MSc Computer Science (Conversion)

In this module you focus on Computer Science as the science of how computers and computation really work. You will study how hardware and software interact, learn core ideas such as algorithms, data structures and computation theory, and see how these foundations support modern areas like machine learning, databases and information security. Along the way, you build your problem-solving skills and start to think like a computer scientist, able to reason about complex systems rather than just use tools.

In this module you develop the knowledge and hands-on skills needed to secure modern networks. You will learn how to design and build a security infrastructure, identify threats and vulnerabilities, and apply core security technologies to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data and devices. Through hands-on labs, you will configure, monitor and troubleshoot routers, switches and security features, strengthening your ability to think critically, solve complex problems and support secure real-world networks.

In this module you explore how modern applications and information systems rely on database technologies to store, manage and use data effectively, from user profiles to complex business processes. You examine how databases support core activities such as customer management, healthcare records, and user-generated content, and how data platforms now underpin scalable, distributed, data-driven decision making in organisations. You will study key topics including data warehousing, data mining, SOA, business intelligence, distributed and cloud-hosted databases, and learn how these technologies shape the performance and capabilities of contemporary software systems.

In this module you explore how Artificial Intelligence can help protect data and systems, focusing on where AI adds unique value to modern security solutions and where its limitations lie. You are introduced to core AI ideas such as rule-based decision-making, probabilistic reasoning, machine learning, and “intelligent behaviour”, and you examine how these techniques are applied in security and biometric systems. You also engage critically with the legal and ethical issues raised by biometrics and smart, semi-autonomous systems, learning to consider privacy, accountability, and human control as key parts of professional practice.

In this module you learn how to engineer software in a systematic, team-based way, with a strong focus on quality from requirements through to maintenance. You explore key lifecycle activities such as requirements specification, design, development, testing and project management, and see why disciplined processes and quality assurance practices are essential for reliable commercial software. Working in teams, you apply these techniques in practice, producing core lifecycle artefacts and using frameworks for project and quality management that mirror professional software engineering environments.

In this module you develop the practical skills needed to design, build and deploy data‑driven web applications that automate real business processes. You work with databases, web APIs and web services to create secure, flexible and scalable multi‑tier systems using industry‑standard platforms, frameworks and tools. By the end, you will have implemented and demonstrated a working web application backed by an appropriate DBMS, giving you directly transferable experience of modern business‑focused web development.

In this module you build on your taught content by learning how to design and carry out your own primary research project on an applied technology topic, such as secure web or mobile applications, cloud-based systems, business continuity, or organisational risk and security policies. You develop practical skills in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, learning how to collect, analyse and interpret data to support evidence-based decisions in business and IT contexts. Throughout, you strengthen your critical thinking and gain highly transferable research skills that are valued across professions and will support your long‑term career development.

In this module you design and complete an individual, in‑depth project on an IT topic of your choice, working with a supervisor and, where appropriate, a real organisation to investigate a problem or develop a practical solution. You combine primary research (original data or development work) with secondary research (critical engagement with existing literature and technologies), and present your findings in a professionally written project report and a viva voce, where you verbally defend your work. Throughout, you sharpen your research, problem‑solving and critical‑analysis skills, and learn to document, justify and reference your work to a professional standard.