Postgraduate Course Handbook For admission in

Transcription

1 North Campus Faculty of Computing MSc Software Engineering Postgraduate Course Handbook For admission in SFTENG-N

2 Postgraduate Academic Year AUTUMN SEMESTER Start - End Welcome Programme 22 September September 2011 Teaching 3 October December 2011 Christmas Break 19 December January 2012 Teaching/revision 9 January January 2012 Examinations 16 January February 2012 Dissertation Deadline 20 January 2012 SPRING SEMESTER Welcome Programme (new February entrants only) 30 January February 2012 Teaching 6 February March 2012 Easter Break 2 April April 2012 Teaching 16 April May 2012 Teaching/revision 8 May May 2012 Examinations 14 May June 2012 Dissertation Deadline 18 May 2012 SUMMER STUDIES PERIOD Summer Studies Period 1 June August 2012 Resit Examinations 16 July July 2012 Reassessment Coursework 27 July 2012 Dissertation Deadline 31 August 2012 Note Masters courses are based on a teaching year designed to amount to 48 weeks in total In addition to these dates you need to be aware of other important events and deadlines throughout the year; such as coursework submission dates, publication of the exam timetable, publication of results, mitigating circumstances deadlines, programme planning deadlines. You can access these at:

3 1 KEY CONTACTS Postgraduate Office: Tower Building Postgraduate Office, room T1-01 Administration Manager of the Postgraduate Office: Nicola James Faculty Administrative Office: Tower Building, room T8-04 Course Leader: Dr Danni Novakovic, Course Leader s Office: T10-03 Main Campus teaching location: North

4 2 CONTENTS 1.0 WELCOME TO YOUR COURSE AND FACULTY 1.1 Using Your Handbook 1.2 Introduction to the Course 1.3 Key Features of Postgraduate Courses 1.4 Introduction to your Faculty 1.5 Location and Faculty Facilities supporting the course 1.6 Learning and Teaching on the Course 1.7 Research in your Faculty 2.0 BEING A STUDENT 2.1 Welcome Programme Checklist 2.2 Your first semester 2.3 Attendance, academic engagement and employment 2.4 Studying 2.5 Building Careers 2.6 Enrolment and Re-enrolment 2.7 Credit for previous learning 2.8 Module registration, course planning and approval 2.9 Your Timetable 2.10 Publication of Results and Transcripts 3.0 MANAGING YOUR ACADEMIC LIFE ON-LINE 3.1 Your University IT Account 3.2 Communication 3.3 Your Contact Details 3.4 Evision 3.5 WebLearn Online module resources 3.6 StARS 3.7 Course Committees 3.8 Students views on modules and courses 3.9 Postgraduate representation through the Students Union 4.0 SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ADVICE 4.1 Postgraduate Office 4.2 Postgraduate Course Leader 4.3 Module Lecturers 4.5 Student Success through Learning Development 4.6 Student Services 4.7 Disabilities and Inclusion 4.8 Placements/study abroad 5.0 DISSERTATION OR PROJECT 5.1 Registration 5.2 Supervision Arrangements 5.3 Topic approval 5.4 Planning and Timing 5.5 Submission 6.0 MARKING AND ASSESSMENT 6.1 Academic Regulations 6.2 Marking and grades 6.3 Your responsibilities concerning Assessment 6.4 Academic Misconduct 6.5 Assessment Feedback 6.6 Submission of coursework 6.7 Examination Timetable

5 6.8 Past Examination Papers 6.9 Mitigating Circumstances 6.10 Assessment Board Appeals 6.11 Action in the event of failure to pass a module 6.12 University Criteria for Awards 6.13 Withdrawal from a module 6.14 Intermission of Studies 6.15 Mode of Study 6.16 Course Transfers 7.0 STUDY RESOURCES AND FACILITIES 7.1 Libraries and Special Collections 7.2 Academic Liaison Librarians and Subject Guides 7.3 Student feedback 7.4 ICT Services and Media Resources 7.5 Open Language Programme 8.0 COURSE SPECIFICATION 9.0 USEFUL INFORMATION 10.0 DIRECTORY OF MODULES FOR THE COURSE 11.0 INDEX OF KEY SOURCES OF INFORMATION 11.1 Relevant University Procedures 11.2 Useful online information 3

6 1 1.0 WELCOME TO YOUR COURSE AND FACULTY This is the Course Handbook for the MSc Software Engineering. The staff of the Faculty of Computing warmly welcome you to London Metropolitan University North Campus and to the study of MSc Software Engineering. 1.1 Using Your Handbook Your Course Handbook contains a wealth of information. Some of it will be of more relevance to you later in the course than at the start of your studies. You can access your Course Handbook either by logging into your Evision account or via the University s website at: We recommend that you read this Course Handbook thoroughly and carefully, as it covers many of the questions you will have about your course. Sections 3 and 4 in particular will help you locate the advice you will need. Section 11.1 contains an Index of key sources of information that you may need to access during your course. For more detailed information you will sometimes need to consult other sources, including: University Student Handbook - for details of important University regulations and procedures. It also provides information on university life and the support services available. The University Student Handbook can be accessed at: PostGrad-Line a comprehensive on-line source of postgraduate course and module information available at: Postgraduate students webpage a comprehensive on-line resource for postgraduate students. Provides information about your course, timetables, details of timeslots and room numbers for most taught modules. Once you have completed enrolment and registration, you can view and print your personal timetable Please see: The Course Specification (Section 8 of this handbook) defines the key features of your course, its aims, structure and learning outcomes, and includes all the modules you must study for the award. All postgraduate courses are governed by the University s Academic Regulations ( It is your responsibility to be fully aware of the regulations which govern your studies as a postgraduate student of the University. Your course may in addition have some course specific regulations or may be governed by a Professional Body. Where relevant these are included in paragraph 32 of the Course Specification, contained within Section 8 of this handbook. You should also note that occasionally, the details in this Handbook, including the Course Specification, may be amended or revised, in order to improve the Course. The University is reviewing postgraduate education as part of its commitment to enhancing learning. This will not affect full-time students completing in September However, it is possible that this may affect a small number of part-time students. In the event of this occurring, any students affected will be advised during We would encourage you to participate as a Student Representative (see Section 3.6). We welcome your comments about the course or any suggestions for improvements. We wish you every success in your studies.

7 1.2 Introduction to the Course 1 MSc Software Engineering provides students with an in-depth understanding of the role of Software Engineering within IT dependent enterprises. Students develop capabilities in the analysis, evaluation and implementation of Software Engineering principles in IT system development as well as the ability to efficiently integrate complex systems architectures within and between organisations. The course addresses key aspects of modern Software Engineering through integrated modules covering Information Security, Software Quality Assurance and Advanced Software Engineering. This course benefits from being tightly integrated with other MSc courses in the Faculty so that it incorporates increasingly relevant aspects of distributed systems and mobile computing into its syllabus. The pace of change in computing is such that many computing professionals find it a struggle to keep up with new technologies and other developments in the field. This course, with its specialised advanced computing modules, is specifically designed to bring students up to date with modern concepts in Software Engineering and Computing practices, in order to make them more effective in the workplace. As such, this course enables students to accurately assess the impact of these technological trends on the computing environment they may currently be working in. In so doing students will have the opportunity to upgrade their skills, enhance their qualifications and improve their career prospects. On completion of this course graduates will be well equipped to work in some of the fastest growing sectors of the IT industry. Students will be eligible for jobs such as technical architects and enterprise system consultants, and for high-end placement within more general information systems development teams. The course will also provide an excellent basis for further study and for those wishing to pursue a higher-level research degree, e.g. Ph.D., or embark on an industry-based research career. 1.3 Key Features of Postgraduate Courses The Course Specification (see Section 8) details your course curriculum and structure and you should study this carefully. Many features are defined by the Postgraduate Regulatory Framework, part of the University s Academic Regulations (see Section 11.1 of this handbook for details), which sets out general features common to almost all Masters courses. (i) Full-time students starting Masters programmes in the Autumn semester are taught over a 48-week year (an autumn and a spring semester and a summer studies period), requiring approximately 40 hours of study per week. For full-time students starting courses in February the workload is similar but is distributed over a longer study period and normally completed at the end of the following Spring semester. Part-time students undertake the equivalent overall workload over a longer period of study, normally at least two years. (ii) The standard Masters award requires 180 credits at level M: normally 120 credits for the taught elements and 60 credits for the Dissertation or Project. There are some exceptions to the rule, such as specified Masters courses in Human Resource Management, which require 180 credits, and the MBA at 220 credits. (iii) Most postgraduate modules are equivalent to 20 credits. Typically, a full-time student studies modules equivalent to 60 credits per semester (normally 3 modules), with 15 weeks of teaching, revision and assessment activities for each module.

