Handbookfor

Postgraduate Studentsof

Computing Science Degrees

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Contents1. About this Handbook.............................................................................................................................................5

2. Enquiries, Contacts & Information........................................................................................................................5

3. Communication with the Department and University..........................................................................................5

4. Access to the Building............................................................................................................................................6

Keys.........................................................................................................................................................................6

Entry to Building after Normal Hours.....................................................................................................................6

5. Food & Drink..........................................................................................................................................................7

6. Smoking.................................................................................................................................................................7

7. DIT Classrooms.......................................................................................................................................................7

8. Fire.........................................................................................................................................................................7

9. Mobile Phones.......................................................................................................................................................8

10.Safety.....................................................................................................................................................................8

11.Computer Systems.................................................................................................................................................8

Getting the Most Out of CSD Facilities...................................................................................................................9

Other Useful Information.......................................................................................................................................9

12.Director for Postgraduate Teaching and Programme Tutors................................................................................9

Programme Director...............................................................................................................................................9

Programme Tutors..................................................................................................................................................9

13.Assessment............................................................................................................................................................9

Mode of Assessment...............................................................................................................................................9

Examinations.........................................................................................................................................................10

Cheating & Plagiarism...........................................................................................................................................10

In-Course Assessment...........................................................................................................................................10

Deadlines...............................................................................................................................................................10

Late Submissions & Penalties...............................................................................................................................10

Revision Periods....................................................................................................................................................11

Medical Conditions and Other Personal Mitigating Circumstances.....................................................................11

Criteria for Assessment.........................................................................................................................................11

General Considerations.........................................................................................................................................13

Feedback...............................................................................................................................................................13

14.Attendance & Progress Monitoring.....................................................................................................................14

Entry to Courses....................................................................................................................................................14

Monitoring Progress.............................................................................................................................................14

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Attendance Requirements....................................................................................................................................14

Tier 4 Immigration Issues......................................................................................................................................15

Absence.................................................................................................................................................................15

Support Available to Students..............................................................................................................................15

15.Academic Appeals & Student Complaints...........................................................................................................16

Academic Appeals.................................................................................................................................................16

Student Complaints..............................................................................................................................................16

Students with Disabilities & Medical Conditions..................................................................................................16

16.Cheating & Plagiarism..........................................................................................................................................17

Guidance on Avoiding Plagiarism.........................................................................................................................17

Automated Plagiarism Detection..........................................................................................................................18

17.Photocopying & Scanning Regulations for Students...........................................................................................18

18.Postgraduate Degrees.........................................................................................................................................18

MSc........................................................................................................................................................................18

Aims of the Computing Science Degree...............................................................................................................19

Outcomes of the Computing Science Degree.......................................................................................................19

More Information.................................................................................................................................................20

19.Requirements for Progression & Award on Taught Postgraduate Programmes................................................20

Credit Requirements.............................................................................................................................................20

20.Study Outside the University of Aberdeen..........................................................................................................21

21.Part-time Work....................................................................................................................................................21

22.Generic Transferable Skills..................................................................................................................................21

Self-Management Competencies.........................................................................................................................22

Inter-Personal Competencies...............................................................................................................................22

Project-Related Competencies.............................................................................................................................22

Academic & Technical Competencies...................................................................................................................22

23.Disclosure Checking for Students........................................................................................................................22

24.Feedback from Students......................................................................................................................................23

Class Representatives...........................................................................................................................................23

What will it involve?..........................................................................................................................................23

Training.............................................................................................................................................................23

Staff-Student Liaison Committees....................................................................................................................23

Course Evaluation.............................................................................................................................................23

25.Professional Computing Societies.......................................................................................................................24

British Computer Society......................................................................................................................................24

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Association for Computing Machinery.................................................................................................................24

IEEE Computer Society..........................................................................................................................................24

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1. About this Handbook

This document contains information relevant to all Computing Science taught postgraduate students. Students are also advised to make use of their respective programme pages for information specific to your current studies:

MSc Information Systems and Data Management MSc Information Technology MSc Informatics: Software Project Management MSc Oil and Gas Computing MSc Software Entrepreneurship

Students should also regularly check the Web pages/MyAberdeen of the courses that they are studying.

MSc IT is open to any student with a previous degree in any subject. The other MSc programmes are advanced degrees in computing science and open to students with computing degrees or equivalent experience.

This Handbook aims to provide you with the information that you need in order to make best use of your time here. Please take the time to read it and to refer to it as necessary throughout the year. You should read it in conjunction with other documents provided by the University including:

1. Academic Quality Handbook 2. University of Aberdeen Calendar 3. University Catalogue of Courses

If anything is stated in this Handbook which is in conflict with documents (1) or (2) then the statements in the University documents shall prevail. In general, information given in (1) or (2) is more up-to-date than that contained in document (3).

Some of the material in this Handbook has yet to receive formal approval by the Academic Standards Committees. If this results in any changes, you will be notified.

2. Enquiries, Contacts & Information

The Department of Computing Science is situated on the second floor of the Meston Building. Notices about courses are displayed on the Departmental Notice Boards which are situated at the entry to the Department from the main stairs at the north entrance to the Meston Building (the one opposite Fraser Noble Building, and next to the library building).

For general administrative matters you can ask at the Teaching Office, Room G01, Meston Building.

For questions or problems with a particular course, see the Course Organiser; their names are given with the detailed course information in our departmental teaching Web pages.

If there are problems concerning the organisation of the year as a whole, or with your general progress, then you should seek out your Programme Tutor.

If there are still problems then you should make an appointment to see the Head of Computing Science; appointments can be made via Lynn Harrison in Room 058, which is by the south entrance to the Meston Building.

