MSc Computing Science

Key details

MSC COMPUTING SCIENCE

Start Year

2023

Attendance

Full Time

Award

Degree of Master of Science

Duration (years)

If you are a graduate from any non-computing subject but are interested in computers, this MSc Computing Science course is particularly designed for you to broaden your existing knowledge to computing science.

It does not require any previous knowledge or experience of computing as it will start by teaching you the fundamentals of application programming, web development and databases. It then steers your learning, based on your own aspirations, towards more advanced specialised areas like software engineering, cyber security, machine learning and data mining, computer vision, and modern embedded technology.

When you graduate, you’ll be professionally competitive and highly flexible. You’ll be in a great position to take a career in a challenging and changing employment environment. Over the years, our graduates have found employment in companies like Microsoft, BT, Aviva, WorldPay, PwC, Morgan Stanley, and China Mobile, and in public sector organisations like the Office for National Statistics or research institutes.

About

As this course is designed for graduates of non-computing subjects, you will start it by learning some foundational knowledge and essential skills in computing science intensively and then move on to learn some advanced or specialised knowledge.

In addition, you’ll be trained to develop your generic and transferable skills in the areas of such as communication, critical thinking and reasoning, problem solving, technical writing, independent and team working and project management. You will also learn about computing professionalism and ethics.

You will take three fundamental modules: Applications Programming, Databases Manipulation, and Web Development. These will teach you essential knowledge and skills in three main and important areas in computing. These modules lay solid foundations that you can build on with more advanced and/or specialised optional modules, such as Applied Statistics, Data Mining, Developing Secure Software, System Engineering Issues, Computer Vision, Information Visualisation, Modern Embedded Technologies, and Ubiquitous Computing. If you are not sure what modules to choose, your adviser can help you.

You’ll do a dissertation project from January to late August. This gives you the chance to specialise in a specific topic and work closely with our world-leading academics. You can choose a project from a list created by our faculty members and/or industrial collaborators, or you can propose your own project if you have a good idea (subject to some conditions). You will have a supervisor from the School. There is a possibility that your dissertation could be accepted for publication, or used in research, industry or business.

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Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.

Assessment for Year 1

We have a mixture of individual and group assessments. These include written work, presentations or demonstrations, and exams (closed and/or time-limited assessment). They combine theoretical understanding with practical application and are designed to test the range of skills and competencies required for the learning outcomes of each module. The balance of assessment types varies according to the options chosen. Additionally, there is an individual project which is assessed through a combination of written work and demonstration or presentation.

You’ll be assessed by a combination of:

Examination (typically 20%)
Demonstrations and Presentations (typically 25%)
Project (33%)
Written assignments (typically 25%)

Structure

The course is basically structured with two elements: 6 taught modules (20 credits each) and a dissertation module (60 credits).

In the first Semester, you’ll take three foundational modules. In the second Semester, you will take two optional modules and also do a dissertation project through the summer. The optional modules are chosen based on your interest and the type of the dissertation project you will do. The compulsory taught module, Research Techniques, is taken over two Semesters.

The three foundational modules are Applications Programming, Database Manipulation, and Web Development. If you already have sufficient knowledge and experience of one or two of these subjects, you may be able to swap them for optional modules, with permission from the course director.

From the Applications Programming module you’ll gain a clear understanding of current popular programming language Python and learn how to develop application software using this programming language. You’ll also learn Unified Modelling Language (UML) as a tool for software analysis and design, software development life cycle models, software testing strategies and techniques, and version control.

The Databases Manipulation module introduces you to most aspects of database structures, manipulation and management systems. You’ll gain practical experience of database manipulation through the use of SQL and the psycopg Python interface on a relational database management system. Moreover, you’ll learn database design using Entity-Relationship modelling and normalisation.

On the Web Development module you will learn about the techniques for developing web-based applications. It covers HTML, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), JavaScript and Node.js, responsive website design model, usability and accessibility, current industry standard for backend server implementation, and some current issues, such as web security. On your coursework, you will work with two or three other students as a team to develop a website for a real world application.

In addition to these essential modules, you’ll choose two modules (40 credits) from optional advanced or specialist modules, such as Applied Statistics, Data Mining, Information Visualisation, Develop Secure Software, Systems Engineering Issues, Computer Vision, Modern Embedded Technology, Ubiquitous Computing.

