English requirements
Overall | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
IELTS | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
The term Internet of Things (IoT) encompasses everything connected to the internet, and it is increasingly being used to define objects that 'talk' to each other. Connected machines and objects in factories offer the potential for a 'fourth industrial revolution'.
This course is designed to provide you with the opportunity to acquire knowledge across a range computing and engineering systems disciplines and develop skills in the use of cloud computing, communication systems, cyber physical systems and security.
You will benefit from access to our modern facilities which include an range of professionally equipped laboratories and on campus IoT communication infrastructure. With help from the Digital Catapult (the UK's leading advanced digital technology innovation centre), and the IoTUK, we have installed an IoT Gateway on campus, which will be used to connect our IoT sensors and edge devices; such as Arduinos and Raspberry Pi's, to a cloud for IoT.
“IoTUK is a national programme designed to accelerate the UK’s Internet of Things capability, launched as part of the Government’s £32m investment in IoT.”*
With our support you can develop an ability to critically evaluate existing and emerging IoT technologies, and apply knowledge, understanding, analytical and design skills in support of technical design/development projects.All this will prepare you for challenges in application of the IoT in industry, research and business.
*https://iotuk.org.uk, February 2019
Upon successful completion of this module, you will have a systematic understanding of knowledge, and critical awareness of current cyber security challenges and how they are exploited through cybercrime. This includes gaining practical knowledge of how to perform and critical evaluate a crime scene from a digital perspective. This Masters module also enables a conceptual understanding the enables the learner critically evaluate and engage in scholarship in the discipline, including proposing and testing both research and investigative hypotheses. The module covers many different aspects of cybercrime and how they fundamentally possible, often through exploiting weaknesses in computer and network security. The module presents an introduction to forensic analysis of digital systems, which is focussed on recovering deleted data from persistent data storage mechanisms (e.g. hard drives).
This module has been designed to build on your skills in modelling, designing, processing and simulating a range of analogue and digital systems. To support you in this the module reviews the hardware and software aspects of virtual instrumentation (VI). You’ll have the opportunity to use graphical and C/C++ programming languages using PC’s and interface cards as the hardware platform. Industry standard software tools (such as LabVIEW) will also be explored to help design and simulate real systems.
Many existing and future computer-based applications impose exceptional demands on performance that traditional predominantly single-processor systems cannot offer. Large-scale computational simulations for scientific and engineering applications now routinely require highly parallel computers. In this module you will learn about Parallel Computer Architectures, Legacy and Current Parallel Computers, trends in Supercomputers and Software Issues in Parallel Computing; you will be introduced to Computer Cluster, Cloud and Grid technologies and applications. You will study the fundamental components of Cluster environments, such as Commodity Components for Clusters, Network Services/Communication software, Cluster Middleware, Resource management, and Programming Environments. The module is assessed by examination (60%) and practical assignment based on laboratory work (40%).
Dynamic systems of inter-related entities are becoming more commonplace as computational resources are miniaturised. Examples of dynamic systems include information technology network infrastructure for communications, computational devices that have mobility, or even the inner workings of a modern central processing unit (CPU). As physical devices adopt more technology, become more ubiquitous, and contribute to inter-connected ‘smart’ environments, there is a need to be able to understand, model and design innovative solutions that embody, and take into account, these dynamic characteristics. This module will enable learners to select the most appropriate method of modelling a dynamic system, before simulating its behaviour and then optimising its performance.
Computers are extensively used in monitoring and controlling process plants. Many of the modern instruments contain a small computer chip called microcontroller. These computer chips are normally hidden in instruments and many other products such as mobile phones, cars, cameras, printers, toys etc. This module introduces the principle of computer chips and demonstrates how they can sense their surrounding environment by receiving signals from a variety of transducers and control the attached actuators such as lights and motors according to a specified control strategy. You will design and develop efficient ‘C’ programs in practical sessions and download them onto development boards containing many sensors and actuators. This will allow you to see your programs in action. The module is assessed by one assignment.
This module aims to provide you with skills that are key to helping you become a successful computing researcher or practitioner. You'll get the opportunity to study topics including the nature of research, the scientific method, research methods, literature review and referencing. The module aims to cover the structure of research papers and project reports, reviewing research papers, ethical issues (including plagiarism), defining projects, project management, writing project reports and making presentations.
The module is concerned with the principles of modern communication systems and their application in wireless communication networks, in particular the Internet of Things. It begins with a basic overview of communications techniques as used in wireless applications. It then reviews existing wireless sensor, and related, technologies such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, WirelessHart and LoRaWAN comparing their performance metrics and application areas. The role of wireless communication technologies in the Internet of Things and similar application areas will be discussed.
Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are collections of physical and software components that communicate and interact with users via networks. CPS extend the traditional capabilities of embedded systems by incorporating sensor networks and data services to enable previously disparate systems to become more integrated through ‘smart’ capabilities. Examples of CPS include the Internet of Things (IoT), smart cities and digital manufacturing. This module will enable learners to explore contemporary issues in relation to emerging technologies that can be used to realise cyber-physical systems.
The project provides the opportunity to undertake a major programme of advanced independent work. It requires you to investigate a chosen topic and achieve specified technical goals through good planning and the application of analytical, problem-solving and design skills. The project is developed in collaboration with either an industrial company or within one of the research groups in the School. Your supervising tutor will monitor progress and provide guidance in various aspects of the project including preparation of the final report.
You will be taught through structured lectures, tutorials and practical laboratory-based sessions. 18.8% of the study time on this course is spent in lectures, seminars, tutorials etc. You will be able to take control of your learning through access to on-line learning material, the Internet and by interactive demonstrations.
You will be assessed through a mix of examinations, reports on laboratory experiments, laboratory-based assignments and project work.
Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course. Assessment will include coursework and peer review and reflect the emphasis of the course on the ability to apply knowledge and skills.
Feedback (either written and/or verbal) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results. Feedback on final coursework is available on request after the publication of results
Further information
The teaching year normally starts in September with breaks at Christmas and Easter, finishing with a main examination/assessment period around May/June. Timetables are normally available one month before registration.
Overall | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
IELTS | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
We would expect to see graduates progress to careers in all sectors, such as financial services, manufacturing, public sector and retail. Typical job roles would include, IoT Manager, Developer, Test Engineer and Business Manager.
You could also go on to further study and the University has many options available for postgraduate research which may interest you.
* Percentage of our postgraduate students go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2017/18, UK domiciled graduates).