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3. Communication with the Department and University

You will receive a University e-mail account when you register with the University Computing Centre. The University will normally use e-mail to communicate with you during term-time. These e-mails will be sent to your University e-mail account, which you can access using Outlook or Outlook Web App (OWA) .

It is your responsibility to check your e-mail regularly, which is usually assumed to be daily, and to tidy the contents of your e-mail inbox to ensure that it does not go over quota (see http://www.abdn.ac.uk/studentmail/ for guidance on managing your e-mail quota). You should use your University e-mail account to read and respond to University communications.

If you already have a non-University e-mail account that you use for personal correspondence, you can use the same method to forward messages to that address. Please note that the University takes no responsibility for delivery of e-mails to non-University accounts.

You should note that failure to check your e-mail, or failure to receive e-mail due to being over quota, or due to non-delivery of an e-mail forwarded to a non-University e-mail account would not be accepted as grounds for appeal.

Students are asked to make themselves familiar with the information on key institutional policies, which have been made available within MyAberdeen (https://abdn.blackboard.com/ and then go to the ‘Content & Portfolios to find Institution Content and then Policies folder). These policies are relevant to all students and will be useful to you throughout your studies.  They contain important information and address issues such as what to do if you are absent, how to raise an appeal or a complaint and how seriously the University takes your feedback.

These institutional policies should be read in conjunction with this programme and/or course handbook, in which School and College specific policies are detailed. Further information can be found on the University’s Infohub webpage or by visiting the Infohub.

Communication with Computing Science

The Department of Computing Science uses e-mail and/or MyAberdeen as its main method of communication with students. It is vital that that you check your e-mail regularly for up-to-date course announcements, requests to attend meetings and so on.

4. Access to the Building

Access to most buildings does not require authorisation during the main University opening times. This is with the exception of the Library which requires students to use their swipe card to access upper floors.

Certain terminal rooms are fitted with combination locks. The codes will be issued to those groups entitled to use the relevant equipment. These codes must not be passed on to anyone who is not entitled to have them. The locks must not be left ‘on the latch’ outside normal hours, and if you find a room in such a state, it is your duty to lock it.

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Entry to Building after Normal Hours

Normal hours are defined as being from 09.00-18.00, Monday through Friday. Access outside normal hours will require the use of your student swipe card to the Meston Building. It is to be noted that access to the building is restricted to people in possession of a swipe card to it. You should allow no-one else to enter the building with you or to enter as you leave. Access to rooms in the Department is restricted to Computing Science students, MSc/PgDip, research students and staff.

It is particularly important to have your student/staff ID card with you if you are in the building outside normal hours.

In order that everyone in the building can be accounted for in the case of Fire or other serious incident, anyone using the building outside normal hours must record their entry and exit times and location in the book at the porter’s desk inside the front door at the north entrance to the building.

The times that you are allowed to be in the building are:

06:00 – 23:00 Every day

If you are in the building late in the evening, be aware that the cleaners may need access to the rooms at some point and be prepared to vacate them when asked.

5. Food & Drink

No food or drink may be taken into any of the Department’s computer rooms, (e.g. 204 or 311). Spills, crumbs, etc can ruin valuable equipment. Sanctions will be applied if this rule is not observed.

Level 5 students may use the Kitchen outside normal working hours. However, you have to bring your own supplies and take them away when you have finished. This is a privilege, not a right, and will be withdrawn if abused!

There is a drinking water tap in the kitchen which can be used to fill water bottles.

We are all responsible for keeping the Kitchen clean and tidy.

Vending machines for soft drinks are available at several locations in the Meston building: Geology (first floor); Chemistry (at the southern end of the building near Meston 5). In Fraser Noble, there are vending machines for soft and hot drinks near the labs in the north-west corner.

6. Smoking

Smoking in enclosed public spaces is illegal throughout Scotland and fixed penalty fines may be imposed. This law is rigorously enforced by the University.

7. DIT Classrooms

It is possible to gain access to certain DIT classrooms outside normal hours; seehttp://www.abdn.ac.uk/dit/student/class/index.php

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8. Fire

If you are in the Meston Building when the Fire Alarm goes off, leave the building immediately. Even seconds can make a big difference. It is not possible in general to determine the seriousness of an alarm, so be prepared for the worst and act quickly. Listen to and obey the instructions of the Fire Stewards. Our assembly area is in front of the Fraser Noble Building; please go there and do not block the area at the front of the Meston building.

We have several official alternative exit routes: Main staircase, exit through front door South staircase to ground floor, then along corridor to front door again Two direct external exits through fire doors to external staircase at the end of the West corridor (beyond

rooms 204/205) and East corridor (beyond rooms 225/226).The recommended exits from our floor are the external staircases at the West and East end, where escape is likely to be quickest; the main exit on the ground floor can get congested.

Check the various exit points so that you can find them quickly in an emergency. Read the fire notices. Find out where fire equipment is kept. When you are in other parts of the university, you should also be familiar with exit routes.

There is a routine test of the Fire Alarm system in the Meston Building at 7:30am on Wednesday mornings and there is no need to leave the building. All other alarms are to be treated as real.

9. Mobile Phones

Phones ringing and people talking on phones clearly make it difficult for other people to concentrate, and so mobile phones should not be used where they will cause distraction to others.

In lectures: mobile phones must be switched off.

In timetabled laboratory classes: For expected urgent calls only, mobile phones may be switched on, provided they are set to “vibrate” mode. Any such calls must be answered outside the lab, in an appropriate place. Please note that the corridor outside other labs or offices is not appropriate. We’ve had many instances of disturbances caused by excessive and loud phone conversations in corridors (probably because of the poor reception in granite buildings).

In laboratory classrooms, outside timetabled hours mobile phones may be switched on, provided they are set to “vibrate” mode. Any such calls must be answered outside the lab, in an appropriate place (see above).

