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Computing at Aberystwyth:
What we teach and how it is
organised
Lynda Thomas
Head of Admissions and
Recruitment – Computer Science
Objectives of this Talk
 Tell
you about our degrees
 More details on a visit day once you have
applied
Structure of Department
 On
main (Penglais) campus
 25 full-time lecturing staff
 35 support and research staff
 450 undergraduates and MSc students
 25 PhD students
Aim of our courses
We seek to produce graduates who have:
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a broad knowledge of Computing,
a wide skills base,
good intellectual skills, and
strengthened interpersonal skills.
So that they …. can adapt and be relevant in 10
years time.
Do we succeed?
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Joint first in UK for Student satisfaction
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Degrees accredited by British Computer Society
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Top marks in last QAA assessment
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Best Research rating in Wales
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Our students get good jobs in the Computing
industry
From recent statistics – 6 months out
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More Aberystwyth Computer Science graduates entered
into a ‘graduate’ role, compared with national figures for
computing.
Aber 87.5%, nationally 69.8%
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Aberystwyth Computer Science graduates enjoyed an
average starting salary of £21,798 in 2009; £3,475 more
than the average figure for all other Aberystwyth first
degree graduates entering into full-time employment.
Undergraduate Courses
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Degree schemes offered:
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Computer Science
Software Engineering
Internet Computing and Systems Administration
Business Information Technology
Degree ‘flavours’ linked to our research interests
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Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence
AI and Robotics
Mobile and wearable computing
Computer Graphics, Vision and Games
Open Source Computing
THE COMMON THREADS
Features of all our degrees
Common first year
V
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Group project
Year in industry
(optional)
Final Year Project
Vocational
 Activity
weekend in first year interpersonal and team skills.
Professional skills weekend in second
year - mock interviews
Encouraged to spend a year in industry
Hard Work - Project based
Common First Year
Flexible – you can change scheme or
mix and match
Depends on background more than
degree scheme
The Group Project
 Year
2
 Team of about 10
 Whole product development process
 Examples:
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Stock dealing
Sky Digibox programmer
Android Game
The Group Project (same brief)
 2D maze based game
 Pacman-style for Android phones
 The hero can fire bullets at the baddies
 If hit, they split into weaker baddies
 After being hit a few times, baddies die
 If baddies run into you, then you die
 New levels built on a PC
Levels can be loaded into the game
Optional Year in Industry
between year 2 and 3
 Practical
experience for a year
 Working with companies
 Paid
 We help find jobs
 Improves future performance
 Makes it easier to get a job when you
graduate
A few places that our students
have worked
Final Year Project
year – 33% of your time
 Individual working
 Complete project
 May be research led by staff member …
 …or from your industrial year
 Specify, develop, test, deliver a product
 Personal challenge
 Final
THE DEGREES
BSc in Computer Science
G400 - 3 years - G401 - 4 years
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Provides core modules
Most flexible (up to 1/3 out of department)
Covers core modules:
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Types of final year projects :
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Programming, Unix and Windows, Software design,
Software engineering, Professional issues,
Telecommunications, Database management
systems, Human computer interaction and electives
A ticket booking system for the Department of
Theatre, Film and TV
Types of job:
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Any typical position in software industry
Sarah Burdett
 From
Cardiff
 Computer Science
 Worked for Information Services in
Industrial Year in Design Studio
 Final Project: Knitting Pattern Generator
 Now working for spindogs in Cardiff as a
programmer
BEng in Software Engineering
G600 - 4 years
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Emphasises PROFESSIONAL engineering of large,
high-quality software systems
 More Technical – almost all modules must be in CS
 Compulsory industrial year
 Covers:
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Types of final year projects :
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Core modules plus: C and Unix, C++, Distributed systems
technologies and other electives
Instrumentation for a sailing robot
Types of job:
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Technical positions in software industry
Other Engineering Schemes
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BEng H622– Internet Engineering – 4 years
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MEng G601 – 5 years
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Similar to G600 but electives and final project emphasise
distributed technologies and internet
Our most prestigious scheme
Final year all modules with MSc students (for an undergraduate
price!)
