Pg Informatics 2014

8/12/2019 Pg Informatics 2014

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/pg-informatics-2014 1/24

Inuencing the world since 1583

THE UNIVERSITYOF EDINBURGHInformatics

POSTGRADUATEOPPORTUNITIES 2 0 1 4

E N T R Y



www.ed.ac.uk/informatics

The University

02 Welcome to the School of Informatics03 Facilities and resources04 Community05 Employability and graduate attributes06 Taught masters programmes10 Research at the School of Informatics11 Research opportunities16 Funding18 How to apply19 Get in touch20 Campus map

THE UNIVERSITYOF EDINBURGH:INFLUENCING THEWORLD SINCE 1583

Our proud history andalumni ambassadorsFor more than 400 years our staff and

students have been making their markon the world. They’ve explored space,revolutionised surgery, won Nobel Prizes,published era-dening books, run thecountry, paved the way for life-savingbreakthroughs and laid the foundationsfor solving the mysteries of the universe.By choosing further study or research atEdinburgh you will be joining a communityof scholars who have been at the forefrontof knowledge since 1583.

We are associated with 15 Nobel Prize

winners, including physicists Charles Barklaand Max Born, medical researcher PeterDoherty, economist Sir James Mirrlees andbiologist Sir Paul Nurse. Our famous alumniinclude NASA astronaut Piers Sellers,former MI5 Director-General Dame StellaRimington, Olympians Sir Chris Hoy andKatherine Grainger and historical greatssuch as philosopher David Hume, physicistand mathematician James Clerk Maxwell,inventor Alexander Graham Bell and SherlockHolmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

“You are now in a placewhere the best coursesupon Earth are within yourreach … such an opportunityyou will never again have.”Thomas Jefferson, American FoundingFather and President (speaking to hisson-in-law, Thomas Mann Randolph, as he

began his studies at Edinburgh in 1786)



01The University of Edinburgh

Informatics Postgraduate Opportunities 2014 entry

An inspiring destinationYour rst-class education will take place in

one of Europe’s most striking capital cities,

a World Heritage Site that is regularly votedone of the best places in the world to live.Edinburgh enjoys a solid reputation as acentre for innovation, whether as home tothe 18th-century Scottish Enlightenment,as a modern source of pioneering science,medicine and technology, or as the host ofthe world’s largest and longest-establishedarts festival. You couldn’t ask for a moreinspiring setting in which to further yourknowledge and broaden your horizons.

Join us

Edinburgh offers unparalleled academicbreadth and diversity, making it a vibrant,challenging and stimulating environmentfor postgraduate study. Whether you planto change direction, enhance your existingcareer or develop in-depth knowledge ofyour area of study, the University ofEdinburgh provides a world-classlearning experience.

* Times Higher Education World University Rankings

** Latest Research Assessment Exercise

Teaching and research excellenceWe are consistently ranked as one of theworld’s top 50* universities. As host to

more than 30,000 students from some130 countries, studying across 100academic disciplines, the Universityof Edinburgh continues to attract theworld’s greatest minds. World-leadingresearch is produced by 96 per cent**of our academic departments, placingEdinburgh in the top ve in the UK forresearch. Our excellent teaching was alsoconrmed in the latest report from theQuality Assurance Agency, which awardedus the highest rating possible for thequality of the student learning experience.

Collaborations andinternational partnershipsAs an internationally renowned centreof academic excellence, Edinburgh isthe site of many world-class researchcollaborations. Our postgraduate studentsare crucial to our continued success anddevelopment and, along with our staff,they forge research links through regulartravel and overseas exchanges. We takepride in our partnerships with otherinstitutions such as the California Instituteof Technology, Stanford University, the

University of Melbourne, Peking University,the University of Delhi and the Universityof KwaZulu-Natal – to name but a few.

We are a member of both the League ofEuropean Research Universities and theCoimbra Group, giving us strong links

with leading European institutions fromBarcelona to Berlin.

Linking research and commerceEdinburgh was one of the rst UKuniversities to actively develop commerciallinks with industry, government and theprofessions. Edinburgh Research andInnovation (ERI) has continued, for the pastfour decades, to develop the promotionand commercialisation of the University’sresearch excellence. ERI assists ourpostgraduates in taking a rst step to

market, whether it is through collaborativeresearch, licensing technology or providingconsultancy services.

Enhancing your careerWith one of the best track records forgraduate employment in the RussellGroup, the University of Edinburgh iscommitted to embedding employabilityinto your teaching and learningexperience. From offering access tovolunteering schemes to providingsupport from our sector-leading CareersService, the University provides myriad

opportunities to develop your skills,knowledge and experience giving youthe edge in a competitive job market.

twitter.com/applyedinburgh

facebook.com/universityofedinburgh

youtube.com/edinburghuniversity

http://www.twitter.com/applyedinburgh

http://www.facebook.com/universityofedinburgh

http://www.youtube.com/edinburghuniversity

http://www.youtube.com/edinburghuniversity

http://www.facebook.com/universityofedinburgh

http://www.twitter.com/applyedinburgh




Edinburgh’s School of Informatics is thelargest academic centre of its kind in

Europe and the UK’s most successfulinformatics research institution. Comparedwith our nearest competitor in the UK,we produce 69 per cent more researchjudged ‘world leading’ and we have44 per cent more research-active staff.