8 2 (iv) The taught elements of postgraduate courses are mainly compulsory core modules and normally include one concerned with research methodology and project development and practice, in preparation for the dissertation or project. Some courses may include designate modules, which can be chosen from a specified list for the course, or elective modules, which can be chosen from any available at postgraduate level. (v) All taught modules and the dissertation or project module, are marked on a percentage scale, with a pass/fail threshold of 50%. (vi) Based on the final aggregate of average percentage results, Masters awards are graded as: Masters (50-59%), Masters with Merit (60 69%), or Masters with Distinction (70% plus) (vii) While most students will aim to achieve the full Masters qualification, all Masters courses offer the subsidiary awards of Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma (both available with Merit or with Distinction) for students unable to complete their full programme of study. The full list of awards and their requirements is as follows: Award Credits at level M Modules Required Masters 180 credits (Level 7) 6 modules + dissertation (60 credits) Postgraduate Diploma 120 credits (Level 7) 6 modules Postgraduate Certificate 60 credits (Level 7) 3 modules 1.4 Introduction to your Faculty The Faculty of Computing is in central London at London Metropolitan University's North Campus, situated in the Tower Building on Holloway Road. The Faculty provides an extensive variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. These range from electronic engineering, through networks, mathematics and statistics, a suite of computing and business systems courses, to animation, games and multimedia - about 30 courses in total. The Faculty is divided into four subject areas: Communications Technology, Computing, Mathematics and Multimedia. There are around 70 academic staff and over 1300 students in what is one of the largest faculties in the University. The Faculty pays equal importance to research and consultancy, teaching and continuing professional development. One of the Faculty's key aims is to increase its relevance to commerce and industry, eg by offering professional and short courses and through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. We place emphasis on professional integration by applying new technologies and approaches to our teaching and research. 1.5 Location and Faculty Facilities supporting the course A variety of specialist computer laboratories are available to students in the Tower Building at North Campus, Holloway Road and throughout the University. Workstations run varied software including Unix, Windows, networking software from CISCO, database software from Oracle and multimedia software. Other academic services, including the library facilities, are provided by the University centrally. General purpose computer laboratories, and wireless access for student laptops, are available in most university buildings.

9 3 1.6 Learning and Teaching on the Course The Faculty of Computing covers three of the Quality Assurance Agency Subject Areas: Computing, Electronic Engineering and Mathematics, and QAA assessments have been good, notably the quality review in Computing which took place in 2004 and the Institutional Audit of Electronic Engineering in More recently the Faculty has gained accreditation for its courses from the Institute of mathematics and its Applications (IMA) and, provisionally, from the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), subject to final approval. In 2010 the university gained broad confidence in its quality and standards from the QAA. In the 2011 National Student Survey overall student satisfaction with their course ranged from 80% in Communications Technology, and 88% in Computing up to 100% in Mathematics. 1.7 Research in your Faculty Research in the Faculty of Computing is applied, relevant to industry and often carried out in collaboration with external partners. We have particular strengths in mathematics and statistics, communications technology, knowledge management, intelligent systems and media design for interaction. The Faculty included more than 30 research active staff in the UK Research Assessment Exercise (2008), resulting in half of our Computer Science and Informatics research being classified as internationally recognised or internationally excellent; and most of the Pure Mathematics and Statistics research being rated as internationally excellent or world class. In recent years, our research, development and knowledge transfer projects have attracted funding from, amongst others: European Union; Joint Information Systems Committee; Higher Education Academy; Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council; and British Broadcasting Corporation. Much of our work is carried out in conjunction with industry. We are proactive in forming external links and partnerships and in bringing contemporary research material into our degree programmes for the benefit of our students and their employability. Our research is carried out in the following research centres and groups: Centre for Communications Technology Intelligent Systems Research Centre Knowledge Management Research Centre Laboratory of Applied Computer Science and Technology (LACOST) Statistics, Operational Research and Mathematics Research Centre (STORM) Students can use the Project Description Web Site to view projects offered by active research staff which they can apply to do for their major 60 credit project module.

10 4 2.0 BEING A STUDENT Undertaking study at postgraduate level is likely to involve new and different methods of working compared to your previous experience. You will study more specialised subject matter at a more advanced level, relatively quickly and over a shorter period. You will be expected to pursue your studies with a greater degree of independence than at undergraduate level and to set your own learning objectives within the framework of the course. The remainder of this section highlights the general features and expectations associated with postgraduate study. 2.1 Welcome Programme Checklist Following the Welcome Programme and Course Introductory Meeting, you should check that you have received the following: an ID card (including library number and computer network username) an address a course timetable the location of your Postgraduate Office the location of your Faculty Administrative Office the location of your main learning centre and IT facilities the name of your Course Leader If you arrived late you will still need to obtain the items above and there will be a late Welcome session for you. Contact your designated Postgraduate Office to ensure you know what to do and where to go to get started. Classes commence from Monday 3 October 2011, immediately following the Welcome Programme. 2.2 Your first semester After your welcome, you will find yourself in the first week of formal teaching, where you will meet the module lecturers, who will often be giving the main lecture for the module, and other teaching staff, who may be taking seminars or workshop groups. In this period you will also undertake an induction process/programme which will normally last between 1-3 weeks depending upon your course, which will help guide you through your semester and prepare you for your Masters Level course more generally. This induction period will be specifically designed with your disciplinary area in mind and will be different from course to course. However, at course level you should expect to receive information on the following as a minimum: a) Welcome and Induction by Course Leader to the course b) Introduction to course materials and handbooks c) Guidance on student/staff roles, rights, responsibilities and expectations d) Further support with understanding any timetabling information e) Course specific requirements regarding Library etc f) Role of the Postgraduate Offices g) Any Health & Safety requirements e.g. Lab protocols h) Specific Study Skills as necessary i) Mitigating Circumstances j) Policy on Plagiarism k) Personal Tutorial arrangements l) Election of Student Representatives (STARS) In addition, your Course Leader will be able to point you in the direction of other introductory materials or sessions run by other University departments, for example, Library Services, Student Services or the Students Union.

11 5 This induction schedule will culminate in one of two social events hosted by the University and the Students Union. These will take place three weeks into your first semester and you are welcome to attend one of these sessions which will be held at both campuses. Your first semester usually involves mainly compulsory (core) modules covering essential subject contents and skills elements in your area of study. During this first semester you will meet with your Course Leader who will discuss your study programme and advise you on how to plan your studies for the second semester if you did not do this at the start of the course. 2.3 Attendance, academic engagement and employment Your success depends upon full and regular attendance at all classes, seminars, lectures, workshops, tutorials and the completion of all of your module assessment(s), including your dissertation. Our records show that students who do not attend all their classes are at very high risk of failure. The University s Academic Regulations make it clear that attendance and full academic engagement are requirements of your registration on your course. The content of modules is progressive, so if you miss a session you will need to catch up. However, we do recognise that for some postgraduate students there may be occasions where your absence is unavoidable; in such circumstances, we strongly recommend that you contact your Course Leader or Module Tutor/Lecturer. If you are having ongoing difficulties with attendance or committing fully to your postgraduate studies please contact your Postgraduate Office for advice on what to do. Please note - for international students, the University is required by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to confirm that you are in regular attendance. The University looks carefully at the evidence of your attendance and academic engagement and full-time students who fall below these requirements can find themselves being moved to a part-time programme. This can have serious implications for you and your course. In the case of part-time students, if you fail to meet attendance and academic engagement requirements the University may withdraw you from some of your modules. In some circumstances this can also lead to you being required to leave your course. We recognise that you may need to undertake part-time work, but strongly advise you not to take employment of more than 15 hours a week if you are a full time student (should you need to take employment of more than 15 hours per week we recommend you register as a part-time student). The University s Employment Service, in Student Services, can help you find a suitable part-time job that can enhance your employability and complement your studies. ( 2.4 Studying As a postgraduate student, you will be seeking to develop your learning at more advanced level and your course will provide many opportunities to acquire new knowledge and skills. To make the most of these you will need to develop a strategy for your studies, planning ahead, managing your time effectively and reflecting on your learning. Assessment is an important feature of study at postgraduate level. Each module booklet sets out detailed assessment requirements and learning outcomes, providing a focus for your studies. There are various forms of assessment and modules often involve a combination of examination and coursework or presentation. It is important that you understand clearly the expectations and deadlines for each item of assessment. You should be aware that all the various coursework assessments and examinations have to be completed for the achievement of your final award. In addition to attending the timetabled sessions, you will need to study in your own time. You should expect to spend hours per week on each module, making a 40 hour per week commitment for a full-time student. Part-time students need to plan a similar time commitment for each module, but will generally be taking fewer modules at any one time.

