- Theory & Operation of Uncrewed Aerial Systems (COMP11135)
- Remote Sensing and Data Analysis (COMP11131)
- IoT Security (COMP11129)
Undergraduate
School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences
⭐ Professional Accreditation
University of the West of Scotland
MSc Advanced Drone Technology
An innovative, future-focused master’s degree designed to develop specialists in autonomous drone systems, covering flight operations, risk assessment, data analytics, and professional pilot certification.
Lanarkshire September January
Duration
1 year full-time (September intake) or 1.5 years full-time (January intake)
IELTS (min)
6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in each component)
Course overview
About the Course
The MSc Advanced Drone Technology is engineered to meet the rapidly growing global demand for autonomous systems experts, blending technical mastery with hands-on operational excellence through the UWS Drone Systems Laboratory.
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This postgraduate programme equips students with hands-on experience across the entire drone lifecycle, from flight operations and risk assessment to data assurance and custom analytics.
Programme structure
Course Modules
This programme is structured to build strong subject knowledge, academic readiness and applied professional capability through each stage of study.
- Advanced Drone Systems Integration and Design (COMP11136)
- Collaborative Drone Project (COMP11133)
- Research Design and Methods (COMP11017)
- Masters Project (COMP11024) OR Professional Development and Industry Internship (COMP11XXX)
Placement Opportunities
Career Opportunities
Step into high-demand roles in autonomous systems
Graduate Outcomes
HighHighly transferable skills across aviation, defense, robotics, and AI sectors.
Graduates are uniquely positioned for specialist careers in environmental monitoring, infrastructure inspection, precision agriculture, logistics, and urban air mobility. The cross-disciplinary skills…
What our students say
Key placement benefits
- Autonomous Drone Operations & Flight Planning
- Remote Sensing & Data Analysis
- Autonomous Systems & Embedded Software Engineering
- Cyber Security & IoT Protocol Protection
Placement providers
- Drone Systems Laboratory R&D
- Aviation & Logistics Firms
- Autonomous Vehicle Developers
- Infrastructure Inspection Agencies
Tuition information
Tuition Fees
2026/2027 Academic Year
Scholarships Available
£18,900 for the full course
£2,700 per 20-credit module
Flexible payment options and installations may be requested.
Enhanced International Scholarships are available for self-funded students.
*Tuition fees are subject to annual review. Values shown specifically reflect the structural framework for international postgraduate students.
English language
Entry Requirements
Meet the English language requirements for direct entry onto this programme.
6.0
IELTS Score Required
Minimum 5.5 in each component
Accepted alternatives
Other recognized tests
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TOEFL iBT
78 -
Pearson PTE Academic
54 -
Duolingo English Test
105
Equivalent recognized international English qualifications are also evaluated case-by-case.
Maximum Exemptions Available
Professional Relevance
Built for modern autonomous industries
Designed in tandem with leading industry partners to ensure direct alignment with the fast-evolving regulatory and technical landscapes of global drone technology.
Industry Pilot Standards
General Visual Line of Sight (GVLOS) Certification Alignment
Provides graduates with commercial operational credentials highly valued by global employers.
Certain international students may require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate prior to commencing studies.
Official admissions guidance
Academic Entry Requirements
Applicants should normally hold an Honours degree (2.2 or above) in Computing, Engineering, or a closely related discipline. Applicants with relevant academic, vocational, or at least two years of industrial experience in an IT role are considered on an individual case-by-case basis.
Our admissions advisors are ready to review your global qualifications and provide a clear eligibility assessment.
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