Honours Degree

Degree description

Honours is a prestigious degree intended for those who wish to obtain a professional qualification of international standing and take their place in the IT industry or CS academia. Entrance to the degree is restricted to those who achieve well in their BSc. The degree covers a range of topics that are presented by experts in the department, and students have the opportunity to work on several projects to a high standard.

Structure of the 2013 degree

The degree is conferred on a student who successfully completes at least 120 credits of course work in Computer Science at honours level. The degree is comprised as follows:

Project component: All students have to register for COS700, which is worth 30 credits. COS700 is structured as follows:

• Research methods component of 10 credits, which will be based on formal lectures in the first semester;
• Research project component which can be either a full 20 credits project, or 4 mini-projects from modules that offer mini-projects.

Module component: At least 6 modules of 15 credits each, to be selected from the modules offered by the Department of Computer Science. Students may take 15 credits honours modules from any other department for which they qualify.

Duration of study

A student is required to complete his/her studies within one year (full-time) or within two years (part-time). However, the Dean, on the recommendation of the head of department, may approve a stipulated limited extension of this period.

Examinations

The Dean may, on the recommendation of the Admissions Committee, cancel the studies of a student who fails more than one module in an academic year. A module may only be repeated once. No supplementary examinations are granted at post-graduate level.

Assignments, tests and projects

Each module may have associated assignments, tests and projects. Students should plan their time to ensure that they can devote the appropriate amount of effort to these tasks. Extensions are not given lightly. Part-time students should be aware that "pressure at work" is not an acceptable excuse for not handing in coursework.

Lecture Times

All computer science modules run for one double period a week for one semester. Lecture times are from 16:30 – 18:30 and 18:30 – 20:30 from Mondays to Fridays.

Note: Students may only register for modules for which they can attend the lectures fully. Lecturers are not obliged to make special arrangements for students who miss lectures.

Degree pass and cum laude requirements

Pass requirements: In calculating marks, General Regulation G.12.2 is applicable. However, a student is required to obtain at least 50% in an examination in a module where no semester or year mark is required. In those cases where a year mark or semester mark is available, a subminimum of 40% must be obtained in the examination.

Degree with distinction: The BSc(Hons) degree is awarded with distinction to a candidate who obtains a weighted average of at least 75% in all the prescribed modules and did not fail any module.

Modules presented in 2013