MSc programmes in computing Welcome Introduction to MSc Programmes 2011 1.

MSc programmes in computing

Welcome

Introduction to MSc Programmes 2011 1


IntroductionDepartment Registration Computing Science – Tuesday 20th September, 3.00pm - 5.00pm, MT209 and Thursday 22nd September, 3.00pm – 5.00pm, MT209Graduate School InductionWednesday 21st September, 2.00pm - 3.30pm, New King’s 6 Information Skills (Lecture)Computing Science – Monday 3rd October, 12.00pm – 1.00pm, New Library, Floor 2, Seminar Room Information Skills (Workshop)Computing Science - Tuesday 4th October, 12.00pm – 13.00pm, New Library, Floor 2, PC classroom 1 and 2 (Rooms 226 and 227) Academic WritingComputing Science - Friday 14th October, 12.00pm – 1.00pm, New Library, Floor 2, Seminar Room Avoiding PlagiarismComputing Science – Friday 21st October, 12.00pm – 1.00 pm, New Library, Floor 2, Seminar Room


E-Registration

• Make sure that you e-Register, if you have not already done so

• Need your application number and D.O.B.• Advanced MSc students should determine which

courses they intend to take• “e-advising”


MSc Programme Structures

Ch

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Vacati

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Revis

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Week

Exam

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Intr

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Revis

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Week

Exam

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Taught modules 1

(60 Credits)

Taught modules 2

(60 Credits)

Individual & Group Project

(60 Credits)

September

September

MayJanuary


Variety of Programmes

• Advanced MSc variants (CS first degree)• Electronic Commerce Technology (vanilla)• Artificial Intelligence – more algorithms• Cloud Computing – more business• Advanced Information Systems – more IT

• MSc IT – non-computing first degree

Group projects with clients

• Opportunity for all to work on projects with real clients

• Advanced programmes in second-half session (Feb->May)

• IT students group project in summer (June->Aug)



Software installation

All students are expected to be able to install the needed software on their laptops during first week of classes

The sooner you do this, and sort it out, the easier life will be.

11


Assessment (1)

• Continuous assessment submission rules:• Unless instructed otherwise by the Course

Organiser, you should submit two copies of each written assessment.

• Place in marked box on ground floor by stairwell

• One copy is returned (within four teaching weeks of its receipt) with comments from the marker(s) and a mark on the Common Assessment Scale (CAS).

• For several deadlines may be scheduled at the same time, you must manage your time


Assessment (2)

• Penalties for late submission:• Up to 24 hours: 10% penalty.

• (or over weekend if deadline is Friday)

• Up to 1 week: 25% penalty.

• After 1 week work is marked and returned, but is recorded as “no paper”: 100% penalty.

• All deadline extensions due to exceptional circumstances (e.g. illness) are subject to approval by the exam board.


The Common Assessment Scale• 18-20 – distinction mark (70-100%)

• excellent understanding of materials and application

• 15-17 – commendation mark (60-69%)• very good understanding of materials and application

• 12-14 – masters level (50-59%)• Solid and confident understanding of materials and

application

• 9-11 – masters level (40-49%) • Competent understanding of materials and application

• 6-8 – fail (30-39%)

• 1-5 – poor fail


Cheating & Plagiarism (1)

• “Plagiarism is the substantial use, without acknowledgement and with intent to deceive the examiners or knowing that the examiners might be deceived, of the intellectual work of other people by representing, whether by copying or paraphrase, the ideas or discoveries of another or of others as one’s own in work submitted for assessment. The mere inclusion of the source in a bibliography shall not be considered sufficient acknowledgement.”

• Keyword: Acknowledgement



• Given that it is very easy to copy software, the potential exists for plagiarism in the submission of coursework.

• Work submitted for assessment should normally be individual work.

• Do not agree to requests from other students to copy your work.



• If you copy without acknowledgement, then this is plagiarism.

• You should assume that your coursework will be checked for plagiarism, whether you are submitting a report, or software.

• The department will report the matter to the University’s Investigating Officer.

• If found guilty, penalties include the awarding of zero marks for the individual assessment, the entire course, or, if serious, the award of no degree at all.


Cheating: Final Note

• In my experience, plagiarism makes it less likely that you will pass the programme• Because you will have a harder time learning

material, and hence passing the exam, if you don’t do the assessments

• If you feel you cannot do an assessment, please tell the course lecturer, or one of us (Bruce, Nigel, Advaith)!


Regulationshttp://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix7x7.pdf

• Award of a Postgraduate Diploma:

• Normally a pass (CAS 9) is required for all taught modules.

