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MSc in Advanced Computing
Course director: Dr F. Sadri
f.sadri@imperial.ac.uk

The MSc in Advanced Computing offers students the opportunity to study a wide variety of topics in depth with dedicated experts. It prepares students for a rewarding career in computing and in information technology in general. Applicants should normally have a good first degree in computer science, or a subject with a substantial component in computing. It is a full-time course of 12 months' duration, starting in October.

Course structure

There are six streams, each of which covers an area of specialisation. Students are normally required to select one of these areas of specialisation (below), although students with relevant previous experience or special interests may be allowed to take different combinations of course options with the agreement of the course director. There are two different pathways through the course: the standard pathway is for students primarily interested in a career oriented towards development and applications in industry; the research pathway is for students interested in a research career, either in the industrial or academic sector.

Computational management

This stream offers a course of study on the theory and tools of business management that require computerised solutions including decision support and constraint solving techniques. Graduates will be well-equipped to contribute to academic research and to commercial, industrial and financial applications.

Logic and artificial intelligence

This stream offers a course of study on the theory and applications of artificial intelligence. Options within this area allow students to specialise in the design and implementation of applications, including logic-based agents in a distributed environment, or to study how a logic framework can be useful for more general application in artificial intelligence and computer science.

Mathematical foundations

This focuses on the applications of mathematics to the theory and practice of computing including the formal design of advanced software. On completion of the course, a specialist will be able to conduct research into methods for strengthening a systematic approach to developments in computing.

Software engineering

This is intended for computer science graduates who are looking for an advanced course of study in tools and techniques underlying the development of large-scale and complex software systems. Particular emphasis is placed on solving problems due to software size and age. Graduates will be well-equipped to contribute to both academic research and industrial applications.

High performance computing

This area of specialisation offers a course of study in rigorous methods applied to the design of software for complex, parallel systems. Included are new architectures for data mining, simulation and modelling of distributed systems. Particular emphasis is placed on combining knowledge of architectures, algorithms and hardware to meet performance goals. Graduates will be well equipped to contribute to both research and application software projects.

Parallel and distributed systems

This area of specialisation offers study on the design of, and techniques used in, parallel and distributed algorithms and concurrent systems. Particular emphasis is placed on distributed systems and their industrial applications, including techniques for maintaining and accessing distributed databases. Also included are systems based on field programmable hardware. Graduates will be well equipped to contribute both to academic research and industrial applications.

The course modules (some of which may not be offered every year) are as follows:

Advanced computer architecture
Advanced databases
Advanced graphics and visualisation
Advanced issues in object-oriented programming
Advanced operational research
Automated reasoning
Advanced topics in software engineering
Cognitive robotics
Complexity
Computer vision
Computing for optimal decisions
Custom computing
Grid computing
Intelligent data analysis and probabilistic inference
Knowledge representation
Machine learning
Modal and temporal logic
Models of concurrent computation
Multi-agent systems
Network security
Parallel algorithms
Performance analysis
Program analysis

MSc Software Systems Engineering (MSc SSE)
The MSc in Software Systems Engineering (SSE) is an advanced programme for computer science and engineering graduates in the problems and methods of developing large, complex, highly dynamic, distributed software-intensive systems. The modules of the programme provide instruction in all aspects of software systems engineering, including understanding the goals, services and constraints of such systems; precise specification and implementation of system structure and behaviour; techniques for assuring that the specifications and goals have been met; and evolution of such systems over time and across system families. The modules also provide instruction in systematic processes and automated tools for effective development of software-intensive systems. An optional stream of modules provides instruction in financial information systems, a class of large-scale software systems having tremendous importance to the London and UK economy.

This professionally oriented programme will provide an ideal foundation for graduates who wish to pursue a career as a software architect or leader of software development organisations. It will also provide an excellent introduction for those who want to pursue research in software systems engineering.

