The module aims to equip you with the advanced skills to design, build and manage appropriate databases and knowledge systems in the active field of database systems and data management. Typical topics include theory of databases; query planning and optimization; transaction processing and concurrency control; maintenance of data integrity, availability and security; data warehousing and OLAP; semantic knowledge structures (OWL, SPARQL).

Intelligent systems are advanced computer systems that use artificial intelligence (AI) to perceive and respond to the world around them. The aim of intelligent systems is to automate intelligent behaviours that traditionally only human beings have been able to perform. Intelligent systems can take many forms, such as autonomous vacuum cleaners, robot delivery drones and personalised suggestions on web sites. They can fill many roles in society such as factory automation, medical care, education, recognition, and transportation. This module provides you with an understanding of intelligent system theory and concepts and an awareness of the issues involved in creating intelligent systems. You will also have the opportunity to develop intelligent systems.

This module will develop an understanding of the risk and threats that may affect IT systems and electronic business through analysing the threats, vulnerability of systems and through selecting appropriate countermeasures to prevent such risks for impacting the confidentiality, integrity and availability (CIA) of data and systems. The module will enable you to use tools and techniques to analyse those risks and evaluate their consequences. You will learn how to apply countermeasures to eliminate those risks and reduce the consequences should an incident occur.

This module builds on High Performance Computing and Database modules to provide understanding and knowledge of the essential concepts, theories and practices of Big Data. This will include Distributed System, latest advances and techniques in processing and managing big data.

This module will start by looking at the Professional issues related to working in the Computing and IT industry. You will consider professional conduct and the social, legal and ethical implications related to the profession – in-line with BCS guidelines. In the first semester you will also start to consider the subject of your final year project. Following discussions with staff members you will produce a project proposal document and start a literature review on your chosen topic. You will be assigned a project supervisor who will meet with you at regular intervals to provide you with feedback on your work as it progresses. In your second semester you will continue to work individually on the main part of your final year project with regular meetings with your supervisor. This supervisor plus another member of staff will assess your project.