The University Diploma/M.Sc. postgraduate course in Computer Science is intended for people who have already graduated in other disciplines. It leads to a University Diploma or an M.Sc. degree. It consists of an eight month taught course, after which students undertake further practical work until the end of June, when a Diploma may be awarded. Alternatively, students who have achieved an appropriate level in the taught course can then, if they wish, proceed to a substantial project which is submitted as a dissertation for the M.Sc. degree.
The course organisation is described below. This is followed by a detailed syllabus for the eight month taught course.
The Science and Engineering Research Council has accepted the M.Sc. course as suitable for tenure of its Advance Course Studentships. Some students on the Diploma/M.Sc. course may be eligible for financial assistance from other sources.
The course is organised as follows:
In addition to lectures, tutorials, seminars and supervised practicals, students will normally need to spend time in the library and in workstation rooms. This may involve evening work.
Satisfactory completion of course modules and advanced practical assignments will qualify a candidate for a University Diploma in Computer Science. A student who achieves distinction level in the course modules and in the advanced practical assignments will qualify for a Diploma with Distinction.
To qualify for an M.Sc. degree in Computer Science, candidates must achieve satisfactory grades in course modules and in an individual project dissertation. For a student to be awarded an M.Sc. with Distinction they must achieve Distinction Level in both the course modules and in the dissertation.
The course coordinator is Dr. Edel Sherratt.