• Award of an MSc:

• Normally a pass (CAS 9) in all elements, inclusive of the project.

• The exam board determines when to apply discretion when a student is short a CAS 9 for a module.


Progression• You can leave with 60 credits for a

Postgraduate Certificate, or

• You can leave with 120 credits for a Postgraduate Diploma

• To proceed to the MSc (project) stage, you need:

• Normally marks at 9 or better in all elements of the Postgraduate Diploma.

• All decisions on progression and award are subject to examiners’ discretion.

There are also commendation and distinction awards

• Postraduate Diploma results• With commendation when marks for half

of elements CAS 15 or better, and others are CAS 12 or better

• With distinction when marks for half of elements are CAS 18 or better, and at least three-quarters of total assessment are CAS 15 or better, and others are CAS 12 or better.


There are also commendation and distinction awards

• MSc results• With commendation when marks for half

of elements CAS 15 or better including the project, and others are CAS 12 or better

• With distinction when marks for half of elements are CAS 18 or better, including the project, and at least three-quarters of total assessment are CAS 15 or better, and others are CAS 12 or better.


You can appeal procedural decisions

• If you feel you have a case for an appeal after seeing your exam results, then you can appeal within 2 weeks of the exam results being posted in your portal

• See more at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/appeals

• You can not appeal on academic judgment, only procedure, competency, or prejudice



Student Feedback

• Class representative:

• Class Members Elected from across both advanced and IT streams, at least one from each.

• Staff-student liaison committee:

• Two or three meetings each year.

• Informal feedback to Course Organisers.

• Course Evaluation Forms.


Illness/Absence

• Illness / Bereavement:• Must let Programme Tutor (Nigel and Advaith) know

ASAP.

• Medical certificate - submit to secretary via online form: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/ncs/current/absence-reporting/ Holidays are Christmas (Dec), Easter (April).

• Absences (outside holiday periods):• Must seek permission from Programme Tutor in

advance.

• Let us know of special requirements for examinations.• http://www.abdn.ac.uk/disability/

Register with a GP (doctor)

• You need to do this before you need one

• The closest one to the University is• Old Aberdeen Medical Practice



Contacts

• General administration:• School office – Meston G01 (27)2295

• Individual modules: Course Organisers.• Programme Directors:

Nigel Beacham (Adv. MSc Tutor)

Advaith Suddarthin (MSc IT)• Director Postgraduate Teaching: Bruce

Scharlau• Head of Discipline: George M. Coghill

• By appointment only.


Communication

• Email:

• Must check your @abdn e-mail regularly

• Course announcements, lecture changes, snow closures, etc.

• We assume that an e-mail message is received - so make sure you read them DAILY.


Other labs

• University has many computer labs scattered around campus• Desktop PCs

• Used for IT practicals• Wireless access in many halls of

residence, libraries, most of Meston building


Conditions for the Use of Computer Systems

• Facilities are provided solely for University purposes; i.e., work directly associated with courses/project activity.

• Facilities must not be used for recreational purposes.

• Accessing, holding or distributing pornographic or offensive material will be treated as a serious breach of these conditions.


Printing

• You are provided with an initial printer quota that should be sufficient for your courses.• BE CAREFUL when printing; i.e., check the

number of pages before printing.

• You may purchase additional quota (see School Office for advice)

• Printers in university computer labs


Access to Department

• Normal hours:• 09:00 - 18:00 Monday to Friday

• Evenings (18:00-23:00) and weekends:• Access by key.

• We will let you know when keys are available (deposit required).

• Sign in and out at porter’s desk.

• Carry student ID card.

• Late night (23:00 onwards)• Not possible.

• Can access your network space from non-departmental DIT labs, some of which have 24 hour access. See http://www.abdn.ac.uk/diss/compserv/class/classrooms.hti

Secretarial Office – Meston G01

• Opening hours:• 10:30-13:00 and 14:00-17:00 Monday-

Friday

• See them about • documentation for medical certificates, • handing in assessments that don’t fit in

boxes, • Adding to your print quota



Language Resources

• Language Centre offers in-term EFL support see http://www.abdn.ac.uk/languagecentre/index.php?id=18&top=3

for details about:

• Report writing

• Seminar skills, etc.

• These may be useful and should be taken now while the workload is low.


Programme Resources

• Programme pages• http://www.abdn.ac.uk/myaberdeen (handbook,

etc)• Department pages

underhttp://www.abdn.ac.uk/ncs/computing/

• Library• Queen Mother Library

http://www.abdn.ac.uk/library/


Questions

• Anything else?

MSc programmes in computing Welcome Introduction to MSc Programmes 2011 1.

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