12 6 Independent study is particularly important when planning work for your dissertation or project. This is a substantial piece of work, to be developed and completed over a relatively lengthy period, with much of the writing concentrated in the final stages. Working closely with your assigned supervisor, you will need to plan your work carefully, with initial discussion to define the topic, preparatory research and reading, planning the structure of the research and final report, writing and re-writing particular sections and drafts. Please be respectful of the learning environment and remember to switch off your mobile phone before entering all classes and study areas. In summary: plan your learning strategy; allocate enough time; attend all of your module lectures, tutorials and other sessions; start assignments well in advance; seek advice and help when you need to; use the learning resources offered; and, enjoy the learning experience! 2.5 Building Careers At London Metropolitan University we pride ourselves in taking seriously your future employment potential. Whether you are studying for a postgraduate qualification in order to seek employment, developing an existing career or to engage with new career opportunities we will prepare and support you in this transition by developing the attributes and skills that employers need and by training your mind to deal with complex questions. Your course has been designed with the involvement of employers at a variety of levels and for many of you, your award will be accredited by a professional body recognised directly or indirectly by the industry to which it serves. All Masters level qualifications will enable you to specialise or to become more highly specialised in an area of employment or practice related to a particular profession. All of our Masters graduates will normally be equipped to continue academic study at a higher level, for example for a PhD or a professional doctorate. Graduates of a Masters level qualification will typically develop a range of key skills including: being able to use initiative and take responsibility, solve problems in creative and innovative ways, make decisions in challenging situations, continue to learn independently and to develop professionally, including the ability to pursue further research where appropriate, and communicate effectively, with colleagues and a wider audience, in a variety of media. These skills have been identified by the government as being critical in curtailing the continued shortage of higher level skills within the wider UK economy and we believe that you will be best placed following graduation in developing your career aspirations. You need to be effective and adaptable in challenging times, so we offer a range of services to support you including a career planning service. To see more details on how we prepare you for employability visit: Enrolment and Re-enrolment Enrolment is an annual process. The first time you enrol you will need to provide evidence of your identity and the qualifications which formed the basis of your offer from the University. You will also need to pay your tuition fees or demonstrate how these will be paid. The University ID card you receive at enrolment contains your library number and computer network username and allows entry to the University s buildings. Provided you fully completed the enrolment requirements your card should work throughout the year. If it stops working then please seek advice from your Postgraduate Office. By signing the enrolment form you confirm that you accept and will follow the University s regulations If you are studying on a part-time basis over more than one academic year or need to return to complete your studies, you will need to re-enrol online usually from around mid-august. Re-enrolment is necessary for your ID card to be reactivated for the new academic year. There will be a deadline for this so it is important that you complete this before the start of the next academic year. 2.7 Credit for previous learning

13 7 If you already hold a qualification (for example from another college) that may exempt you from part of your course, you may apply for Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL). Similarly, if you have undertaken work, paid or voluntary, that has resulted in learning skills or knowledge equivalent to a module you will be studying you may apply for Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Collectively these are known as Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL). It is important to be aware that any application for APL credit in respect of postgraduate studies must be based on prior learning or experience at a suitably advanced level. This means that it is not normally possible to accredit prior learning at undergraduate level, even if the content may appear similar. The University operates the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), where 1 European credit (ECTS) is equivalent to 2 UK credits (CATS). Thus, each taught module of 20 credits is normally equivalent to 10 ECTS credits, and a full Masters of 180 UK credits is equivalent to 90 ECTS. If you wish to claim for APL please contact your Postgraduate Office or refer to the Index (Section 11) of this handbook for further information. 2.8 Module registration, course planning and approval Your Course Leader should provide the information you will require in order to choose your modules. Core Modules are compulsory for your course, but your course may also offer Designate Modules, which can be chosen from a specified list. Additionally, you may be allowed to take Elective Modules, which can be chosen from any available at postgraduate level. Further information about modules and their timeslots can be found on PostGrad-Line: When you carry out module registration you may be able to choose some time slots, subject to capacity of the class, if the module(s) run more than once. You are more likely to get your first choices if you register on time. Programme Planning Deadlines: 2011/12 Module Registration Dates Autumn Semester 2011/12 Starters Spring Semester 2011/12 Starters 22 September 30 September October November January January 3 February February 2012 March/April May 2012 Module Choice Events during Welcome Programme 1 Deadline for confirmation of Autumn Semester programmes 2. Confirmation of Spring Semester Modules 3 Autumn Semester Dissertation Deadline 4 Module choice exercise for students continuing their studies in 2012/13 Spring Semester Dissertation Deadline 4 Module Choice Events during Welcome Programme Deadline for confirmation of Spring Semester programmes Module choice exercise for students continuing their studies in 2012/13 31 August 2012 Summer Dissertation Deadline Summer Dissertation Deadline 1 Students should plan for the whole 2011/12 programme. 2 Students confirm their programme of study for the year and may not vary their Autumn Semester programme after this point 3 Students may make amendments to their Spring Semester programme (they cannot reduce the number of modules studied). 4 It is unlikely that students will be in a position to take their dissertation at this stage, but it is just possible that they may have sufficient credit at entry to do so.

14 8 2.9 Your Timetable The University timetable operates from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm, Monday to Friday. You will be given a course timetable at the Course Introductory Session. This gives timeslots and rooms for all modules on your course. Once you have registered your modules you can get a print out of your individual timetable for the current semester at: Your timetable will change each semester, and will be available on the web shortly before the start of each semester. If you do not have a course timetable please contact your Postgraduate Office without delay Publication of Results and Transcripts At the end of each semester Assessment Boards confirm marks and awards. The Postgraduate Offices are responsible for providing these results to you via Evision. (refer 3.4 below) An official transcript will be posted to you at your home address on the completion of your course. There is no charge for this end of course transcript but a fee will be payable for any subsequent transcripts. For reason of employment or to provide proof of study at the University during your course, you may need a formal transcript, stamped by the Postgraduate Office. There is a fee for these transcripts, payable at the time of request. Requests should be made to the Postgraduate Office, who aim to produce transcripts within 5 working days of request.

15 9 3.0 MANAGING YOUR ACADEMIC LIFE ON-LINE 3.1 Your University IT Account You use the same account to access all University IT systems. Your account name is printed at the top of on the ID card that you receive at enrolment and is 7 characters in length (e.g. ABC1234). Your password will be set initially to be your date of birth (DDMMYYYY) so you should change to something secure when you first log in. You can change your password and set details for resetting your password at: Communication We do our best to keep you informed of what you need to know at all times. We use the Web to provide much of the information you need so it is essential to familiarise yourself with the University website. At other times we will use to contact you so it is essential that you check your University on a regular basis. 3.3 Your Contact Details The University will contact you by letter, phone, or , perhaps to arrange a meeting, to provide you with information, or to respond to a query. It is therefore essential that you keep your contact details up to date on your student Evision account. Increasingly, we use to communicate and keep you informed. You will also have been allocated a University address, which is your 7 character account (see 3.1 above) e.g. [email protected]. Even if you already have an account that you will continue to use you should regularly check your London Met account or set up an auto forward, as important messages will be sent to your University address. 3.4 Evision Evision is the University s online facility that allows you to access your personal student record, and is where you print your coursework coversheets and other forms that you may need. You also re-enrol via Evision and view information showing your attendance at classes. You can view your: Personal and contact details (can be updated online) Registered modules Enrolment and progression Tuition fee details Record of coursework deadlines and submissions Mitigating Circumstances decisions Module results (available from notified date of publication) Details of final award For more information please check: WebLearn Online module resources WebLearn provides online support for your modules, enabling you to communicate with your tutor and other students. Course materials, information and assessments are available on WebLearn as well as study programmes materials and such as Writing and Communicating at University. WebLearn requires your user name and password and can be accessed at:

16 10 THE STUDENT VOICE 3.6 StARS Feedback from students is vital to the University to find out how well the teaching, guidance and other services are working. This is obtained in different ways, including via Student Academic Representatives (StARs) who, supported by the Students Union, provide direct feedback from students on the course and raise any issues on their behalf. You will have the opportunity to stand for election as a StAR or to elect a fellow student. 3.7 Course Committees A Course Committee is normally convened each semester to review a set of modules and courses and provide quality assurance. Key staff, including module and course lecturers, attend these meetings and student input is received via your StARs. 3.8 Students views on modules and courses Students views are obtained by a variety of means such as focus groups and web-based questionnaires. While staff welcome informal feedback from students, module lecturers will produce formal monitoring reports which cover areas such as teaching, student feedback and assessment. Reports and action points agreed are available from both module and course reviews. 3.9 Postgraduate representation through the Students Union The University is proud to work with the Students Union which now has a Postgraduate Officer whom you may wish to contact about any student, pastoral or social issue. To contact the Students Union please access:

17 SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ADVICE 4.1 Postgraduate Office The Postgraduate Office is the key administrative service to support you in your studies throughout your time at the University. You will be assigned to the Postgraduate Office linked to your course, normally in the building where the subject teaching staff are located. It will be here that you go with timetable queries, to plan your modules, to hand in your coursework, to collect letters you may need, and to ask any questions about your studies. You should also contact your Postgraduate Office in relation to the following issues: Queries about your enrolment status or the fees that you have been charged; Queries about your timetable or the modules that are registered for you; If your ID card is not working; Submit a module query, a claim for mitigating circumstances, an appeal, or get advice about examination arrangements; Advice on claiming credit for previous study or experience; Help you contact your course leader; Obtain standard letters and council tax exemption certificates; Visa extension letters for international students; Advice on the consequences of withdrawing. Each group of courses has a Course Administrator and you will become familiar with them throughout your time at the University. Your Postgraduate Office will also contact you if you are missing classes or not submitting work on time. The offices are normally open throughout the academic year but can also be contacted by phone or see When contacting your Postgraduate Office, please always quote your student number as it enables staff to access your information quickly and so respond to your query. 4.2 Postgraduate Course Leader Course leaders are the main contacts for personal academic advice, including programme planning and approval, and are also responsible for the day-to-day organisation of their course and liaising with academic and administrative staff. They can be a source of valuable advice for other matters also and should be tour first port of call if problems arise. They are able to: provide you with academic advice on all aspects of your studies and progress explain the implications of assessment results and associated feedback on your academic performance advise you on managing and planning your studies; refer you to Student Services for support regarding personal problems, housing, health and finance Your Course Leader can also write you a reference, for a job application for example. 4.3 Module Lecturers Module lecturers are members of academic staff who lead the modules contributing to your programme of study and are key to your learning experience. They should be your first port of call for advice on any topics you do not understand following a lecture or seminar. All Module lecturers have office hours these are set times during the week when they are available for consultation. For each module there will be a Module Booklet.

18 Student Success through Learning Development Some students may need extra help with their studies, sometimes for a particular module or, more generally, across their programme. This might include help with presentations, essay writing and critical analysis. It is always best to seek help in good time and to take advantage of the range of additional classes, courses and resources available. For the full range of study and skills programmes and to find out more about the Learning Development Unit, please visit: Student Services We provide a range of advice, information, guidance and counselling services to support you in achieving your academic aims, We provide advice on issues including. Academic Financial Personal Faith Careers/employment Disability Accommodation Student development Extra curricular activities Visit our web site to find out how we can help you make your time at London Met both enjoyable and successful 4.7 Disabilities and Inclusion The Student Advisers (Disability and Inclusion) can assist you if you have a disability, long-term medical or mental health condition or Specific Learning Difficulties (e.g. dyslexia). Support can include: Special examination arrangements Help with finding an academic support worker Screening if you think you have a Specific Learning Difficulty Assistance to apply for study-related funding If you are eligible for support, the Advisers can help you obtain a range of adjustments depending on the level of need identified. This may include: Practical Assistance: specialist tutors (specific learning difficulties), note-takers, or communication support Specific Adjustments to Study-Related Services: extended library loans (week loans only) or accessibility related rooming adjustments Teaching-Related Adjustments: internal needs assessment report to identify needs to Academic Staff Assessment Specific Adjustments: exam adjustments, coursework certificates or alternative assessment arrangements. Please Note There are some aspects of course assessment that cannot be changed. These are known as competence criteria. To be identified as competence criteria the assessed items must be essential to the course and all students must be able to fulfil these criteria. Although in such situations it may not be possible to alter the format of the assessment, you may still be entitled to adjustments (e.g. extra time or an amanuensis).

19 13 Placement support If you are required, as part of your course, to go on placement, we can provide assistance to ensure that the placement is suitable for you and for any required adjustments to be discussed and organised as appropriate. You may be entitled to government allowances. You are strongly advised to contact us for help with funding applications. For full information on the types of funding available: Placements/study abroad N/A

20 DISSERTATION OR PROJECT 5.1 Registration You register for your Masters Dissertation or Project in the same way as for your other modules - see section 2.8 Module Registration, Course Planning and Approval. Once you are registered for your dissertation/project, you are expected to submit it in the period for which you are registered. The University s standard assessment arrangements and mitigating circumstances procedures apply (see below for information on withdrawal and mitigating circumstances). Formal requirements for your dissertation are set out in detail in the Dissertation/Project Module Booklet for your course. The main aspects are summarised below: 5.2 Supervision Arrangements Students will undertake the work under the guidance of a member of academic staff. This supervision will take up, on average, 0.5 hour per week and the student is expected to work independently for a further 29.5 hours per week. Dissertation students are expected to use staff contact time to discuss problems related to the undertaken work, to seek advice on the completed and future work, and to discuss the progress of their work. Supervisors are expected to use dissertation contact time to provide advice, guidance and support to students. This might involve cultivating student s ability to summarise and defend effectively choices made and decisions taken, or initiating stimulating discussions that might lead to further reading or which will deepen students understanding, or monitoring student s progress, self management, and time management. 5.3 Topic approval Students can either choose one of the proposed titles or identify a problem themselves. Students who identify suitable problems should write up a short proposal describing the nature of the problem, rationale, objectives and methodology. The topic of the dissertation will be finalised in consultation with the agreed Project Supervisor, who will also advise on the scope and viability of the dissertation and who will provide advice, guidance and support for the duration of the dissertation. You should also consult the University s Code of Good Research Practice which can be accessed at: to see whether these guidelines raise any issues for your own research, and discuss them with your supervisor. 5.4 Planning and Timing An outline project plan forms part of the proposal submitted for FCPP01N. Further planning and timing are carried out in discussion with the project supervisor at the beginning of the project. In addition to meeting the Supervisor on a weekly basis, weekly workshops are organised by the Module Convener to address issues relevant to the Dissertation, which gives the student the opportunity to get further feedback/advice and ask questions.

21 Submission You must submit two copies of your dissertation/ project. One copy will be available for you to collect after marking and the other may be kept by the University, for reference. Both copies should be securely bound so that pages cannot easily be removed, lost or replaced. It is helpful if at least one of the copies is bound with front and rear boards rigid enough to hold the dissertation upright on a shelf, and has a navy blue cover with gold lettering. (Your Postgraduate Office can provide a list of thesis binders. You should expect to pay around per volume). There are three standard deadline dates for submission in every academic year. The dates for 2011/12 are: Deadline Autumn Semester 20 January 2012 Spring Semester 18 May 2012 Summer Period 31 August 2012 Dissertations/Projects must be submitted at your Postgraduate Office

22 MARKING AND ASSESSMENT 6.1 Academic Regulations The University s Academic Regulations govern all aspects of assessment and those concerning postgraduate assessment can be found in Section 4.2 ( 6.2 Marking and grades The University provides you with marks and grades for the work that you submit for assessment. The detailed requirements of assessment in each module are specified in module booklets, together with indicative assessment criteria associated with different levels of performance and results. Each component of assessed work is assigned a percentage mark with a pass/fail threshold at 50%. At postgraduate level, degrees are awarded according to the overall average mark obtained for all modules and the dissertation, with classification thresholds for each grade of award as follows: 70% and above Masters degree with Distinction 60% % Masters degree with Merit 50% % Masters degree 0% % Fail At the end of each semester, module results and awards are confirmed by Assessment Boards (Subject Standards Boards and Awards Boards). Assessment Boards uphold the academic standards of your course and ensure that each student is treated fairly and equally through the assessment process. 6.3 Your responsibilities concerning Assessment You have a responsibility to ensure that all coursework assessments are completed in accordance with the published deadlines and that all examinations are attended in accordance with the published timetable. While there are opportunities to be re-assessed in assignments and examinations (see 6.11 below) you should be aware that, under the University s Academic Regulations, if you pass the module on reassessment your overall module mark will be capped at the bare pass mark level of 50%. 6.4 Academic Misconduct You are also responsible for ensuring that all work submitted is your own, and that it is appropriately referenced. The University does not tolerate cheating of any kind. You are strongly advised to familiarise yourself with the Academic Misconduct Procedures, which list a range of categories of academic misconduct and associated penalties, covering instances of academic misconduct (plagiarism, collusion, exam cheating). From the outset of your studies you should receive information and guidance on referencing conventions and group work activities and on how to ensure that you do not contravene the University s Procedures. If you are unsure about referencing, paraphrasing or group work activities, you should seek advice as soon as possible from the Module Tutor, your PAA or the Students Union. An interactive guide on preventing plagiarism containing student views on plagiarism, interactive demonstrations on how to reference and quizzes can be accessed at: Further information can be accessed at:

23 Assessment Feedback Assessment feedback is a critical part of your learning experience and supports successful achievement on your course. Feedback can be: diagnostic it provides an indicator of your aptitude and preparedness for study and can identify your strengths and weaknesses. formative it provides you with feedback on progress on your work. The work may or may not contribute to the overall module grade. summative it provides a measure of achievement or failure in respect of your performance in relation to intended learning outcomes for a piece of assessment. During your course you will probably receive feedback in a number of different forms. in teaching sessions to the whole class or to you individually; orally or in writing; written using a feedback sheet on your work; during the module as well as at the end. Your assessment tasks may be set for submission during the semester or towards the end of the semester. You should note carefully the following details For coursework submitted up to the end of teaching week 9 of a semester i) Your marked coursework and accompanying feedback should normally be returned to you during module sessions. Alternative arrangements may be made, for example, where the assessment involves bulky pieces of coursework. For coursework submitted after teaching week 9 of a semester i) Your tutor s feedback (without the coursework) will be available for collection either from your module lecturer or from the Postgraduate Office. ii) The marked work with your tutor s comments will be available for collection two weeks after the formal publication of the result. iii) Any unclaimed work will be kept for a period of 6 months following publication of the result, after which it will be destroyed. All arrangements for coursework and feedback return will normally be stated in module booklets. This should include: due dates for coursework submission; dates when coursework feedback will be distributed in class (for work submitted up to the end of week 9); dates when coursework feedback can be collected from the module lecturer or the Postgraduate Centre (for work submitted after week 9); the format by which assessment feedback will be given; the process by which coursework can be collected two weeks following the publication of the result concerned. 6.6 Submission of coursework When handing in coursework you must ensure that you have understood and followed all the instructions provided by the module lecturer. Your coursework should be accompanied by a securely attached barcoded coursework coversheet printed from Evision. Unless you are given formal guidance to do otherwise (e.g. for some design work or work to be submitted via WebLearn), written coursework must be submitted only to the Postgraduate Office in the building that

24 18 the module is taught. Work handed in to tutors prior to, or on the confirmed coursework deadline date, does not constitute a valid submission and will not be processed. It is important that you retain both your submission receipt (this is an electronic receipt sent to your University address and also available to view on your Evision account) and a copy of the coursework until the results are published on Evision. Full details of the coursework submission process, including how to obtain coursework cover sheets, can be accessed at: Examination Timetable Examinations take place during Weeks 13, 14 and 15 of each semester and during the Summer Reassessment period in July. (See inside cover of this handbook for 2010/11 dates). The examination timetable is published three weeks prior to the start of each examination period at: Past Examination Papers These are available online at: Mitigating Circumstances Students who are unable to attend an examination must contact their Postgraduate Office on or before the date of the exam. A claim should also be made under the procedures for Mitigating Circumstances which, if accepted, will result in an opportunity to redo the exam without penalty in the summer period. Students who are unable to submit coursework by the due date should also make a claim under the mitigating circumstances process but are also expected, where possible, to submit the assignment within two weeks of the due date with an explanation of the reasons for lateness. Students who do not submit assessment and do not notify the University of the reasons for this in advance will not be eligible for reassessment and may be required to leave the course. For further information access: If you think you are likely to need to make a claim under these procedures you are advised to contact your Postgraduate Office in advance of the due date. Claims of mitigating circumstances must be submitted to the Postgraduate Office on the appropriate form, attaching independent supporting evidence of the particular circumstances that affected your studies. Forms should be printed from: The deadlines for the submission of claims are published at: but also on notice boards outside the Postgraduate Office. Prior to submitting a claim for Mitigating Circumstances you are strongly advised to familiarise yourself with the Mitigating Circumstances Criteria (Section 10.3 of the Academic Regulations), which can be found at: Assessment Board Appeals There are only three grounds on which students may appeal against the outcome of an assessment board decision. These are very specific and an appeal may not be made in respect of an academic judgement or in respect of a rejected claim of mitigating circumstances. The University operates a strict 5 working day

25 19 deadline for submission of appeals, following the publication of the result(s) concerned. Refer to the Index (Section 11.1) for sources of further information. Appeals in respect of impaired academic performance due to mitigating circumstances may be made only in relation to an exam or to an assessed piece of work that was submitted by the published deadline. If successful, the assessment/reassessment concerned will be voided and any mark achieved must be surrendered. A further assessment/reassessment will then be granted, at the next opportunity, in place of the voided attempt. Such appeals WILL NOT be considered in relation to work submitted during the late coursework period (as defined in 6.9 above). Prior to submitting an Appeal you should familiarise yourself with the Procedures for the submission of Appeals (Section 10.4 of the Academic Regulations), which can be found at: Action in the event of failure to pass a module Reassessment A student who attempts the final component of assessment in a module shall normally be entitled to be reassessed on one occasion in any module for which a failing mark has been awarded. Reassessment takes place during the summer resit period following the academic session in which the module was taken. However, reassessment of a dissertation shall take place at the next available assessment point (i.e. January for September submissions, May for January submissions and September for May submissions). Under the University s Academic Regulations, if you pass the module following reassessment, your overall module mark will be capped at the bare pass. A student who does not attempt the final component of assessment in a module will only be permitted reassessment if they have notified the University (normally in advance of the date of submission/date of examination). Where the reasons given are documented and meet the criteria for Mitigating Circumstances (see Section 6.9), a student will be entitled to be assessed during the summer period as if for the first time and will be entitled to the full range of marks for the module. Where a request for a deferral of assessment is made but the claim does not satisfy the criteria for Mitigating Circumstances, the University may agree a reassessment opportunity but any passing module mark will be capped at a bare pass. If you have received failing marks in three or more modules (60 credits) in a level you will be required to undertake a review of your academic performance with your Course Leader or nominee. On the basis of this review, you may be required to leave the course or seek admission on to a different course. You should ensure that you familiarise yourself with the University regulations on reassessment (Section 4.2 of the Academic Regulations), which can be found at: Retaking a module If, after reassessment, you still have not passed a module, you may need to re-register and to take the whole module again. You are only permitted to re-register any module on one occasion and a fee may be charged for re-registrations University Criteria for Awards The Postgraduate Awards Framework, the list of all of the University s postgraduate awards, can be found at the beginning of Section 4.1 of the Academic Regulations. Section 4.2 of the Academic Regulations details the minimum criteria for all the University s postgraduate awards.

26 20 WITHDRAWAL, INTERRUPTION OR TRANSFER 6.13 Withdrawal from a module Normally once you have a registered programme for the academic year it cannot be changed. You have until the end of week 2 of the first semester to withdraw from a module without academic or financial penalty. After this point you are expected to complete every module registered against your record and to pay any fee due for your registered programme. For further information and advice please contact your Postgraduate Office. Withdrawal from a module is not permitted after Week 2 of the first semester and students with unforeseen circumstances, which prevent completion of an assessment or a module, should submit a claim of mitigating circumstances. (See section 6.9). Requests to substitute modules for the second semester of study must be submitted by the University s specified deadline for such requests and shall be subject to University approval. Such requests shall only be considered where there is no reduction in the total number of modules registered Intermission of Studies There may be circumstances that arise in the year that make it difficult for you to continue on your course or part of your course. If this is the case you should in the first instance, contact your Postgraduate Office, who will advise you of the options available to you. You may need to see your Course Leader and/or Student Services. Intermission of studies is only possible in exceptional cases and you will need to provide evidence of your circumstances that confirms it is not possible for you to continue on your course. Intermission can have as financial implications (where applicable) and on your status in the UK if you are an international student. During an approved intermission of studies you will not be eligible to sit examinations, submit coursework or undertake any other form of assessment. The maximum period of intermission permitted is two years and the maximum period in which to qualify for a Masters degree (including any agreed intermission) is six years. If you intermit without prior approval you will be deemed to have withdrawn from your course and you may not be allowed to recommence at a later date. For further details go to: Mode of Study Your mode of study is determined by the University based on the number of modules that you have registered for a particular semester (Refer to Section 4.1, Regulation 13 of the Academic Regulations). While students are permitted to change their mode of study at the end of a semester, they must be clearly registered as either full-time or part-time for each whole semester. This is because the funds allocated to the University by the Higher Education Funding Council (England) relate to the number of students registered in each mode. You should be aware that a change in mode of study is a formal University process and you should therefore seek advice from your Postgraduate Office or Student Services before making any decision Course Transfers If you intend to change course, you should seek advice from your Postgraduate Office.