Our size and strength also supportunparalleled breadth in our taughtcourses, which are consistently rankedas excellent in external assessments.

By joining our School you will becomepart of an exciting and vibrant academicculture that will help you to develop theskills and knowledge for a successfulcareer in industry or academia.

Informatics is the study of natural and engineered computational systems.It encompasses the academic disciplines of computer science, softwareengineering, articial intelligence and cognitive science.

Making an impactWe lead the way in an exciting discipline

that is central to a new enlightenment inscholarship and learning. Informatics iscritical to the development of science,technology, culture and society. As apostgraduate student you will have theopportunity to make your own mark inthe eld, in the area that most interests

and excites you.

Inspiring peopleAt the School of Informatics you can jointhe world’s brightest students in learningfrom our distinguished staff, many ofwhom are world leaders in their eld. Ouracademics include Fellows of the RoyalSociety, the Royal Society of Edinburghand the Royal Academy of Engineering.We boast recent winners of the most

WELCOME TO THE

SCHOOL OF INFORMATICS

prestigious awards in the eld,

including the Herbrand Award, the

Blaise Pascal Medal and the YangtzeRiver Scholar award.

Exciting careersGraduates from our programmes enjoycareer success in a wide array of rolesthat shape our society, from developingthe latest mobile technology to creatingintelligent infrastructure. Many go on towork as project managers, researchers,software developers and consultants inthe commercial sector (at rms such as

Google, Amazon, Skyscanner or Adobe)or take up academic posts, often inRussell Group and Ivy League institutions,such as MIT and Stanford. Some of ourgraduates have found their own successthrough start-up companies.





Facilities and resources

You’ll be based at the University’s citycentre campus, surrounded by livelyvenues, leisure facilities and parks andserved well by public transport – not tomention the World Heritage attractionsof one of the UK’s most beautiful cities.

The award-winning Informatics Forum is aninternational research facility for computingand related areas. It houses more than 400research staff and students and containstwo robotics labs, an instrumentedmultimedia room, eye-tracking and motioncapture systems, and a full recording studio.Its spectacular atrium plays host to manyevents, from industry showcases andstudent hackathons to major researchconferences. Neighbouring state-of-the-artteaching facilities include computer andteaching labs with more than 250machines, 24-hour access to IT facilitiesfor students, and comprehensive support

provided by dedicated computing staff.

An entrepreneurial focusAs well as academic importance, werecognise the commercial potential ofour research. In recent years, we’ve helpedto create more spin-out companies thanany other UK institution (as judged byspinoutsuk.co.uk). Among our initiativesis Informatics Ventures, set up in 2008to support globally ambitious softwarecompanies in Scotland and nurture atechnology cluster to rival Boston,Pittsburgh, Kyoto and Silicon Valley.

Creative spaceAn exciting new venture for our School isour collaboration with Edinburgh Collegeof Art, backed by the Scottish FundingCouncil. The Centre for Design Informaticsallows the integration of product designwith ideas from informatics. Designers willwork alongside informatics entrepreneursto help build new products and services,including the next generation of socialmedia tools. The School of Informatics isalso home to Inspace, a laboratory covering

300m2

that also serves as a gallery, studio,cinema, workshop and lecture facility.

Our exceptional facilities have been built withthe needs of innovative learning, teaching and

research in mind. We provide comfortable ofcespace and specialist research and teaching labs.

Collections of the UniversityThe University’s collections are uniquein their depth and diversity. Managed bythe Centre for Research Collections, andhoused in our Main Library at the heartof our central campus, they span morethan 500,000 rare books, scientic andcultural artefacts from around the world,historically signicant musical instrumentcollections, specialist museum collections,and manuscripts.

Highlights include the world’s oldestsurviving Gaelic text; a page from the nal

draft of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of

Species, as well as two copies of the rstedition; Adam Smith’s original library;Alexander Fleming’s sample of mouldused to make penicillin; original quartosof Shakespeare plays, with notes in themargins from 16th-century actors; thethermometer of chemist Joseph Black;

and original Sir Isaac Newton diagramsin David Gregory manuscripts of 1692.

University archivists – with a broadspectrum of expertise – make it theirpriority to ensure these items are accessibleby our students, researchers and staff.

First-classteaching

Our taught courses areconsistently ranked asexcellent in external

assessments.




Community

Working in such a large group ofresearchers and students opens upopportunities for collaboration and creativeinteraction. The atmosphere is one ofcommunity: we encourage students to mixand share their experiences and many of

our subject areas invite a multidisciplinaryapproach. For example, current projectsin the School include Genes to Cognition,Digital Health, Computing ResourceGuarantees for Mobile Applications,Intelligent Automated Advice on DomesticEnergy Consumption and Machine LearningMarkets Applied to Medical Data.

Sharing researchIn addition to formal teaching, eachresearch institute within the Schoolregularly schedules seminars for all staffand students, where you can hear aboutcutting-edge research as it unfolds.Research students will also nd regular

opportunities to present their work in thisinformal and supportive environment.

