careers in academia, business, and industry.
The MSc in Advanced Computer Science and MSc in Advanced Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) offer equally strong outcomes. Designed to meet the industry’s rapidly evolving needs, they include core modules in programming, artificial intelligence, algorithms, and research methods and ethics; all foster a deep and advanced understanding of computer science theory and practice. As the name suggests, the MSc in Advanced Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) has a greater focus on AI and machine learning, helping students develop the specialized skills needed for the field.
A broad range of other courses are available too including the new Scientific Computing and Data Analysis (Artificial Intelligence for Engineering) course which, like the Computer Science programs, has a strong focus on AI and leading technologies. The MSc in Business Analytics will benefit those looking to work with data more broadly and understand and predict the needs of businesses, while the Master of Data Science is ideal for those interested in the core principles of the field and its latest methodologies. Regardless of program choice, there are opportunities to pursue research under the guidance and mentoring of expert faculty researchers.
“Dr. Christopher Marcotte and Dr. Anne Reinarz, the directors of the MISCADA program, are incredibly supportive. They have weekly drop-in hours, where they will go out of their way to help you achieve your goals within your modules and beyond the program,” says Kottapalli. “As a queer, non-binary person, it was also really cool to have Chris, also queer and non-binary, as an instructor and mentor. We occasionally grabbed coffee and just chatted for some time, and they made me feel very welcome and empowered within and outside my academic life.”
Opportunities here extend beyond academic pursuits. Outside the classroom and even beyond campus grounds, you can enjoy a wide variety of activities – choose from over 1,000 student-led clubs and societies, ranging from sports to music, theater to volunteering, and even media and esports. For the adventurous, popular spots such as Newcastle, Edinburgh, and London beckon.
Kottapalli loved their time in Durham so much that they wished they were still living in the historic English city. “I liked the town’s vintage store and the walks along the river, seeing the seasons change. I miss the beautiful fall season the most,” says Kottapalli.
More vivid still is the memory of one winter day in Durham. It was during the first term and after a hard day of coursework. “One of my friends from Taiwan told me she had never been in the snow before, so I insisted we made snowmen and snow angels and had a snowball fight,” they say. “I think that epitomizes the kind of community that is available to students, the diversity in backgrounds you encounter, and the playground Durham serves for such fun times.”
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