OVERVIEW
Introduction and Objective
This programme was first introduced as a coursework programme in the 1996/1997 academic session. Over the years, the programme has gained popularity. Due to changes in demand, the curriculum has been suitably revised in the 2001/2002 academic year and subsequently in the 2007/2008 academic year, where the programme was offered as a mixed mode programme. In 2018/2019 a revised curriculum was introduced.
The goal of the programme is to produce researchers who have extensive skills in advanced research and knowledge in computer science. Therefore, the objective of the programme is to produce graduates who:
- have a deep understanding of the core concepts of research and advanced knowledge in computer science.
- can participate and conduct research projects and have social, communication and ethical skills.
- are innovative in research and capable of realizing lifelong learning and pursuing further studies at the doctoral level.
Programme Structure
This mixed mode programme requires a minimum duration of 1 year and a maximum of 2 years for fulltime study or a minimum duration of 2 years and a maximum of 4 years for part time study. It consists of two distinct components; a taught component and a research component resulting in a dissertation.
Two focus areas are offered:
- Data and Knowledge Engineering
- Enabling Technologies and Infrastructures
(i) Core Courses: 28 units (Code: T)
- CCS591/4 – Research & Empirical Methods in Computer Science
- CCS592/4 – Advanced Algorithms and Complexity
(ii) Elective Courses: 12 units (Code: E)
Choose three (3) elective courses with at least two courses from a chosen focus area. The following table presents the list of elective courses under the two focus areas.
Data and Knowledge Engineering
- CCS516/4 – Computational Intelligence
- CDS503/4 – Machine Learning +
- CDS505/4 – Data Visualization and Visual Analytics +
- CDS521/4 – Multimodal Information Retrieval +
- CDS522/4 – Text and Speech Analytics +
Enabling Technologies and Infrastructures
- CCS525/4 – Advanced Cloud Computing Platform
- CCS526/4 – Wireless and Mobile Communications *
- CCS527/4 – Internet of Things *
- CCS528/4 – Information Security and Cryptography
- CDS523/4 – Forensic Analytics and Digital Investigation +
+ Courses offered under MSc (Data Science and Analytics).
* Courses offered with MSc (Internet Engineering) (National Advance IPv6 Centre (Nav6)).
(iii) Dissertation (Core Course): 20 unit (Code: T)
- CCS599/20 – Dissertation
The course aims to enhance students’ knowledge and skills in planning and implementation of a research project in the field of computer science. Students can choose research topics in related areas in computer science but they are encouraged to choose research topic in their respective focus area, and then proceed to conduct extensive review of literature pertaining to the topic and eventually carry out the research under the supervision of a lecturer. At the end of the course, students are required to produce a satisfactory dissertation in order to fulfill their degree requirements.
At the end of this course, the students will be able to:
- Design a research project in the field of computer science.
- Formulate new solutions for computer science problems.
- Defend orally the research outcomes in the field of computer science.
- Practice the research tasks and processes in an ethical manner.
- Perform research at a higher level in the field of computer science.
- Perform a research project with proper planning, judgements and decisions.
Students need to plan early and consult prospective supervisors for a suitable research topic/title at the beginning of the pre-requisite course CCS591. CCS591 and Dissertation must be taken in two consecutive semesters (CCS591 followed by CCS599). Students are strongly encouraged to choose a research topic from their chosen focus area. The research areas offered within the two focus areas are listed in the table below.
| Focus Area | Research Areas |
|
Data and Knowledge Engineering |
|
|
Enabling Technologies and Infrastructures |
|
Students may commence their dissertation during Inter-Semester Break and complete the course at the end of Long vacation Session or during the Long Vacation Session and complete the course at the end of Semester I. The duration for this course is approximately 30 weeks [including the evaluation process and submission of the final hardbound copy of the dissertation].
Students are expected to meet their supervisors as often as possible to discuss their research work and record their meetings in a logbook both during the pre-requisite course CCS591 and throughout CCS599.
Students are required to complete various activities/assessments by some specific deadlines. A monitoring process will be implemented during the dissertation for the benefit of the students.
A panel of examiners will be formed, and the main objective of this panel is to ensure that the research has achieved a certain standard. The dissertation will be evaluated by two examiners. Students are expected to produce an original piece of work that enhances existing work and contributes to the body of knowledge. Students are also required to use the standard format for the dissertation.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants should possess the following:
A. Bachelor's degree
1. CGPA of at least 2.75 / 4.00; or
2. CGPA between 2.50 - 2.74 with the following additional conditions: or
a) Research experience for at least one year; or
b) Work experience in related field for at least one year; or
c) At least one (1) academic publication in the relevant field; or
d) Grade B for major / elective courses; or
e) Grade B+ for final year project
3. CGPA between 2.00 - 2.49 (Bachelor's Degree with Honours) with the following additional conditions: or
a) Research experience for at least five (5) years; or
b) Work experience in related field for at least five (5) years; AND
c) At least one (1) academic publication in the relevant field; or
d) Grade B for major / elective courses; or
e) Grade B+ for final year project
B. APEL A (Level 7)
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
(Applicable for International Applicants Only)
- A minimum score of 35 in Internet-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language); or
- A minimum of Band 5 in IELTS (International English Language Testing System); or
- A minimum score of 154 in Cambridge English Advance (CAE); or
- A minimum score of 154 in Cambridge Proficiency Advance (CPE); or
- A minimum score of 36 in Pearson Test of English (PTE); or
- A minimum of Band 2 in MUET (Malaysian University English Test)
Exemption can be given if:
- English is the candidate's mother tongue or National Language; or
- The candidate graduated from an Institution of Higher Learning in which the medium of instruction is English
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