Social networkingInformatics students enjoy a lively sociallife, and can take part in many student-organised activities. The University’scomputer society, CompSoc, organisesevents ranging from games to ice skatingand there are regular sports tournamentsand tech meet-ups. There is also Hoppers,

a friendly group for women in technology.

The Informatics Forum is a vibrant meetingpoint for all sorts of groups, from theformal to the very informal – you caneven play table tennis in the Forum itself.There are also numerous online resourcesand meeting points, from the School’sFacebook page to wikis and virtual cafes.

SupportThe School’s Student Services team offersa rst point of contact to all our taughtand research students for help andinformation to support all aspects of yourstudent life, from admissions and fundingto graduations and career opportunities.

As a student at the School ofInformatics, you’ll be studying

with the largest group ofinformatics researchers in theUK, comprising almost 500students and academic staff.





Employability andgraduate attributes

All our postgraduate students have accessto an excellent range of services to helpyou make the most of your time with us,whether you’re looking to enhance yourcareer, pursue research or start yourown business.

Start-up assistanceThe School of Informatics is particularlysupportive of commercialisation and wehave a strong track record in developingspin-out companies. For those who areentrepreneurially minded, we providetraining and mentoring and host specialevents to help our students and staffattract venture capital funding for theirstart-ups. In addition, the University runs

the award-winning programme LAUNCH.edto help student entrepreneurs start newbusinesses. Since 2005 LAUNCH.ed hashelped Edinburgh students and alumnilaunch more than 120 businesses, of whichmore than 85 per cent are still trading.www.launch.ed.ac.uk

Institute for Academic DevelopmentAll of our postgraduate students canbenet from the University’s Institute

for Academic Development (IAD), whichprovides information, events and coursesto develop the skills you will need nowand in the future.

The IAD offers one of the longest-establisheduniversity research and career skills trainingpackages in the UK. Our experts will helpyou gain the skills, knowledge andcondence needed to move on to the

next stage in your career, be that in aprofessional sector or within academia.

Computers continue to play a vital role in nearly every aspectof everyday living and in a diverse range of sectors – fromthe entertainment industry to the environment. Some of themost dynamic and lucrative opportunities of the future areavailable to those who are skilled in computing, softwareand information systems.

The Institute provides research studentswith dedicated training in topics suchas research management; personaleffectiveness; communication skills;public engagement, networking andteamworking; leadership; and careermanagement. You can gain expertise ininformation technology and presentationskills; condence in undertakingindependent and creative research;the ability to critically evaluate sourcematerials; and the capacity to constructintellectually rigorous arguments.

For taught postgraduates, the IADprovides a growing range of tailoredstudy-related and transferable skills

workshops, plus online advice and learningresources. These are all designed to helpyou settle into postgraduate life, succeedduring your studies, and move condentlyonwards to the next stage of your career.

By developing these broader professionalskills and qualities, our postgraduatestudents are always in high demand.

More information:www.ed.ac.uk/iad/postgraduates

Careers ServiceThe University’s award-winning CareersService aims to expand the horizons of all

students, empowering and inspiring youto make successful career decisions.

The Service has a friendly team of expertsready to help you at our ofces on thecentral campus and at King’s Buildings.We offer advice and guidance whateveryour plans for the future, includingcareers in research. We offer workshopsthroughout the year that are open toall postgraduate students, plus sessionsspecically for international students.

The Service has a team dedicated to

developing our already strong linkswith employers from all industries andemployment sectors; from the world’s toprecruiters to small enterprises based herein Edinburgh. We provide a programmeof opportunities for students to meetemployers on campus and virtually.

More information:www.ed.ac.uk/careers/postgrad

Did you know?The University of Edinburgh

has been ranked 19thfor the employability

of its graduates.*

*QS World Rankings




Taught masters programmes

www.ed.ac.uk/pg/107

Articial Intelligence

MSc 1 yr FT (3 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)

Programme descriptionThis MSc is taught at the UK’s longest-established centre for articial

intelligence, which remains one of the best in the world.

Our research draws on neuroscience, cognitive science, linguistics,computer science, mathematics, statistics and psychology to spanknowledge representation and reasoning, the study of brain processesand articial learning systems, computer vision, mobile and assembly

robotics, music perception and visualisation. We aim to give youpractical knowledge in the design and construction of intelligentsystems so you can apply your skills in a variety of career settings.

Programme structureYou follow two taught semesters of lectures, tutorials, project workand written assignments, after which you will learn research methodsbefore individual supervision for your project and dissertation.

You will choose a ‘specialist area’ within the programme, which willdetermine the choice of your optional courses.

SPECIALIST AREASIntelligent Robotics; Knowledge Management, Representation &Reasoning; Learning from Data; Natural Language Processing.

COMPULSORY COURSES

Informatics Research Review ; Informatics Research Proposal; Introduction

to Java Programming (for students who do not already meet theprogramming requirements for the taught masters); Dissertation .

OPTIONAL COURSES

May include: Advanced Vision; Algorithmic Game Theory and Its

Applications; Computer Animation and Visualisation; Information

Theory ; Machine Learning and Pattern Recognition; Natural Language

Understanding; Robotics: Science and Systems; Human-Computer

Interaction; Software Architecture, Process and Management ;Data Mining and Exploration; Text Technologies; Computational

Cognitive Neuroscience.

