Entry requirementsTo enter the course you need to have one of the following: * a good Honours degree or an equivalent qualification in a computing discipline * a relevant professional qualification of equivalent standard, eg BCS Professional Graduate Diploma, CEng, CIM Diploma * an unclassified degree plus at least two years further study or professional experience If you have no formal qualifications but have professional business or industrial experience, we will consider your application on its merits. If English is not your first language, you must also have English Language at IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 250, or equivalent.
Academic titleMaster in Science Computer Science
Course descriptionThis course is designed to augment and expand the knowledge and skills of computer science and information technology graduates and to allow them to specialise in one emerging area of the subject.
On completion of this course and depending upon your choice of options, you will be able to do some of the following:
All students will develop a sound capability to carry out research, either in a commercial organisation or as part of an academic career.
You may choose freely from the modules on offer but we recommend you consider following one of four pathways.
* The first is in Applied Software Engineering where you will specialise in data modelling, object-oriented design methods, and real-time systems.
* The second is in Advanced Information Systems where the emphasis is on comparative systems development methodologies, knowledge-based systems and object-oriented systems design.
* The third area is E-commerce and Multimedia where you will study internet security, multimedia design methods, and client/serve architectures.
* The fourth area is Computer Networks where you may focus on management issues, including Internet security, or on problems of distributed systems.
Course content
This course has two parts, the Taught Modules and Master Project.
Successful completion of the taught modules, which involves eight single modules of study, leads to the award of Postgraduate Diploma and, if the appropriate performance is achieved, allows progression onto the Masters Project.
Taught Modules
* Computer Architectures and Principles (double)
* Internet Systems Development (double)
* Research Methods
Plus four single modules that can be chosen from a wide range of options available to allow individuals to tailor their programme to meet specific needs and interests.
Master Project
The final stage of this course requires the completion of a master’s project, which must relate directly to the subject being studied. To complete this successfully students will develop a sound capability to carry out research. The project can be conducted either as a placement in an external organisation or working with one of the University research groups.
The MSc project serves to integrate, apply and further develop the different aspects within the taught part of the programme.
Assessment
The course requires full-time study over 12 months. It is divided into three semesters and you may start the course in either late September or early February. The taught modules will be studied and completed during the first two semesters. The master’s project will be undertaken over the third semester.
The modules are assessed by either coursework assignments or written examinations or both, which occur within the semesters.
Part-time study
Although these details describe full-time study it is possible to take this course on a part-time basis attending just two evenings a week. Details of the part-time course are given separately.