School of Computer Science Undergraduate Study

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1 The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus Jalan Broga, Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia t: +6(03) f: +6(03) e: (Malaysians) (Non-Malaysians) Applications: (Malaysians) (Non-Malaysians) July 2011 printed KPT/JPT/DFT/US/B19 Disclaimer : The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this brochure at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to alter any information without prior notice should the need arise.

2 Contents Message from the Director 02 Message from the Director 03 Computer Science at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus 04 Careers 05 Course structures 06 Computer Science Degree Courses 07 Student case studies 09 Applications and Fees 10 Visiting and contacting us Computers are now a fundamental part of the information-rich world that we now live in, although paradoxically they are starting to disappear from view. The traditional desktop computer is still with us, but increasingly computers are becoming a part of the fabric of our high-tech environment. They are in our phones, our cars, our televisions. They make decisions every time we apply for a loan, they help doctors to monitor our health, artists use them to create visual images and special effects in movies, and they are a standard tool of musicians. It is hard to think of an area of human endeavour in which computers don't now play an integral role. Computing professionals are the architects of this new information age, and degrees in areas such as computer science, software engineering and IT not only produce highly employable graduates, but they are also the basis for rewarding and lucrative careers. In Nottingham we are excited to be able to offer a really interesting portfolio of computing degrees, which are designed and delivered by experts. Most of these courses are available at our beautiful purpose built campus in Malaysia, where we go to great lengths to ensure that both the syllabus and quality assurance are identical to those in the UK. Timothy Brailsford Director of Computer Science, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus

3 Computer Science at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus Careers Computer science is intimately concerned with knowing, in detail, how computers and computer systems work. Building on that knowledge helps us understand how we can build computer systems and program them to do what we want them to do. It's also about the way computers store and process information and how humans and computers interact with each other. Computer scientists need to look at down-to-earth engineering issues of building tools that help us create large-scale software systems. But, at the other end of the scale, there are profound philosophical issues about what can, or can't be computed. This leads us to ask profound questions about the fundamental nature of the computation process. Nowadays, we are all surrounded by pervasive computer technology. This might lake the form of a traditional desktop or notebook computer, or it might be a less obvious computer embedded inside a digital TV or mobile phone. A computer science degree from The University of Nottingham will leave you well placed to understand how to program today's computers and also how to design and implement the systems of the future - whether they are a traditional computer system, a smart-phone, a tablet device or something completely new. The School The has over 30 members of academic staff in the UK, and 11 at our Malaysia campus. Their interests cover all aspects of computer science, and they are all actively engaged with undergraduate teaching. In Malaysia, at our purpose built 125-acre campus at Semenyih, 30km south of Kuala Lumpur city centre, we are providing a genuine British education in an ASEAN setting. Our teaching staff consists of both local Malaysians and international academics, and they are lead by experienced staff seconded from the UK campus. We are committed to excellence and innovation in both teaching and research, and as such are constantly reviewing our courses content to make sure they are with the latest developments in the field, and to ensure our graduates are well placed to pursue their chosen careers. Our reputation Our single honours Computer Science degree is accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS). This is not only an external recognition of the excellence of our teaching but also recognition that the skills you learn while studying the degree are of relevance to industry. Graduates from this degree qualify for exemption from the BCS Professional Examination and the degree also counts as partial fulfilment of the requirements for UK Chartered Engineer status. Our graduates can look forward to a wide variety of future opportunities. In the past, some of our graduates have gone on to work for traditional computer companies such as Adobe, Google, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Microsoft. Others have gone on to find employment with employers such as Accenture, Experian, and Ocado, all of whom rely on computer scientists to develop the systems that drive their businesses. While many computer science graduates do become programmers, others employment in a wide variety of jobs. These include computer analysts, IT consultants and planners, network/systems designers and engineers, researchers, software designers and engineers, web designers, web developers and producers as well as advertising and marketing executives, business analysts, chartered accountants, financial analysts, investment/merchant bankers, directors and chief executives of major organisations, legal professionals, officers in armed forces, quality assurance managers and sales managers. Many of our graduates continue with their studies, in subjects such as machine learning, e-commerce, information security and psychology. The School of Computer Science has a good record for recruiting PhD students from its own graduates and also runs MSc degrees in IT, Management of IT and Computer Science with Entrepreneurship