10. Safety

The Departmental Safety Officer is Mrs. Sandra Edwards (Extension 2300).

You are urged to review the contents of the School Health and Safety Policy.

Please do not hesitate to approach the Safety Officer with any concerns you may have about safety in the Department. This includes damaged electrical/other equipment.

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11. Computer Systems

IT Policies

Use of IT facilities at the University is governed by a set of conditions. Breach of these can lead to a withdrawal of service, or disciplinary action if the breach is more serious. See http://www.abdn.ac.uk/dit/student/get-started/policies.php for full information.

IF YOU BREACH THESE CONDITIONS, YOUR RIGHT TO USE THE FACILITIES MAY BE WITHDRAWN AND THE INCIDENT REPORTED TO THE HEAD OF COMPUTING SCIENCE.

Getting the Most Out of CSD Facilities

The laboratories located in rooms 204 and 311 are dual boot: you can start them with Windows or Linux. You can use your DIT login to boot these machines into Windows. If you require a computer with Windows to run standard applications (i.e., check your mail or browse the Internet) then you should take advantage of the DIT labs.

Other Useful Information

Conditions for Using IT Facilities – details relevant policies Notes For Guidance – Guidance on the interpretation and application of the conditions Code of Practice for Electronic Publishing – Read this before publishing Web pages or posting

contributions to news groups or e-mail discussion lists

12. Director for Postgraduate Teaching and Programme Tutors

Director of Postgraduate Teaching

The Director for Postgraduate Teaching is responsible to the Head of Computing Science for the running of the respective postgraduate programmes.

If you are have been unable to resolve matters with your Course Organiser or Programme Tutor you can request an appointment with the Director of Postgraduate Teaching.

If this route fails, you should bring the matter to the Head of Computing Science; appointments can be made via Lynn Harrison in Room 058, which is by the south entrance to the Meston Building, or via email.

Programme Tutors

The job of the Programme Tutor is to take an overall view of what is happening to students (of undergraduate study or postgraduate programme). If there are problems with the running of any of your courses, the first point of contact is the Course Organiser (either through your Class Representative or directly). If this doesn't resolve matters you should take it to your Programme Tutor, and then to the Director for Postgraduate Teaching. You can also consult your Programme Tutor with any other personal work-related problems.

There are Programme Directors for undergraduate and postgraduate study levels, plus tutors for the undergraduates, and for the advanced and conversion MSc programmes.

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The names and contact details of the Director for Postgraduate Teaching and Programme Tutors are on the respective programme pages, available from here.

13. Assessment

As a university student you are expected to be familiar with a variety of study skills such as writing reports and essays, doing presentations, and taking notes, as well as being able to learn new ones as needed. If you feel you want to improve your study skills, then get in touch with the Student Learning Service, who organise various workshops and other materials to assist you. The library also organises Information Skills workshops on different topics too at various times throughout the year.

As an international student you may also be interested in the Academic English courses offered by the Language Centre so that your English is suitable for your academic degree.

Mode of Assessment

Some courses are assessed entirely by examination, some entirely by in-course assessment, and some by a mixture of the two. You should look at the detailed course descriptions in the University Catalogue of Courses.

Examinations

You are strongly recommended to familiarise yourself with the format, presentation of questions, time allocation, and standard of work required by consulting past examination papers available online at: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/library/myzone/exam-papers/. Degree examinations are taken in December and May. There is a resit opportunity in June for postgraduate degrees.

You must bring your student ID card to all examinations.

Cheating & Plagiarism

This is such an important topic that it is dealt with in section 16 of this handbook.

In-Course Assessment

In-course assessment (sometimes known as continuous assessment) forms an important part of the general assessment of your work. Submissions should be handed in according to the specific instructions of the member of staff concerned, which in most cases will be via the MyAberdeen online Blackboard system.

Note that we distinguish between two types of work which are completed in your own time and handed in: summative assessment which contributes marks to the overall assessment of the course; and formative assessment, sometimes known as “homework”, which does not contribute to the overall

assessment of the course.Submission instructions will be made available by the course organiser. Feedback will normally be provided within 3 teaching weeks of the date of submission.

Deadlines

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When work has to be submitted, you will be informed of deadlines at the start of each course. Additional details on each course’s assessment deadlines can be obtained from MyAberdeen.

Late Submissions & Penalties

Normally, in-course assessments which are submitted late attract a penalty. The Computing Science lateness penalty scheme is as follows:

Work submitted up to one day late attracts a penalty of 10% Work submitted up to one week late attracts a penalty of 25% Work handed in more than one week late is marked and returned but is counted as a ‘No Paper’

Some deadlines at the end of courses may be ‘hard’, that is, there is no possibility of late submission.

If you have a good reason you may be allowed an extension to the deadline, but you must discuss it with the relevant Course Organiser and/or Academic Coordinator and get his/her written permission if possible before the deadline.

Under normal circumstances, you are not allowed to resubmit work for summative assessment.

Revision Periods

For most courses, week 12 (University weeks 21 and 42) of each half session is reserved for revision. Revision lectures will be scheduled to take place at the same times as the main lectures for these weeks.

For those courses where there is no formal examination, other work may be prescribed for the revision and assessment periods; see the section on individual course descriptions.

Medical Conditions and Other Personal Mitigating Circumstances

If your work is impaired by medical problem or other personal circumstances (e.g. family issues, bereavement, and so on), then you must make sure that this is documented. Please refer to the “Absence” part in the section of the handbook on Attendance & Progress Monitoring.

It cannot be emphasised too strongly that any such problems must be notified to the Department in writing as soon as possible and in any case no later than three days after the date an assessment was due to be sat or submitted. Any notification of absence should in the first instance be given by completing an absence report via MyAberdeen. Absence reports may also be handed in, in a sealed envelope to Meston G01. Anything you submit here will be held confidentially.