For the Dissertation Module, you’ll work on a project from January to late August under the supervision of a faculty member. You can choose a project from many projects proposed by our faculty members, or propose your own project subject to the approval of the module organiser and also the availability of a suitable supervisor. Examples of recent dissertation titles include:

Develop an application of video shot detection
A LEGO-like solution for small scale IoT applications
Predicting earthquakes with time series data mining
Machine learning ensemble methods for identifying fake on-line reviews or fake news
Predicting the results of tennis matches in real time
Predicting energy consumption for residential customers using smart meter data

Teaching and Learning

Teaching

You’ll have an average of 15 hours of contact time per week with teaching staff through lectures, laboratory sessions and seminars – although this may vary depending on your module choices. Additionally, you should allocate at least 25 hours per week for independent study, coursework assignments and projects.

You’ll be taught through lectures, seminars, directed study and laboratory exercises, involving individual work and teamwork. Your modules are integrated in a web-based framework and you’ll be grouped in teams with other students to design and implement a substantial web-based application.

Independent study

Alongside your formal learning, you’ll study independently to gain a deeper appreciation of specialist topics. You’ll build up to your MSc dissertation project, where you will explore a topic or work on a problem that is usually related to the School's research areas. This project gives you an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills you have learned from the course to carry out in-depth research on a topic, or develop a working system for various applications. Some project work may be done with companies and could involve paid placement at a company.

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Assessment for Year 1

You’ll be assessed by a combination of:

Examination (typically 20%)
Demonstrations and Presentations (typically 25%)
Project (33%)
Written assignments (typically 25%)

Compulsory Modules

RESEARCH METHODS

Code CMP-7030Y

Credits 20

This module aims to prepare postgraduate students with necessary intellectual and practical skills for successfully carrying out research work for their MSc Dissertation in Computing Sciences and Computational Biology. Specifically, it teaches research methodologies, techniques and tools used in computing sciences. More importantly, it provides systematic training to enhance students' transferable skills and their understanding in ethics, social and legal issues involved in computing professions.

DISSERTATION

Code CMP-7027X

Credits 60

In this module, each Masters student is required to carry out project work with substantial research and practical elements on a specified topic for their MSc dissertation from January to late August. The topic can be chosen and allocated from the lists of proposals from faculty members, or proposed by students themselves with an agreement from their supervisor and also an approval from the module organiser. The work may be undertaken as part of a large collaborative or group project. A dissertation must be written as the outcome of the module.

Optional A Modules

(60 credits)

APPLICATIONS PROGRAMMING

Code CMP-7000A

Credits 20

This module provides a practical introduction of applications programming as you will be creating a simple game from zero to full development. This will involve designing and modelling the initial software engineering processes, and then coding and testing specific processes within the game you create. You will also be required to professionally present/demo your creations. This module is very intensive, but it enables you to develop a clear understanding of both software engineering processes and Python programming skills, which are fundamental requirements for working in a range of computing science industries.

WEB DEVELOPMENT

Code CMP-7003A

Credits 20

In this module you will learn about the current development and core technologies underpinning the Internet, WWW, web development, current issues (e.g. security), and its impact on society. In the practical part of the module you will learn how to build an effective web application using the current industry standard Web technologies, including HTML, CSS and JavaScript. You will learn how to handle Web requests and implement backend server, emphasising maintainability, security, accessibility and usability.

DATABASE MANIPULATION

Code CMP-7025A

Credits 20

This module introduces you to important aspects of databases, database manipulation and database management systems. The module is based on the relational model. You will explore the tools and methods for database design and manipulation as well as the programming of database applications. Part of the practical experience you will gain will be acquired using a modern relational database management system. You will also gain programming experience using SQL and using a high-level programming language to write applications that access the database.

Optional B Modules

(40 credits)

SYSTEMS ENGINEERING ISSUES

Code CMP-7004B

Credits 20

This module draws together a wide range of material and considers it in the context of developing modern large-scale computer systems. Topics such as Systems Thinking, Causal Loop Diagrams, Systems Failure, Outsourcing, Quality, Risk Management, Measurement, Project Management, Software Process Improvement, Configuration Management, Maintainability, Testing, and Peopleware are covered in this module. The module is supported by well documented case studies and includes guest speakers from industry.

