How To Pass M.Sc. Computing

1
How To Pass M.Sc. Computing

• Adrian J Pullin
• Award Director
• pullina_at_hope.ac.uk
• FML208
• 0151 291 3352

2
Types of Assessment

• Coursework
• Done over a period
• Time constrained assignment
• Done in a short time, often a morning or day
• Examination
• 2 hours of panic
• In fact most are class tests
• Still 2 hours of panic!

3
Coursework Process

• Assignment handed out
• Do assignment
• Hand in assignment - on time
• Assignment marked
• Feedback returned
• We keep it until after exam board
• Audit
• You collect it back from us after results
• Or we bin it!

4
Reassessment

• First attempt not up to required standard
• Normally have right to reassessment once
• Reassessment determined by examination board
• NOT student!!!
• May be re-do work, may be new work
• By next exam board

5
Due Dates

• Liverpool Hope University regulations
• All assignments have a due date
• If in on time - full range of marks
• If late zero awarded
• If you do not hand in on time, you could FAIL the
  course

6
Handing In Assignments Where and When

• All assignments are handed in to the BCS Deanery
  Office (FML202)
• Hand in during normal office hours
• The deadline is 300pm on given date
• The deadline is 300pm on given date
• Assignment must be submitted, date stamped by the
  office and signed by you

7
Handing In Assignments What

• Assignments must be securely bound
• Assignments must have the correct front cover,
  clearly visible
• Available outside Deanery Office (FML202)
• Copy in Student Guide to Procedures
• Assignments must have your FULL name on
• See next slide
• Assignments must have tutors name on
• Include the assignment specification
• Keep a backup copy of all work!
• You will be given a receipt, which is part of the
  front cover. Keep it!

8
What is your name?

• Different cultures write their name in different
  orders
• Your name as it appears on your passport
• Please write your family name in UPPER CASE
• E.g. Adrian PULLIN
• On all official documents
• i.e. anything you hand in
• Must have id number as well
• In case two people have the same name

9
Mitigating Circumstances

• Illness
• Bereavement
• Must be documented
• Sick note
• NOT-
• Computer crash
• Printer not working
• Bus was late
• Friends hamster ate Elvis

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Extensions

• Granted due to mitigating circumstances only
• Fill in Extension Application form
• Available from Deanery office (FML202)
• Attach documentary evidence
• Get it signed by award director (Keith Dures or
  Adrian Pullin)
• If for more than one week, by the Dean
• Give copy in to Deanery Office (FML202)
• Take copies to keep yourself
• Deliver evidence to Registry
• Attach copy of Extension Application form to
  assignment
• This is an extension to the deadline
• New deadline set and must be kept

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How To Do Assignments

• Read the spec do what it says
• Gather information
• Read the spec do what it says
• Put together a draft
• Read the spec do what it says
• Tidy up draft
• Read the spec do what it says
• Read through your assignment review against
  spec
• Hand in on time

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How To Present Assignments

• Word process
• Spell grammar check
• UK English
• Use MS Word Technical grammar setting
• Proof read
• Use Times New Roman 12 point font for main text
• This is the default in Word at Liverpool Hope
• Keep layouts simple
• Fancy covers gain no marks
• Only include your own material
• Reference everything using Harvard standard

13
Plagiarism

• Submitting copied work as original
• Fraud
• Cheating
• You are plagiarising if-
• You use Copy and Paste from someone else's
  document to your assignment
• You copy type someone elses document to your
  assignment
• Someone elses document includes (but is not
  limited to) Web pages
• Penalties up to being expelled from Liverpool
  Hope
• If in doubt, ask
• Refer to College policy for details

14
Getting Back Assignments

• Assignment feedback should be returned to
  students within four weeks
• Feedback will be returned by module tutors
• Feedback will carry a grade
• See later slide
• We keep all assignments until after exam board
• Audit
• Collect back from tutor after results
• Or we bin it

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Exams or Class Tests

• 2 hours of panic!
• Week beginning 24th April
• Week beginning 13th December
• You MUST attend the exam
• YOU WILL FAIL IF YOU MISS THE EXAM
• Holiday bookings are NOT an excuse
• Misreading the timetable is NOT an excuse
• Resits at next available time
• Same rules apply

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Dissertation

• Major piece of research based work
• 15,000 words
• In a Computing related area
• i.e. related to the course
• Worth 60 credits
• Equal to 4 taught modules
• Done after satisfactory completion of taught
  programme
• Research Methods module
• Must be passed first
• 15 credits
• Delivered over 2 semesters

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Grades

• Percentage
• 70-100 Pass with Distinction
• 40-69 Pass
• 0-39 FAIL

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Qualifications

• Postgraduate Certificate in Computing
• 4 modules 60 credits passed
• No module below 40
• Postgraduate Diploma in Computing
• 8 modules 120 credits passed
• No module below 40
• Master of Science in Computing
• 8 modules plus dissertation,180 credits passed
• No module below 40
• Minimum 40 on dissertation
• Distinction
• 120 out of 180 credits at distinction

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Failure

• Any mark below 40 is a fail for that module
• You can recover a failed module
• Resubmit (max. 40)
• Repeat module (max. 40)
• You may replace up to 30 credits (2 modules)
  with other MSc Computing modules
• Also capped at 40
• You can not carry more than 30 credits ( 2
  modules) of failure
• If in doubt, ask

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Recovery from Failed Module

• Module tutor will have details of required work
  to recover failed module
• YOU must contact tutor to find out how to recover
• You must recover by next exam board
• Effectively within one semester
• You can not use this to extend your period of
  study

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Normal Progression

• 60 credits (4 modules) should be completed in one
  semester
• PgCert
• 120 credits (8 modules) should be completed in
  two semesters
• PgDip
• 180 credits (8 modules dissertation) should be
  completed in three semesters
• MSc

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Limits on Progression

• 60 credits (4 modules) MUST be completed in two
  semesters
• PgCert
• 120 credits (8 modules) MUST be completed in
  THREE semesters
• PgDip
• 180 credits (8 modules dissertation) MUST be
  completed in four semesters
• MSc

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Dates January start

• Semester dates Normal Must reach
• Jan 06 April 06 60 credit
• Sept 06 - Dec 06 120 credit 60 credit PgCert
• Jan 07 April 07 Dissertation 120 credit PgDip
• April 07 Sept 07 Dissertation 180 credit MSc
• Advice is to complete taught phase as soon as
  possible
• Gives more time for dissertation

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Communications

• The M.Sc. Computing notice board
• Opposite Keith Dures Office (FML414)
• Via the M.Sc. Computing web site
• URL http//hopelive.hope.ac.uk/computing/msccomput
  ing/
• Via E-Mail
• All students have access to E-Mail via Novell
  GroupWise
• Use GroupWise client on site
• Use http//webmail.hope.ac.uk off site
• We will only communicate via your Liverpool Hope
  e-mail address
• Not hotmail, yahoo etc.
• Security, fees etc.
• Via the Portal
• Results etc.
• It is up to you to read ALL of these
• Contact us through Ms Ashlyn Whitty in the
  Deanery Office FML202

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How To Pass The Course

• Attend
• Do the assignment work
• Hand it in on time
• Attend
• Do all the directed study
• Even if it is not assessed
• Attend
• If you are stuck, ask early
• Attend exams