27 STUDY RESOURCES AND FACILITIES 7.1 Libraries and Special Collections We hope you will make full use of the study facilities, specialist library staff and extensive range of print and electronic resources available to support your studies and help you succeed. London Met students have access to our five libraries located at Calcutta House, Commercial Road, Holloway Road, Ladbroke House and Moorgate and two internationally acclaimed special collections. The Special Collections are The Trades Union Congress Library Collections which is a major research library for the study of all aspects of trade unions, employment and collective bargaining both historical and contemporary coverage. This is located on the ground floor of the Holloway Road library. The Women s Library, located next to Calcutta House building, is the oldest and most extensive collection of women s history in Europe. It is also a cultural centre and students are encouraged to attend the busy public events programme discounts for students are available. The Collections are reference only but they are an excellent source of information for essays especially for dissertations. For more information go to: All University libraries have a large range of up-to-date information and resources. The electronic resources include e-journals, e-books, and databases, which are also accessible outside the University, via the library catalogue at: Holloway Road library, re-designed in early 2011, houses plenty of new computers, comfy informal learning spaces, techno booths, teaching rooms and a café area. All the libraries have open access networked PCs and printers, copying and media facilities to support your studies. In designated areas you can get wireless access to the Internet using your own laptop look out for the MetNet signs. All the libraries offer group and silent learning zones and there are group study rooms which can be booked. To save you time, there are many self-service facilities including borrowing and returning items, renewals and reservations. The web based catalogue is easy to use and can be accessed both on and off campus. Information on our services, library opening hours, borrowing rights, resources and contacts can be found at: Academic Liaison Librarians and Subject Guides Academic liaison librarians are qualified to provide learning support and information skills training and ensure that the appropriate information resources you need are available throughout your course. Your librarian can help you acquire valuable information literacy skills which will enable you to locate, retrieve, evaluate and use the most relevant resources for your research for specific assignments and projects. This is done in a variety of ways from drop-in workshop sessions to bespoke course group sessions planned in conjunction with academic staff and based on your learning objectives. They publish guides and online tutorials to resources specific to your subject area which are a good starting point when you need support. You can talk to your academic liaison librarian in person during one of the regular drop-in sessions at all libraries or, if you prefer, send an with your enquiry. They are always happy to help. For further information:

28 22 To access subject guides and find your academic liaison librarian go to: Student feedback Library Services are always looking at ways to improve what we offer you and welcome your views. Please go to our Comments and Suggestions link on our web pages or your Learning Resources Manager ICT Services and Media Resources Many classrooms are equipped with fixed Audio-Visual installations, including overhead projector, PC, whiteboard and screen. The University has a number of computer studios, offering both specialist and general-purpose software, running mainly on PCs, but some on Apple Macs. Access ICT facilities can only be accessed through using individually assigned IDs and passwords. General-purpose PC and Mac studios are provided and supported by IT support staff. Most are open-access to students except when booked for teaching. Support staff Support is provided throughout the day through dedicated onsite teams, with Student Helpdesks located in Tower Building, Calcutta House, Commercial Road, Eden Grove, Ladbroke House, Moorgate and Spring House. Telephone support is available evenings and weekends every day of the year. Details can be found on the support webpage: Opening Hours For full details of opening hours, refer to: Students can access many of the University s computing facilities from home or another workplace via the Internet. Student Printing Laser printing is available throughout the University. A fee is charged. FURTHER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES 7.5 Open Language Programme In addition to their main programme of study, the University offers all postgraduate students the opportunity through the Open Language Programme, to learn (or gain fluency in) one of a wide range of languages. For the majority of courses an additional fee payment is charged should you wish to pursue this. Before registering for an OLP module you will need to be assessed so that you can be placed at the appropriate level; these assessments are made by the Open Language Programme at key points in the year. The languages available are usually: Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. Learning is achieved through a combination of taught sessions and independent study packs, both of which are essential to make real progress. For further information please visit:

29 COURSE SPECIFICATION 1. Name of course and highest award MSc Software Engineering 2. Scheme Postgraduate 3. Total credit for course Possible interim awards Postgraduate Diploma Software Engineering Postgraduate Certificate Software Engineering 5. Awarding/validating institution/body London Metropolitan University 6. Teaching institution London Metropolitan University 7. Course also accredited by None 8. Professional body exemptions/accreditation None 9. External subject benchmarks N/A 10. UCAS code (undergraduate only) N/A 11. London Met course code PMST 12. Route code SFTENG-N 13. JACS code G Source of funding Self-funded by students 15. Approved to run from Autumn Mode of attendance Full-time, Part-time day, Part-time mixed

30 Expected duration of course MSc 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time (maximum 6 years) PGDip 2 semesters full-time, 4 semesters part-time (maximum 4 years) PGCert 1 semester full-time, 2 semesters part-time (maximum 3 years) 18. Organised work experience/sandwich year/year abroad N/A 19. Career education, information and guidance Standard University 20. Admissions Autumn and Spring 21. Teaching location North Campus 22. Home academic department Faculty of Computing 23. Course Leader Dr Danni Novakovic 24. Main educational aims of the course The primary educational aim of this course is to provide students who already possess a good honours degree in computer science or related discipline, or have substantial relevant industrial experience, an opportunity to study a number of modules at a postgraduate level in state-of-the-art, and heavily in demand, specialist areas of computing in order to produce graduates who are equipped to work within those relevant specialist areas of the software industry. The more generic aims of our postgraduate computing-related programmes are to: Enable students to study selected specialised Computing topics in depth; Enable students to benefit from leading-edge developments in computing and so enhance their employability within the computing marketplace; Offer optional as well as core modules to allow candidates to acquire knowledge appropriate to their interests and career, enhancing and complementing the knowledge, skills and scholarly perspective from their previous education and experience; Further develop in candidates the intellectual skills of reasoning, problem solving, self-expression and independent research skills, thereby enabling them to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively; Enable students to apply their skills and knowledge in research project work; Enable students to add a UK Masters degree to their existing Computing qualifications; Prepare students for employment in some of the fastest growing sectors of the Computing Industry. MSc Software Engineering course adds the following to those generic programme aims: To provide an in-depth understanding and role of Software Engineering in IT dependent operations. To develop and enhance students capabilities in the analysis, evaluation and implementation of Software Engineering principles in IT system development. To develop communications skills in relation to complex systems for assimilation and understanding by others within organisations To produce graduates who are equipped to both work in the software industry and pursue research in Software Engineering. 25. Course learning outcomes

31 25 Knowledge and Understanding By the end of the course, the student is expected to: 1) Develop state-of-the-art systems and techniques in software engineering: their design, construction operation and development alternatives and issues. 2) Apply the fundamental concepts, mechanisms and processes involved in securing information in an enterprise system environment. 3) Be familiar with the fundamental threats to system resources and techniques available for handling them. 4) Demonstrate understanding of software product quality and be able to apply international standards for software project planning and software product assessment; 5) Understand the scope, components and techniques of Enterprise-wide IS design. 6) Demonstrate ability to develop medium- to large-scale object-oriented software that requires several stages of requirements elicitation, analysis, design, implementation and testing. 7) Apply techniques for estimating, planning and monitoring information and software systems development work. 8) Be aware of alternative research styles, paradigms and underlying philosophies. 9) Apply the methods for planning and conducting fieldwork research in software and information systems. Cognitive Skills By the end of the course the student is expected to develop higher order skills that are reflected in the student's ability to: 1) Carry out evaluation of and comparison between a range of technological offerings related to information technologies in modern organisations. 2) Synthesise and document appropriate policies for protecting enterprise information assets and resources. 3) Detect and handle issues related to the evolution of the deployment and use of complex software and information systems in modern organisations. 4) Evaluate the ethical, social and legal issues involved in deploying distributed and corporate-wide software and information systems. 5) Evaluate and select appropriate research methods. 6) Apply the key principles in research project planning and management. Transferable skills including those of employability and professional practice By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to: 1) Apply knowledge and skills needed to undertake an independent research project in Software Engineering with competence; 2) Develop the ability to contribute to an industrially formed software project team; 3) Engender a self-development approach; 4) Think critically, analysing given information, evaluating technical options and implementing a solution; 5) Cooperate with peers, tutors and other university staff through the development and application of strong interpersonal skills; 6) Apply effective time-management skills. Subject-specific practical Skills By the end of the course, students will have the ability to: 1) Implement and test safeguards for protecting system resources, and recommend the appropriate security administration. 2) Identify strength and weaknesses of different encryption algorithms and independently design encryption/decryption algorithms 3) Apply integrally Software Quality Assurance methods and techniques 4) Demonstrate ability to transform a preliminary definition of a software project scope statement into project process by choosing a proper life cycle model and a corresponding mixture of tasks of all software processes; 5) Practically follow software development methods and translate an object model and user requirements into object-oriented database software using CASE tools, object oriented programming and commercial object database system. 6) Estimating, planning and monitoring information and software systems development work.

