Computer Science with a Year in Industry MSci

Year 1

Through compulsory and optional modules you will gain a firm foundation in the principles of algorithms, artificial intelligence, software engineering and relevant mathematics. You also learn in-depth computer programming in Java – a language widely used in business.

• Artificial Intelligence 1 (20 credits)
• Data Structures and Algorithms (20 credits)
• Logic and Computation (20 credits)
• Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science (20 credits)
• Object Oriented Programming (20 credits)
• Full Stack Application Development (20 credits)

You progress to studying enabling technologies such as databases, graphics and the formal basis of programming languages. These are taught in conjunction with programming which gives you a much deeper understanding through the implementation of techniques. As part of a team you produce software, and learn new styles of programming in Java and a second language from a different programming language paradigm. You also select modules from a range of options which cover core computer science, programming languages and artificial intelligence.

• Functional Programming (20 credits)
• Security and Networks (20 credits)
• Software Engineering and Professional Practice (20 credits)
• Systems Programming in C/C++ (20 credits)
• Team Project (Artificial Intelligence) (20 credits)
• Artificial Intelligence 2 (20 credits)

We encourage our students to gain as much real world experience as they can during their studies. The University has strong links with a number of employers offering internships or formal placements that can range from two months over the summer vacation to a full sandwich year as part of your degree course.

Computer Science Industrial Placement (120 credits)
In order to proceed to Year 3 (the industrial year), students must:

• Not have any modules to repeat during the year. If they have resit examinations, they must arrange for time off to take these.
• Have found a company willing to provide a placement which meets the School's requirements, which include providing an Industrial Tutor. The placement must involve a component of skills training (approximately 40%) and technical project work (approximately 60%). The skills training can include formal taught and/or self study courses and apprenticeship style learning "on the job". The training and project work must be of a technical nature relevant to the degree programme. The project work will most typically involve programming but other types of project work are acceptable.
• Students who do not meet the academic requirements or cannot find a suitable industrial placement will transfer to the degree programme without the Year in Industry component.
• A student who fails the Industrial Studies module will be permitted to transfer to the degree programme without the Year in Industry component.

There is a reduced tuition fee for the academic year spent in industry or whilst studying abroad (where available). Fee information and further clarification is available on the University fees and funding page.

You are able to pick eight modules from a wide selection. You may choose to study subjects relevant to industry, for example computer networks, distributed systems or commercial programming. Alternatively you may prefer to focus on current research in areas such as evolutionary computation, neural computation, intelligent robotics and natural language technologies.

One third of your time will be devoted to a project which will give you the opportunity to write a large piece of software and to apply the computing skills you have acquired so far.

• Advanced Networking (20 credits)
• Complex Adaptive Systems (20 credits)
• Computer Graphics (20 credits)
• Computer Vision and Imaging (20 credits)
• Computer-Aided Verification (20 credits)
• Human-Computer Interaction (20 credits)
• Individual Study (20 credits)
• Intelligent Robotics (20 credits)
• Language and Cognition (20 credits)
• Machine Learning and Intelligent Data Analysis (20 credits)
• Programming Language Principles, Design and Implementation (20 credits)
• Security of Real-World Systems (20 credits)
• Teaching Computing in Schools (20 credits)
• Theoretical Foundations for Security (20 credits)

Year five

• Computer Science Masters Project (60 credits)

Choose 60 credits of optional modules, examples listed below:

• Advanced Networking (Extended) (20 credits)
• Complex Adaptive Systems (Extended) (20 credits)
• Computer-Aided Verification (Extended) (20 credits)
• Computer Graphics (Extended) (20 credits)
• Computer Vision and Imaging (Extended) (20 credits)
• Human-Computer Interaction (Extended) (20 credits)
• Individual Study (Extended) (20 credits)
• Intelligent Robotics (Extended) (20 credits)
• Language and Cognition (Extended) (20 credits)
• Machine Learning and Intelligent Data Analysis (Extended) (20 credits)
• Programming Language Principles, Design and Implementation (Extended) (20 credits)
• Security of Real-World Systems (Extended) (20 credits)
• Teaching Computer Science in Schools (Extended) (20 credits)
• Theoretical Foundations for Security (Extended) (20 credits)

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2020. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to core modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.