Extra modules such as Computer Forensics
Types of job:
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Technical positions in software industry
Rob Yeates
 From
Somerset
 Mature student (was a catering manager)
 Transferred to MEng at end of year 1
 Industrial Year at Goldman-Sachs, London
(current)
 Final Project: ?
BSc in Internet Computing and
Systems Administration
H602 - 3 years - H603 - 4 years
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Building professional quality web sites, applications and
networks.
Covers:
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Types of final year projects :
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Core modules plus: Web programming, Website design,
Database driven web sites, E-commerce, Commercial
processes, E-commerce systems and internet security , Web
tools selection…
multi-sport online league recording system for use by sports
clubs.
Types of job:
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Building and maintaining professional web sites
Supporting computing users with networking skills
Adam Roberts
 From
Wrexham
 Internet Computing
 Industrial year at Compliance Control Ltd
 Final year project: staff rostering for
Corris railway
 Now working for a consultancy firm as an
Oracle database administrator
BSc in Business Information Technology
G500 - 3 years - G501 - 4 years
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Concerns methods and technologies that can be used to create effective
IT systems as solutions to business problems.
Rather than emphasising programming, this degree concentrates on
analysing business requirements and translating them into systems
Covers:
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Types of final year projects :
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Web programming, Systems analysis, DBMS and Commercial applications,
Professional issues, Business process engineering, E-commerce system
and internet security, Web tools selection. Some modules are taken in other
departments such as Information Studies and Media Studies.
Critique and redesign of multi-lingual web site (Eisteddfod)
Types of job:
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Providing database and web enabled commercial solutions
Supporting computing users
Rachel Moss
 From
Wolverhampton
 Switched to G501 after first year
 Industrial Year at HBOS (now Lloyds
Banking) working with Marketing and IT
teams on brochure websites
 more …
 Became
interested in accessibility of
commercial information for Visually Impaired
people
 Final Year project a system to investigate
this
 Now doing PGCE in IT – just got a job and
applying for a part-time PhD
BSc degrees with Artificial Intelligence
CS & AI: GG4R - 3 years, GG47 – 4 years
AI & Robotics: GH76 - 3 years, GH7P – 4 years
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) explores artificial systems that can do
things that are normally regarded as requiring intelligence.
Robotics is the study of devices that automate tasks and may
exhibit AI.
Covers:
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Types of final year projects :
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Core modules plus: Practical application of AI, Appropriate tools,
Theoretical understanding of AI, Hardware, Intelligent Robotics, Space
Robotics, electives
Cracking the Zodiac killer's cypher with AI techniques
Automatically steering an electric car
Types of job:
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Any technical job in the software industry or related to AI or Robotics
Tom Blanchard
 from
Brighton
 AI and Robotics
 Industrial Year working for Dr. Mark Neal
in the department (last year)
 Final Year project: Development of an
Autonomous Tethered and Submersible
Data Buoy
 Next year: PhD
Tom on a project involved with automated 3D
modelling of the calving edge of glaciers
BSc degrees in New Technologies
Mobile and Wearable Computing: G420, G421
Concerns technologies for mobile and very lightweight computing systems.
Mobile phones and PDAs form the backbone of this revolution.
Computer Graphics, Vision and Games: G450, G451
Specific applications include games development, (medical) image
understanding, movie special effects and industrial quality control.
Open Source Computing: G402, G403
Covers programming, operating systems, software design, and the
engineering of large software systems, from an open source perspective.
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Covers:
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Types of final year projects :
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Core modules plus: appropriate other modules such as: ubiquitous computing,
interactive computer graphics, visualisation, C++
Graphics and games for mobile devices
Types of job:
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Any technical job in the software industry and specialised positions
Harry Strange
From Carmarthen
 Computer Graphics,
Vision and Games
 Started University in London and
changed his mind – started at Aber late
 Final Year Project: Using Visualisation
to Aid Detection of Building Blocks in
Mammograms
 Now: PhD student in Visualisation
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How to get more information:
Today:
Please ask!
[email protected]
While making your decision about University:
http://www.aber.ac.uk/schemes
http://www.aber.ac.uk/modules
After you apply:
Visit Days
Once you are here:
Lots of support available – if you are worried ask!
STUDENT LIFE!