4 Course structures Computer Science Degree Courses Our degrees are built around a three-year structure. The first year is considered a qualifying year and is designed to provide the basic foundations of knowledge that are required for the later parts of the course. The second and third years will count towards your final degree classification. Every module is worth a set number of credits (typically 10) and you will be expected to complete 120 credits of modules in each year of study. Each year is divided into two semesters with exams at the end of each semester, so you will be expected to take 60 credits of modules in each semester. Each module will typically have two or three lectures per week, and many also have associated lab sessions and tutorials to give you chance to practise what is taught in the lectures. Some modules make use of modern approaches to teaching, including e-learning and social media. First year All our single honours degrees have a common first year, allowing you to easily move between our degrees at the end of the first year should you wish. The first year of the Computer Science and Software Engineering degrees consists of modules that feed in to the major themes of: Operating Systems and Architecture; Programming; Mathematical Foundations; Software Engineering; Net-Centric Computing; Intelligent Systems and Human-Computer Interaction. The first year of our joint honours course in Computer Science and Management is formed from a subset of these modules, combined with modules provided by the Business School. You can, should you wish, pick up the remaining modules as options in later years before studying the more advanced modules in that theme. Second year The second year of our degree revolves around a 20-credit software engineering group project in a relevant area that is designed to simulate what it is like to work on a real software project. There is more advanced study of core computer science (including programming, networks. data structures, logic and concurrency) and further specialist modules depending on the exact degree. In addition you will be able to choose up to 30 credits from a selection of optional modules. Third year The third year is centred around a 40-credit individual project (20 credits for Computer Science and Management students). You will agree the topic of the project with a member of staff. Students often propose their own projects, which allow them great freedom to specialise in areas of particular interest (for example, in computer forensics. web security. correct program construction or intelligent agents). The topic of the project must be relevant to the degree being studied. Four further specialist modules are also studied. Another compulsory module will give you an understanding of how a modem operating system works. The remaining credits can be made up from any high-level optional modules available within the School with up lo 20 credits allowed for modules from other schools. Which course is right for me? Our straight Computer Science degree focuses upon how computers work, and how they may be used to solve real-world problems. If you enjoy problem-solving and puzzles, then this course might well be the right one for you. Our Software Engineering degree uses many of the same modules as used on our computer science degree, but it is tailored to focus rather more on the design and implementation of large software systems. If you enjoy building things, and want to learn to construct software systems (and that includes considering people as well as machines), then this course is likely to be appropriate. Our Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence degree provides a general understanding of computer science with specialist knowledge of the domain of artificial intelligence, and this course requires you to spend your final year in the UK studying advanced AI techniques with specialist staff we have there. You may wish to combine computer science with management studies, and the Computer Science with Management degree offers half computer science modules and half management modules, which are taught by the University s Business School. BSc Computer Science G400 (3 years) The Computer Science degree forms the core of our teaching programme. Within the three years of this course, you will develop a sound knowledge of the fundamentals of computer science, including appreciations of the interaction between hardware and software; and understanding of human-computer interaction and the sociological impact of information technology; and knowledge of the professional standards and ethics of the computer industry, together with the skills and confidence to react to its ever-increasing rate of change. This course is designed to produce high-quality graduates who show independent thought, flexibility and maturity and who command a sound technical knowledge of the broad aspects of computer science. You will gain an appreciation of current computing practice so that the skills learned can be applied immediately after graduation. The course also provides an understanding of the nature of computer science as an academic discipline. BSc Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence G4G7 (3 years) Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence is designed to offer both a general understanding of computer science as well as specialist skills in artificial intelligence. Additionally, optional module choices offer the opportunity to study computer science in the context of robotic systems. In addition to fundamental computer science classes and laboratories, the course covers topics including expert systems, intelligent agents, the history and philosophy of artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, neural networks, heuristic optimization and other intelligent systems. By following this programme you will learn how to develop new methodologies and novel computational techniques for the creation of human-like intelligence. The first two years of this three-year degree is taught at the Malaysia campus, but students must transfer to the UK for the third year of their studies. There, they will be able to take a variety of specialist courses that are supported by the world-leading research that is undertaken within the school. BSc Software Engineering G601 (3 years) The software engineering degree is practically oriented, and focuses on the design and implementation of large software systems, particularly those with interactive or multimedia components. It is built around four themes: the design and implementation of software systems; the use and development of networked and distributed systems; user interface principles; and evaluation and testing. You will graduate with: general knowledge and understanding of computer and software systems; specialised knowledge of the design, implementation, user interfaces, and evaluation of software systems; experience in using a variety of problems encountered in the area of software engineering; and an understanding of the professional, legal and ethical aspects of the discipline. BSc Computer Science and Management GN42 (3 years) This joint honours course is taught by the School of Computer Science and Nottingham University Business School. Its primary objective is to produce high-quality graduates equipped to bridge the gap between leading-edge computer technology and its application in the management of commercial and industrial enterprises. The course develops skills required by computing professional and managers alike. These include project management skills; the ability to schedule work, plan exercises and take part in and run meetings; teamworking and delegation skills; and the ability to combine the skills of specialists. This degree is half computer science and half business studies. Its core modules in each year are a subset of the core modules for the respective single honours degrees. Although you will be welcome to carry out a group project in the second year we do not make this compulsory and you will be able to choose other options should you wish. In the final year, you will typically take a scaled-down individual project worth 20 credits, along with other taught modules from both schools

