MSc ACS: Multi-Core Computing

Course description

Microprocessor manufacturers have recently presented the software industry with its most serious challenge ever, by switching from serial execution architectures clocked at ever-increasing clock rates to ever-more parallel multi-core architectures clocked at a constant (or even decreasing) clock rate. The consequences will be profound because parallel computational activities will need to be handled as the norm, rather than the exception; programmers of the future will need skills that are currently possessed by very few, due to the inherent complexities of parallel systems.

This pathway is centred round a core theme, Parallel Computing in the Multi-core Era , that introduces students to the aforementioned complexities, and provides techniques and tools that can alleviate the ensuing problems of correctness, reliability, performance and system management. Subsidiary themes allow students to investigate broader areas in which they might apply their newly learned skills.

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2019, the tuition fees are as follows:

• MSc (full-time)
• UK/EU students (per annum): £11,000 
• International students (per annum): £23,000

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

Entry requirements

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In order to be accepted onto an MSc programme in the School of Computer Science, applicants need to provide evidence of having achieved the required level in a recognised English language qualification.

• IELTS: overall score of 7.0 with no sub-test below 6.0
• Pre-sessional English run by the University Language Centre

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Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course. Please contact us for further information: [email protected]

Application and selection

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Apply online

Applications for 2019 entry:

• Stage 1: Application received by 2 November 2018; Decision by 11 January 2019.
• Stage 2: Application received by  4 January 2019; Decision by 1 March 2019.
• Stage 3: Application received by 8 March 2019; Decision by 26 April 2019.
• Stage 4: Application received by 31 May 2019; Decision by 28 June 2019.

_{Advice to applicants}

Apply online

As there is high demand for this course we operate a staged admissions process with selection deadlines throughout the year. Due to the competition for places, we give preference to applicants with grades above our minimum entry requirements.  

Whilst we aim to give you a decision on your application by the deadline date, in some instances due to the competition for places and the volume of applications received, it may be necessary to roll your application forward to the next deadline date. If this is the case we will let you know after the deadline date.

We can only process applications that are submitted with the following supporting documents:

• Online application form
• First and second year transcripts (translated if not in English)
• A list of your final year units and a GPA certificate which shows your current average, expressed as a percentage and verified by your current institution.
• Two academic reference letter s, ora professional reference letter if you graduated more than two years ago

Teaching and learning

Computational thinking is becoming increasingly pervasive and is informing our understanding of phenomena across a range of areas; from engineering and physical sciences, to business and society. This is reflected in the way the Manchester course is taught, with students able to choose from an extremely broad range of units that not only cover core computer science topics, but that draw on our interdisciplinary research strengths in areas such as Medical and Health Sciences, Life Sciences and Humanities.

Coursework and assessment

Lectures and seminars are supported by practical exercises that impart skills as well as knowledge. These skills are augmented through an MSc project that enables students to put into practice the techniques they have been taught throughout the course.

Facilities

• Newly refurbished computing labs furnished with modern desktop computers
• Access to world leading academic staff
• Collaborative working labs complete with specialist computing and audio visual equipment to support group working.
• Over 300 Computers in the School dedicated exclusively for the use of our students.
• An Advanced Interfaces Laboratory to explore real time collaborative working;
• A Nanotechnology Centre for the fabrication of new generation electronic devices;
• An e-Science Centre and Access Grid facility for world wide collaboration over the internet.
• Access to a range of Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)
• Specialist electronic system design and computer engineering tools.

Career opportunities

Students following the Multi-Core Computing pathway have all the career options as described for general Advanced Computer Science.

In addition, students following this pathway are well placed for careers in the software industry since they will acquire the necessary skills to design and develop software that makes the most out of state-of-the-art multi-core architectures. This includes the games industry, the financial sector, and all other areas in which high performance computing is key.

We maintain close relationships with potential employers and run various activities throughout the year, including career fairs, guest lectures, and projects run jointly with partners from industry. This is managed by our Employability Tutor; see the School of Computer Science's employability pages for more information.

Visit the MSc ACS: Multi-Core Computing page on the University of Manchester website for more details!