Advanced Software Engineering MSc, PG Dip
This taught programme is provided by Computer Science within the School of Physical Sciences & Engineering. Follow these links for information about the department and School, including facilities, funding, and a list of staff research interests.
Purpose
For students with a substantial computer science background wishing to pursue an IT career in large enterprises. To provide a thorough understanding of the role of IT in enterprise and how information systems impact on business and organisational processes; to prepare students for a career in the planning, edvelopment and management of enterprise information systems.
Programme description
Our programme offers courses on information management, information security, development of applications to support organisational and business processes, and architecture of enterprise information systems, including computer communications and networks, the internet, distributed computing and database technology. We require each student to complete an individual project.
Programme format and assessment
Eight courses assessed by written examinations. The courses may contain an obligatory coursework component. Assessment of written project. Successful completion of only the taught part of the programme (first nine months) leads to a Postgraduate Diploma, and of the whole programme to the MSc.
English language requirements
More information for students whose first language is not English.
Student destinations
Our graduates proceed into employment in general software consultancy companies, in specialised software development companies and in IT departments of large institutions (financial, telecommunications and public sector). Their jobs involve maintenance of software systems and IT project management. Our graduates have also entered into academic and industrial research in software engineering, bioinformatics, algorithms and computer networks.
Funding
Students are self-funded.
Application procedure
Your application will be assessed by an admissions tutor. We aim to reply to applications within four weeks, although this may take longer during busy and holiday periods.
Section 6 of application form
Please include transcripts of subjects taken in the relevant degrees and copies of all certificates relevant qualifications mentioned in your application.
Contact for further information
MSc Admissions, Department of Computer Science, tel 0207 848 2588 fax 020 7848 2851

Internet Computing and Network Security
This specialist MSc programme is aimed at graduates whose first degree is likely to be in Computer Science or Electronic Engineering, or to applicants who can demonstrate extensive relevant experience in the field of Computing or Engineering, following degree-level studies in another discipline. The programme is designed to advance students' understanding of specialist areas, including the global Internet and network and computer security, that will enable them at Masters level to immediately make a significant contribution to a networks and Internet area of a business or organisation, making use of Internet or networked systems, or to move on immediately into postgraduate research. Graduates of this programme should be able to apply their knowledge to understand complex computer systems in the Internet environment. In addition they should be able to build on their knowledge to research and develop new and more advanced systems enabling them to undertake research, development or consultancy roles within this specialist branch of IT in business, industry or academia.

Accreditation
Since this is a new programme, accreditation is not offered at the time of writing.

Modules
ATM Networks
Communication Networks
Communication Network Security and e-Commerce
Computing Project
Java and the Internet
Matlab
Management of IT Systems Security
Object-Oriented System Design for e-Commerce
Research Methods
Further Details
In addition to the information on the right, please see the information for all computer science programmes on the departmental profile.

Information Technology
This programme, offered by the Department of Computer Science with certain modules provided by the Departments of Human Sciences and Information Science, is intended for graduates of any discipline who are not trained in IT. It is unique in giving students an introduction to several important areas of IT in the first semester. In the second semester the programme concentrates on a number of specific areas of the Computing discipline. MSc students undertake a project for the remainder of the programme. Depending on the topic, teaching involves a combination of lectures, tutorials, practicals, case studies, role-play, miniprojects and personal reading. The Department encourages student projects undertaken with industry or commerce.

Accreditation
British Computer Society (BCS) – Exemption (Certificate, Diploma and Diploma Project) in full-time and part-time modes.

Modules
Computer Systems
Computing Project
Essential Skills for Computing
Ethical and Legal Issues for Computing
Management of IT Systems
Internet Programming
Operating Systems and Networks
Practical IT Systems
Project Preparation
Systems Modelling
Further Details
In addition to the information on the right, please see the information for all computer science programmes on the departmental profile.