Criteria for Assessment

The Department will use the standard descriptors laid down by Senate, adapted where appropriate to the special requirements of Computing Science, as the criteria for the various bands of points on the Common Grading Scale (CGS):

Grade Band Descriptor PGT Award Grade Point A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 Excellent Distinction 22, 21, 20, 19, 18

B1, B2, B3 Very Good Commendation 17,16,15C1, C2, C3 Good Pass 14, 13, 12D1, D2, D3 Pass Pass 11, 10, 9

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(pass grade = D3)E1, E2, E3 Marginal Fail Marginal Fail 8,7,6F1, F2, F3 Fail Fail 5,4,3

G1, G2, G3 Fail, Token, or no Submission

Fail 2,1,0

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In this Department we interpret the CGS scale as follows:

Grade GradePoint Band Honours

ClassBand descriptor (predominantly essay-based course)4

Band descriptor (predominantly numerical-based course)1

A1

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Excellent First

Work, which is largely and predominately characterised by the following:

Outstanding ability and critical thought. Evidence of extensive reading / research. Superior understanding showing significant

signs of originality and an in-depth understanding of the topics covered (in particular in relation to the comprehension and analysis of relevant legal theories and legal argument).

Use of new information, new methodology or new theory.

Original insight and power of analysis in which arguments are cogent and well supported in almost all respects or demonstrate creativity or originality.

Excellent grasp of appropriate critical concepts. Excellence in understanding and critical

analytical ability. Evidence of wide reading and discriminating

use of relevant literature sources and work experience where appropriate.

A firm sense of relevance. Illuminating and intelligent use of quotation or

other illustrative material. Ability to present well-structured and

persuasive argument. A superior and effective command of English. No significant deficiencies within the context

of the assessment format. Consistently high standard of presentation.

Work, which is largely and predominately characterized by the following:

Outstanding knowledge and understanding of concepts and theories

Superior skill and judgement in solving problems.

A consistently high standard of accuracy in reasoning and calculation

Ability to express arguments with a high level of precision.

Possibly signs of creative ability.

A2

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A3

20

A4

19

A5

18

13

B1

17

Very good

Upper Second

Work, which is largely and predominately characterized by the following:

Able to argue logically and organise answers well.

Shows a thorough grasp of concepts. Good use of examples to illustrate points and

justify arguments. Evidence of reading and wide

appreciation of subject Good understanding of critical concepts. Ability to distinguish and deploy relevant

material. Accurate and effective use of quotation or

other illustrative material (e.g., well organised use of secondary material).

Orderly / effective presentation of arguments which are mostly well supported.

Clear and effective expression. Develops and analyses the core issues

covered by the assessment while dealing with some advanced aspects of the assessment topic and shows an ability to engage in debate on relevant material.

Highly competent work demonstratingclear understanding of the issues.

Some signs of presenting information in a new

Work, which is largely and predominately characterized by the following:

Sound knowledge and understanding of most concepts and theories.

Ability to solve problems similar in general character to ones seen previously.

Reasoning and calculation generally accurate and correctly presented.

B2

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B3

15

C1

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Good Lower Second

Work, which is largely and predominately characterized by the following: Repetition of lecture / seminar notes

without evidence of further appreciation of subject.

Lacking illustrative examples and originality. Basic / clear level of understanding of the

relevant concepts. Knowledge of a sufficient number of core

materials / ideas to substantiate general statements.

Appropriate use of quotation or other illustrative material.

Ability to recognise core issues and to construct a coherent answer which keeps these in view.

Work, which is largely and predominately characterized by the following:

Competence in understanding central concepts and theories.

Ability to produce standard lines of argument and calculations in problem solving.

Few totally fallacious arguments or inaccurate calculations.

C2

13

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C3

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Arguments are well constructed but omit or do not develop sufficiently some significant issues.

Clear and grammatical style. Develops and analyses the core issues

covered by the assessment to a limited extent but shows understanding of relevant material.

Satisfactory presentation.

D1

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Pass Third

Work, which is largely and predominately characterized by the following: Limited ability to argue logically and organise

answers. Failure to develop or illustrate points. Some knowledge of a restricted range of

issues related to the assessment suggesting a lack of understanding of some key concepts

Limited understanding of relevant issuesor technical terms.

Presentation of material which shows only a limited ability to understand and correctly deploy the work of others.

Identifies and states accurately relevant principles but fails to develop or analyse the core issues covered by the assessment.

Shows limited understanding of relevant material.

Arguments are badly constructed or superficial. Contains flaws in logic or methodology or both. Limited use of relevant literature sources and

(where appropriate to the assignment) work experience.

Weak / simplistic presentation

Work, which is largely and predominately characterized by the following:

Ability shown in performing routine calculations and producing short logically correct arguments in familiar situations

Limited understanding of the theory.

D2

10

D3

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E1 8 Weak5 F

ail

Work, which is largely and predominately characterised by the following: Poor / inappropriate / inaccurate presentation. Tendency to irrelevance. Some attempt at an answer but seriously

lacking in content and or ability to organise thoughts

Little evidence of coherent thinking or organisation.

Work, which is largely and predominately characterised by the following:

An insecure grasp of basic concepts leading to nonsensical reasoning.

Ability to calculate correctly only in very restricted areas.

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E2 7

Inability to identify or state accurately even basic ideas relevant to the core issues covered by the assessment;

Reproduces in an inappropriate or incorrect manner the work of others;

Significant errors or misconceptions in respect of a core issue covered by the assessment which indicate a serious misunderstanding of the assessment topic;

Deficiencies in structure, presentation and formulation of arguments which are sufficiently serious to indicate a serious lack of understanding of the assessment topic.

