Professor Uli Sattler

Introduction to MSc Programmes 2010 - 2011

Transcript

You'll see from a quick glance across our website that, as a department, we're very proud of our rich history in the field of computing. We remember with pride the contributions made by our predecessors Tom Kilburn and Freddie Williams who built the world's first stored programme computer just 60 years ago. However, whilst we enjoy a little nostalgia, we are very much occupied with shaping the future of computing.

Our desire to shape the future is evident in our research: Manchester is world renowned as a centre of pioneering computing research. Let me just give you two examples - one of our research groups is working on computer systems that mimic the human brain's structure and functionality. Another group of researchers looks into automated reasoning and how it can be used in making future versions of the web more "understanding" and thus more intelligent.

The future of computing is also what we have in mind regarding our teaching: we look to educate the best and the brightest of the next generation of computing professionals.

It is with this in mind that I am delighted to announce the launch of a new suite of MSc programmes that will run for the first time in from September 2010. Over the past decade, Manchester has taught a suite of traditional Master Level programmes. At the core of this offering has been our Masters in Advanced Computer Science - a highly flexible programme that reflected the breadth and depth of our expertise. The programme quickly established an excellent reputation and produced graduates that went on to work in some of the top jobs in industry and academia: companies who have hired our graduates range from multinationals such as IBM, Motorola, Shell, Apple and Oracle to specialist companies such as Clock in Lancashire.

However, whilst the programme afforded some flexibility, students were given alittle guidance to specialise or focus on emerging discipline areas.

Computing is changing. It's increasingly being informed by the challenges presented by other discipline areas -- for example in Business, Biology, Physics and the Social Sciences. We recognised that our programmes must change to reflect these exciting and important developments.

For the first time in 2010, students will be able to choose a pathway through our long-established Advanced Computer Science programme that reflects their core computing interests, career goals or aspirations. Students will be able to choose one of eleven pathways, or choose to follow the straight Advanced Computer Science route. Moreover, a number of highly specialised standalone programmes will remain in place.

As well as reflecting the specialism within a Masters degree, the "Pathways" approach enables students to create bespoke programmes by selecting the "themes" they wish to follow within their pathway. A "theme" is essentially a related collection of course units that build on top of each other to give you in-depth knowledge and skills.

What this means for prospective students is greater choice than ever before, but structured in a meaningful way. Students can graduate from a programme that provides core masters level knowledge, but with a degree of specialisation that enables them to target a specific discipline area and to gain a distinguishing skill set, which is also reflected in their degree title.

The Manchester programme caters for a hugely diverse range of interests from Security through Software Engineering, E-Science, Health Informatics and much more. Please take at look at our programme pages for further information or call us and we'll be happy to talk through your options.