Advanced Computational Methods MSc, PGDip, 1-2 years, full-time
Search engines. Cryptography. Peer-to-peer networks. Applications like these wouldn’t function without smart algorithms. In this degree, you’ll learn how to tackle real-world problems with advanced computational methods.
- Department
- Informatics
+44 (0)116 252 2265
pgadmissions@le.ac.uk
Course description
Course description
The field of algorithms is today an extremely important enabling technology. Web search engines, keyword-based advertising, routing in the Internet, peer-to-peer networks, genome analysis, cryptography and image analysis are just a few examples of applications that depend critically on suitable choices of algorithms and data structures.
The focus of this MSc is on the design, analysis and engineering of algorithms, covering their use for modelling real-world problems. Our core modules touch upon some recent and important areas of algorithmic applications, including bioinformatics, large computer networks, game theory and discrete event systems, providing you with the tools needed to model large and complex systems as algorithmic processes, while training in C++ and advanced algorithm design will give you the skills to write the necessary software. In your project you have the freedom to explore the full range of algorithmic application areas.
What's the Difference?
The PGDip includes the same modules as the MSc but without the final project.
Duration
The regular degree takes 12 months if you start in September, or 16 months if you start in January. The 'With Industry' degree takes 21 months if you start in September, or 24 months if you start in January.
NB. If you start your course in January, you will take Semester 2 before Semester 1.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
2:1 degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject with a substantial element of Computing. Relevant work experience may also be considered.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.0 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries listFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK and EU Students
This is the total course fee.
Starting in September 2019 or January 2020
Tuition fees for the 2019/20 academic year are yet to be confirmed.
As an indication of what you might pay, the fees for students who started in September 2018 or January 2019 were:
- MSc: £7,835
- PGDip: £6,268
- MSc with Industry: £9,010
NB. The additional fee for the 'MSc with Industry' variant is not charged if, for whatever reason, you are unable to secure a placement.
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Did you know you can apply for a Government Postgraduate Loan? Find out if you’re eligible. (MSc or MSc with Industry only; not available for PGDip.)
International Students
This is the total course fee.
Starting in September 2019 or January 2020
Tuition fees for the 2019/20 academic year are yet to be confirmed.
As an indication of what you might pay, the fees for students who started in September 2018 or January 2019 were:
- MSc: £19,930
- PGDip: £TBC
- MSc with Industry: £22,920
NB. The additional fee for the 'MSc with Industry' variant is not charged if, for whatever reason, you are unable to secure a placement.
You will need to pay a deposit of £2,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
All our postgraduate Informatics degrees are available 'with industry': stimulating your creativity and capacity to innovate, and ensuring that you acquire key transferable skills. These courses will allow you to develop into a highly skilled professional, well versed in advanced methods and tools. Colleagues from industry participate directly in the delivery of some of the modules, including hands-on tutorials that allow you to use some of the tools and methodologies that are shaping the software development landscape.
We have an open approach to collaboration with industry. We undertake joint projects, provide consultancy services, and organise events to connect you with potential employers. We also run an Industrial Advisory Board: its members are computer scientists who hold successful careers in industry and who help us ensure that your training is industrially relevant.
Our Career Development Service is here to support you, with advice on interviews, CVs, work experience, volunteering and more. From Freshers’ Week to Graduation and beyond, they are here to help you reach your professional goals.
