Master of Science in Big Data Technologies

at University of Westminster - Cavendish Campus United Kingdom

Working in the world of information systems can be exciting and rewarding as businesses become more and more reliant on information systems to support innovation, decision making and day-to-day operations.

The creative use of information systems can transform organisations. Successful enterprises require hybrid managers and analysts who can evaluate and use the tools, gauge the risks and provide the key insights and sound direction for strategic business planning.

Our Business Information Systems BSc will give you a clear perspective of the current nature and practice of business information systems, and will develop your understanding of the business challenges of an enterprise, and your ability to conceive and manage solutions which are increasingly ICT dependent.

You’ll integrate your skills of problem solving and information systems modelling with your knowledge of business processes and environments. You’ll be able to consult on, support or develop the technological platforms of an enterprise to achieve competitive advantage, building a career in roles ranging from systems developer to business manager.

Our course offers a short-term work-based learning experience that will give you the opportunity to work on a real-life problem, which is normally set by an external organisation as a small-scale project. This experience will allow you to put your new knowledge and skills into practice by addressing a real-life situation, usually within the context of a business-related problem.

Smart computer system engineering is a growing market in today’s computer industry. Embedded systems have become widespread and can be found in almost all modern consumer devices, from washing machines to cars and robots. Computer system technologies are becoming smart and expanding even further to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet-of-Things (IoT) connectivity. You’ll study all of these topics throughout our course.

Our Smart Computer Systems BEng is designed around three themes: software/hardware programming, wireless networking and smart technologies. You’ll be exposed to many programming opportunities for a multitude of platforms and operating systems, and acquire an excellent knowledge of networking and client/server programming leading to the latest developments of the Internet of Things ecosystems, security and smart technologies such as smart sensors, robotics, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Our course aims to provide an exciting, enjoyable and rewarding learning experience, which will serve as a solid foundation for a successful professional engineering career and meet the current demand from employers.

Top reasons to study with us

• Expert-led workshops will help you develop in-demand skills
• An exciting, enjoyable and rewarding learning experience in the heart of London
• Our course will prepare you to be resilient and adaptable to changes that engineering and technology bring
• You'll qualify for free British Computer Society (BCS) academic membership for the duration of your studies. The BCS supports those working in the IT industry and has a commitment to making IT good for society. The organisation has over 60,000 members in 150 countries, and a wider community of business leaders, educators, practitioners and policy-makers. Membership of the BCS will allow you to continue your professional development and enjoy a range of valuable networking opportunities.

Our Psychology and Counselling BSc Honours is accredited by the British Psychological Society. It provides you with a broad contemporary education in psychology and counselling within a vibrant, global learning environment situated in the heart of London.

Our course team includes qualified and practising counsellors and psychotherapists who are passionate about sharing their experience, knowledge and skills of therapy.

Our programme of study has been designed to meet the requirements for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society. This aspect will prepare you for postgraduate training on the path to becoming a Chartered Psychologist.

In addition to psychology, you’ll study counselling and psychotherapeutic theories and approaches, and you’ll have the opportunity to develop practical skills such as active listening and effective questioning. Our course is also designed to help you to think creatively and critically, developing the problem-solving skills that will enable you to apply psychology and counselling to address a wide range of personal, professional and societal needs.

Top reasons to study with us

• Development of practical skills and reflective practice – you’ll be able to practise skills such as active listening, reflecting, paraphrasing, and summarising
• Professionally trained course team – you’ll be taught by staff who are qualified and practising psychologists, psychotherapists and counsellors
• Work experience opportunities – you’ll be able to choose work experience from a wide range of settings, and you have the option to undertake a professional work placement year

This course (previously Business Intelligence and Analytics MSc) addresses the need to propel information-gathering and data organisation, and exploit potential information and knowledge hidden in routinely collected data to improve decision-making. The course stretches the artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and decision science themes to Business Intelligence, Data Science and Business Analytics.

You will focus on developing solutions to real-world problems associated with the changing nature of IT infrastructure and increasing volumes of data, using applications and case studies, while gaining a deep appreciation of the underlying models and techniques. You will also gain a greater understanding of the impact technological advances have on nature and practices adopted within Data Science, Business Intelligence and Analytics, and how to adapt to these changes.

Embedded into the course are two key themes. The first will help you to develop your skills in the use and application of various technologies, architectures, techniques, tools, and methods for data science. These include data warehousing and mining, distributed data management, and the technologies, architectures, and appropriate AI and ML techniques. The second theme will enhance your knowledge of algorithms and the quantitative techniques including AI, ML, and Operational Research (OR) suitable for analysing and mining data and developing decision models in a broad range of application areas. The project consolidates the taught subjects covered, while giving you the opportunity to pursue in-depth study in your chosen area.

Teaching approaches include lectures, tutorials, seminars, and practical sessions. You will also learn through extensive course work, class presentations, group research work, and the use of a range of industry standard software such as R, Python, Simul8, Palisade Decision Tools, Hadoop, and Oracle.

Our Medical Sciences BSc Honours is a standalone three-year Bachelor’s degree which also acts as a pre-clinical 'feeder' course offering graduates a transfer directly into the third year of the Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (MD) degree at our overseas partner, the University of Malta.