5 Student case studies Jer Lang Hong BSc Computer Science (2005) Zalina Ali BSc Computer Science and Management (2008) Upon graduating, Zalina joined Innovation Associates Consulting at KLCC as a consultant in Public Sector Management focusing on change and project management and developing the Tourism Blueprint. She has since worked on projects with government agencies, including the Ministry of Finance and the Economic Planning Unit, as well as government-linked companies such as Maybank, the Iskandar Region Development Authority (IRDA) and Telekom Malaysia. She is now an analyst working for the Chief Minister of Perak in the Research & Strategy department - investigating into socio-economic developments aimed at improving quality of life. My three years of university experience has taught me great leadership and management skills, that have enabled me to stand where I am now. After graduating, Jer Lang Hong continued his studies at Monash University, and was awarded a PhD in He is now a lecturer in the School of Information Technology at Monash University, where is researching in areas of information retrieval and the semantic web. As a Computer Science student of University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus, I worked hard, regularly attended lectures, and read additional articles and journals. Also, frequent discussions with lecturers outside of the class helped me a lot in acquiring co-curricular knowledge. Shoba Raman BSc Computing and Information Systems (2008) Shoba Raman is now working as an analyst/programmer for British American Tobacco, Malaysia Bhd., developing an enterprise architecture tool, which is being used for modelling processes. This gives her an excellent opportunity to work closely with business people and to explore the business flow while remaining in the field of IT. I enjoyed my life at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus a lot. The lecturers were friendly and helpful, and the quiet environment suits the educational life very well. I learned many positive things during my time there: Independence I learned to complete project independently, to live independently and this made me do all of my daily work by myself. Hardwork I learned that nothing can be achieved easily without putting in your own effort regardless of whether it is an exam or an assignment. Communication Skills I learned how to deliver a good presentation confidently, and this has really helped me to communicate with business users and superiors without fear. Nottingham University helped me to acquire technical skills as well as soft skills and, most importantly, communication skills that have all helped me greatly in my organisation. My final year project, on a 3D War Game, and regular discussions with my advisor, helped me to obtain a first class honours degree. I firmly believe that it is a great honour to be a graduate of University of Nottingham. N.E. Ganesh Kumar MSc Information Technology (2004) Since graduating Ganesh Kumar has worked for Sutherland Global Software Services in Chennai, India, initially leading a business intelligence reporting team and now working in as a team leader in project management. At the University of Nottingham Malaysia campus I acquired skills and had a great exposure to many different areas of IT, which were previously unknown to me. This exposure gave me good knowledge of computer security, human factors in computers and user interface design, to name but a few. This has helped me a lot in my career, as few people in companies here have much experience with these advanced areas of knowledge. I have now given lectures in these areas in my office, in order to share these skills that I have acquired with my colleagues

6 Applications and Fees Visiting and contacting us Tuition Fees and Accommodation The tuition fees (2011/2012) for all undergraduate Computer Science courses are RM 31,500 per year for Malaysian students and RM 35,000 per year for international students. The cost of living in Malaysia, for a student, is typically around RM 1,200 per month (inclusive of food, books, entertainment, transportation, laundry, etc.). The Malaysia Campus offers a variety of accommodation options at various prices. Students can choose from on-campus halls of residence to off-campus university-arranged accommodation provided by external developers. The accommodation office liaises closely with external developers to ensure that all accommodation meets acceptable standards in terms of health and safety requirements. Scholarships The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus grants scholarships to deserving and academically excellent students in recognition of their achievements. Applicants are selected based on their academic achievements and the socio-economic status of their family. There are also various options and sources which are available to help finance your education, and students with outstanding academic results can seek sponsorship from various sponsoring bodies. Further information is available on our website: holarships/ Entry Requirements Academic STPM: B+BB, including Grade B+ in Mathematics and a Science subject, excluding General Studies A-Levels: BCC, including Grade B in Mathematics and a Science subject, excluding General Studies. SAM/AUSMAT/HSC: ATAR 80. Canadian Pre-U: 75% average based on 6 subjects, including Mathematics and Science subjects. IB: 28 points, including 5 points in Mathematics (SL). UEC: 4 A s, including Mathematics and Grade B in 2 other academic subjects, excluding Chinese Language and Bahasa Malaysia. Nottingham Foundation in Science: Average pass marks of 40% and above, including all Computer Science modules. HND and other equivalent Diploma/Advanced Diploma with a minimum average of Grade B and Distinction in Mathematics can be considered for direct entry into Year 2. Other equivalent qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. English language IELTS: 6.0 (no less than 5.0 in any element) TOEFL paper-based: 550 (no less than 4.0 in TWE) TOEFL ibt: 79 (no less than 17 in any element) SPM/GCSE level: Grade 4 UEC: Grade 2 at Senior Middle 2 level For students who need to enhance their English language skills before joining a degree programme, The Centre for English Language Education offers Pre-sessional Language Courses which are open to all prospective students. How to Apply You will need to complete an application form and submit this, along with your academic reference form and supporting documents, by post, fax or . Full details of the procedures as well as the required forms are on our web site. For Malaysian students this is: ian/apply.aspx and for international students it is: tional/apply.aspx We hope that this brochure has answered any questions you may have had about studying computer science at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus. We hope that you will apply to join our thriving undergraduate community. If you have any individual enquiries about our courses or entry to the school then please us at enquiries@nottingham.edu.my or telephone at We have regular faculty open days that are advertised on the web and through the local press. Also, we are happy for you to drop in to see us. If you want to do so then please make an appointment using the address or phone number above. The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus Jalan Broga Semenyih Selangor Darul Ehsan Malaysia 09 10