Admission Criteria

Candidates must be able to satisfy the general admission requirements of the University of the West of Scotland as specified in Chapter 2 of the University Regulatory Framework together with the following programme requirements:

Appropriate Undergraduate Qualification

Other Required Qualifications/Experience

Further desirable skills pre-application

General Overview

This programme is intended to act as a specialist course for Computing and IT graduates and IT professionals who wish to develop, update or refocus their skills in advanced computer systems development. The taught component of the programme has a small core of modules on modern approaches to computer systems development, on contemporary professional issues in computing, and on research methods relevant to knowledge creation in computing and IT. This is complemented by a range of optional modules, some of an advanced research-oriented nature and some focussing on specific practical development technologies, which allow students to pursue their particular interests and acquire skills relevant to their career aspirations. The Masters dissertation work is undertaken once the taught component of the programme has been completed and allows the student to demonstrate that they are capable of advanced independent postgraduate project work in computer systems development and the technologies that it uses.

This programme may lead to studies for a higher degree (MPhil and PhD).

The approach adopted within the programme to teaching, learning and assessment incorporates a blended learning style promoting the objectives of the school’s eLearning strategy. Blended learning is supported by use of the Moodle Virtual Learning Environment. As well as allowing staff to provide resources online for students such as lecture notes, online quizzes etc. Moodle is used extensively to communicate with students: via email e.g. to provide individual feedback for both formative and summative assessment purposes; via discussion boards to supplement tutorials; and via an electronic notice board to convey module administration information. Staff also make use of Moodle to allow students to electronically submit assignments, thus allowing both staff and students to make use of software tools such as Turnitin and Moss to check for plagiarism. The programme views the student as being at the centre of the learning process and students are expected to take responsibility for their own learning, to further develop skills acquired at postgraduate level and to construct knowledge through active engagement of learning resources. Students are expected to undertake independent study both to supplement and consolidate what is being taught and to broaden their individual knowledge and understanding of the subject. Assessment - In each module, scheduled exercises will be used to enable students to monitor their own progress. The assessment methods are specified in the individual module descriptors and are identified against specific module learning outcomes, the precise split between continuous assessment (CA) exercises and examination being dependent on the nature of individual modules. The assessment methods used will provide a variety of assessments to ensure that assessments for individual modules are effective and meaningful. Knowledge and understanding is explicitly assessed through a combination of written examinations and assessed coursework, or coursework assignments only. Coursework assignments are also used to assess practical skills.

Graduate Attributes, Employability & Personal Development Planning

Graduates of the programme will be universal, work ready and successful across three dimensions (academic, personal and professional) which encapsulate the breadth of the learning experience at University level.

The statement of general objectives identifies the ways in which the students’ transferable intellectual skills are developed and evaluated, particularly their ability to:

(i) communicate in speech, writing and other appropriate ways: this is achieved through the inclusion in modules of assessments where the students make a presentation, or complete an assignment, or answer examination or class test questions, or participate in the work of groups, and in other ways more specific to individual modules.
(ii) argue rationally and draw independent conclusions based on a rigorous, analytical and critical approach to data, demonstration and argument: this is required in all examinations and class tests, and is a particular feature of the Master’s project.
(iii) apply what has been learned: in all modules there are requirements for students to exercise problem-solving and simulation studies, in which they apply the principles covered in the course to situations that model, to some degree, realistic problems in computer systems.
(iv) use the development technologies and skills taught to create computer systems as solutions to the problems identified from users.
(v) demonstrate an awareness of the programme of study in a wider context: many modules contain aspects where the wider organisational context are referred to.

The Programme Leader is assigned  as the personal tutor for each student. Students are expected to meet their personal tutors on a regular basis, at least once per term, to discuss issues relating to academic progress etc.

Work Based Learning/Placement Details

N/A

Engagement

In line with the Academic Engagement Procedure, Students are defined as academically engaged if they are regularly engaged with timetabled teaching sessions, course-related learning resources including those in the Library and on the relevant learning platform, and complete assessments and submit these on time.

Equality and Diversity

The University's Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Procedure can be accessed at the following link: UWS Equality and Diversity Policy

Knowledge and Understanding

Practice - Applied Knowledge and Understanding

Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills

Generic Cognitive Skills - Problem Solving, Analysis, Evaluation

Autonomy, Accountability and Working With Others

Knowledge and Understanding

Practice - Applied Knowledge and Understanding

Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills

Generic Cognitive Skills - Problem Solving, Analysis, Evaluation

Autonomy, Accountability and Working With Others

Knowledge and Understanding

Practice - Applied Knowledge and Understanding

Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills

Generic Cognitive Skills - Problem Solving, Analysis, Evaluation

Autonomy, Accountability and Working With Others

Regulations of Assessment

Candidates will be bound by the general assessment regulations of the University as specified in the University Regulatory Framework.

An overview of the assessment details is provided in the Student Handbook and the assessment criteria for each module is provided in the module descriptor which forms part of the module pack issued to students. For further details on assessment please refer to Chapter 3 of the Regulatory Framework.

To qualify for an award of the University, students must complete all the programme requirements and must meet the credit minima detailed in Chapter 1 of the Regulatory Framework.

Combined Studies

There may be instances where a student has been unsuccessful in meeting the award criteria for the named award and for other more generic named awards existing within the School. Provided that they have met the credit requirements in line with the SCQF credit minima (please see Regulation 1.21), they will be eligible for an exit award of PgCert/ PgDip in Combined Studies.