How To Pass M.Sc. Computing

1. How To Pass M.Sc. Computing Adrian J Pullin Award Director pullina@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! MSc Computing. How to Pass.

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! MSc Computing. How to Pass.

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 MSc Computing. How to Pass.

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 MSc Computing. How to Pass.

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 3:00pm on given date • The deadline is 3:00pm on given date • Assignment must be submitted, date stamped by the office and signed by you MSc Computing. How to Pass.

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 tutor’s 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! MSc Computing. How to Pass.

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 MSc Computing. How to Pass.

9. Mitigating Circumstances • Illness • Bereavement • Must be documented • Sick note • NOT:- • Computer crash • Printer not working • Bus was late • Friend’s hamster ate Elvis MSc Computing. How to Pass.

10. 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 MSc Computing. How to Pass.

11. 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 MSc Computing. How to Pass.

12. 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 MSc Computing. How to Pass.

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 else’s document to your assignment • ‘Someone else’s 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 MSc Computing. How to Pass.

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 MSc Computing. How to Pass.

15. 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 MSc Computing. How to Pass.

16. 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 MSc Computing. How to Pass.

17. Grades Percentage 70-100 Pass with Distinction 40-69 Pass 0-39 FAIL MSc Computing. How to Pass.

18. 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 MSc Computing. How to Pass.

19. 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 MSc Computing. How to Pass.

20. 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 MSc Computing. How to Pass.

21. 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 MSc Computing. How to Pass.

22. 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 MSc Computing. How to Pass.

23. 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 MSc Computing. How to Pass.

24. 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/msccomputing/ • 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 MSc Computing. How to Pass.

25. 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 MSc Computing. How to Pass.