Course Catalogue

MSci (Sandwich Year) Software Engineering Individual Project COMPSCI5082P

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Computing Science
  • Credits: 40
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Runs Throughout Semesters 1 and 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

The course provides students with the opportunity to conduct an independent, individual Software Engineering research project at level M.  Students undertake a literature survey to formally identify a research problem and then carry out an investigation and write up the results.

Timetable

Weekly supervisory meetings at times arranged between the student and supervisor.

Requirements of Entry

Only available to students on the MSci in Software Engineering Programme.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Dissertation 100%

Main Assessment In: April/May

Course Aims

The aim of the course is to provide students with the opportunity to develop practice and demonstrate their research skills within the context of Software Engineering. The course develops transferable skills in critical analysis, introspection and research methods that will be useful in professional careers.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Specify and justify a well-defined research problem in the area of Software Engineering;

2. Articulate and justify a feasible approach for tackling this problem;

3. Produce a comprehensive literature survey covering their research problem, offering a critical review of the key relevant work in this area;

4. Formulate a research plan for the research problem;

5. Carry out a coherent and well-executed investigation of a research problem in Software Engineering, using appropriate methods and producing valid results;

6. Write up their research in the form of an academic paper, including the expression of a well-defined thesis and argument, a clear statement of the research methods and results, a critical evaluation of the research results, a consideration of their significance and of their relationship to other relevant work.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions