DMU Leicester

Postgraduate Courses in the
School of Computing Sciences

MSc Informatics

Introduction

 The MSc Informatics course is a taught conversion course and can be undertaken over twelve months, full-time, or over 2 years, part-time. It is delivered at the Hogeschool in Eindhoven, Holland, but is awarded by De Montfort University, England. Students must be fluent in spoken and written English as this is the language of the course.

This conversion course provides an interesting alternative for those students who are considering additional academic education. Students are offered education on an academic level which will provide, on completion, an internationally-oriented Master of Science degree and a good start to their professional career. Students will combine and extend their previous technological/engineering education with informatics knowledge and skills.

What is
Informatics?
Informatics is a combination of Software Engineering, Telematics and Database Systems.

The course enables students to add informatics skills to their existing technological skills. Students will be made aware of the current state of the art and be able to apply established informatics techniques in industry and commerce. Students will be in a position to assess and adapt to new developments in informatics.

Typically, graduates find employment as Software Engineers, Telematicians or Technical Advisors in industry and commerce or the public sector. Some graduates pursue research and/or educational careers.

Entry Requirements
The normal minimum entry requirement is a good honours degree, or equivalent, in a technology-related subject. Students will also be expected to have some experience of information technology, communications and social skills, basic project skills, basic skills in mathematics and statistics and experience of using general computer packages such as text processors and spreadsheets.

Computer Science/Information Technology students will not normally be eligible for entry to the course.

Students will be expected to be fluent in spoken and written English as the language of the course is English.

Course Structure
You can study the course over 12 months full-time or over 2 years part-time. Both modes commence in the last week of August with an induction unit (2 weeks). In full-time mode eight taught modules are delivered from September until May (28 weeks). The project is carried out in the remaining four months (16 weeks).

Each taught module has up to 2 1/2 hours of class contact per week. Teaching is by lectures, classroom tutorials or laboratory work as appropriate to the subject.

A non-assessed Project Skills Unit is provided to prepare for the project.

Semester
Module Title
Induction Unit
Semester 1
Software Engineering
Computer Systems
Networks
Database Systems and Design
Semester 2
OO Programming and Design
Advanced Networks
Operating Systems
Real-Time Software Design
Summer Period Project

Course Syllabus
  • Induction Unit
    The first two weeks of the course provide an introduction to computing, operating systems and initial programming concepts. Students with adequate prior experience in these areas may be exempted from this unit.

    • Semester One
  • Software Engineering
    Develops skills in the specification and construction of software using a programming language widely used in industry.

  • Computer Systems
    Reviews the hardware aspects of information technology and its interfacing to other devices. Includes a comparison of the capabilities of the different processor and system types and their operating systems.

  • Networks
    Considers network architecture, transmission media and protocols and local and wide area networks.

  • Database Systems & Design
    Establishes skills in data modelling and the use of state of the art relationship database management systems and 4GLs. Includes distributed database concepts and architecture, multimedia database technology and object oriented databases.

    • Semester Two
  • Object-Oriented Programming & Design
    Examines the principles of object-oriented software and its design, including classes and objects, message passing and methods, inheritance, polymorphism and dynamic binding. Includes the evaluation of O-O as an enabling technology

  • Advanced Networks
    Covers network design, performance and management. Includes Internetworking, integrated services digital networks (ISDN). Includes the information superhighway, intelligent networks, wireless LANs and personal communications networks.

  • Operating Systems
    Considers the implementation and management aspects of modern operating systems, including software and hardware implications.

  • Real-Time Software Design
    Covers structured design of real-time programming problems according to current design techniques including Hatley & Pirbhai and Meilir Page-Jones. Includes sequential and parallel design and the use of CASE-design tools.

    • Summer Period
  • Project
    During the Project Phase which occupies 16 weeks students undertake a project. The project is normally in an area related to software engineering and/or telematics and has a practical and vocational emphasis. It normally includes a design implementation and evaluation of practical systems. Wherever possible, the project is undertaken in association with an external organisation in industry, commerce or the public services.

    • Further Information
    Assessment
    Taught modules are assessed either by coursework or by examination, or both. Assessment of the project will include elements for the management, report and presentations of the project.

    Award
    For the award of MSc Informatics, a student is required to pass the Project and all taught modules, at 'pass' or 'distinction' level. For the award of Postgraduate Diploma a student must have passed either 8 taught modules, or the Project and at least 4 taught modules.

    The course is wholly delivered at the Hogeschool Eindhoven, although students are registered as De Montfort University students, and the MSc qualification is awarded by De Montfort University. There may be opportunities for students to undertake the project at De Montfort University, Leicester in England.

    Fees and Awards

    For contact details, see foot of page.

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    Application forms and further information are available from the Studie Informatiecentrum of the Hogeschool Eindhoven which is located on the campus of the school, Building HG, Room 0.40, Rachelsmolen 1, Eindhoven. Application forms are also available by writing to:

    For further information on any of the other postgraduate courses offered by the School of Computing Sciences at De Montfort University, use the On-line Enquiry Form or write to:

    Created by Nigel S. Domaingue, MSc IT 1995/96.