INFORMATION VISUALISATION

Code CMP-7022B

Credits 20

This module is an introduction to information visualisation. You will learn techniques for summarising and presenting a wide range of data. There is a strong emphasis on understanding the appropriate context and use of visualisation techniques. You will also learn about problems and techniques for dealing with large data flows and issues of integrating multiple data sources.

DATA MINING

Code CMP-7023B

Credits 20

This module is designed for postgraduate students studying on MSc courses. You will explore the methodology of Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (KDD). You will cover each stage of the KDD process, including preliminary data exploration and visualisation, data cleansing, pre-processing, various data analysis tasks, model evaluation and model exploitation. In terms of data analysis, we will focus on clustering, classification, association rule induction and text mining. You will explore a number of algorithms for each tasks and also cover ensembles. Through this module, you will gain knowledge of algorithms and methods for data analysis, as well as practical experience programming in Python using popular libraries such as Pandas, Scikit-learn and Seaborne.

COMPUTER VISION

Code CMP-7026B

Credits 20

Computer Vision is about “teaching machines how to see”. You will study methods for acquiring, analysing and understanding images in both lectures and laboratories. The practical exercises and projects that you undertake in the laboratory will support the underpinning theory and enable you to implement contemporary computer vision algorithms.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Code CMP-7028B

Credits 20

This module will introduce you to core techniques in Artificial Intelligence. Topics covered may include state space representation and search algorithms, knowledge representation, expert systems, Bayesian networks, Markov Models, Neural networks, Deep learning and an Introduction to Robotics and Drone.

DEVELOPING SECURE SOFTWARE

Code CMP-7038B

Credits 20

This module provides a practical introduction to Cyber Security, focusing on methods, tools and techniques for delivering robust, usable and secure web-based software. Students will learn the importance of designing and developing secure software by evaluating a range of software security threats and vulnerabilities, then mitigating these potential impacts. The module also covers ethical hacking and structured approaches to security testing. Groups will be created in week 2 and you will then work as a small development team from weeks 2 to 12, with the module running like a standard industry development project. This will involve your team completing everything from early research of security vulnerabilities and threats through to full development of a secure and usable web-based software system. Please note we do not teach JavaScript, Node or PostgreSQL during this module, as you are expected to be able to code these already via previous course modules.

UBIQUITOUS COMPUTING

Code CMP-7040B

Credits 20

In this module we will introduce the multifaceted topic of Ubiquitous Computing. You will learn about how computing power can be taken away from desktop computer setting and be applied anywhere. The module draws upon many other areas such as Signal Processing, Machine Learning, Human Computer Interaction, Internet of Things, Networks, and the use of hardware. This is a project and coursework orientated module with an emphasis on developing your own ideas to gain the skills needed to take the power of computing to be everywhere.

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Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring and review of modules. Where this activity leads to significant change to a programme and modules, the University will endeavour to consult with affected students. The University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. Availability of optional modules may be restricted owing to timetabling, lack of demand, or limited places. Where this is the case, you will be asked to make alternative module choices and you will be supported during this process.

Entry Requirements

Degree classification

Bachelors degree 2.1 or equivalent

Degree subject

Any subject area except Computing Science. Suitable for any with an aptitude in computing (eg work with websites or relevant work experience) This course is primarily aimed at students from non-computing backgrounds. If you already have degree level study in computing, you should check the course modules and content carefully to ensure the programme meets your needs. Applicants with significant programming experience should consider our MSc Advanced Computing Science course.

Students for whom english is a foreign language

We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English. To ensure such students benefit from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:

IELTS: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in two components only, with 6.0 in the other two)
PTE (Pearson): 64 (minimum 59 in two components only with 64 in the other two)

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

Other tests, including Cambridge English exams and the Trinity Integrated Skills in English are also accepted by the university. The full list of accepted tests can be found here: Accepted English Language Tests

INTO UEA also run pre-sessional courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information and to see if you qualify please contact intopre-sessional@uea.ac.uk.