Advanced Computer Science (MSc)

Modules

The St Andrews degree structure is designed to be flexible. You study compulsory modules delivering core learning together with optional modules you choose from the list available that year. The taught portion of the MSc programme includes eight modules, one compulsory and seven optional. If you 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 (PGDip) instead, finishing the course at the end of the second semester of study. Course information may change. Module information and course content, teaching and assessment may change each year and after you have accepted your offer to study at the University of St Andrews. We display the most up-to-date information possible, but this could be from a previous academic year. For the latest module information, see the module catalogue .

Object-Oriented Modelling, Design and Programming : introduces and revises object-oriented modelling, design and implementation up to the level required to complete programming assignments within other MSc modules. The following modules are optional for Computer Science programmes. 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: Critical Systems Engineering Data Ethics and Privacy Data-Intensive Systems Digital Heritage and Preservation Fundamentals of Software Engineering 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 Product and Project Management Software Quality Symbolic Artificial Intelligence Uncertainty in Artificial Intelligence User-Centred Interaction Design Web Technologies Students may take up to two of the following: Advanced Communication Networks and Systems Computer Architecture Computer Graphics Computer Security Concurrency and Multi-Core Architectures Databases Distributed Systems Logic and Software Verification Programming Language Design and Implementation Signal Processing: Sound, Image, Video Video Games During the second semester, students work with staff to define and agree a topic for the extended project. They will work on it during the final three months of the course, finishing with a 15,000-word dissertation. Dissertation projects may be group-based or completed individually, though 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.