Computer Science (Software Engineering) with a Year-in-Industry

Looking for an integrated masters programme that will set you apart from other computer science undergraduates and set you on course for a high-level career? Launched in 2015/16, this five-year MSci programme offers a thorough grounding in computer science and allows you to learn about all the latest trends and techniques in software engineering as well as gaining hands-on skills and experience during a year in industry. You will have the chance to showcase your abilities in an extended final year project and it is particularly recommended if you have already experienced and enjoyed programming and you want to go on to postgraduate study or a specialist career in software.

Our software engineering teaching has been hailed as a ‘best practice’ example of computer science education by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. You will learn from software professionals and leading academics in the field to apply engineering principles to the design, development, implementation and maintenance of all kinds of software. Our progressive curriculum has been developed in consultation with industry, with a modular structure that gives you the flexibility to tailor your degree to your interests. From the outset you be experimenting with programming games, robots, Gadgeteer kits, Subversion, JUnit testing, Scrum-based Agile software and more, in our well-equipped laboratories.

We are a highly respected, research-focused department with award-winning teaching. We offer a summer work placement programme and a dedicated personal adviser to guide you through your studies. You will also be welcome to join our thriving Computing Society. We are one of only seven departments in the UK to hold the Athena SWAN bronze award for our commitment to increasing female participation in computer science. Our campus is located in the famous M4 corridor and enjoy close links with many of its leading technology companies. If you are unable to complete your year in industry you will have the option of transferring onto our four-year integrated masters programme.

The BCS has distinguished our teaching of Software Engineering as 'Best Practice'.

You will be taught by staff with extensive industrial experience, three of whom are certified Scrum Masters.

You will learn to master the process of software engineering, from initial client meetings through to delivery.

Course Modules

Core Modules

Year 1

• Programming laboratory

• Internet Services

• Machine Fundamentals

• Mathematical Structures

• Software Design

• Academic Integrity

• Object Oriented Programming I

• Object Oriented Programming II

Year 2

• Algorithms and Complexity

• Computer and Network Security

• Databases

• Introduction to Information Security

• Operating Systems

• Small Enterprise Team Project

• Software Engineering

Year 3

• Individual Project

• User-Centred Design

Year 4

• Year in Industry

Year 5

• MSci Team Project

Optional Modules

Below is a taster of some of the exciting optional modules that students on the course could choose from during this academic year. Please be aware these do change over time, and optional modules may be withdrawn or new ones added.

Year 1

• All modules are core

Year 2

• Symbolic Artificial Intelligence

• Mathematical Methods for Computer Science

• Human-computer Interaction

Year 3

• Computational Finance

• Intelligent Agents and Multi-agent Systems

• Machine Learning

• Semantic Web

• Data Visualisation and Exploratory Analysis

• Advanced Data Communications

• Concurrent and Parallel Programming

• Interconnected Devices

• Applications of Cryptography

• Critical Infrastructure Security

• Digital Forensics

• Smart Cards, RFIDs and Embedded Systems Security

• IT Project Management

• Software Language Engineering

• Bioinformatics

• Compilers and Code Generation

• Computational Optimisation

• Digital Audio and Applications

• Functional Programming and Applications

Year 5

• Methods of Computational Finance

• Data Analysis

• Deep Learning

• Intelligent Agents and Multi-agent Systems

• Machine Learning

• Online Machine Learning

• Semantic Web

• Data Visualisation and Exploratory Analysis

• Advanced Data Communications

• Advanced Distributed Systems

• Large Scale Data Storage and Processing

• Wireless Sensor and Actuator Networks

• Critical Infrastructure Security

• Digital Forensics

• Secure Business Architectures

• Security Management

• Security Testing Theory and Practice

• Smart Cards, RFIDs and Embedded Systems Security

• Running a small business

• Standards, IP and Technology seminar series

• Technology Entrepreneurship

• Computational Optimisation

• Digital Audio and Applications

• Artificial Intelligence Principles and Techniques

https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/undergraduate/computer-science/computer-science-software-engineering-with-a-year-in-industry-msci/

We are an award-winning department for software engineering teaching. Professor Dave Cohen won a College Excellence Teaching Prize for the re-design of our second-year software engineering courses, and he was shortlisted for a Times Higher Education Award for Most Innovative Teacher of the Year. We firmly believe that how we teach you is at least as important as what we teach. We encourage you to use your creativity, both in project teams and independently, and to have fun while you learn.

We use a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, small-group tutorials, supervised computer lab classes and problem-solving sessions. You will also be expected to complete guided independent study and group work. Our software engineering and programming teaching is very hands on, allowing you to learn at your own pace, whatever your previous level of experience. During your Year in Industry, our careers tutor will visit you twice and keep in touch with your host to monitor your progression.

Assessment is through a mixture of examinations and coursework. Most course units have a two or three-hour written examination taken at the end of the year in which they are taught, but around half of your final award will come from assessed coursework, which could include project reports, essays, oral presentations and software submissions. Your Year in Industry forms an integral part of the degree course and you will be asked to complete assessed work that will count towards your final degree.