Career opportunitiesOur students are well prepared for both employment and academicresearch. The emphasis is on practical techniques for the design

and construction of intelligent systems, preparing graduates towork in a variety of specialisms, from fraud detection softwareto spacecraft control.

Minimum entry requirementsA UK 2:1 degree, or its international equivalent (www.ed.ac.uk/international/country), in informatics, articial intelligence, cognitive

science, computer science, electrical engineering, linguistics,mathematics, philosophy, physics or psychology, plus experiencein computer programming.

English language requirementsSee page 18.

Fees and fundingwww.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/postgraduateFor funding information see also page 16.

Programme Contact Informatics Teaching OrganisationTel +44 (0)131 650 5194

Email [email protected]

We offer six taught MSc programmes, each featuring compulsory and optional coursesthat allow you to tailor your masters degree to your particular interests and career goals.

See also…

Some of our taught masters degrees are closely related tothose in other Schools. You may be interested in programmesoffered by Edinburgh College of Art, or the Schools of BiologicalSciences; Mathematics; Philosophy, Psychology & LanguageSciences; or Physics & Astronomy.

www.ed.ac.uk/studying/prospectus-request

http://www.ed.ac.uk/informatics






www.ed.ac.uk/pg/803 (Design Informatics)www.ed.ac.uk/pg/802 (Advanced Design Informatics)

Design Informatics/Advanced Design InformaticsMSc 1 yr FT (Design Informatics)MSc 2 yr FT (Advanced Design Informatics)

Programme descriptionDesign informatics focuses on designing with data. This new course is runin conjunction with Edinburgh College of Art through the newly formedCentre for Design Informatics. On this programme you will learn how tobuild computational systems as well as the principles of design thinkingand making. Through case studies of real-life products you will apply yourknowledge in a practical way, developing an understanding of what ittakes to create, design and take a product to market.

Programme structureDesign Informatics: You follow two semesters of taught courses,attending lectures, tutorials and group practicals to acquire the

theoretical foundation to enable you to engage in independent research.Between May and August you will do a major individual research projecton which you will write a dissertation.

Advanced Design Informatics: In the rst year you follow two semesters of

taught courses, attending lectures, tutorials and group practicals to acquirethe theoretical foundation to enable you to engage in independent research.In the summer you have a commercial or public semester placement. In thesecond year, taught courses focus on product design, and you will gainexperience in leading a group, before completing a dissertation project.

COMPULSORY COURSES

Design for Informatics; Case Studies in Design Informatics 1; Designing

with Data; Design Informatics Project ; Design Informatics: Histories and

Futures; Dissertation; and for Advanced Design Informatics, a placement.

OPTIONAL COURSES

May include: Advanced Natural Language Processing ; Computer

Graphics; Extreme Computing; Introduction to Vision and Robotics;Text Technologies; Advanced Databases; Automatic Speech

Recognition; Data Mining and Exploration; Informatics

Entrepreneurship and Digital Marketplace.

Career opportunitiesThis degree will put you at the cutting edge of design technologyand technology for design, opening a host of opportunities in thecommercial sector.

Minimum entry requirementsA UK 2:1 degree, or its international equivalent (www.ed.ac.uk/international/

country), in informatics, articial intelligence, cognitive science, computerscience, electrical engineering, linguistics, mathematics, philosophy,physics or psychology, plus experience in computer programming.



Programme Contact Informatics Teaching OrganisationTel +44 (0)131 650 5194Email [email protected]

www.ed.ac.uk/pg/111

Informatics

MSc 1 yr FT (3 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)

Programme descriptionWe offer a wide choice of courses, spanning established disciplines aswell as emerging areas such as bioinformatics. The programme takesfull advantage of our expertise in research and teaching, includingspecialisms unique to Edinburgh.

Programme structureYou follow two taught semesters of lectures, tutorials, project workand written assignments, after which you will learn research methodsbefore individual supervision for your project and dissertation.

You will choose a ‘specialist area’ within the programme, which willdetermine the choice of your optional courses. Students on the Informatics

MSc programme can choose from 12 specialist areas (including all thoseavailable on the other taught masters).

SPECIALIST AREAS

Analytical and Scientic Databases; Bioinformatics Systems and

Synthetic Biology; Cognitive Science, Computer Systems, SoftwareEngineering and High Performance Computing; Intelligent Robotics;Knowledge Management, Representation and Reasoning; Learningfrom Data; Natural Language Processing; Neural Computation andNeuroinformatics; Theoretical Computer Science.

COMPULSORY COURSES

Informatics Research Review ; Informatics Research Proposal; Introduction

to Java Programming (for students who do not already meet theprogramming requirements for the taught masters); Dissertation.

OPTIONAL COURSES

There are 80 optional courses available to MSc Informatics students,including courses within specialist areas unique to the programme.

Career opportunitiesOur graduates are well regarded by potential employers worldwide.Many go on to work in the technology industry as software engineers,IT consultants, programmers and developers, and many have found roleswith software and hardware giants that have become household names.Others go on to further study and research.

