Computer Science - MSc drafted

Program Overview

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The MSc in Computer Science is a conversion course that provides you a broad and balanced introduction to computer science. The course aims to prepare you for technical roles in the IT industry by introducing the key technologies and skills needed for employment.

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This course is

open

to

International

students.

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What's covered in this course?

The course has been designed to provide you with practical experience with models, techniques and tools from the forefront of the discipline that drive innovation in the design of software-based systems within this domain. The key topics taught on the course include Software Development (using the programming language in demand in the industry), Software Analysis & Design (techniques for designing large and complex software), Database Design & Development (backend storage for almost every IT installation in the world), Web Application Development (full stack web application development) and Artificial Intelligence (foundation of machine learning and the future of all contextual decision making). You will also learn the key skills of research, academic writing and project management required for study at masters’ level. These skills are further developed and placed in the context of the dissertation.

As a conversion course, it is assumed that you are starting fresh with little or no experience of computer science. The course offers several arrangements to ensure your smooth transition to computer science. This includes pre-semester week long programming boot camp, where you will have the opportunity to develop fundamental understanding of the programming languages that will be taught in the course. Before starting the course, you will be directed to some online short courses that will help you to develop basic understanding of various technical aspects covered in the course. You will be allocated to a personal tutor, who will be there to monitor your personal and academic welfare. In weekly meetings, your personal tutor will review your progress, discuss goals and expectations, and help you to set action plans. The philosophy of the course is to promote lifelong self-learning by providing a curriculum that promotes a variety of approaches to study.  The curriculum is designed to develop not only the academic knowledge, but also the engineering ethos and practical skills required by the modern computer science professional. Academic members of staff within the School of Computing and Digital Technology will teach topics and supervise projects according to their personal research interests. This will give you a cutting-edge experience, one that opens up new opportunities for career advancement in industry. For students who show an aptitude for research, there is also the possibility of continuing their studies on a PhD programme.

The development of transferable skills is core to the learning strategy of the programme and is incorporated into work units and assessments: for example; team-working skills are fostered through the use of group, task-based practical projects. Keeping lab-books and submitting self assessment documentation in support of personal performance fosters self-management and personal development. You are required to meet strict deadlines, which will help you to plan your overall workload and develop time management skills.

The course structure and its content have been developed by taking into account input from various sources, including the curriculum philosophy of the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and The Built Environment, suggestions from industrial partners, feedback from current students, QAA benchmark statements, British Computer Society (BCS) requirements for accreditation, and the Computer Science curriculum guidelines released by The Joint Task Force on Computing Curricula comprising the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the IEEE Computer Society.

This course is offered full-time, part-time and also full-time with the Professional Placement option to give you the opportunity to gain work experience as part of your degree.

I made the decision to enrol on the new MSc Computer Science course as it was a conversion course and thus was designed for people with no prior physical experience in technology, like myself. The course introduced us to various fields of technology such as software development, artificial intelligence, and IT project management—fields of technology I had never considered pursuing before.

Our lecturers are incredibly informed about our field, and they have incorporated any trends or updates into the curriculum to make sure we are keeping up with market demands and mastering the appropriate programming languages and software technologies.

Lindelani Moyo

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Why Choose Us?

Industry-ready

- we will prepare you for the software development industry by introducing the key technologies and skills needed for employment

Practical experience

in programming languages and platforms that are in high demand in the industry

Excellent links with industry

– including SAS and Oracle. Our curriculum is embedded by industry so that you graduate able to progress into a professional career.

Graduate jobs

– after successful completion of the course you could go on to jobs such as Web App Developer, Python Developer, Database Engineer, Data Scientist (entry point), Research

Women in Computing

– we support females in computing to share experiences and become confident computing professionals through special events and society activities

Lab-based learning

- our campus has over 20 industry-standard computer labs, so you will enjoy practice-based learning throughout the course

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Studying with us during the Covid-19 pandemic

The University has put in place

measures in response to Covid-19

to allow us to safely deliver our courses. Should the impact of the pandemic continue in future years, any additional or alternative arrangements put in place by the University will be in accordance with the latest government public health advice, health and safety legislation, and the terms and conditions of the

student contract

.

