Taught Postgraduate Study

We offer an MSc degree in: Internet and Distributed Systems (Advanced). A large proportion of software developed today is distributed in nature, where parts of an application system are partitioned across multiple computers each interacting to solve some problem in a distributed fashion. A user's web browser interacting with a travel-agent booking application running on a travel agent's server machine is an example. Ever increasing amounts of trade occurs across the Internet both between businesses and between customers and retailers. The aim of the MSc in Internet and Distributed Systems is to provide an intensive program of study that covers the principles of such distributed systems and their implementation and use on the Internet.

• This scheme is designed for students with a Computer Science or Software Engineering first degree (Min: 2:2).
  An applicant with no formal academic qualification will be accepted if the applicant is deemed by the Department?s MSc Coordination Panel to have suitable professional experience. In addition, under some circumstances, it may be possible for students to transfer into this degree by first taking appropriate undergraduate modules in Programming, Databases and Computer Architecture (contact the admissions tutor).

• Learning outcomes - specifically, students who have successfully completed the course should:
  • have a comprehensive understanding of design principles used in distributed systems to meet security, performance, quality of service and reliability requirements;
  • exhibit a critical awareness of electronic commerce issues and their interplay within business processes;
  • have an understanding of important standards, best practices and legal issues that govern the construction, operation and use of communication networks.
  • have a knowledge of how the Internet operates;
  • understand important architectural frameworks, including J2EE, and .NET;
  • be able to use several development methodologies that might be employed when developing complex systems.

This course is available full time or part time in Aberystwyth and also part time in Singapore. Please email Mrs Margaret Anthony (see below) to obtain information on the new Internet and Distributed Systems MSc.