Welcome to the School of Computer Sciencesattler/welcome-week12.pdf · Your MSc Project • Half of your MSc • Normally involves both scientiﬁc research and system development

Welcome to the

School of Computer Science

Uli SattlerDirector of PGT<[email protected]>Information Management GroupSchool of Computer ScienceUniversity of Manchester

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mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Welcome• I hope you are

– well– excited– eager to embark on your MSc programme

• ...but you might also be a bit– lost – confused– bursting with questions

Welcome to our Welcome Week … prepare you for the next year in Manchester

• We explain –the school–the programme–the course units, etc.

• ...so that you are ready to start on your programme next week– there is no ‘warming up’ period!

Welcome to our School of Computer Science • One of the major research institutes in Computer

Science in the world• Possibly the oldest Computer Science university

department in the world• The home of the earliest stored-program electronic

computer (1948)• One of the largest departments in the UK • One of the best resourced, with major centres in

supercomputing, interactive graphics and vision, etc. • This is your opportunity to make use of the staff and

facilities for education and research!

Welcome to the University of Manchester • One of the largest student campuses in Europe

...and all that goes with that

• Good university facilities - sports, support, etc:see Student Union for a range of activities:

http://manchesterstudentsunion.com/

• Great ‘student life’

• Student Charter

Welcome to Manchester• Large, lively, and active city:

events, sports, nightlife, shopping... • Long history - centre of the industrial revolution • Football, Cricket, Cycling Centres• Great location with

beautiful surroundings:– Lake District– Peak District – Wales, Snowdonia– Coastal areas...










Programmes: !•!MSc in Advanced Computer Science

•! MSc in ACS and IT Management ! –!Goran Nenadic

•! Part-time & Foundation Route! –!Alex Walker

•! MRes in ACS! –!Uli Sattler

- Andy Brass- Ernie Hill- Renate Schmidt

- for Digital Biology- last name A - L- last name M - Z





































Clickers!• Some of you will already have their clickers

• Don’t worry if you don’t, – but make sure that you’ll get yours

• ask John Sargeant after this session • ask in SSO later this week

• Let’s test them!

Organisation of the School• (Senior) Lecturers, Readers, Professors

– teach courses, set exams, …– supervise projects– check how to address them: often by their first name

• ...some of these are (Associate) Programme Directors– Andy Brass, Ernie Hill, Uli Sattler, Renate Schmidt,

Goran Nenadic, Alex Walker– they run the MSc programmes & look after students

• Lab demonstrators– help with labs, coursework, example classes

• Student Support Office– they look after students– help with most matters arising

COMP6099 Research Methods & Professional Skills

Your MSc Year

Assessment: • 50% Taught Course Units: • Coursework (ongoing)• Exams (end of semesters)

• 50% Project: • Progress Report (May)• Dissertation (September)

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Your MSc Project• Half of your MSc • Normally involves both

scientific research and system development. • Preparation through COMP60990

– Technical Reading and Writing– Carrying out experiments, collecting evidence, ...

• Project allocation: – Takes place at the end of the first semester: December– Choose from a list of many suggested projects or talk to staff

about your ideas or areas of interest. – Supervisor to help and guide you through the project.

Your MSc Project• Half of your MSc • Normally involves both scientific research and system

development. • Preparation through COMP60990

– Technical Reading and Writing– Carrying out experiments, collecting evidence, ...

• Assessment: – Project Progress Report: May, 30 credits

• must be passed to continue with project• background, first steps towards project, project plan• plus COMP60990 coursework

– Dissertation: September, 60 credits

This Week• See timetable in your pack• Content:

– Meeting your Programme Director – Introductory talks for themes & course units – Uni Sport – Student Representatives Self Organisation– Introductory Laboratory Session:

• getting to know the MSc Labs, tools, eLearning tools, ...– Welcome Fair in the Student Union – Events for Overseas Students

–Plagiarism On-Line course – English Language testing

even if – English is your mothertongue – you are fluent– you have an English degree– ...

English Language Classes

• free• in the School, targeted at CS students • Mondays 17:00 - 19:00 • Wednesdays 16:00 - 18:00• it would be foolish not to!

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English Classes

Attendance at lectures, labs, project...!• is compulsory

– slide hand-outs won’t give you the same insight– full picture, details, important points, etc. only in lecture

• is monitored– either through clickers– or signatures on roster

• if you have to miss classes, let lecturers know

• During your main project phase, June - September – you are here in Manchester and – work full time on your project and dissertation

Documents Online • MSc Handbook

– general information about all MSc– project, course units, rules, regulations, responsible people

–Must be read!

• Timetable– some last minute changes had to be made

• Per course unit: – syllabus: what is learned? – web-site: what is happening?– eLearning (Blackboard or Moodle):

• coursework, assignments, hand-in, deadlines,... • discussion, questions, announcements,…• material, pointers,…

Some warnings…!• the year will be long & you will need to work hard

– you might struggle • success is not guaranteed

– even if you work hard

• academic malpractice (collusion, plagiarism, …) – is taken very seriously in this university

• … any offence – will be prosecuted, normally by a jury in Faculty– is likely to cost you distinction/merit or even your MSc

• … make sure you understand academic malpractice– complete Plagiarism On-Line course– ignorance is no excuse

One more warning…!• if you live in rented/student accommodation:

–make sure you understand your contract• all terms and conditions• including the small print • ask if you are unsure!

