Course description
Distinguishing Features
The first two years of this degree cover the same content as those of the BSc Honours Computer Science, and you also have the option of a placement year. It covers more breadth and depth than a BSc with an emphasis on software development, emerging technologies and skills in project management and team working.
With the standard programme, you will gain an MEng qualification over four or five years of study, depending on whether or not you do a placement year. With the accelerated programme, you will gain the award in four years including a compulsory placement year by studying online modules during the summer period and the placement year.
Year 1
In the first year, you study the same modules as the BSc (hons) in Computer Science.
Year 2
In the first year, again you study the same modules as the BSc (hons) in Computer Science.
If you are on the accelerated programme, you study an additional 30-credit online module in the third semester, i.e. during the summer period
Level 3 (year 3 or 4) – standard programme
In the third year or fourth year if following a placement, you take a special MEng team project, one compulsory module plus two optional modules from the BSc programme in Computer
Science Level 4 (year 4 or 5) – standard programme
In the fourth year or fifth year if following a placement, you study at the masters level: a 60-credit project, two compulsory modules, one in operational research and one in project management, plus a free choice optional module taken from the MSc programme in Computer Science.
Placement Year (year 3) – accelerated programme
On the accelerated programme you study an additional 30-credit online module during the placement year
Level 3 & 4 (year 4) – accelerated programme
Other Opportunities
In additional to your formal studies, we offer a number of optional activities, currently including certification classes for Cisco (CCNA1-4), research seminars, and participation in national student competitions.
Work placement
If you are studying the standard MEng programme you have the opportunity to undertake an optional professional placement for your third year. We encourage you to take advantage since research has shown that on average placement students have a greater chance of finding good employment after graduation and achieve higher grades in their final year.
The placement is an integral part of the accelerated programme. During the placement, you study a module online.
Work placements are spent in a paid job relevant to your degree. You apply in the second year, with support from the University using our extensive contacts with employers.
Recent placement students have worked at large organizations such as GlaxoSmithKline and Sun Microsystems. Others have worked for small companies, perhaps family-run or near home.
Careers
Several thousands of UH computer science graduates have moved into a wide range of careers; many are now in senior positions in the UK and throughout the world.
Initial job roles have included programmer, software developer, business analyst, software engineer, webmaster, database administrator, network designer, and technical consultant.
This particular degree title is at a more advanced level and hence is preparation for a wide variety of demanding careers in many areas of computing or software development, in technical work and/or management.
Teaching methods
Classes consist of lectures, small group seminars, and practical work in our well-equipped laboratories. We use modern, industry-standard software wherever possible. There are specialist facilities for networking and multimedia.
In addition to scheduled classes, about 16 hours per week in Year 1, you will be expected to spend the same amount of time in self-study taking advantage of the extensive and up-to-date facilities. These include the Learning Resource Centres, open 24x7, with 1,500 computer workstations and wifi access, Studynet our versatile online study environment accessible on and off campus, and open access to our labs.
On the accelerated programme some of the modules are studied online, without the need to attend the university. See our online programmes for more details.