Fails to meet the required standard.

E3 6

F1

5

Poor Fail

Work, which is largely and predominately characterized by the following: No appreciable evidence of coherent

thinking or organisation Contains major errors or misconceptions

which indicate a fundamental misunderstanding of the assessment topic.

Deficiencies in structure, presentation and formulation of arguments which are sufficiently serious to indicate a fundamental lack of understanding of the assessment topic.

Consistently poor presentation

Work, which is largely and predominately characterized by the following:A lack of knowledge and understanding of the basic theory thus making it impossible to produce reasoned argument or accurate calculations.F

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F3

3

G1 2 Very poor

Fail

Token or no submission Token or no submissionG2 1G3 0

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General Considerations

For each assessment, the examiners will assess the relative difficulty of the assessment compared with previous assessments, and will, if necessary, adjust the results on the CGS to maintain consistency, subject to the agreement of the External Examiner.

Where a candidate obtains a borderline mark, or where there is evidence of extenuating circumstances, the examiners retain their right to exercise their discretion in coming to a decision on the appropriate CGS mark, always subject again to the agreement of the External Examiner.

It is the responsibility of all candidates to understand the potential impact of failure in, or failure to attend or complete an element of assessment.

Feedback

You should note that CGS marks for summative assessments are provisional, pending confirmation by the External Examiner.

At all levels, overall CGS marks for courses will be available from the Registry via the Student Portal.

You should note that the code “NP” means that no work was submitted for assessment. Thus in a course which is assessed both by in-course assessment and examination, if a student submits an in-course assessment but does not take the examination, a CGS mark for the course will be recorded (based on the in-course assessment and the percentage that it contributes).

It is the Department’s policy to be as helpful as University/Data Protection regulations will allow in providing information on performance in assessed work.

Feedback on marked coursework, including work submitted for summative assessment purposes, will indicate the level of performance by means of an appropriate CGS point. Work will normally be marked and returned to you within three teaching weeks of the date of submission.

Feedback on written examinations (other than final examinations) can be obtained by making an appointment to see the relevant Course Organiser once the Computing Science Examiners have met and results have been released on to the student portal.

External Examiners

The departments External Examiners for each programme are:-

MSc Information Technology Professor Emma Hart, School of Computing – Edinburgh Napier University

MSc Information Systems and Data ManagementProfessor Paul Chung, Department of Computer Science – Loughborough University

MSc Software Entrepreneurship To be confirmed

MSc Oil & Gas Computing To be confirmed

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MSc Informatics: Software Project ManagementProfessor Phil Trinder, School of Computing Science, University of Glasgow

You should note that this is for information only and under no circumstances are students allowed to contact external examiners directly.

14. Attendance & Progress Monitoring

Entry to Courses

Most courses in Computing Science last for twelve weeks including one revision week. You must normally have entered the course by the end of the second week following its start.

Monitoring ProgressThe student progress monitoring system is not intended to be penal, but is designed to identify students who need help. If you are experiencing difficulties in completing any aspect of the work of the course, or think that you are in danger of being declared ‘at risk’, you are urged to take the initiative and contact the Course Organiser or your Programme Tutor for advice and assistance.

You will be entered ‘At Risk’ if if you are absent for a continuous period of two weeks or 25% of the course (whichever is less) without

good cause being reported; if you are absent from two small group teaching sessions (e.g. tutorial, laboratory class) without good

cause; if you fail to submit a piece of summative or a substantial piece of formative in-course assessment by the

stated deadline.

If you meet any of these criteria you will receive an email from Registry asking you to contact ncsmonitoring@abdn.ac.uk with your reason for absence, or why you failed to submit coursework. You will either be allowed back on the course or have your Class Certificate refused. If you fail to respond within the prescribed timescale you will have your Class Certificate refused.

Students who are refused a class certificate are withdrawn from the course and cannot take the prescribed degree assessment. Registry will email you to inform you of this decision. You can appeal this decision with the Head of School within 14 days via ncsmonitoring@abdn.ac.uk.

Attendance Requirements

Full-time students are normally expected to stay in Aberdeen for the duration of the programme except for specified holiday periods. These holidays are at Christmas/New Year, Easter and possibly briefly between the end of second half-session and the start of the summer MSc projects. Students should check with your Programme Tutor about this before you make any arrangements for the May-September period. It is important that you note the dates of these periods carefully since you must be back at the specified time at the end of each break.

Term dates are available from http://www.abdn.ac.uk/students/term-dates.php

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If, for any reason, you need to be away at other times, then you must ask permission from the Programme Tutor before you leave by completing a form. Forms can be obtained from Meston G01.

Good attendance at classes for all students is necessary. You should familiarize yourselves with the Code of Practice for Taught Postgraduate students, available from:

http://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffnet/teaching/postgraduate-research-taught-codes-of-practice.php

Tier 4 Immigration Issues

The Postgraduate Code of Practice (Page 9) mentioned above, also outlines the requirements for Tier 4 Students about monitoring which are these:

As well as adhering to the attendance requirements outlined in Section 7.1, the requirements of the UK Borders Agency mean that the University is obliged to carry out visa checks of Tier 4 students four times during an academic year. The first check will be done when the student registers at the start of the academic year, and the remaining checks will be done during the course of the academic year. The checks are only for students who have a Tier 4 visa. Tier 4 students will be emailed with dates and times of the checks that are performed during the academic year, so must ensure that they regularly check their University email account. Failure to report for these checks could mean that students are de-registered from their studies and reported to the UK Borders Agency. This could lead to their Tier 4 visa being curtailed or cancelled.