32 26 7) Developing sound and feasible research proposals in software and information systems and carrying them out. 26. Course structure diagram Students can start the course at either the start of the Autumn or Spring Semesters. The pattern of delivery is the same although different designate modules are likely to be available. Full-time Autumn Entry: Award Semester Code Title Status Credit Points Masters Autumn CCP103N Large Scale Object- core 20 Oriented Database Software Development CCP104N Software Quality core 20 Assurance CCP112N Information Security core 20 OR To choose designate designate 20 module from list A1 Spring CCP113N Advanced Software Engineering core 20 PG Diploma PG Certificate CCP155N Research and Development Skills core 20 CCP112N Information Security core 20 OR To choose designate designate 20 module from list A2 Summer FCPP01N MSc Project core 60 Full-time Spring Entry: Award Semester Code Title Status Credit Points Masters Spring CCP113N Advanced Software Engineering PG Diploma PG Certificate core 20 CCP112N Information Security core 20 To choose designate designate 20 module from list A2 Autumn CCP103N Large Scale Object- core 20 Oriented Database Software Development CCP104N Software Quality core 20 Assurance CCP155N Research and Development Skills core 20 Spring FCPP01N MScProject core 60 LIST A1: Autumn designate modules for MSc Software Engineering CCP101N Mobile and Wireless Technologies CCP102N Mobile Platform Fundamentals CCP105N Data Warehousing and Data Mining CCP106N Web Mining and Web Search Notes A combination of modules to the value of 120 points A combination of modules to the value of 60 points Notes A combination of modules to the value of 120 points A combination of modules to the value of 60 points

33 27 CCP107N Relational and Object Database Development CCP111N Internet Applications Design and Development CCP114N Object-oriented Software Design and Development LIST A2: Spring designate modules for MSc Software Engineering CCP109N Distributed Computing Paradigms CCP110N Mobile Applications Development CCP111N Internet Applications Design and Development CCP114N Object-oriented Software Design and Development CCP115N Applied Data Mining Techniques CCP116N Software Project Management Part-time: Part-time mode can be studied in various ways as long as the students take 1 or 2 taught modules per semester and the project after the 6 taught modules have successfully been completed. For example: 2 modules per semester for 3 semesters and the project in the 4 th semester (2+2+2) 2 modules per semester in the first year, 1 module per semester in the second year and the project in the 5 th semester ( ) The taught modules do not have prerequisites and they can therefore be studied in any order. As a consequence, there are many possibilities in terms of the number and order of modules the student chooses to study and the following are provided as a rough guidance. Part-time Autumn Entry (2+2+2): Award Semester Code Title Status Credit Masters Autumn CCP103N Large Scale Object- Oriented Database Software Development CCP104N Software Quality Assurance Spring CCP113N Advanced Software Engineering PG Diploma PG Certificate Points core 20 core 20 core 20 CCP112N Information Security core 20 Autumn CCP155N Research and core 20 Development Skills To choose designate designate 20 module from list A1 Spring & Summer FCPP01N MSc Project core 60 Part-time Autumn Entry ( ): Award Semester Code Title Status Credit Masters Autumn CCP103N Large Scale Object- Oriented Database Software Development CCP104N Software Quality Assurance Spring CCP113N Advanced Software Engineering Points core 20 core 20 core 20 CCP112N Information Security core 20 Autumn CCP155N Research and core 20 Notes A combination of modules to the value of 120 points A combination of modules to the value of 60 points Notes

34 28 PG Diploma PG Certificate Spring Summer & Autumn Development Skills To choose designate designate 20 module from list A2 FCPP01N MSc Project core 60 A combination of modules to the value of 120 points A combination of modules to the value of 60 points Part-time Spring Entry (2+2+2): Award Semester Code Title Status Credit Points Masters Spring CCP113N Advanced Software core 20 Engineering CCP112N Information Security core 20 PG Diploma PG Certificate Autumn CCP103N Large Scale Object- Oriented Database Software Development CCP104N Software Quality Assurance core 20 core 20 Spring CCP155N Research and core 20 Development Skills To choose designate designate 20 module from list A2 Summer & Autumn FCPP01N MSc Project core 60 Part-time Spring Entry ( ): Award Semester Code Title Status Credit Points Masters Spring CCP113N Advanced Software core 20 Engineering CCP112N Information Security core 20 PG Diploma PG Certificate Autumn CCP103N Large Scale Object- Oriented Database Software Development CCP104N Software Quality Assurance Spring CCP155N Research and Development Skills Autumn Spring & Summer To choose designate module from list A1 core 20 core 20 core 20 designate 20 FCPP01N MSc Project core 60 Notes A combination of modules to the value of 120 points A combination of modules to the value of 60 points Notes A combination of modules to the value of 120 points A combination of modules to the value of 60 points

35 29 DIAGRAM FOR POSTGRADUATE AWARD TITLES Level Title of available award Notes PG Cert Software Engineering PG Dip Masters Software Engineering Software Engineering 27. Assessment diagram MSc Software Engineering Core Modules CCP103N CCP104N CCP112N CCP113N CCP155N FCPP01N Assessment Instrument Unseen exam EXU Seen exam EXS Open book exam EXO Coursework CWK In class test CST Oral presentation ORL Practical PRA Group Report GRO Seminar performance SEM Dissertation/ Project DIS Other (logbook preparation) OTH Weighting Submission week no Weighting Submission week no Weighting Submission week no 40% - 40% - Weighting Submission week no 40% - 40% - Weighting 40% 13 60% 12 60% 11 70% 30% Submission week no 20% 12 Note 2 Note 4 Note 3 60% Weighting Submission week no 100% 13 MSc Software Engineering Designate Modules CCP101N CCP102N CCP105N CCP106N CCP107N CCP109N Assessment Instrument Unseen exam EXU Seen exam EXS Open book exam EXO Coursework CWK In class test CST Oral presentation ORL Practical PRA Weighting Submission week no Weighting Submission week no Weighting Submission week no Weighting Submission week no Weighting Submission week no 50% - 50% - 50% - 50% - 50% - 50% % 13 50% 11 50% 11 50% 11 Weighting Submission week no 20% 7 30% 11

36 30 Group Report GRO Seminar performance SEM Dissertation/Project DIS Other (logbook preparation) OTH Note 1 MSc Software Engineering Designate Modules (continued) CCP110N CCP111N CCP114N CCP115N CCP116N Assessment Instrument Weighting Submission week no Weighting Submission week no Weighting Submission week no Weighting Submission week no Weighting Submission week no Unseen exam 30% - 50% - 50% - EXU Seen exam EXS Open book exam EXO Coursework 100% 13 70% 11 50% 11 50% 11 50% 13 CWK In class test CST 50% 9 Oral presentation ORL Practical PRA Group Report GRO Seminar performance SEM Dissertation/Project DIS Other (logbook preparation) OTH Notes: 1 Module coursework also contains an individual seminar performance element. 2 Module group reports also contain an individual oral presentation element. 3 Module coursework element is group based. 4 Module assessment contains a compulsory viva weighted 0%. Weighting Submission week no 28. Additional general comments 28a. Course Structure The course lasts 3 semesters in full-time mode. It consists of two semesters of teaching, followed by a project. The programme of studies to be offered is organised into six 20-credit taught modules and a 60-credit project module. A taught module comprises a nominal 4 hours per week direct contact time. A variety of teaching methods will be used during the contact time and students will be expected to develop their practical skills and undertake research during their non-contact time. The project will normally be undertaken as supervised independent work in the three months after the taught component of the course has been completed.

