Computing and Information Technology (MSc)

The MSc in Computing and Information Technology develops students' critical understanding of the issues associated with using computing systems and their impact on business processes and project management. It also gives students without prior programming experience the opportunity to gain programming skills in a modern software development environment. 

Course details

• The MSc in Computing and Information Technology is a one-year taught programme run by the School of Computer Science. The course consists of two semesters of taught components followed by an 11-week project leading to the submission of a 15,000-word dissertation in August. 

Highlights

• The course is designed to be flexible to allow students the freedom to pursue their own interests within computer science. 
• The course introduces students to programming skills in a modern software development environment. 
• Students undertake a significant project, including a wide-ranging investigation, leading to their dissertation, which enables them to consolidate and extend their specialist knowledge and critical thinking. 
• Students have 24-hour access to modern computing laboratories, provisioned with dual-screen PC workstations and group-working facilities. 

After the first semester, students may switch to the more general MSc in Information Technology, in which programming modules are not required. 

Modules

• The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your course. 

Compulsory

• Masters Programming Projects: reinforces key programming skills gained during the first programming module of the programme and offers increasing depth and scope for creativity. 

And choose one of the following: 

• Object-Oriented Modelling, Design and Programming: introduces and reinforces object-oriented modelling, design and implementation to provide a common basis of skills, allowing students to complete programming assignments within other MSc modules. The module assumes a substantial amount of prior programming experience equivalent to having completed an undergraduate degree in Computer Science.
• Programming Principles and Practice: introduces computational thinking and problem-solving skills to students who have no or little previous programming experience. 

Optional
Students choose six of the following optional modules (up to two of these may be taken from the 'Additional optional' list). See the module catalogue for their descriptions. 

• Not all combinations of modules will be available for all programmes, and some modules are subject to pre-requisites being satisfied. 

Here is a sample of optional modules that may be offered. 

• Artificial Intelligence Practice 
• Artificial Intelligence Principles 
• Critical Systems Engineering 
• Data Ethics and Privacy 
• Data-Intensive Systems 
• Human Computer Interaction Principles and Methods 
• Information Visualisation
• Interactive Software and Hardware 
• Knowledge Discovery and Datamining 
• Language and Computation 
• Machine Learning 
• Principles of Computer Communication Systems 
• Software Architecture and Design
• Software Engineering Practice 
• Software Engineering Principles 
• User-Centred Interaction Design 

Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered; some may only allow limited numbers of students (see the University's position on curriculum development). 

Additional optional

• Advanced Communication Networks and Systems 
• Computer Architecture 
• Computer Graphics 
• Computer Security 
• Concurrency and Multi-Core Architectures 
• Constraint Programming 
• Distributed Systems 
• Logic and Software Verification 
• Programming Language Design and Implementation 
• Signal Processing: Sound, Image, Video 
• Video Games 

Dissertation project

• During the second semester, students work with staff to define and agree upon a topic for the extended project, which they will work on during the final three months of the course. The project finishes in a 15,000-word dissertation. Dissertation projects may be group-based or completed individually (students are assessed individually in either case). 

The dissertation typically comprises: 

• A review of related work 
• The extension of existing or the development of new ideas 
• Software implementation and testing 
• Analysis and evaluation

Each project is supervised by one or two members of staff, typically through regular meetings and reviews of software and dissertation drafts. 

If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MSc, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma instead, finishing the course at the end of the second semester of study. 

Teaching format

• The taught portion of the MSc programme includes eight modules: two compulsory and six optional from a wide range available.
• Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical classes.
• Class sizes typically range from 20 to 110 students. 

Assessment

• Most modules are assessed through practical coursework exercises and examinations. 

Support

• You will be assigned an advisor who meets with you at the start of the year to discuss module choices and is available to assist with any academic difficulties during the year.
• A designated member of staff provides close supervision for the MSc project and dissertation. 

Careers
Alumni of Computer Science MSc programmes have gone on to work in a variety of global, commercial, financial and research institutions, including: 

• Amadeus 
• Amazon 
• Atlas 
• Avaloq 
• Barclays Capital 
• BP 
• BT Openreach 
• Capricorn Ventis 
• FactSet 
• Hailo 
• Hewlett Packard 
• Hitachi Data Systems 
• Microsoft 
• OpenBet 
• Rockstar 
• Royal Bank of Scotland 
• Sky 
• Skyscanner 
• Symantec 
• TriSystems

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.

Further study

• The EngD programme in Computer Science is a 4-year Engineering Doctorate involving an industrial partner and incorporating a 30-week taught component and a 170-week individual research component. Students who have already completed an MSc may be able to proceed directly to the individual research component of the EngD. 

Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews. The School of Computer Science is highly rated for its theoretical and practical research in areas such as:

• AI
• Symbolic computation
• Networking
• Distributed systems
• Human computer interaction
• Systems engineering

The School also offers research opportunities leading to a PhD in Computer Science.