MSc Data Science & Artificial Intelligence

• Research Methods & Professional Issues: This unit overviews research methods to address scientific research questions. It covers aspects of research design and implementation and how they apply to solve data science and artificial intelligence-based challenges in a quantitative, qualitative, or mixed fashion.

• Search & Optimisation: This unit introduces you to classical search and optimization approaches. These techniques are employed in many areas, including health, security, transport, aerospace, finance, etc. Whether the goal is to improve the performance of a new medicinal drug, gene states discovery and expressions, aircraft structural integrity, network traffic cybersecurity, or business investment, advanced stochastic optimization algorithms are employed by researchers and practitioners to design optimal, diverse, and pertinent solutions to many real-world problems for best-performing operations.

• Data Processing & Analytics: The unit aims to advance your knowledge and skills in the evolving areas of big data, data modeling, and analytics. You will develop a good understanding of data design, implementation, and usage of data-driven systems. Moreover, you will learn how to model and process big data, discover knowledge within the data and deal with the dimensionality of the data. Overall, you will develop a critical understanding of the methodologies and techniques which lead you to process big data 5Vs, i.e., Volume, Velocity, Variety, Veracity, and Value. In addition, specific big data technology tools, such as  Hadoop/MapReduce, Storm, Spark, and MongoDB, are introduced.

• Artificial Intelligence: This unit aims to introduce you to the first principles and techniques employed in the greater field and sub-fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI), together with the skills and knowledge required to use AI techniques for solving real-world and synthetic problems.

  You will approach AI from a Computer Science perspective, focusing on the challenges faced within the field, nature-inspired algorithms, and their applications to complex real-world problems.

• Individual Master's Project: You will develop a good understanding of the inherent characteristics and implications of solving a complex, real-world data science and AI-oriented problem. This will be achieved through substantial, independently conducted research and development work.

• Neuronal Analysis: This unit focuses on advanced models and data analysis methods for understanding the human brain function at neuronal levels. The mathematical modelling is achieved using highly performing parallel data processors which imitate biological neuronal network functions.

• Blockchain & Digital Futures: The objective of this unit is to develop your skills and knowledge about the Blockchain technology and its usage. This includes defining Blockchain technology, its business aspect, encountered issues, objectives, and challenges. These also cover Blockchain horizontal and vertical scaling, along with critical cryptography basics, which are required for understanding Blockchain technology concepts, cryptocurrencies, and their respective networks, issues, and challenges.

Option units (choose one in semester 2)

• Smart Systems: This unit introduces you to various facets of intelligent systems technology and how they could apply to different environments. A selected set of innovative applications will be investigated and discussed to provide you with practical insight into intelligent systems, their deployment, and applications.

• Computer Vision: This unit focuses on several computer vision techniques, ranging from traditional approaches, which have been established through research over many decades, to the most recent state-of-the-art development, using appropriate tools. The unit entails a strong empirical element where Computer Vision models are implemented, performance evaluated, and validated.

You can undertake a 30-week placement at the end of the course, providing an opportunity to apply your acquired knowledge and skills in the workplace. You are required to find your post; however, our Careers & Employability Service and your faculty placements office are on hand to support you.