UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
Department of Computer Science
B.Sc. in
COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Contents :
Course Description
Course Aims
Course Regulations (during residence in Nottingham)
Admissions Requirements
Course Structure
Tutorials
Assessment Methods
Transferable Skills
Course Evaluation And Review
Course Description
This three-year degree course is available only to overseas, non-EU students who have studied the
National Computer Centre International Diploma in Computer Studies, and have achieved very high
grades in their final results. As a consequence of the high grades students will be allowed direct entry
into the second year of the course.
Course Aims
The aims of the course are to add to the basic skill acquired in achieving a high grade in the NCC
Diploma in Computer Studies by providing information on the more academic nature of Computer
Science. Graduates would be expected to be able to make a significant contribution to an employer
in a commercial environment immediately upon graduation.
Course Regulations
Across Semesters 1 and 2
ALL of the required 120 credits shall be obtained from specified modules from Computer Science.
Progression will be as specified in University Regulations.
Across Semesters 3 and 4
100 of the required 120 credits shall be obtained from compulsory modules from Computer Science.
The remaining 20 credits shall be obtained from modules, at an appropriate level, selected by
individual students from those offered in the Department of Computer Science, or any other Department,
for which the required pre-/co-requisites can be satisfied.
Admissions Requirements
A high grade mark in the NCC International Diploma in Computer Studies. Admissions will be by direct
application to the Department of Computer Science.
Course Structure
The course is made up of compulsory and elective modules. The compulsory modules form the core
material which is the essential working knowledge for a graduate in the discipline. In addition, the practical
nature of the discipline is maintained in the form of a Group Project in the first year of the course at
Nottingham, and an Individual project (Dissertation) in the final year of the course.
Many of the modules have associated laboratory or courseworks allowing these modules to make use
of continuous assessment of student progress. In some cases this assessment is used as part, or all,
of the mark for that module. In number in square brackets after the module name is the credit weighting
of the module. 360 credits are needed to obtain a degree.
Year 1
- NCC Diploma in Computer Studies [120]
Year 2
- Semester 1
- Introduction to Programming 1 [10]
- Mathematics for Computer Science 1 [10]
- Group Project Stage 1 [10]
- Database Systems [10]
- Computer Use and Applications [10]
- Computer Communications and Networks [10]
Year 2
- Semester 2
- Introduction to Programming 2 [10]
- Mathematics for Computer Science 2 [10]
- Group Project Stage 2 [10]
- Commercial & Industrial Systems Design [10]
- Concepts of Concurrency [10]
- Data Structures [10]
Year 3
- Semester 1
- Individual Dissertation Stage 1 [20]
- Theory of Relational Databases [10]
- Languages and Compilation Techniques [10]
- Artificial Intelligence Programming [10]
- Choice subject to pre-/co-requites [10]
Year 3
- Semester 2
- Individual Dissertation Stage 2 [20]
- Concurrency Control in Database Systems [10]
- Advanced Computer Communications [10]
- Artificial Intelligence Methods [10]
- Choice subject to pre-/co-requites [10]
THE MODULES SPECIFIED ABOVE MAY CHANGE FROM TIME TO TIME DETERMINED BY
STAFFING AND OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.
Tutorials
In the first year of the course students meet their tutors on a regular weekly basis. The tutorial system
is designed to fulfil a number of requirements, but is primarily to enable the students to establish personal
contact with a member of staff. Within that role the tutorial format can provide guidance on personal and
academic problems. However, problems classes and laboratory classes are intended to be primary source
of detailed help on specific modules. In the final year of the course no specific timetable slot is set aside
for tutorials, but it is expected that tutors would maintain contact with their students.
Assessment Methods
A variety of assessment methods are used on the course. The module descriptions outline the specific
method for any particular module. In summary the methods range from standard two hour unseen papers
to modules that are examined solely by course work. In addition the projects in the second and third year
involve the preparation of reports, dissertions, user and technical manuals and the presentation of a short
project lecture. All of these elememts accumulate marks towards the final total for the project. The final
degree classification is determined by the equal weighting of the second and third year results.
Transferable Skills
A course of this kind, by its very nature, imparts a significant body of knowledge of both a pratical and academic
nature to its graduates. The development of time management, personal communication and self-study skills are
inherent in the nature of the project work associated with the course. Whilst most modules impart the knowledge
to solve specific problems, the projects provide an environment in which students develop design skills and the
ability to solve problems within a more time and resource constrained situation, some of which constraints are imposed
by real-life situations.
Course Evaluation And Review
A number of formal and informal mechanisms exist for monitoring the course and its reception by the student
body.
Course Structure Committee
A course structure committee, composed of members of the Department of Computer Science will be
responsible for the organisation and administration of the academic content of the course.
Staff-Student Consultative Committee
A professor, not being a Head of Department, normally chairs termly meetings of the Staff-Student Consultative
Committee. The committee is made of student year representatives and a selection of academic staff. The
agenda of the meetings allows discussion of practical and academic topics which may be affecting the running
of the course.
Meeting with Head of Department
At the end of each academic session the Head of Department normally arrange to see all students in their year
groups. Feedback is obtained in this way on student perceptions and reactions to the course as a whole.
Peer Review
At the end of each taught module the module is subjected to peer review by an appropriate member of staff. The
results of this peer review may be used to modify teaching and presentational aspects of the module.
Examiners' Meetings
The External Examiner is invited to comment on general aspects of the course, on particular modules and on
the standards achieved.
Student Questionaires
As part of the appraisal process all staff are expected to obtain feedback from students on their teaching. Normally
this is in the form of a response to a questionaire.
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