Minimum entry requirementsA UK 2:1 degree, or its international equivalent (www.ed.ac.uk/international/country), in informatics, articial intelligence, cognitive

science, computer science, electrical engineering, linguistics,mathematics, philosophy, physics or psychology, plus experiencein computer programming.



Programme Contact Informatics Teaching OrganisationTel +44 (0)131 650 5194Email [email protected]

See also…You may also be interested in the MA and MFA versions of theDesign Informatics programme. See the Edinburgh Collegeof Art prospectus at: www.ed.ac.uk/pg/821.





Research at the School of Informatics

The research areas we offer reect ourleadership in the eld. Our vast research

portfolio is carried out across seveninstitutes: communities of research staffand students with access to specialistfacilities and funding. The researchdegrees we offer follow the same institute

grouping, giving you the UK’s greatestchoice in core and multidisciplinary areas.

Degree choicesThe most common research degree isthe three-year Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)programme. You will embark upon originalresearch under supervision and presentthe results in a written thesis and oralexamination.

The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) requiresat least two years of supervised researchstudy. It would usually include taught

courses in your rst year of study and moreindependent research in your second year.

The MSc by Research is an opportunityto gain research skills by undertakingindependent study related to the School’songoing research programme, over aperiod of one year.

We’ve topped the charts for the last two UK Research AssessmentExercises, contributing 10 per cent of the UK’s total ‘world-leading’

research (rated 4*) in computer science and informatics – placingus far ahead of our nearest competitors. We hope the researchyou undertake will become part of our future contribution.

Centres for doctoral trainingThe School of Informatics intends to offerfour-year programmes for 2014 entry thatcombine a training year (taught MSc orMSc by Research) with a PhD in specicresearch areas. For the latest information,see: www.ed.ac.uk/informatics

Joint PhD with BeihangUniversity, ChinaIn addition to our Edinburgh-basedresearch degrees, we offer a three-yearPhD jointly with Beihang University, China,as part of our internationally collaborativeresearch. Students will be co-supervisedby a member of academic staff in eachinstitution, and spend approximatelyequal time at each location. On thisprogramme you can undertakeresearch in any area of Informatics.

More information:www.ed.ac.uk/pg/805

“I chose to stay in Edinburgh because I’ve had a tremendousexperience during my time at the School of Informaticsand I would recommend it to everyone with an interest

in artificial intelligence or computer science.I don’t think there is another university where I wouldhave done as well or been helped so successfully torealise my potential.”Nicholas O’Shea, PhD Software Engineering

Researchexcellence

We carry out moreworld-leading research

than any other equivalentdepartment in the UK.







Research opportunities

www.ed.ac.uk/pg/494

CISA: Automated Reasoning,Agent Systems, DataIntensive Research,Knowledge ManagementPhD 3 yrs FT (6 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)MPhil 2 yrs FT (4 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)MSc by Research 1 yr FT (2 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)

In this information age, the formalised representation of knowledge andautomation of reasoning form the basis of the computerised systems thatshape our world. At the Centre for Intelligent Systems and their Applications(CISA), we lead the way in research into this vital eld, both in facilities

and quality of research.

Research environmentYou’ll nd a wide range of research areas within CISA , from abstract

research using logic and theorem-proving methods through to systems-oriented research. Our current research groups encompass agents andmulti-agent systems, knowledge systems, mathematical reasoning,planning and activity management, and software systems and processes.

Intelligent systems are a driving force for change in areas ranging fromreasoning on the web to industrial supply chain management. Aided byour links with commercial and government bodies, the research you’llundertake could shape the future of technology.

Tangible commercial linksAs a CISA research student, you’ll have access to one of the mostinnovative collaborations between research and business – our Articial

Intelligence Applications Institute. Through consultancy, training anddevelopment, we offer solutions to commercial and government clientsthrough the application of newly researched techniques.

Going furtherWhile your research studies are a perfect route to a career in academia,your degree could also take you into the commercial world of appliedintelligent systems. Software developers and the users of automatedplanning systems, for instance, are among those who rely on the insightsof researchers. NASA and animation company Pixar are just two of theorganisations that have recently employed our graduates.

English language requirements

See page 18.Fees and fundingwww.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/postgraduateFor funding information see also page 16.

www.ed.ac.uk/pg/496

ILSI: Modelling, Simulation,Formal Methods in Syntheticand Systems Biology, FormalMethods in Complex SystemsPhD 3 yrs FT (6 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)

At the meeting point of computer and biological sciences, the InformaticsLife Sciences Institute (ILSI) operates in one of the most dynamic areas ofresearch in the informatics eld.

We apply computer modelling to systems and synthetic biology in adiscipline that has the growth potential comparable to that of theelectronics industry in the 1980s.

Our world-leading research takes place in SynthSys – a facility that readilyattracts the investment needed to provide a combination of state-of-the-art equipment with top-level academic staff and the most up-to-dateresearch methods.

Research environmentYour research may draw together work in a number of areas, such asneuroinformatics, modelling, sensorimotor control, biomimetic robotics,computational systems biology, synthetic biology and bioinformatics.

Whether you approach your work from a theoretical or practicalbackground, you’ll discover that ILSI puts the two disciplines on an equalfooting: theorists are encouraged to consider practical implications,

while practitioners are given scope to develop the theoretical analysisof their work, with an eye to the long-term possibilities.

