Information Technology MSc/Postgraduate Diploma

www.cs.stir.ac.uk/entrants/it

Computers and the internet are part of daily life, so the ability to use them is essential in today’s technical world. To contribute to society and industry as an information technologist means more than just learning to use computers: it means learning to develop and maintain all sorts of computer systems, from applications running on computers to networks connecting computers and learning to deal with the situations in which systems are used.

Programme Objectives

This MSc is a one-year programme that develops the technical skills required for the effective practical application of computers to business and commerce, with particular emphasis on e-commerce, the internet and multimedia.

The programme provides an excellent re-training opportunity for those who have already been in employment, and graduates from the programme are able to offer a valuable mixture of applicable practical skills to prospective employers.

Entrance Requirements

The programme is suitable for those with first degrees in Arts, Business, Management or Social Science fields. A first or second class Honours degree in a non-information technology subject from a UK university or an equivalent qualification.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of your proficiency such as a minimum IELTS score of 6 (minimum 5 in each skill) or TOEFL 550/213/79 (Paper/Computer/Internet).

Funding

Support for the Diploma element of the programme is available from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for eligible Scottish and EU students on a quota basis. Details are available from: www.saas.gov.uk

To be eligible for SAAS awards applicants must be normally resident in Scotland or be non-British European Community residents.

For further information on possible sources of funding, visit: www.stir.ac.uk/postgrad/finance

Modes of Study

Full-time:
MSc: 1 year
Diploma: 9 months

Programme Start Date

September

Programme Director

Dr Simon Jones

Department of Computing Science & Mathematics

Structure and Content

The programme starts with two semesters of taught modules, followed by a three-month project and dissertation period.

In the Autumn semester you will take the following modules:

• Principles and Practice of Programming: In this module you will learn to design and test programs written in Java. You learn good practice in program construction, programming with data structures and graphical user interfaces.
• Foundations of Information Technology: This module covers central topics including machine architecture, operating systems, networks, programming languages and implementation, algorithms, efficiency, the limits of computation, software engineering, professional and ethical issues.
• Database Principles and Applications: In this module, you will obtain a critical understanding of the role of database management systems and the ability to creatively design and implement practical databases.
• Interface Design and the World Wide Web: This module provides a detailed knowledge of the construction of web pages, a critical awareness of the role of the World Wide Web, and the usability issues underlying human-computer interface design.

During the Winter break there is an extended programming assignment.

Spring semester modules:

• Decision Support Systems: In this module you study the nature and use of IT methods and techniques in the support of decision-making in organisations, in particular modelling, simulation and intelligent decision support systems.
• Networking and Technologies for E-commerce: In this module you study the principles of data communications, including layered network architecture and the need for open standards. You learn Web scripting using PHP, Java script and XML.
• Multimedia: This module broadly introduces multimedia authoring, graphics and sound. It also gives a range of practical experience with the use of specialised image, audio and multimedia development tools.
• Object-oriented Software Design: In this module you study how to analyse and model requirements and develop software using object-oriented analysis and design, through the use of UML and CASE tools for software design.

You may graduate with the Postgraduate Diploma after the two taught semesters, or you may, if you wish, continue with a three-month project and dissertation to qualify for the award of the MSc degree. The subject of the dissertation usually covers the application of computers to a field of special interest to you.

Computing facilities in the Department and the network infrastructure are all state-of-the-art and regularly updated. You use the University’s workstations and departmental facilities (PCs running Windows XP), all linked to the campus network and, beyond that, to the internet.

Timetable

Contact the Department for information on your timetable and reading lists.

Career Opportunities

Previous students have been successful in obtaining employment in the information technology field in a considerable diversity of posts – some with small companies, others with major UK organisations, with local authority and government bodies, as well as in Higher Education. Recent employers of our IT students include: IBM, Hewlett Packard, Lloyds TSB, Scottish Equitable, the National Health Service and Fife Council.

The British Computer Society, the UK society for computer professionals working in information systems engineering, recognises both the Postgraduate Diploma and the MSc in Information Technology for part-exemption from its entrance examinations. For membership details see: www.bcs.org

Research Opportunities

Our main strands of research are:

• Applied Formal Methods: Practical techniques; tools for supporting the development of correct systems (hardware and software); theoretical aspects; application to biological and medical systems
• Computational Intelligence:New techniques based on biology and naturally-occurring systems are applied to problems in a wide range of disciplines, from neural systems to control systems to dementia diagnosis
• Communications and Service Engineering: Creation and deployment of software-based communications services; traditional telephony and new developments in internet telephony; home networks; care delivery; web services; grid computing; presence and availability; policy-based control
• Care Technology:a multi-disciplinary research group spanning Computing Science, Mathematics, Management, Nursing and Midwifery, and Psychology, with research interests including medical, home monitoring, decision making, safety-critical medical systems and interfaces for computer users with impairments
• Mathematical Biology:Applied mathematics research at Stirling is centred on the Mathematical Biology Research Group. We work on: the dynamics and control of infectious diseases in animals and plants; scaling from individuals up to population-level behaviour; Bayesian parameter estimation techniques for stochastic models; models of contact networks; evolution of populations and age/stage structured population dynamics

More detailed information about the research interests of the Department is available at: www.cs.stir.ac.uk/research

Research Centres

The Department has informal links with centres in a number of Departments, e.g. Applied Social Science (Centre for Ageing Research), Nursing and Midwifery (Cancer Care Centre), and Psychology.

RAE Rating

The UK-wide Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) confirmed the quality of the work being done by our researchers. 85% of the University of Stirling’s research has been judged to be internationally excellent and internationally recognised, with the top 10% of that judged to be world class.

View the full outcomes of Stirling’s RAE performance

Use the online enquiry service to find out more or to request a prospectus.

If you are ready to apply you can fill out an online application form now.