Related courses
Course structure
Semester 1
Semester 1
Core modules
- Advanced C++ Programming
- Internet and Cloud Computing
- Personal and Group Skills - this can be taken in either Semester
Option modules
Choose one option module (or choose two if you are going to take Personal and Group Skills in Semester 2) from:
- Advanced System Design
- System Re-engineering
- Advanced Web Technologies
- Agile Cloud Automation
- Communication and Concurrency
- Software Measurement and Quality Assurance
- Web Technologies
- Financial Mathematics 1
- Operational Research
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Semester 2
Semester 2
Core modules
- Algorithms for Bioinformatics
- Discrete Event Systems
- Game Theory in Computer Science
- Personal and Group Skills - this can be taken in either Semester
Option modules
If you took Personal and Group Skills in Semester 1 choose one option module from:
- Service-Oriented Architectures
- Semantic Web
- Financial Services Information Systems
- Generative Development
- Analysis and Design of Algorithms
- Distributed Systems and Applications
- Compression Methods for Multimedia
- Cryptography and Internet Security
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Optional Industry Placement
Optional Industry Placement
Studying a 'with industry' masters degree is the perfect way for you to enhance your career prospects and deepen your understanding of your specific area of expertise. By experiencing real-world scenarios and applying your skills and knowledge to business challenges, you will gain a unique insight into how your studies can be utilised in industry. This will not only showcase your abilities to future employers, but will also enhance your studies when you return to University to complete your programme.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Individual Project
Individual Project
Your course will conclude with an Individual Project (after your industry placement, if you have taken one). Using the experience gained during your course/placement, you will choose a challenging problem to work on and explore it by privately studying under the supervision of a member of the academic staff. (Students studying for a PGDip don't complete a project.)
A Selection of Recent MSc Projects
Computational Modelling of Tumour Cell Growth
Human tumours are very diverse in their appearance and growth patterns, but the understanding of the cell biological processes that underlie tumour growth is still very limited. This project, which was co-supervised by a medical expert, developed and implemented a software tool that simulates and visualises the growth of tumour cells, allowing researchers to investigate the effects of parameter values on the growth of the tumour.
Robust and Energy Efficient Wireless Sensor Networks
Wireless sensor networks are a new technology with a wide range of applications (from environment monitoring to surveillance) but subject to a number of energy constraints, many-to-one flows, and redundant low-rate data. Many routing protocols have been proposed for sensor networks that aim at achieving energy efficiency, but with little or no attention to robustness and fault-tolerance. This project addressed fault-tolerance in ad-hoc sensor network routing, namely the design and development of a robust and energy efficient routing protocol that distinguishes between local and large-scale traffic. A new multipath routing protocol was proposed and simulated which follows the 'number of hops' metric and employs a waiting time before transmitting messages to sink.
Smart Parking System
In large car parks that are nearly full, it may take drivers a lot of time to find an empty space. This project designed a smart parking system that can alleviate this problem by guiding drivers to empty spaces. Image processing methods were employed to process camera images in order to detect which spaces are free and which are occupied. A combination of a shortest-path algorithm and breadth-first search was used to determine directions that can be displayed at junctions throughout the car park in order to direct drivers to vacant spaces. A simulation was implemented to demonstrate the efficient operation of the system.
Analysis of Social Media
Social media such as Twitter collect a huge amount of data that is publicly available. The analysis of this data can be used to map out trends and predict events such as the outcome of elections. In this project you will choose a question you want to study using the data from a social media site and write a software that allows users to download and manage the data and, most importantly, to extract information from the data and to visualise the results.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
Most of our members of staff are actively engaged in research and are frequently guests of universities both in the UK and other countries to lecture on their work.
The Department has three Staff Student Committees - for undergraduates, postgraduates and PhDs - consisting of student representatives and members of staff. These provide a forum to discuss general issues and problems, and for staff to give feedback.
The Department of Informatics at Leicester is a thriving academic community with extensive experience in delivering high quality courses and undertaking pioneering research.
Teaching and learning
Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, self-paced learning and practicals. Assessment is a mix of coursework - computer-based practicals, essays and small group projects - and exams
The compulsory 'Personal and Group Skills' module combines seminars, group discussions and collective essay writing on selected topics, as well as a series of workshops on transferable skills and career planning.
Your project and, where relevant, industry placement will be assessed separately.
Apply now
Course | Qualification | Duration | Start Dates | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
Course Advanced Computational Methods | Qualification MSc | Duration 16 months full-time | Start Dates January and September each year | Availability Apply Now |
Course Advanced Computational Methods with Industry | Qualification MSc | Duration 21-24 months full-time | Start Dates January and September each year | Availability Apply Now |
Course Advanced Computational Methods | Qualification PGDip | Duration 1 year, full-time | Start Dates January and September each year | Availability Apply Now |