Advanced Computer Science (with integrated year in industry)

Duration:

This course can be taken as a one-year course or as a two-year course incorporating professional experience. It can also be taken part-time.

Contact Time:

Approximately 12 hours a week in the first two semesters. During semester three you will arrange your level of contact time with your assigned supervisor.

Assessment:

The taught part of the course is delivered and assessed through lectures, student seminars, practical exercises, case studies, course work and formal examinations. The subsequent successful submission of your research dissertation leads to the award of an MSc.

Industrial Year:

This degree is the same as the one year MSc in Advanced Computer Science, with the addition that the student spends a year working in industry after the taught part of the course.

• Students study at Aberystwyth University from September to May, and are supported in applying for suitable jobs in the software industry.

• They work in the UK from June to the following May.

• They return to Aberystwyth to complete their dissertation from June to September

The work in industry is paid employment, not just work experience. Typical annual salaries for an industrial year are between £11,000 and £15,000.

Students wishing to do the industrial year are assisted in finding a place in industry. There is assistance with preparing an appropriate CV, training in what to expect at an interview, and practice in being interviewed by experienced industry interviewers. The Department of Computer Science sends about 70 students each year for a year's experience in industry, and has many contacts in companies enthusiastic to take good students from Aberystwyth University.

As these are paid jobs for companies, we cannot guarantee any student a job - the companies select the employees they want. Students that are unable to find a job can complete the Masters degree without an industrial year.

There is an additional, but much reduced, fee for the year in industry (presently £1,800 for the year), and members of staff stay in touch electronically and by visiting students during their industrial year. Further information on fees is available here; please note that the Year in Industry fee quoted applies to both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

The course in Advanced Computer Science is a two year full-time programme. This degree is the same as the one year MSc in Advanced Computer Science - G493, with the addition that the student spends a year working in industry after the taught part of the course.

Year one of the course is divided into two parts over three semesters. In part one, you will establish a breadth of necessary skills in a number of core modules whilst directing your own study by choosing specialist modules, worth a total of 120 credits. In part two, you will apply your learning in the individual dissertation worth an additional 60 credits.

Previous study topics have included: Transmission of MIDI music over internet connection, Designing a network intrusion detection system, Online results and statistics using web service technology, Supply chain management system applications and Prototype railway track measurement system.

Whatever your own previous experience or future aspiration, with this course you will benefit from the marvellous integration of cutting-edge theory and practical application, within a world-class department. The most recent Research Excellence Framework (2014) assessment found that 100% of the impact research the department of Computer Science undertakes is world leading or internationally excellent.