Module Information

Module Identifier
CSS0460
Module Title
Summer Placement (PG)
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Summer
Pre-Requisite
Completion of one taught semester of Masters in Advanced Computer Science.
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
CSS0260 or CSS0360 The summer placement can not be taken with a sandwich year (year in industry)
Reading List

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Report  The placement will be assessed by a short report reflecting on the experience 3000 Words  100%
Supplementary Assessment Report  The placement will be assessed by a short report reflecting on the experience 3000 Words  100%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Ability to work effectively in the software industry

Brief description

The module will involve the student in finding paid employment in the software industry between their first and second taught semester of the Masters course. The placement will be assessed through report from the industrial supervisor, and report by the student.

Aims

The module gives Masters students the opportunity of adding a short period of supervised industrial experience to their degree. This should significantly improve their employability.

Content

During the first taught part of the Masters course, students will be supported by the Department in finding and applying for appropriate posts in the Software industry. The post will commence after the Masters examinations in May, and will last for 3-4 months.

The student will have an academic supervisor, and the company will be asked to identify someone as the industrial supervisor.

The student will be visited at their industrial post once during the summer by the academic supervisor (this may be run differently where students are overseas). The academic supervisor will meet with both the student and the industrial supervisor to find out how the placement is progressing.

At the end of the placement, the student and the industrial supervisor will each write a report detailing how the placement went. The student's report will be assessed for critical evaluation, as well as its details of what was achieved. The industrial supervisor's report will only be used as part of the demonstration of the student's ability to build software effectively.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number
Communication Good communication will be required on the placement and for the report.
Improving own Learning and Performance
Information Technology The discipline is all about IT and more
Personal Development and Career planning The placement will help the student to better understand the opportunities in the software industry.
Problem solving Problem solving is integral to software development.
Research skills
Subject Specific Skills
Team work Most placements will involve fitting in with a team

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5