It is important that you make every effort to pass each stage of your studies and progress well. If you need an immigration extension, because you have spent longer than usual finishing your studies, then this will be expensive for you and the UKBA will require an explanation as to why you were unable to complete your studies during the expected registration period.

If you need to discuss your immigration status, then please speak to someone at the Student Advice and Support Office in the InfoHub, and make an appointment to speak to an International Student Advisor.

Absence

The University’s guidance notes on certification of absence for medical reasons or other good cause can be found here:

Policy and Procedures on Student Absence

You should complete the relevant aspects of the Absence Form in MyAberdeen https://abdn.blackboard.com/ on the first day of absence or as soon as possible thereafter.

You are strongly advised to make yourself fully aware of your responsibilities if you are absent due to illness or other good cause.

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Support Available to Students

The University is keen to help you successfully complete your studies. If at any time you feel you need assistance, there is a range of support services available to help you. These include support to assist with unexpected and/or exceptional financial difficulty, support for disabled students and academic learning support through theStudent Learning Service. Further details about all these services are available at: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffnet/teaching/aqh/section11.pdf.

15. Academic Appeals & Student Complaints

Academic Appeals

Guidance on Academic Appeals can be accessed as follows: Policy and Procedures on Student Appeals and Complaints

Appeals committees will limit their consideration to matters of procedure, competency and/or prejudice. Those involved in considering academic appeals will not review matters of academic judgement, which are solely for the person or committee that has made the academic judgement to determine. For an appeal to be upheld, a student must have suffered material disadvantage.

The Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA, http://www.ausa.org.uk/) offers support and guidance to students considering submitting an appeal.

Student Complaints

The University aims to provide a welcoming and supportive environment for its students. However, occasionally students will encounter problems and difficulties. Complaints should be addressed in the first instance to the person who is in charge of the University activity concerned, e.g. the Head of the relevant School (see note below) about academic matters; the Head of the relevant administrative section about the service that you receive; a Warden about residential matters. Your Programme Tutor or the Students’ Association will assist you if you are unsure how to pursue a complaint.

Note: Students studying Computing Science courses and programmes should regard the phrase “Head of School” in the statement above as meaning the Head of Computing Science.

Guidance on Student Complaints is available as follows: Policy and Procedures on Student Appeals and Complaints

The Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA, http://www.ausa.org.uk/) offers support and guidance to students considering wishing to make a complaint.

Students with Disabilities & Medical Conditions

If you are a disabled student or have a particular impairment or medical condition, you may have specific queries relating to the accessibility of the University and its courses.

The University’s disability statement is a very good starting point, as it provides information about the various individuals and groups within the University who can offer assistance both for term time, as well as provision for

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exam situations. There is also further information for disabled students covering computing and library services, the disabled student’s allowance, etc.

The University’s Student Support Officer/Disability Adviser can provide advice on all aspects of the University’s provision.

16. Cheating & Plagiarism

Cheating in assessments in general and in examinations in particular is covered by the University Code of Practice on Student Discipline. You are responsible for making yourself familiar with this code.

The definition of plagiarism is reproduced below:

Plagiarism is the use, without adequate acknowledgment, of the intellectual work of another person in work submitted for assessment. A student cannot be found to have committed plagiarism where it can be shown that the student has taken all reasonable care to avoid representing the work of others as his or her own.Reference: University of Aberdeen. The University’s Code of Practice on Student Discipline .

Guidance on Avoiding Plagiarism

Where a written report or essay contains quotes or paraphrases of the work of others these must be clearly identified and acknowledged. In particular quotes should be enclosed in quotation marks, with an appropriate reference.

Given that it is very easy to copy software, the potential exists for plagiarism in the submission of coursework. These notes are supplied to help you avoid any risk of committing plagiarism. The term ‘code’ stands for any software or data processed by or produced on a computer system, whether its form is textual, graphical or otherwise.

All code submitted for assessment must be clearly annotated with the name of the student submitting the exercise and the date of completion.

Where an assessment exercise contains code which was not written by the student submitting the exercise or contains code written by that student at another time, the code in question must be clearly identified and annotated with author’s name, copyright owner’s name (if different), date of completion or publication, and source reference e.g. bibliographical reference or URL (for Web pages).

In principle, discussion of course material and non-assessed exercises with other students is encouraged, since such discussion generally helps all involved to understand the subject better. However, unless stated otherwise by the Course Organiser, discussion of work to be submitted for assessment should be of a general nature and should not be about detailed design or coding. Work submitted for assessment should normally be individual work. If you do submit work that was produced jointly with someone else, or that includes sections that are the work of another student, then this must be clearly acknowledged and the code in question identified. The credit for the assignment will be based on the ‘value added’ by the student.

Similarly, although we encourage the re-use of existing software as good Software Engineering practice, the origins of such re-used software must be clearly acknowledged and the code identified. The credit for the assignment will be based on the ‘value added’ by the student.

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Certain courses will require that you work in teams; in such cases the Course Organiser will clearly set out any specific additional guidelines. In general, a written report on work carried out by a team must unambiguously distinguish between work to be accredited to the author alone and work to be accredited to another person or the team as a whole.

Do not succumb to the temptation of copying another student’s work and attempting to disguise the fact that you have done so by clever editing (changing the names of identifiers, moving procedures around, etc). The teaching staff are well aware of such possibilities, and have methods for detecting such cheating if it occurs.

Do not agree to requests from other students to copy your work. In such cases both parties will be held culpable. In particular, make sure that you collect any printer output – do not leave it lying around for others to find.

If you acknowledge the source of any work which is not yours, then the Department will be able to assess your work on its merits.