Enviable networksIntegral to the success of ILSI is our ability to create and maintainnetworks to link the Institute with related disciplines throughout theUniversity. Collaboration is key in this interdisciplinary eld, and we’ll

encourage you to make the most of the large pool of expertise thatsurrounds you.

Career opportunitiesWith similar centres being established worldwide, demand is highfor research graduates who are able to aid in their development.Private sector entities in areas such as biotherapies, energy production,environmental protection and agriculture are also keen to employgraduates from ILSI.



See also…You may also be interested in research areas offered by otherSchools, particularly the School of Biological Sciences; Physics& Astronomy; or Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences.





www.ed.ac.uk/pg/489

IANC: Machine Learning,Computational Neuroscience,

Computational BiologyPhD 3 yrs FT (6 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)MPhil 2 yrs FT (4 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)MSc by Research 1 yr FT (2 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)

The Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation (IANC) is a world-leading institute dedicated to the theoretical and empirical study ofadaptive processes in both articial and biological sys tems. We are one

of the UK’s largest and most prestigious academic teams in these elds.

Closely linked with the Neuroinformatics and Computational NeuroscienceDoctoral Training Centre, we foster world-class interdisciplinary andcollaborative research bringing together a range of disciplines.

Research environmentOur research falls into three areas: machine learning, computationalneuroscience and computational biology.

In machine learning we develop probabilistic methods that nd patterns

and structure in data, and apply them to scientic and technological

problems. Applications include areas as diverse as astronomy, healthsciences and computing.

In computational neuroscience and neuroinformatics we study howthe brain processes information. If you’re contemplating research inthese areas we recommend the Neuroinformatics and ComputationalNeuroscience Doctoral Training Centre as your rst point of contact.

Visit: www.anc.ed.ac.uk/dtc

The focus in the computational biology area is to develop computational

strategies to store, analyse and model a variety of biological data (fromprotein measurements to insect behavioural data).

Career opportunitiesThe research you’ll undertake at IANC is perfectly suited to a careerin academia, where you’ll be able to use your knowledge to advancethis important eld. Some graduates take their skills into commercial

research posts, and nd success in creating sys tems that can be used

in everyday applications.

Specic entry requirementsIANC researchers come from many different academic backgroundsbut most of our research requires previous training in mathematics.



www.ed.ac.uk/pg/492

ICSA: Computer Architectureand systems, compilation and

systems software, computernetworks and communicationPhD 3 yrs FT (6 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)MPhil 2 yrs FT (4 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)MSc by Research 1 yr FT (2 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)

The Institute for Computing System Architecture (ICSA) will provide youwith academic resources and industry links that are among the best inthe world. We’re home to the UK’s largest group of PhD researchers inthe eld, and host a Centre of Excellence in partnership with ARM, the

world’s largest microprocessor intellectual property provider. We’re alsoa member of the European Network of Excellence on High Performanceand Embedded Architecture and Compilation.

Research environmentOur students see their degrees as a launch pad for their careers,and many have established themselves as world-class researchers anddevelopers. By joining their ranks, you’ll be able to make your mark onthe next generation of technological innovations. Currently, research isfocused on the areas of compilers and architectures, parallel computing,wireless networking and processor-automated synthesis by iterativeanalysis. Our wireless communication group is particularly strong,and currently working on expanding wireless reach within Scotland.

While the scope for research is wide, each area is underpinned byour fundamental aims: to extend understanding of existing systems;to improve current systems; and to develop new architecture andengineering methods.

Encouraging successYou’ll be supported in your research by award-winning academicstaff – including four Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering.They and your fellow researchers have contributed to what is anenviable publications portfolio, featuring some of the most prestigiouspublications in the eld. You’ll graduate with more than an intensive

knowledge of your eld: you’ll also have established academic and

personal links that will last a lifetime.

Career opportunitiesAcademic and business employers actively recruit ICSA graduates, manyof whom are now designing the next generation of products for majorsoftware developers, or taking the lead in other entrepreneurial ventures.









www.ed.ac.uk/pg/491

ILCC: Natural LanguageProcessing, Speech

Technology, InformationRetrieval, CognitionPhD 3 yrs FT (6 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)MPhil 2 yrs FT (4 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)MSc by Research 1 yr FT (2 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)

Strongly interdisciplinary in nature, the Institute for Language, Cognitionand Communication (ILCC) is dedicated to both basic and appliedresearch in the computational study of language, communication,and cognition, in both humans and machines. As technology focusesincreasingly on language-based communication tools, research into theautomation of language processing has become vital. ILCC offers you thebroadest research scope in the UK, and a strong computational focus.

Research environmentOur primary areas of research are: natural language processingand computational linguistics; spoken language processing; dialogueand multimodal interaction; information extraction, retrieval, andpresentation; computational theories of human cognition; educationaland assistive technology.

Much of our research is applied to software development, in areasas diverse as social media, assisted living, gaming and education.

Cross-disciplinary cultureYou may nd yourself working closely with other departments of

the University, particularly the School of Philosophy, Psychology& Language Sciences.

Many of our researchers are involved in two cross-disciplinary research

centres: the Human Communication Research Centre and the Centrefor Speech Technology Research.

