MSc in Computer Science

The MSc in Computer Science is intended for graduates who do not hold an undergraduate degree in Computer Science but who wish to augment their existing knowledge with a good foundation in Computer Science as well as knowledge of research issues at the "cutting edge" of the discipline. The programme comprises a sequence of modules designed to both bring students "up to speed" and give a good understanding of a number of significant research areas. The programme is directed at careers in the IT industry that require some degree of research and development as well as more mainstream IT careers. The programme is also intended as a stepping stone for students who wish to continue their study to a higher level and undertake a PhD.

For the full documentation see the programme specification.

The programme comprises two taught semesters followed by an individual project under taken over the summer. All taught modules have 15 credits associated with them, whilst the dissertation represents 60 credits.

Assessment is by a mixture of coursework, written examinations in January and May, and a dissertation on the three-month project undertaken from mid-June to mid-September. Typically, projects are associated with the taught research modules making up the programme. Alternatively, students can propose their own projects, or undertake projects based on the needs of local industries, provided that the project meets with the research-oriented ethos of the programme.

Up to 50 places are available on the MSc in Computer Science programme. All applicants are invited to visit the University and meet members of staff and current students. Applicants from overseas are welcome.

Program Structure

The taught modules in the first semester comprise three foundation modules covering software engineering, programming, and information system. The foundation modules are intended to provide students with essential background material presented in such a way as to be consistent with Level M requirements. Students will also undertake a "research methods" module. A choice of four out of five research based, level M, modules will be offered in the second semester, however students may elect two replace up to two (i.e. 30 credits) of these modules with selected modules from the Department's third year (level 3) provision. In the summer months student will undertake a 60 credit "research based" project.

The outline programme of study is as follows (note that a '*' indicates that the module is a level 3 module and that students can only choose up to a maximum of two of these).

First Semester		Second Semester		Third Semester
Module	Crds	Module (4 out of 10)	Crds	Module	Crds
COMP516 Research Methods	15	COMP524 Safety and Dependability	15	COMP702 Research Project	60
		COMP525 Reasoning about Action and Change	15
COMP517 Object Oriented Software Development	15	COMP526 Applied Algorithmics	15
		COMP527 Data Mining	15
		COMP528 Multi-core Programming	15
COMP518 Database and Information Systems	15	COMP310 Multi-Agent Systems (*)	15
		COMP315 Technologies for e-Commerce (*)	15
COMP519 Web programming	15	COMP317 Semantics of Programming Languages (*)	15
		COMP318 Advanced Web Technology(*)	15
		ELEC675 Computational Intelligence	15

Further Information

Further information (how to apply, fees, etc.) can be obtained by visiting this link.

You can find a PDF version of the program specification document here.

The Admissions Tutor for the MSc Programme is Dr Michele Zito (michele@liverpool.ac.uk)