Automated Plagiarism Detection

Staff in the Department routinely use automated source code plagiarism detection software. These systems compare the work of one student with that of every other member of the class, and can calculate the degree of similarity between submissions. You cannot disguise copying by changing the order of methods, altering identifier names, etc. These sophisticated systems have programmed within them a large number of known strategies for attempting to disguise copied work!

If you copy without acknowledgment, then this is plagiarism. All cases are reported to the University’s Academic Registrar, and if you are found guilty, penalties include the awarding of zero marks for the assessment concerned, the entire course, or ultimately, in serious cases, the award of no degree at all.

17. Photocopying & Scanning Regulations for Students

The following is based on the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and the University of Aberdeen Library Guide on Copyright, Photocopying and Scanning – Your Responsibilities.

18. Postgraduate Degrees

A number of Postgraduate degrees in Computing Science are possible.

Aims of the Computing Science Degree

The programme aims to: Equip graduates with the knowledge and skills to operate as information technology professionals within

industry or research; special emphasis being given to distributed information systems and knowledge technologies.

Provide a breadth of coverage, which encompasses both the theory as well as the practice of Computing. Provide a route to professional qualification. Cater for a range of competencies on entry ranging from those with little or no Computing experience, to

those who have qualifications at Higher or A level. Provide students with the opportunity to develop their transferable skills and abilities as independent

learners.

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The curriculum covers the core topics described in the QAA subject benchmark in Masters degrees from May 2011 (http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/SBS-Masters-degree-computing.pdf) namely:

Discrete Structures Programming Fundamentals Algorithms and Complexity Architecture and Organization Operating Systems Net-Centric Computing Programming Languages Human-Computer Interaction Graphics and Visual Computing Intelligent Systems Information Management Social and Professional Issues Software Engineering

Outcomes of the Computing Science Degree

On graduation, students should have knowledge and understanding of: 1. fundamental IT and computing terminology and concepts; 2. mathematics relevant to computing; 3. programming languages and their applications; 4. computer organisation and control; 5. organisation of data and information; 6. software development practice (including user-interfacing issues); 7. distributed computing and the internet; 8. artificial intelligence and knowledge technologies; 9. formal aspects of computation; 10. the professional and ethical responsibilities of computing scientists.

On graduation, students should have the following intellectual skills: 1. able to apply knowledge and understanding of Computing facts, concepts, principles and theories to solve

problems; 2. able to recognise and analyse criteria and specifications; 3. able to model and design software systems; 4. able to critically evaluate and test alternatives; 5. able to present reasoned, critical arguments; 6. able to recognise professional, moral and ethical issues and apply judgement; 7. able to plan, conduct and report on an individual technical project.

On graduation, students should have the following practical skills: 1. able to specify, design and implement software systems; 2. able to evaluate system characteristics and trade-offs; 3. able to consider the impact of decisions on the end-user; 4. able to deploy appropriate models and principles to manage information effectively; 5. able to prepare technical documentation; 6. able to prepare and give technical presentations; 7. able to use software tools and packages; 8. able to operate computer equipment effectively.

On graduation, students should have the following transferable skills:

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1. able to communicate ideas effectively both orally and in writing; 2. able to utilise problem-solving skills in a variety of situations; 3. able to use information and communications technology; 4. able to manage time and resources and work to deadlines; 5. able to work effectively as a member of a group; 6. able to adapt to a changing technological environment; 7. able to take responsibility for independent learning and professional development (lifelong learning); 8. able to understand career opportunities and begin to plan a career path.

More InformationFor more details on these degree programmes consult your Programme Tutor.

19. Requirements for Progression & Award on Taught Postgraduate Programmes

Progression and awards in taught postgraduate programmes are governed by the Common Grading Scale regulations. The key features are summarised below.

You should also note the following:

asssessment for the PgCert - normally the first four taught modules of the programme; assessment for the PgDip - normally the eight taught modules of the programme; modules are weighted in direct proportion to their credit value.

Credit Requirements

In the case of a candidate who has failed to complete satisfactorily a prescribed element of degree assessment at the time prescribed by Regulation 7, then the appropriate procedure from (a) to (d) below shall apply:

If, but only if, the failure is on account of illness or other good cause, the candidate shall be required to submit themselves for assessment at the next available opportunity, and shall be permitted to count the result of that assessment towards progression and programme award. If the failure is the result of absence or non-submission for any other cause, the candidate shall be awarded zero for the assessment concerned and shall not be permitted to progress to the next stage of the programme. If the candidate has completed the assessment for a level 5 course but been awarded a mark on the Common Grade Scale below E1 inclusive, they will be allowed to re-sit the assessment at the first available opportunity.

20. Study Outside the University of Aberdeen

There is no requirement for study away from the University, nor is there any requirement for field work for any of the taught Postgraduate degrees offered by the Department.

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21. Part-time Work

A term job in computing is often good experience, and can lead to more formal employment later. Your lecturers are usually happy to act as referees, but you should ask them first. You are advised that you are only allowed to work 20 hours a week during term time (although the university recommends only 15 hours a week so that you don’t endanger your degree studies) as detailed on these university pages: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/international/visa-information.php

However, it should also be stated that international MSc students are eligible to work, unless specifically denied this right on their passport. You can find more information about this at the careers service: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/international/visa-information.php

Just remember in any work, that you will be expected to work on your project over the summer. You will not have a summer vacation.

The Aberdeen Software Factory

Students on advanced computing degrees, and students on the IT degree, who’ve completed two taught terms, are eligible to apply for part-time work in the Aberdeen Software Factory, which pays students to collaborate on software development projects with live clients. If you’re, eligible and interested in this, then send an email to Bruce Scharlau b.scharlau@abdn.ac.uk expressing your interest and explaining why you would be suitable. Please also include a copy of your recent CV highlighting your software development skills and experience.