Career opportunitiesWhile many of our graduates pursue an academic career, others nd

their skills are highly sought after in the technology industry. A numberof our students serve internships with large UK and internationalsoftware developers, while others take up positions with majorsocial media companies.






Funding

Awards are offered by the School ofInformatics, the College of Science &Engineering, the University of Edinburgh,the Scottish, British and internationalgovernments and many funding bodies.

Below we list a selection of potentialsources of nancial support for

postgraduate students applyingto the School of Informatics.

The University of EdinburghGraduate Discount SchemeWe offer a 10 per cent discount onpostgraduate fees for all alumni who havegraduated with an undergraduate degreefrom the University. We also offer a 10 percent discount for international graduateswho spent at least one semester at theUniversity of Edinburgh as a visitingundergraduate. www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/discounts

Key

Taught masters programmesMasters by Research programmes Research programmes

University of Edinburgh scholarships

• China Scholarships Council/Universityof Edinburgh Scholarships (China)A number of scholarships for PhD studyto candidates who are citizens andresidents of China. www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/china-council

• Colciencias Scholarships (Colombia)The University of Edinburgh offers anumber of tuition fee scholarships to

full-time PhD students in partnershipwith Colombia’s Department ofScience, Technology and Innovation.www.colciencias.gov.co

• CONACYT Scholarships (Mexico)The University of Edinburgh offersscholarships to full-time postgraduatestudents in partnership with Mexico’sNational Council of Science andTechnology. www.conacyt.mx

• CONICYT Scholarships (Chile)The University of Edinburgh offersscholarships to full-time masters

students in partnership with Chile’sNational Commission for Scientic and

Technological Research. www.conicyt.cl

• Edinburgh Global Latin-AmericanMasters ScholarshipsTwelve scholarships are available tostudents from eligible countries who areaccepted on a full-time masters degreeprogramme. www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/postgraduate/latin-america

A large number of scholarships, loans and other funding schemes are available for your postgraduatestudies. You can nd the full range at: www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/postgraduate.

• Edinburgh Global MastersScholarshipsA number of scholarships available tointernational students for masters study.www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/masters

• Edinburgh Global ResearchScholarshipsThese scholarships are designed toattract high-quality international researchstudents to the University. www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/global-research

• Eric Liddell China SaltireScholarships (China)Ten scholarships are available to Chinesecitizens who are permanent residentsof mainland China who are accepted ona full-time masters degree programme.www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/postgraduate/liddell

• FIDERH and FUNEDScholarships (Mexico)The University of Edinburgh offersscholarships in partnership with Mexico’sFund for Development of HumanResources and the Mexican Foundationfor Education, Science and Technology.www.derh.org.mx www.funed.org.mx

• Google European DoctoralFellowshipsThe Graduate School of Informaticscan nominate two candidates for thisinternational competition. http://research.google.com/university/relations/doctoral_fellowships_europe.html


http://www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/china-council


http://www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/global-research


http://www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/postgraduate/liddell


http://http//research.google.com/university/relations/doctoral_fellowships_europe.html
















We have an online application process for all postgraduate programmes.It’s a straightforward system with full instructions, including details of

any supporting documentation you need to submit.

When applying, you will set up an account,which lets you save your application andcontinue at another time.

Full guidance on our application system:www.ed.ac.uk/postgraduate/applying

General requirementsOur usual entrance requirement forpostgraduate study is a UK 2:1 degree, or

its international equivalent (www.ed.ac.uk/international/country ). This will typicallybe in an area of Informatics, such asarticial intelligence, cognitive science

or computer science. You may also beconsidered if your degree is in one of thefollowing areas: engineering, linguistics,mathematics, philosophy, physics orpsychology. You will need to haveexperience in computer programming.

You will need to meet the University’slanguage requirements (see right).

Entry requirements for individualprogrammes can vary, so check thedetails for the specic programmeyou wish to apply for.

Taught MSc programmes

DeadlinesThere are no ofcial deadlines for our taught

programmes, but places become allocatedas the year progresses. To give yourself thegreatest chance of being accepted, werecommend applying as early as possible. Ifyou are applying for funding, in most cases

you will need an offer to study with us beforeyou can make your funding application.

Application procedure• Thoroughly explore this prospectus and

our website to identify your preferredprogramme of study.

• Check you meet all entry requirements.Check whether a separate application isneeded for funding. Check any deadlines.

• Visit www.ed.ac.uk/pg/degrees, navigateto your chosen programme, and click onApply. Follow the instructions within the

online application system, includingdetails of documentation you must supply.

• We are happy to talk to you if you wouldlike more information before applying(see page 19 for contact details) or youcan visit: www.ed.ac.uk/informatics/postgraduate/msc

How to apply

Research programmes

DeadlinesOur admissions process for researchstudents is organised into two rounds,which are aligned with the timing ofthe main funding decisions.

For full consideration for all PhD scholarships,including those available to internationalstudents, you should apply for admissionby mid-December. The second deadline isthe end of March, connected to fundingdecisions mostly affecting UK/EU students.

It is possible for admissions decisions to bemade at other times of the year, especiallyif you have your own or external sourcesof funding.

