University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2022/23 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Engineering > School of Computer Science > Computer Science (MSci) > Specification
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Programme code | 4COSC002U |
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Programme type | Single Honours |
Programme director(s) |
Tilo Burghardt
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Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
School/department | School of Computer Science |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Relevant QAA subject benchmark groups | Computing (2022) (benchmark statement) |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 4 years (full time) |
This section sets out why studying this programme is important, both in terms of inspiring you as an individual and in considering the challenges we face. It describes how this degree programme contributes to:
Through this programme, the Department of Computer Science aims to:
The learning outcome statements shown below for your programme have been developed with reference to relevant national subject benchmarks (where they exist), national qualification descriptors (see the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) and professional body requirements.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies are listed to show how you will be able to achieve and demonstrate the learning outcomes.
This programme provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Acquisition of knowledge through lectures, tutorials, laboratory sessions. Independent learning is achieved through written coursework and research projects.
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Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
The knowledge base is largely tested through traditional unseen written examinations (which include hypothetical problems and short answer questions). Many units are assessed partly through written course and laboratory work, which requires a more detailed and expansive treatment of certain topics. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Intellectual skills are developed through tutorials, oral presentations and coursework. All units are structured in such a way that the skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation are developed. In addition, specific units focus on other intellectual skills (problem-solving and research) and opportunities for practising these skills are offered in other units.
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Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
The knowledge base is largely tested through traditional unseen written examinations (which include hypothetical problems and short answer questions). Many units are assessed partly through written course and laboratory work, which requires a more detailed and expansive treatment of certain topics. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
Assessment of transferable skills is primarily through written assignments (examinations, assessed course/lab work and research projects) which provide evidence of communication skills. Oral communication is assessed through formal presentations. There are also mandatory project units for all awards which develop team work. |
This section describes what is expected from you at each level of your programme. This illustrates increasing intellectual standards as you progress through the programme. These levels are mapped against the national level descriptors published by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Level C/4 - Certificate |
Will have a sound knowledge of the basic concepts of a subject, and will have learned how to take different approaches to solving problems. He or she will be able to communicate accurately, and will have the qualities needed for employment requiring the exercise of some personal responsibility. |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
Will have developed a sound understanding of the principles in their field of study and will have learned to apply those principles more widely. Through this, they will have learned to evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems. Their studies may well have had a vocational orientation, enabling them to perform effectively in their chosen field. They will have the qualities necessary for employment in situations requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and decision-making. |
Level H/6 - Honours |
Will have developed an understanding of a complex body of knowledge, some of it at the current boundaries of an academic discipline. Through this, the graduate will have developed analytical techniques and problem-solving skills that can be applied in many types of employment. The graduate will be able to evaluate evidence, arguments and assumptions, to reach sound judgements, and to communicate effectively.Should have the qualities needed for employment in situations requiring the exercise of personal responsibility, and decision-making in complex and unpredictable circumstances. |
Level M/7 - Masters |
Much of the study undertaken at Masters Level will have been at, or informed by, the forefront of an academic or professional discipline. Students will have shown originality in the application of knowledge, and they will understand how the boundaries of knowledge are advanced through research. They will be able to deal with complex issues both systemically and creatively, and they will show originality in tackling and solving problems. They will have the qualities needed for employment in circumstances requiring sound judgement, personal responsibility and initiative, in complex and unpredictable professional environments. They will have had experience of designing, building and testing a product with the aim of bringing it to market. |
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the undergraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
UG Workload Statement
Success as an undergraduate student depends on you being able to make the transition to self-motivated, independent learning. Programmes are designed to assist you in this development, in many cases by starting with units in which timetabled teaching, such as lectures and practical classes, provides the foundations of knowledge and skills in a subject, moving on to individual research-based work. Over time you will be expected to take increasing responsibility for your own learning, guided by the feedback on your work that you will receive. At the heart of your studies at every level there must be regular and disciplined individual reading, reflection and writing and it is this skill of independent studies, above all others, that will serve you best when you leave the University.
Most programmes use credits and a 20 credit unit broadly equates to about 200 hours of student input. This includes all activities related to the teaching, learning and assessment of taught units.
A component of this is the time that you spend in class, in contact with the teaching staff, which includes activities such as lectures, laboratories, tutorials and fieldwork. Some of this activity may be online and could consist of activity that is synchronous (using real-time environments such as Blackboard Collaborate) or asynchronous (using tools such as tutor moderated discussion forums, blogs or wikis).
In some programmes there are field courses and/or placements that will take place in concentrated periods of time.
Outside scheduled activities you are expected to pursue your own independent learning to build your knowledge and understanding of the subjects you are studying. Such independent activities include, reviewing lecture material, reading textbooks, working on examples sheets, completing coursework, writing up laboratory notes, preparing for in-class progress tests and revising for examinations.
We recognise that many students undertake paid employment. To achieve a sensible balance between work and study, you are advised to undertake paid work for no more than 15 hours per week in term-time.
