MSci Computer Science

Example structure
Studying at Essex is about discovering yourself, so your course combines compulsory and optional modules to make sure you gain key knowledge in the discipline, while having as much freedom as possible to explore your own interests. Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field, therefore to ensure your course is as relevant and up-to-date as possible your core module structure may be subject to change.
For many of our courses you’ll have a wide range of optional modules to choose from – those listed in this example structure are just a selection of those available. The opportunity to take optional modules will depend on the number of core modules within any year of the course. In many instances, the flexibility to take optional modules increases as you progress through the course.
Our Programme Specification gives more detail about the structure available to our current first-year students, including details of all optional modules.
Year 1
Professional Development


Mathematics for Computing


Introduction to Programming


Object-Oriented Programming


Introduction to Databases


Web Development


Network Fundamentals


Fundamentals of Digital Systems


Year 2
Group Project & Industrial Practice


Software Engineering


Application Programming


Data Structures and Algorithms


Databases and Information Retrieval (optional)


Human Computer Interfaces and Visualisation (optional)


Web Application Programming (optional)


Artificial Intelligence (optional)


Final year
Individual Project


Virtual Worlds (optional)


High-Level Games Development (optional)


Business Information Systems
Large Scale Software Systems and Extreme Programming (optional)


Network Engineering (optional)


Year 4
Professional Practice and Research Methodology


Group Project


Creating and Growing a New Business Venture (optional)


Computer Security


Intelligent Systems and Robotics (optional)


Machine Learning and Data Mining (optional)


Cloud Technologies and Systems (optional)


Text Analytics (optional)


High Performance Computing (optional)


E-Commerce Programming (optional)


Placement
On a placement year you gain relevant work experience within an external business or organisation, giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market and providing you with key contacts within the industry. The rest of your course remains identical to the three-year degree.
Teaching
Courses are taught by a combination of lectures, laboratory work, assignments, and individual and group project activities
Group work
A significant amount of practical lab work will need to be undertaken for written assignments and as part of your learning
Assessment
You are assessed through a combination of written examinations and coursework
All our modules include a significant coursework element
You receive regular feedback on your progress through in-term tests
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