Program Outline

Module

Professional Placement Year (optional)

Module

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits):

Software Development 20 credits

Within the module of Computer Programming you will learn the key skills of Programming and how this relates to technology and communications.  Programming is an engineering tool that plays a vital role to drive most of the modern technologies surrounding us, including the technological devices for communication, transportation and entertainment. In other words, it can be said that our modern lifestyles are heavily dependent on programming. Moreover, businesses increasingly rely on computers and the software run on them. Programming skills and a broader and deeper understanding of programming are therefore becoming increasingly important to the jobs market.

Software Analysis and Design 20 credits

This module is about software engineering with a focus on software design. It covers three stages of the software engineering life-cycle, requirements, design and implementation, but with a focal point on design and an emphasis on the design theme. The module provides the necessary skills to construct models of requirements and designs. The standard UML is used as the modelling language, the vehicle through which important design concepts are explored to convey a software engineering ethos based on getting it right by adequately studying the problem and mindfully constructing designs of software solutions.

Database Design and Development 20 credits

This module provides a comprehensive introduction to a vitally important core IT topic (database technology) that is found in almost every IT installation in the world and as such provides extremely good transferable skills. The module not only introduces you to traditional database skills and knowledge (data models, normalization, SQL etc.) but also looks forward into the future IT world via OO, XML and web-database technologies. Once mastered, these database skills will provide a firm foundation for higher-level academic study or a rewarding IT career.

Web Application Development 20 credits

This module aims to provide you an in-depth knowledge of the skills and techniques required to develop web applications. The module will equip you with skills for client-side programming, serverside programming, and backend services e.g. databases to build modern web applications. You will also learn how to deploy and maintain web applications.

Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals 20 credits

The amount of data produced by humans and machines today far outstrips the ability of humans to consume, analyse, and make complex decisions based on that data. Artificial intelligence forms the foundation of all machine learning and reflects the future of all contextual decision making. From healthcare to finance, AI now impacts nearly every industry by dramatically improving workplaces' efficiencies and expanding the capabilities of the work humans can do.  When AI takes over repetitive or dangerous tasks, minimises occurrences of 'human error', or support decision-making, it frees up the human workforce to do work they are better equipped for, involving creativity and empathy.

Research Methods and Project Management 20 credits

This module prepares you for the research project that you will undertake towards the end of your master’s course. It equips you with knowledge and transferable skills that will also help you in your subsequent career, for example, when you are asked to write a report or to carry out an IT project. You will become familiar with the research literature in your discipline, research methodology and research ethics, as well as project management tools, methods and techniques.

Individual Master’s Project 60 credits

The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and research-informed Level 7 project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. In agreement with your supervisor, you will decide upon your topic which will take the form of a practical outcome (artefact) with accompanying contextual material. The main consideration when choosing your topic is that it must be aligned to the programme you are studying and informed by the research strategy of your school, and you should consider the relevance of this topic to your future academic or professional development.

Professional Placement Year (optional)

In order to qualify for the award of MSc Computer Science with Professional Placement, you must successfully complete all of the Level 7 modules listed above as well as the following Level 6 module.

Professional Placement 60 credits

This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a credit bearing, 20-week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree.

The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market.  Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.

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Knowledge and understanding are acquired though a mixture of formal lectures, tutor-led seminars and practical activities, with other independent learning activities at all stages.

Emphasis is placed on guided, self-directed and student-centred learning with increasing independence of approach, thought and process.

The course provides access to effective commercial development environments and ensures students have practical awareness of computer systems requirements. You are required to meet strict deadlines, and to manage and plan overall workload.

Knowledge is assessed formatively and summatively, by a number of methods, including seminars, course-work, viva, presentation, and project work.

Assessment criteria are published both at a generic course level and to provide guidance for individual items of assessment.

You will undertake a major project involving research and application of that research in the solution of appropriate systems problems.

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Professional Placement option*

The Professional Placement option will allow you to complete a credit bearing, 20 week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market.  Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.

You will be responsible for finding and securing your own placement.  The University, however, will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study.  You will also benefit from support sessions delivered by Careers+ as well as advice and guidance from your School.

Placements will only be confirmed following a competitive, employer-led selection process, therefore the University will not be able to guarantee placements for students who have registered for the ‘with Professional Placement’ course.  All students who do not find a suitable placement or do not pass the competitive selection process will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.

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This course is accredited by the following organisations:

Our accreditations from these bodies show employers that you have the level of knowledge and skills they need when you graduate.