Academic Regulations 2004/5
School of Electronics & Computer Science

BSc/MEng Computer Science
BEng/MEng Software Engineering

  • BSc Computer Science
  • BSc Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence
  • BSc Computer Science with Distributed Systems and Networks
  • BSc Computer Science with Image and Multimedia Systems
  • BEng Software Engineering
  • MEng Computer Science
  • MEng Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence
  • MEng Computer Science with Distributed Systems and Networks
  • MEng Computer Science with Image and Multimedia Systems
  • MEng Software Engineering

PART I

Banner Code Module Name Credit Points
COMP1001 Introduction to Formal Methods 10
COMP1003 Advanced Programming 10
COMP1004 Programming Principles 20
COMP1005 System Administration Tools and Techniques 10
COMP1006 Computer Architecture 10
COMP1007 Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science 10
COMP1008 Software Engineering 10
COMP1009 Data Structures and Algorithms 10
ELEC1004 Professional Issues 10
ELEC1013 Introduction to Digital Electronics 10
COMP1002 Computer Systems and Applications 10
MATH1014 Engineering Mathematics for Computer Science 10

You must choose either Computer Systems and Applications or Engineering Mathematics for Computer Science. If you have A-level Computing, or equivalent, you are encouraged to take Engineering Mathematics in your first year.


PART II

Banner Code Module Name Credit Points
COMP2008 Communications and Networks 10
COMP2010 Compiler Engineering 10
COMP2002 Computational Systems 10
COMP2004 Database Systems 10
COMP2005 Distributed Computing 10
COMP2006 Human-Computer Interaction 10
COMP3014 Artificial Intelligence 10
COMP2009 Operating Systems 10
COMP2007 Software Analysis and Design 10
COMP2012 Software Engineering Group Project 10
COMP2011 Theory of Computing 10
COMP2035 Scripting Techniques (S) 10
COMP2036 Intelligent Algorithms 10
MATH1014 Engineering Mathematics for Computer Science 10

You must choose either Engineering Mathematics for Computer Science (if not already taken) or Intelligent Algorithms or Scripting Techniques. Variants of these last two modules will also be offered in Year 3. Because of module pre-requisites, if you are following one of the themed degrees in Artificial Intelligence, Image and Multimedia Systems or Software Engineering you must take Engineering Mathematics (either in Year 1 or Year 2). If you are following a themed degree in Artificial Intelligence, you must also take Intelligent Algorithms (either in Year 2 or Year 3).


PART III

The major element of your third year is the Computer Science Project which runs all year. In Semester 1, students intending to graduate with an MEng degree take Engineering Mangement 1, and other students take The IT Profession.

Banner Code Module Name Credit Points
COMP3020 Computer Science Project 40
MANG3022 Management for Engineers 1 (MEng students) or 10
COMP3002 The IT Profession (BSc/BEng students) 10
Options 70

You will also take 60 credits of optional modules, with a total of at most 70 credits in either semester, though 60 credits per semester is recommended. You may select at most 20 credits worth of options taught by other Schools. If you wish to graduate with a themed degree, you must take at least 30 credits of specialist modules as indicated by the letters: (A) with Artificial Intelligence degrees; (M) with Image and Multimedia Systems; (N) with Distributed Systems and Networks; and (S) Software Engineering degrees.

PART III Options

Banner Code Module Name Semester Credit Points
ELEC3032 Computational Modelling 1 10
COMP3018 E-Business Techniques (S) 1 10
COMP3013 Multimedia Systems (M, N) 1 10
COMP3004 Principles of Computer Graphics (M) 1 10
COMP3012 Programming Language Design 1 10
COMP3001 Scripting Languages (S) 1 10
COMP3010 Advanced Computer Networks (N) 2 10
COMP3017 Advanced Databases 2 10
COMP3005 Computer Vision (A, M) 2 10
COMP3011 Critical Systems (S) 2 10
COMP3016 Hypertext and Web Technologies (M) 2 10
COMP2036 Intelligent Algorithms (A) 1 10
COMP3028 Knowledge Technologies 2 10
COMP3019 Large Scale Distributed Systems (N) 2 10
COMP3008 Machine Learning (A) 2 10
COMP3009 Quality Assurance and Project Management (S) 2 10
COMP3006 Real-Time Computing and Embedded Systems (N) 2 10