22. Generic Transferable Skills

This Department was one of the first to participate in the University’s Enterprise in Higher Education (EHE) programme. The initiative was concerned with the development of academic, project-related and personal skills within students.

In general, working towards the objectives of the programme meant recognising where the relevant skills were developed within our established teaching methods, but it also meant changes – for example giving more emphasis to project and group work. Particular stress is given to your ability to communicate ideas and information in various contexts.

Students graduating with a degree from the Computing Science Department at the University of Aberdeen can expect to have developed the following skills:

Self-Management Competencies self-pacing, through flexible provision of course materials and exercises problem solving under pressure problem solving in group situations interview and application skills individual project feasibility and planning personal time management, in individual projects and general study

Inter-Personal Competencies expression and discussion of ideas in group problem solving sessions peer-group support, in structured and unstructured teams unambiguous communication, in report writing and program specification team problem solving, in group projects

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mutual motivation and support, in group projects planning and integration of group reports maintaining consultant-client relationships

Project-Related Competencies developing, discussing, implementing, testing and modifying solutions general problem-solving skills project planning and resource utilisation written communication skills oral/visual presentation skills delegation and negotiation use of existing software tools

Academic & Technical Competencies extracting and analysing information from specifications thinking creatively interpreting numerical and textual information expressing ideas logically

There is ample scope for feedback from you, which should be addressed to the appropriate Course Organiser in the first instance. Constructive comments are welcomed, as the Department is committed to a policy of continuous review of teaching practices.

23. Disclosure Checking for Students

The University of Aberdeen, as a public service provider, is committed to trying to ensure that its students pose no danger to those with whom they will interact during their studies at the University. One of the mechanisms that the University uses to ensure this, is a Disclosure check. The check is carried out for all students registered on courses which require them to have sole supervisory responsibility with people who are under the age of 18. The check itself is undertaken by Disclosure Scotland and further information can be obtained from them at www.disclosurescotland.co.uk. Disclosure Scotland will charge an administration fee for carrying out the check, for which you will be liable. You will receive full details of the procedures for completing the check as part of the course registration process.

24. Feedback from Students

We value students’ opinions in regard to enhancing the quality of teaching and its delivery. Therefore in conjunction with the Students Association we support the operation of a Class Representative system.

Class Representatives

The students within each course, year, or programme elect representatives by the end of the third week of teaching within each half-session. In Computing Science, student representatives (class reps.) are elected on an annual basis, with one student representing each stream of the postgraduate programmes. This means two from any of the Advanced CS programmes, and one from the January start, and another from the September start of the MSc IT programme. Any students registered within a course/year or programme that wishes to represent a given group of students can stand for election as a class representative.

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You can ask your class rep at any time to bring up matters of concern with any member of staff. Online nominations take place during Freshers’ Week and voting will follow. Full information is available at: http://www.ausa.org.uk/representation/academicreps/.

What will it involve?It will involve speaking to your fellow students about the course/year you represent. This can include any comments that they may have. You will attend a Staff Student Liaison Committee and you should represent the views and concerns of the students within this meeting. As a representative you will also be able to contribute to the agenda. You then feed back to the students after this meeting with any actions that are being taken.

Class reps are encouraged to meet with course organisers early in each half-session to introduce themselves and to ensure an effective channel of communication is established between the class and the teaching staff.

TrainingTraining for class representatives will be run by the Students Association. Training will take place in the fourth or fifth week of teaching each semester. For more information about the Class representative system visit: http://www.ausa.org.uk.

Staff-Student Liaison Committees

These meet twice a year to discuss matters of joint concern. If there are any matters that you would like discussed, take the initiative and see your class rep. Minutes of the meetings are available in MyAberdeen. Those students appointed class reps will be notified the dates and times of forthcoming meetings. In 2014-2015 the meetings will be held:

1st half-session - 1pm, Wed 12 November 20142nd half-session - 1pm, Wed 18 March 2015

Course Evaluation

Towards the end of each course, you will be invited to complete a Course Evaluation form. Please take this seriously. The results will be made available for discussion at the Staff-Student Liaison Committee.

25. Professional Computing Societies

A number of professional societies exist which serve the needs of Computing Scientists. All of them offer discounts on student membership.

British Computer Society

www.bcs.org

The British Computer Society (BCS) is a Chartered Professional Institution for the field of information systems engineering, the British Computer Society (BCS) exists to provide service and support to the IS community, including individual practitioners, employers of IS staff and the general public. Formed in 1957, the Society now operates under a Royal Charter granted in 1984. The BCS is also an Engineering Institution, fully licensed by the Engineering Council to nominate Chartered Engineers (C. Eng.) and Chartered Information Technology Professionals (CITP) and to accredit university courses and training schemes.

The first step is to see a local BCS representative for an application for Student Membership, which is heavily subsidised. This gives you copies of the Magazine and Journal, and details of local branch meetings in Aberdeen.

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Association for Computing Machinerywww.acm.org

Founded in 1947, the ACM is an international scientific and educational organization dedicated to advancing the arts, sciences, and applications of information technology. It supports over 100 conferences world-wide each year, many of them organised by its special interest groups (SIGs). These groups reflect the interest of ACM members, and include programming languages, graphics, computer-human interaction, and mobile communications, just to name a few. A major feature of the ACM Web site is its Digital Library, which features electronic publication of ACM magazines, journals, and proceedings, with a six-year online archive and a bibliographical reference database going back to 1985!

IEEE Computer Societywww.computer.org

Founded in 1946, the IEEE Computer Society is the largest of the 36 societies of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The Society is dedicated to advancing the theory, practice, and application of computer and information processing technology. Through its conferences, applications-related and research-oriented journals, local and student chapters, technical committees, and standards working groups, the Society promotes an active exchange of information, ideas, and technological innovation among its members.

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