Program Overview

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Modules;

Part-time students can undertake each Module in Years 1 or 2. However, Professional Software Development I must be undertaken before Business Intelligence or Data Science Foundations. Part-time students can also request to undertake the programme over a 3 Year period.

Professional Software Development I

The module introduces software development concepts and practices in a scaffolding manner enabling students to progressively develop their knowledge. This will be reinforced by interwoven practical lab sessions and tutorial workshops which will focus on and enhance all the necessary practical skills: problem solving, software design, programming skills and software testing to the high level of competence required by industry. The module is also intended to equip students with the knowledge, skills and habits that enable them to function as autonomous, accountable IT professionals.

Business Intelligence

This module aims to contextualise the role of Business Intelligence (BI) and why we need BI systems. A particular focus will be on how to turn already stored data into valuable information and why this is important. Vast amounts of data regarding company's customers and operations is routinely collected and stored in large corporate data warehouses. This data can be of immense value if properly analysed. Students will explore techniques and tools for data analysis, and presentation of the results to non-technical and managerial staff, in alignment with business strategies. Big Data technologies do offer BI although however, they are open to certain ethical and consent issues along with risks. These will be analysed, reviewed and evaluated.

Data Science Foundations

The focus of this module is to present an understanding of key data science concepts, tools and programming techniques. Within the arena of data science, the theory behind the approaches of statistics, modelling and machine learning will be introduced emphasising their importance and application to data analysis. The notion of investigative and research skills will also be introduced through a number of problem solving exercises. Material covered will be contextualised by providing examples of the latest research within the area. Students will also be introduced to programming with Python / R. They will learn the basics of syntax, and how to configure their development environment for implementation and testing of algorithms related to data science.

Corporate Law

The effective and efficient running of businesses (and their establishment) requires students to understand a number of concepts, principles and rules of law in such areas as business structures, corporate law, corporate governance, disputes, dissolution and related legal issues (including an overview of the basics of contract and tort), as well as close familiarity with the nature, structure and key characteristics of the legal system in which such businesses operate. In addition, students will also need to acquire certain skills, such as those of instant recall, critical analysis, argumentation and articulation, and the ability to apply legal concepts and principles to practical problems or to refer such problems to appropriate dispute resolution methods. This module provides the necessary information, knowledge and intellectual equipment to acquire such knowledge and skills.

Technology and Internet Law

This module spans a range of contemporary issues spanning law and technology. It covers basics of intellectual property (copyright, marks, patent and software licensing) as well as basic principles of artificial intelligence (machine learning and natural language processing) as they apply to the practice of law. In addition, the module covers privacy, encryption, Internet law (telecommunications law, conflict of laws, free speech, safe harbour) as well as providing several practical lessons with software applications/platforms used in the professional legal marketplace.

Derivatives and Financial Markets

This module, offered in association between Ulster University and Fieldfisher LLP's Belfast and London offices, guides students through the key areas of financial markets trading and regulation with a specific emphasis on derivatives and securities financing. Students will consider, in particular, master agreements used for a variety of transactions in cross border markets. This module not only equips students with underpinning knowledge of relevant aspects of the law but also provides key opportunities to directly engage in case studies based on the type of practical work undertaken by an experienced financial services practice.

Project

This module is optional

The project allows the student to demonstrate their ability in undertaking an independent project, developing theoretical perspectives, addressing research questions and analysing and implementing real world solutions. The student will be expected to utilise appropriate methodologies and demonstrate the skills gained earlier in the course when implementing the project. This will typically involve a systems analysis of the needs for a realistic application or actual organisation and identification and application of tools/techniques required to deliver a well-formed solution. In summary the masters project represents a piece of work performed by the student under suitable staff supervision, which draws both from the practical and creative nature of a problem-solving project and the traditional, scholarly exposition of an area of study. The content of the work should have a degree of originality and contain a critical appraisal of the subject area.

Dissertation

This module is optional

The dissertation module is designed to enable students to develop and apply the demonstrable research skills in the form of independent research leading to 12,000 words dissertation on a topic of choice in commercial-law related fields. Students would be advised to choose their research topics in areas for which there are supervision expertise within the school of law.

Attendance

Attendance at lectures and seminar sessions is compulsory.

The full-time programme is held across 3 semesters in one academic year.

The part-time programme is taken over 2 years.

The programme consists of 180 credits, comprising taught courses worth 120 credits and a dissertation (for LLM) or project (MSc) worth 60 credits.

The course also offers competitive Placement Opportunities with firms.

As part of the programme, we also offer an optional Advanced Practice Module to full-time students, in which you can undertake for an additional 12 weeks following successful completion of the LLM/MSC, giving you the opportunity to complete an internship with a company or a practical project.

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Start dates

September 2023

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Teaching, Learning and Assessment

A range of teaching and assessment methods will be employed to develop learning throughout the course with the use of Blackboard Learn for dissemination of teaching and learning materials. As a student, you will benefit from the course having been developed in consultation with industry experts in response to their employment needs, and industry experts will be involved in the delivery of the course.

Assessment is by a variety of methods. The Law modules will be 100% coursework, while the computing modules contain both practical and coursework assessment methods.

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Academic profile

The teaching in this Programme is delivered by a mix of Ulster University academic staff and industry professionals recognised for excellence in their fields. Law modules will be taught by licensed lawyers with practical professional experience. This Programme is run by the Ulster University Legal Innovation Centre, a ground-breaking partnership between the School of Law and the School of Computing, Engineering, and the built environment.

The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 59% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.

Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (25%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (20%) or Lecturers (55%).

We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher. Most academic staff (81%) are accredited fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) by Advanced HE - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning. Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.

The profiles of many academic staff can be found on the University’s departmental websites and give a detailed insight into the range of staffing and expertise.  The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff.  This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.

Occasionally, teaching may be supplemented by suitably qualified part-time staff (usually qualified researchers) and specialist guest lecturers. In these cases, all staff are inducted, mostly through our staff development programme ‘First Steps to Teaching’. In some cases, usually for provision in one of our out-centres, Recognised University Teachers are involved, supported by the University in suitable professional development for teaching.

Figures correct for academic year 2021-2022.