37 USEFUL INFORMATION You need to be aware of the regulations on student conduct, enrolment and fee payment. These are in the Student Handbook (or see

38 DIRECTORY OF MODULES FOR THE COURSE Module Code CCP101N CCP102N Module Title Mobile and Wireless Technology Mobile platform Fundamentals Semester Autumn (Au), Spring Sp), both semesters, or Summer Study Period Module Status Core (C) Designate (D) Prerequisites (if any) Module Summary Au D None Mobile and wireless technologies have established themselves as an integral part of modern distributed computing systems. This module will provide an overview of current and upcoming architectures, protocols and standards associated with such wireless and mobile communication technologies. Au D None This module provides students with an in-depth understanding of a mobile platform (e. g. Symbian OS, Microsoft Mobile) using a professional program development environment. It allows students to develop the ability to analyse programming problems and design solutions for a mobile environment using an object oriented approach. Assessment Requirements Exam (50%) Coursework (50%) Coursework (100%) CCP103N Large Scale OODB Software Development Au C None This module covers software engineering aspects of object-oriented databases. The main aim of this module is to provide students with necessary skills for developing object database software with high quality standards. This involves learning to follow an appropriate methodology for software development e.g. the unified process. This course will focus on object-oriented analysis and design in the context of the unified process, using for instance the unified modeling language (UML) language. The students will be using object modelling CASE tools and object-oriented programming languages to iterate the unified process phases on a real world case study from analysis, design and implementation to testing and maintenance of the developed system. Exam (40%) Oral Exam (20%) Coursework essay (40%)

39 CCP104N CCP105N Software Quality Assurance Data Warehousing and Data Mining 33 Au C None This module offers preparation for master students to take leading roles in software development, management, and maintenance processes within different industrial approaches to software production in companies that create small to midsize high-quality software, in particular, to plan software quality assurance activities in software development, to lead and execute the activities. It discusses theoretical issues such as software product quality (in accordance with current ISO and IEEE software engineering standards), quality assurance providing planning and monitoring software product quality during a project, and application of software quality methods and techniques in numerous software life cycle activities and to different software products. As a practical activity, it includes application of software quality assurance methods and techniques to solve usual quality assurance tasks. Au D None Data warehousing and data mining are the emerging technologies for storing and analyzing through which valuable knowledge is discovered from the huge databases of businesses. This module covers the fundamentals of data warehousing architecture and the issues involved in planning, designing, building and maintaining a successful data warehouse. The module also covers the fundamentals of multidimensional data analysis and knowledge discovery from a data warehouse using OLAP and data mining techniques. In additional, this module introduces the students to intelligent systems techniques, including neural network, fuzzy logic, evolutionary computation (genetic algorithms), and intelligent agent techniques to data mining and data warehousing. Exam (40%) Coursework (60%) Exam (50%) Coursework (50%)

40 CCP106N CCP107N CCP109N CCP110N Web Mining and Web Search Relational and Object Database Developments Distributed Computing Paradigms Mobile Applications Development 34 Au D None Web mining and web search aims to discover useful information or knowledge from the web to provide value added services. Web mining and web search is a rapid growing research area. This module covers the fundamentals of web mining and web search techniques. This module aims to develop an understanding of the web structure, how to search and navigate the web, and the techniques for web mining. This module also introduces the students with the latest advacnces in web mining and web search and equip the students with skills and capability to analyse, design and develop real-world web search and web mining systems Au D None The module aims to provide students with an indepth understanding of database concepts in reference to modern enterprise-level database applications. Sp D None This module provides students with an in-depth appreciation of a range of modern distributed technologies and techniques. The module will place particular emphasis on recent developments in areas such as advanced middleware architectures; mobile and wireless network integration and new developments associated with ubiquitous and Gridbased computing. Sp D None This module focuses on developing an understanding of a mobile application development platform (e.g. Symbian OS, Windows Mobile) and techniques and languages used in developing mobile applications. Exam (50%) Coursework (50%) Exam (50%) Coursework (50%) Oral presentation (20%) Assignment (30%) Exam (50%) Coursework (100%) CCP111N Internet Applications Design and Development Au, Sp D None The module will focus on the design and development of server-side applications using standard application frameworks and products. Coursework (70%) Exam (30%)

41 CCP112N CCP113N CCP114N Information Security Advanced Software Engineering Objectoriented Software Design and Development 35 Au, Sp C None The module is concerned with the study and application of tools and techniques that enable the protection of information and other resources of enterprise information systems. Increase of storage, manipulation, and transfer of data on computer networks requires effective encryption techniques. This module will provide insight into some of these techniques, algorithms and their development through history. Part of the course is dedicated to the Number Theory relevant to Cryptography. The focus will also be on the analysis, design and implementation of tools and techniques that achieve the three goals of confidentiality, integrity and availability in security computing. Particular focus will be on the management framework that facilitate the accomplishment of the above three goals. Sp C None This module aims to get master students familiar with main software processes and development team roles in modern good companies that create small to midsize high-quality software. Three main aims of this module are to provide students by: 1) Additional knowledge and skills in those software development activities that they have studied in their BSc software engineering modules; 2) New knowledge and skills in those software development activities that they have not studied in their BSc software engineering module but that are typical for modern high quality software production; 3) New knowledge in software processes, their development and their improvement. Au, Sp D None This module covers an advanced study of the object-oriented (OO) software development, including OO theories, methods, and tools/programming languages. Taking the module the students will consolidate and extend their knowledge/skills in object oriented software development gained from their undergraduate studies and/or from industrial experience, and apply it to develop applications that are robust, extendable and maintainable. Exam (40%) Coursework (60%) Exam (40%) Coursework (60%) Exam (50%) Coursework (50%)

42 CCP115N CCP116N Applied Data Mining Techniques Software Project Management 36 Sp D None This module investigates intelligent methods of uncovering important information or structure in large data sets. In particular, the module introduces applied data mining techniques for both supervised learning (decision tree, logistic regression and neural network models) and unsupervised learning (cluster and association analyses). The algorithms used in the techniques are investigated and applied to analyse real data sets using a powerful interactive menu driven package (e.g. SAS). Many areas of application are investigated including business (e.g. credit scoring and fraud detection), health (e.g. screening patients to predict future cases of a specific disease) and the WEB (e.g. detecting spam s). Interpretation of the results of data mining and their practical implications are discussed. Sp D None This module is intended to address the issues of the planning, monitoring and control of software projects. Some understanding and experience of the software project development process is essential. Exam (50%) Coursework (50%) In-class test (50%) Coursework (50%) CCP155N Research and Development Skills Au, Sp C None To develop R & D knowledge and skills required to undertake an independent research project in computing area as a whole with competence, to make students aware of possible ethical and professional issues which they may encounter in carrying out such research project, and to equip students with basic tools of project management sufficient to manage their own work successfully. FCPP01N MSc. Project Au, Sp, Su C All core modules The module provides students with the experience of planning and bringing to fruition a major piece of work. Also, the module aims to encourage and reward inventiveness and application of effort. The dissertation is an exercise that may take a variety of forms. For example, it may involve the specification, design, implementation, validation and documentation of a substantial piece of computing principles. Coursework (100%) Dissertation (100%)

43 INDEX OF KEY SOURCES OF INFORMATION 11.1 Relevant University Procedures: Procedure Academic Misconduct Full procedure in the Academic Regulations (Section 10.5) Full Procedure & notes in the University s Student Handbook Further information/guidance available at: Appeals against decisions of Assessment Boards APL Procedures (Section 10.4) (Section 10.1) (Notes only) Limits to the amount of APL, which can be claimed, are detailed within the Awards Framework and Regulations that regulate your course. Complaints Procedure Fees and enrolments (Section 9) Fees: Enrolment: Intermission (Suspension of Studies) Mitigating Circumstances Postgraduate Assessment Regulations Postgraduate Awards Framework, Scheme Regulations & Course Structure (Section 9.1) (Section 10.3) (Section 4.2) (Section 4.1) (including deadlines)

44 11.2 Useful online information: Faculties and Professional Service Departments Academic Regulations Examination Timetable (and Exam Track) Evision Learning Development Unit Postgraduate Offices Postgraduate Students PostGrad-Line Programme Planning Student Handbook Student Services Timetable information WebLearn