Professional Programmes
Many undergraduates in the Faculty of Health Sciences will be following the professional programmes of:
For these professional programmes, full time attendance is compulsory unless absence is formally approved. Academic activities are timetabled throughout the 5-day week and student workload is around 40 hours per week on average. Where possible, students in the early years are permitted Wednesday afternoons for sport and extra-curriculum activities. This may not be available in later years of professional programmes as when a student progresses through the curricula there is an increasing exposure to clinical and professional activities. Students in clinic or on placements may need to stay later than core times of 08.00 – 18.00 or even overnight to observe out-of-hours activities. This increasing exposure to clinical activities means that students on these professional programmes often have longer term dates than the University standard. Individual years within programmes are likely to vary in length (for example because of the timings of placements) and further information on this will be found in individual programme regulations. Another important point to note is that many of the assessments sit outside of the standard University examination timetable and are likely to be more frequent meaning that students will more oftentimes be engaged in revision activities and self-directed learning.
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty Assessment and Feedback Statement for Undergraduate Students. University of Bristol access only.
The individual project in the 4th year occupies the student full-time for one complete semester. This provides the student with the opportunity of doing the project with a company and spending much of the time on the company's premises.
Departmental web pages at: http://www.cs.bris.ac.uk/
Department Office - Department of Computer Science
Merchant Venturers Building
Woodland Road
Bristol
BS8 1UB
Tel: 0117 954 5132
Fax: 0117 954 5208
Students may transfer to this programme on successful completion of years 1 and 2 of the MEng Computer Science.
This Integrated Master's programme has been designated as type III: Professional in accordance with the QAA descriptors for Master's programmes. Please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes for further information on this type of programme.
The MSci Computer Science award is currently not BCS accredited. BSc Engineering (Computer Science) is the unaccredited bachelors level exit award for students who have opted for the MSci.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Topics in Computer Science | COMS30081 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Your TWO MINOR topics chosen from list 1 will be assessed as part of the Topics in Computer Science unit. | ||||
List 1: Teaching Block 1 options - teaching units | ||||
Select FOUR options from the following list. TWO will be your MINOR topics assessed as part of the Topics for Computer Science unit and TWO will be your MAJOR topics assessed by an associated 20 credit point unit. Then select the associated 20 credit point MAJOR units from list TWO. | ||||
Advanced Algorithms (Teaching Unit) | COMS30042 | 0 | Optional | TB-1 |
Artificial Intelligence (Teaching Unit) | COMS30014 | 0 | Optional | TB-1 |
Computational Neuroscience (Teaching Unit) | SEMT30003 | 0 | Optional | TB-1 |
Computer Graphics (Teaching Unit) | COMS30020 | 0 | Optional | TB-1 |
Cryptology (Teaching Unit) | COMS30023 | 0 | Optional | TB-1 |
Design Verification (Teaching Unit) | COMS30026 | 0 | Optional | TB-1 |
Human-Computer Interaction (Teaching Unit) | COMS30029 | 0 | Optional | TB-1 |
Image Processing and Computer Vision (Teaching Unit) | COMS30030 | 0 | Optional | TB-1 |
Machine Learning (Teaching Unit) | COMS30035 | 0 | Optional | TB-1 |
Security Behaviours (Teaching Unit) | COMS30038 | 0 | Optional | TB-1 |
Types and Lambda Calculus (Teaching Unit) | COMS30040 | 0 | Optional | TB-1 |
List 2: Teaching Block 1 MAJOR unit selection | ||||
Select TWO 20 credit point MAJOR units from the list below, associated with two of the teaching units that you selected from List 1. Please note these should be different to the minor topics you have selected. | ||||
Artificial Intelligence | COMS30084 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Computational Neuroscience | SEMT30004 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Computer Graphics | COMS30082 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Cryptology | COMS30085 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Design Verification | COMS30086 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Human-Computer Interaction | COMS30089 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Image Processing and Computer Vision | COMS30087 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Machine Learning | COMS30083 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Security Behaviours | COMS30088 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
List 3: Teaching Block 2 Options | ||||
Select THREE options from the list below, and also its associated 20-credit assessment co-requisite. | ||||
Advanced Computer Architecture (Teaching Unit) | COMS30046 | 0 | Optional | TB-2 |
Advanced Computer Architecture | COMS30047 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Applied Cryptology (Teaching Unit) | COMS30048 | 0 | Optional | TB-2 |
Applied Cryptology | COMS30049 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Applied Data Science (Teaching Unit) | COMS30050 | 0 | Optional | TB-2 |
Applied Data Science | COMS30051 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
CGI (Teaching Unit) | COMS30058 | 0 | Optional | TB-2 |
CGI | COMS30059 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
High Performance Computing (Teaching Unit) | COMS30053 | 0 | Optional | TB-2 |
High Performance Computing | COMS30052 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Interactive Devices (Teaching Unit) | COMS30054 | 0 | Optional | TB-2 |
Interactive Devices | COMS30055 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
BSc | 120 |
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
University of Bristol,
Senate House,
Tyndall Avenue,
Bristol, BS8 1TH, UK
Tel: +44 (0)117 928 9000