–if you need help understanding terms & conditions• ask Student Union for help in time!

Computer Science Facilities• Senior Common Room, 1.23

– with hot and cold food, a good place to meet & work informally– in particular Wednesday lunch-time

• Great computer facilities – Largest Supercomputer Centre in Europe with many massively

parallel machines and large storage facilities – Nano-Technology Center– Virtual Reality Laboratories– dedicated MSc laboratories etc.

• Resource Centre – Room LF21 - all course textbooks and other resources.

• Student Support Centre – Room LF21 - For administrative and general support– Ask Here First - after having looked in the MSc Handbook

Computer Accounts and Intro Labs• You have two computer accounts:

– one in the School– one for the University, e.g., mbassums

• See the Welcome Sheet & Intro Labs • Login as soon as possible & change your passwords• Read your email regularly

– it will contain important information– use account forwarding for your convenience

• access the School’s website for documents & information• Make sure that you are ready to start next Monday

Java• It is essential that you know Java and can program

confidently in it– both for coursework and your project

• If you don’t know it or need further help, – there is an on-line course for you to take. – Go to

• http://moodle.cs.man.ac.uk/course/

• Self-Study Courses

• Introduction to Software Development in Java• and follow that class

http://moodle.cs.man.ac.uk/course/

http://moodle.cs.man.ac.uk/course/

http://moodle.cs.man.ac.uk/course/category.php?id=13

http://moodle.cs.man.ac.uk/course/category.php?id=13

School Seminars• The School runs regular research seminars on Wednesday, 2.15pm

• These are given by eminent speakers from around the world

• A great opportunity to learn about many new topics and the latest stage of research in an area.

Student Representatives!• You are encouraged to self-organise: student reps• Student reps from part of PGSSCC:

http://intranet.cs.man.ac.uk/csonly/committees/C_PG_SSCC.php• Student reps are responsible for specific areas:

– one per programme (ACS, ACS&ITM)– one for part timers– MSc lab computers, emails, accounts– social events– eLearning environments– taught course units– common rooms, general infrastructure, – etc.

• You self-organise in 2.15, Lunch Break 12:00-13:00

http://intranet.cs.man.ac.uk/csonly/committees/C_PG_SSCC.php

http://intranet.cs.man.ac.uk/csonly/committees/C_PG_SSCC.php

Help!• Related to taught part or project

– you haven’t understood some stuff in lecture/meeting– you miss some knowledge/skills that

• lecturer assumes• project requires

– you don’t understand what you are supposed to be doing➡ check course material➡ ask

- your co-students who probably have similar problems- either directly or through Blackboard/Moodle

- your lab demonstrators

- your lecturer

You will probably require some help at some point

Help!• Related to taught part or project

- what the penalties for late coursework are- rules for late submission will be set by the course unit lecturers- the default: coursework is handed in weekly, late coursework is marked 0 marks

➡ check course material➡ ask

- your co-students who probably have similar questions- either directly or through Blackboard/Moodle

- your lab demonstrators

- your lecturer

Help!• Related to organisation of MSc programme

- when or where lectures/labs/… take place- how course units are assessed- how projects are allocated- why you keep getting reminders that you didn’t complete your plagiarism on-line course

➡ ask your (Associate) Programme Director

Help!• Related to your personal & family life, health, etc.:

– finding your way in a new city/country/Uni/continent can be stressful & difficult

– you might need help to find your way around– you’ll probably have to work hard -- but that should be an

enjoyable experience• Help is available from numerous sources:

– qanda.cs.man.ac.uk– http://www.sos.eps.manchester.ac.uk/– Your (Associate) Programme Director– Student Support Office– many many more, e.g., see MSc Handbook

http://www.sos.eps.manchester.ac.uk

http://www.sos.eps.manchester.ac.uk

Help: if • your circumstances

– health, – family, – personal, ...

• prevent you from concentrating on your studies• we need to know in time to help ➡ mitigating circumstances process and ➡ mitigating circumstances form ➡ ask SSO ➡ talk to your (Associate) Programme Director • ...the process is anonymized and there for you!

Thursday Excursion!• A great opportunity to

– make friends & meet people – learn about Manchester United:

the teamthe multi-national organization & its information processing needs

• Meet Thursday, 13:20 – for coach to Old Trafford

• return 17:15

• ...it would be foolish not to!

Who is your Programme Director?• MSc in Advanced Computer Science

– Andy Brass (students on Digital Biology Pathway)– Ernie Hill (others, with lastname A-L)

! –!Renate Schmidt (others, with lastname M-Z)

• MSc in ACS and ICT Management ! –!Goran Nenadic!•!MSc in Computer Science Foundation Route ! –!Alex Walker

• I am there in case you can’t find your director...

You’re going to meet & greetthem later

Enjoyand

Learn a lot!