Options Taught by Other Schools

Banner Code Module Name Semester Credit Points
LAWS3001 Industrial Law 1 1 10
MANG3022 Management for Engineers 1 1 10
MATH3027 Operational Research 1 10
MATH3026 Statistics for Engineering Systems 1 10
LAWS3002 Industrial Law 2 2 10
MANG3023 Management for Engineers 2 2 10
MATH3016 Optimisation 2 10
FREN9023 French for Engineers and Mathematicians 1 & 2 20
GERM9017 German for Engineers and Mathematicians 1 & 2 20
SPAN9019 Spanish for Engineers and Mathematicians 1 & 2 20


PART IV

Banner Code Module Name Credit Points
COMP3002 The IT Profession 10
ELEC6050 Group Design Project 40
COMP6008 Research Methods 10
COMP6009 Research Project 20
Options 70

PART IV Options

Banner Code Module Name Semester Credit Points
ELEC6053 Adaptive Systems (A) 1 10
ELEC6025 Advanced Computer Graphics (M) 1 10
ELEC6007 Biologically Inspired Computing (A) 1 10
ELEC6076 Computer Networks (N) 1 10
COMP6003 Technologies for E-Commerce (S) 1 10
COMP6012 Advanced Multimedia (M) 2 20
ELEC6087 Biologically Inspired Robotics (A) 2 20
ELEC6024 Computer Vision (A, M) 2 20
ELEC6032 Cryptography and Data Compression (N) 2 20
ELEC6026 Distributed Computing Systems (N) 2 20
COMP6007 E-Business Strategy (S) 2 20
COMP6004 Formal Design of Systems (S) 2 20
COMP6005 Interactive Entertainment Systems (M) 2 20
COMP6006 Intelligent Agents (A) 2 20


Programme Structure

You will study 120 credit points equivalent to 12 course units in years 1, 2 and 3, and 150 credits, or 15 course units, in year 4. These credits are at level C (Certificate) in year 1, level I (Intermediate) in Year 2, level H (Honours) in year 3, and level M (Masters) in year 4 except that, in some situations, one unit is taken from the level below.

The main areas covered in the first two years are computer applications, hardware and software systems, mathematics and theory, practical programming and software engineering. In years 3 and 4, the core material covers professional practice, with major individual and group projects, and taught modules covering industrial practice and engineering management. There is also a range of optional modules. Many of these options are in the specialist areas of Artificial Intelligence, Distributed Systems and Networks, Image and Multimedia Systems and Software Engineering.

Students intending to graduate with MEng degrees are strongly recommended to spend 20 weeks in industry, usually as two 10-week summer placements. Alternatively, you may suspend your studies after two years to take a year out in industry or abroad. Consult the ECS Industrial Liaison Tutor for advice concerning placements.

If you leave after successfully completing one year of study you qualify for a Certificate of Higher Education; if you leave after successfully completing two years of study you qualify for a Diploma of Higher Education. If you successfully complete at least 300 credit points, including 60 points at level H taught modules in year 3, you may graduate with an ordinary degree, BSc (Ordinary) or BEng (Ordinary). If you successfully complete three full years of study, you may graduate with an Honours degree, BSc or BEng. If you successfully complete four full years of study, you may graduate with an MEng degree.

If you obtain at least 30 credits at level H in one of the four specialist areas in year 3, you qualify for the award of BSc Computer Science with 'X' or BEng Software Engineering, a 'themed degree'. For a themed MEng degree, for example MEng Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence, you must also obtain at least 40 credit points at level M from the relevant specialist area in year 4.