Please check the latest deadline informationon our website, along with other key datesin the application process.

Application procedure• Thoroughly explore this prospectus and

our website to identify your preferredresearch area.

• In order to increase your chances of asuccessful application, you should identifythe most appropriate supervisor for thetopics that interest you, and contactthat person to discuss your options.Details of our research areas andpotential supervisors can be found at:www.ed.ac.uk/informatics/research

• Check you meet all entry requirements.Check any deadlines.

• Go to our online degree nder, navigate

to your chosen programme, and click onApply. Follow the instructions within theonline application system, includingdetails of documentation you must supply.Degree nder: www.ed.ac.uk/postgraduate/degrees

• You will be asked to submit a researchproposal. Guidelines can be found at:www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/informatics/postgraduate/faq/questionsapply

Joining us from overseasInternational applicants are advised tocheck the University’s website to nd outmore about their visa options and ourIntegrated English for Academic Purposes(IEAP) programme. More information:www.ed.ac.uk/international/ieap

International agentsThe University has certied representativeagents in the following locations: Brunei,Canada, China, Gulf Region, Hong Kong,India, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Malaysia,Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Russia, SaudiArabia, Singapore, South Africa, SouthKorea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Zambia andZimbabwe. International applicants canuse an agent to help guide them through

the application process if necessary.More information: www.ed.ac.uk/studying/international/agents

English language requirementsStudents whose rst language is notEnglish must show evidence of oneof the qualications below.

• IELTS Academic module 6.5(with at least 6.0 in each section).

• TOEFL iBT 92 (with at least 20in each section).

• Cambridge CPE Grade C.• Cambridge CAE Grade B.

Please note:

• English language requirements canbe affected by government policy soplease ensure you visit our websitefor the latest details. www.ed.ac.uk/english-requirements/pg/cse

• Your English language certicate must

be no more than two years old at thebeginning of your degree programme.

• A degree from an English-speakinguniversity may be accepted in somecircumstances.

• Cambridge tests are accepted onlyfor applicants who do not needTier 4 visas to enter the UK.

Abbreviations: IELTS − InternationalEnglish Language Testing System;TOEFL iBT − Test of English as a Foreign

Language Internet-Based Test; CPE −Certicate of Prociency in English;CAE − Certicate in Advanced English.

www.ed.ac.uk/english-requirements/pg


http://www.ed.ac.uk/international/country


http://www.ed.ac.uk/informatics/postgraduate/msc


http://www.ed.ac.uk/postgraduate/degrees


http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/informatics/postgraduate/faq/questionsapply



http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/international/agents


http://www.ed.ac.uk/english-requirements/pg/cse




















Contact usVisit: www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/informatics/postgraduate

For more information about taughtMSc programmes, please contact theInformatics Teaching Organisation:

Tel +44 (0)131 650 5194Email [email protected]

For more information about our researchprogrammes, including PhD degrees,please contact the School of InformaticsGraduate School:

Tel +44 (0)131 650 3091Email [email protected]

To discuss your research proposal, you’llnd details of potential supervisors at:

www.ed.ac.uk/informatics/research/directory

Visit usVisit our School and explore ourfacilities online at: www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/informatics/studentservices/visualresources

The University’s postgraduate Open Day

is your opportunity to come and meetcurrent staff and students. Our next campus-based Open Day takes place on Friday22 November 2013. More information:www.ed.ac.uk/postgraduate-open-day

The University also runs online informationsessions for prospective postgraduatestudents throughout the year. Moreinformation: www.ed.ac.uk/postgraduate/online-events

Get in touch

http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/informatics/postgraduate


http://www.ed.ac.uk/informatics/research/directory


http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/informatics/studentservices/visualresources



http://www.ed.ac.uk/postgraduate/online-events














Campus map

A702 SOUTH

We arehere!

InformaticsForum

…and hereAppleton

Tower

Informatics teaching, learning and research takesplace in two buildings based at the University’s

Central campus, a stone’s throw from city attractionsand University amenities, such as the Main Libraryand the Centre for Sport and Exercise.

University building

Detailed mapscan be found at:

www.ed.ac.uk/maps



“Edinburgh isn’t so much a city,more a way of life … I doubt I’llever tire of exploring Edinburgh,on foot or in print.”Ian Rankin, best-selling crime writer andUniversity of Edinburgh alumnus



Published by:

Communications and Marketing,

The University of Edinburgh

Designed by:

Tayburn

Photography by:

Paul Dodds

Edinburgh Inspiring Capital

Yao Hui

Tricia Malley & Ross Gillespie

Shutterstock

Laurence Winram

Printed by:

Image Data Group

Printed on Revive 50:50 Silk: a recycled paper containing

50% recycled waste and 50% virgin bre. Manufactured

at a mill certied with ISO 14001 environmental

management standard. The pulp used in this productis bleached using an Elemental Chlorine Free process.

© The University of Edinburgh 2013.

No part of this publication may be reproduced

This publication is available

online at www.ed.ac.uk/studying/prospectus-request and can bemade available in alternativeformats on request Please contact

PostgraduateOpen Day

22 Nov 2013

http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/prospectus-request




Pg Informatics 2014

Documents

Transcript of Pg Informatics 2014