Here is our ranking:

1. Harvard University
2. Stanford University
3. Yale University
4. California Institute of Technology
5. University of California at Berkeley
6. University of Cambridge
7. Massachusetts Institute Technology
8. Oxford University
9. University of California at San Francisco
10. Columbia University
11. University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
12. University of California at Los Angeles
13. University of Pennsylvania
14. Duke University
15. Princeton Universitty
16. Tokyo University
17. Imperial College London
18. University of Toronto
19. Cornell University
20. University of Chicago
21. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich
22. University of Washington at Seattle
23. University of California at San Diego
24. Johns Hopkins University
25. University College London
26. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne
27. University Texas at Austin
28. University of Wisconsin at Madison
29. Kyoto University
30. University of Minnesota Twin Cities
31. University of British Columbia
32. University of Geneva
33. Washington University in St. Louis
34. London School of Economics
35. Northwestern University
36. National University of Singapore
37. University of Pittsburgh
38. Australian National University
39. New York University
40. Pennsylvania State University
41. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
42. McGill University
43. Ecole Polytechnique
44. University of Basel
45. University of Maryland
46. University of Zurich
47. University of Edinburgh
48. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
49. University of Bristol
50. University of Sydney
51. University of Colorado at Boulder
52. Utrecht University
53. University of Melbourne
54. University of Southern California
55. University of Alberta
56. Brown University
57. Osaka University
58. University of Manchester
59. University of California at Santa Barbara
60. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
61. Wageningen University
62. Michigan State University
63. University of Munich
64. University of New South Wales
65. Boston University
66. Vanderbilt University
67. University of Rochester
68. Tohoku University
69. University of Hong Kong
70. University of Sheffield
71. Nanyang Technological University
72. University of Vienna
73. Monash University
74. University of Nottingham
75. Carnegie Mellon University
76. Lund University
77. Texas A&M University
78. University of Western Australia
79. Ecole Normale Super Paris
80. University of Virginia
81. Technical University of Munich
82. Hebrew University of Jerusalem
83. Leiden University
84. University of Waterloo
85. King's College London
86. Purdue University
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88. Uppsala University
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90. University of Heidelberg
91. University of Queensland
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93. Emory University
94. Nagoya University
95. Case Western Reserve University
96. Chinese University of Hong Kong
97. University of Newcastle
98. Innsbruck University
99. University of Massachusetts at Amherst
100. Sussex University

Rank University
1 University of Oxford
2 University of Cambridge
3 Imperial College London
4 London School of Economics
5 University College London
6 Loughborough University
7 University of Bristol
8 University of Warwick
9 University of Bath
10 University of Durham

According to The Guardian University Guide, 2006:

Rank University
1 University of Cambridge
2 University of Oxford
3 London School of Economics
4 University College London
5 Imperial College London
6 School of Oriental and African Studies
7 King's College London
8 University of Warwick
9 University of Bath
10 University of Edinburgh

Software Engineering (SWE) MSc Course
Course Modes

Full Time - This course is only available full time

8 Assessed Modules - 6 of which are Mandatory (M) - 2 Optional (O) - Plus a six person-month individual project carried out in the department.

Software Engineering has become a crucial discipline in the functioning of the modern world. Information systems, communications, transport, manufacturing and services all require well-engineered and reliable software. This course focuses especially on software systems with a high requirement for dependability.

The MSc course consists of eight assessed modules and a six person-month individual project carried out in the department. Six of the eight modules are mandatory, the remaining two are chosen from the optional modules. A formal programme specification for this course is available.

Here is a list of the current set of course modules, where (M) indicates that a module is mandatory, and (0) indicates that it is optional:

Practical Software Management and Management of Software Engineering (M)
Requirements Engineering (M)
Formal Specification (M)
Object-Oriented Design (M)
Concurrent & Real-Time Programming (M)
Systems Architectures (O)
Reactive Systems Design (O)
Software Management & Testing (M)
Human Factors Engineering (O)
Most modules have an associated assessed exercise, which takes approximately 35 hours. Three mandatory modules involve closed examinations. The project is examined by dissertation; the amount of time required to complete it is approximately six person-months.

Each student is allocated a personal supervisor in the Department who meets the student regularly to discuss progress during both the teaching and project phases.