During this course you increase your intellectual ability for analysis and synthesis at the level of postgraduate research. You achieve this by studying research methods and undertaking a major individual project. The course encourages enterprise and progression towards further research, including MPhil and/or PhD.
Course structure
Core modules
Agile Development
You gain experience of application development utilising an agile development approach. You also take responsibility for determining project aims, objectives, roles, tasks, deliverables, schedules and documentation.
By learning agile principles and applying a specific agile approach (eg SCRUM) in a live simulation of the methodology, the module will help you to prepare for contemporary practice in industry, developing both knowledge and skills in the application of agile principles.
Computing Master's Project
You undertake a major, in-depth, individual study in an aspect of your course. Normally computing master’s projects are drawn from commercial, industrial or research-based problem areas. The project involves you in researching and investigating aspects of your area of study and then producing a major deliverable, for example software package or tool, design, web-site and research findings. You also critically evaluate your major deliverable, including obtaining third party evaluation where appropriate.
The major deliverable(s) are presented via a poster display, and also via a product demonstration or a conference-type presentation of the research and findings. The research, project process and evaluation is reported via a paper in the style of a specified academic conference or journal paper. The written report, the major deliverable and your presentation of the product are assessed.
The project management process affords supported opportunities for goal setting, reflection and critical evaluation of achievement.
Digital Transformation
Digital transformation is a change process that allows businesses and society to achieve goals such as improving accessibility and quality of digital services, increasing income generation, implementing innovative and generating a collaborative culture through the use of technology. The adoption of emerging technologies is important to businesses and can be fundamental to their survival. But digital transformation is not all about technology.
You gain an in-depth understanding of the context of digital transformation, its challenges and possible future as well as its leadership and management. You gain the skills to develop a digital transformation strategy for an organisation, by engaging in critical assessment of cutting-edge research findings to inform your solution.
Managing Projects with PRINCE2®
This module explores in detail an established and widely recognised governance standard method called PRINCE2®. Students will work on simulated project brief in order to build their understanding and critically review the governance methodology.
The module will focus on the structure, processes, documentation, terminology but also tailoring of the governance method in order to plan for a particular project.
The students will be assessed by two in-course assessment elements (60% and 40%) requiring them to work as part of a team.
PRINCE2® is a registered trademark of AXELOS limited
Project Management Philosophies and Tools
Contemporary project management is an evolving and extensive discipline that has grown substantially to meet the needs of modern project management demands. This module cultivates detailed and critical awareness of this domain and its expanding range of philosophies, tools and frameworks.
The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the expanding discipline of project management and familiarise them with modern and contemporary project management modalities and the importance of effective project management to organisational functioning, enterprise growth and development.
Research and Development
You gain the knowledge and skills to understand the research process in computing and digital media, and the necessary skills to undertake your masters project. You learn how to use and critically evaluate previous academic research, and to generate good evidence material to justify their professional practice. This involves you learning about different research strategies and data generation methods and how they fit into the development lifecycle and the evaluation of the user experience, the use of the academic research literature, and research ethics.
Assessment involves you preparing a research proposal which can form the basis of your master's project.
Risk Management in Projects
We provide you with an advanced level of study in risk management in projects. You explore a range of tools and techniques used in risk identification, qualitative and quantitative risk analysis, risk-planning responses, PERT and risk monitoring. You learn about financial risk, project-appraisal methods and the application of a decision tree within a project.
You gain awareness of probability theory that represents the corner stone of risk management. Invited speakers from the industry give an overview of risk management in different projects; for example IT, finance, construction, and oil and gas. You work in groups on project case studies which apply risk management theory. In addition, you gain hands-on experience in applying the @RISK© tool to a variety of scenarios of risk factors. You develop a deep understanding of the systematic process of risk management and application of @RISK© software.
Advanced practice (2 year full-time MSc only)
Internship
The internship options are:
Vocational: spend one semester working full-time in industry or on placement in the University. We have close links with a range of national and international companies who could offer you the chance to develop your knowledge and professional skills in the workplace through an internship. Although we cannot guarantee internships, we will provide you with practical support and advice on how to find and secure your own internship position. A vocational internship is a great way to gain work experience and give your CV a competitive edge.
Research: develop your research and academic skills by undertaking a research internship within the University. Experience working as part of a research team in an academic setting. Ideal for those who are interested in a career in research or academia.