The Medical Sciences BSc Honours comprises a detailed study of the human body in health and disease, with emphasis on the diagnosis and understanding of disease states and the mechanisms involved. It prepares you for a range of life science careers, but also fully equips you for transfer to the University of Malta MD programme. Teaching on the course is through a variety of methods and includes tutorials, lectures and seminars, practical laboratory work and group activities along with the use of learning technology and electronic resources. Assessment is through a combination of exams and coursework, including essays, practical work, group work, presentations and reports.

Top reasons to study with us

• A pathway into medicine – Our course offers you, on graduation, a transfer into the third year of the MD degree at the University of Malta
• Summer school and language programme – Our course offers, at additional cost, a Human Anatomy Summer School based at the University of Malta, and a Medical Maltese language programme
• Keep your career path open – If you decide not to progress on to the MD programme at the end of the course, the Medical Sciences BSc also equips you for a variety of careers in the life sciences

Our Computer Games Development course combines technology and creativity in a multidisciplinary way.

The games industry is an expanding and challenging sector with continually evolving ideas and cutting-edge technologies. It requires practitioners to exercise more flexibility in software specifications and functionality, through adapting their approaches to design and management while keeping abreast of broad changes to technology.

This course covers all major technical aspects of the games development process, from design to production. It aims to prepare you for a career in software development with a particular emphasis on computer games. The course provides you with a solid understanding of game technologies, including programming, applied maths, computer graphics and game engines. You'll develop a broad range of knowledge and skills including mobile and web application development, 3D modelling and animation, and human-computer interaction. To enhance student employability, the course offers a number of talks from the creative industry and will support your participation in prestige game competitions and digital fairs, as well as industrial placements and internships.

The primary language you'll learn is C++, but you'll also have the opportunity to engage with other languages and software, such as C#, Python (Machine Learning, Algorithms), JavaScript and Swift for Android and iOS development. For character development we use Adobe Maya, Photoshop, 3DS Max and 3D Coat. The course focuses on using Unreal Engine 4 and Blueprints technology, but students will have the opportunity to engage with any of the commercial engines across the course.

Top reasons to study with us

• Valuable industry insights – our strong links to the sector ensure the course is taught with the games development industry in mind. Our teaching staff includes academics with experience in the games industry, alongside industry advisors who support the course on all work-based learning projects and competitions
• Work experience before graduation – as part of the course, you'll have the option to work for a year in the industry, gaining valuable work experience and boosting your employability
• Successful alumni – our alumni have found positions in companies including Microsoft, Sega, and Marmalade

The amazing feats of world-class athletes across the huge range of sports has projected the issues of performance into the public eye, and sports nutrition is now recognised as a key part of supporting training and competition at all levels of participation.

The Master's degree in Sport and Exercise Nutrition at the University of Westminster offers the chance to study the science behind sports nutrition and its applications for both the 'weekend warrior' and the elite athlete. It also puts the controversies surrounding the use of supplements under scientific scrutiny, looking at the key evidence for and against performance benefits.

The aim of the course is to produce sports nutritionists who are strongly focused on the science behind the subject, but who also have some experience of the practicalities of delivering sound guidance to individuals and teams who are looking to use nutrition as part of their training programmes. To this end, a number of guest lecturers contribute their expertise in key related areas.

Our course examines the best ways to design, build, maintain and evaluate software systems. It uses many of the technical aspects of computer science, especially programming, and aims to develop the professional attitudes, interpersonal and technical skills you’ll need in the software engineering industry.

The course provides a solid foundation in software engineering theory and practice to develop professional software systems. It will equip you to take up a wide range of career opportunities, including software engineer, web application programmer, software designer/analyst or website designer/programmer.

In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake a year in industry (work placement) after completing the second year of your study. This will help you gain work experience and enhance your employability. You’ll be offered help and support to find and secure placement opportunities through various workshops and events organised by the Careers and Employability Service and the course team. Typically, you will be assigned into roles involving tasks related to software engineering.

Top reasons to study with us

• Our course will help you develop your problem-solving skills. We practise problem-based teaching, allowing you to develop your skills in analysing problems within contexts, so you can find the best technological solutions
• You'll be involved in real-life projects and gain hands-on experience of working either individually or in a software development team
• Our course reflects the dynamics of the software industry – you'll learn state-of-the-art techniques and subjects such as machine learning, AI algorithms, robotics and smart systems, the Internet of Things, Big Data technologies, complex heterogeneous systems, and cloud-based, distributed and parallel software solutions
• You'll qualify for free British Computer Society (BCS) academic membership for the duration of your studies. The BCS supports those working in the IT industry and has a commitment to making IT good for society. The organisation has over 60,000 members in 150 countries, and a wider community of business leaders, educators, practitioners and policy-makers. Membership of the BCS will allow you to continue your professional development and enjoy a range of valuable networking opportunities.     

Security is a vital aspect of any networked system, especially as the dependency on network infrastructures has grown over the past few decades. This course builds on more than ten years of experience in education in network design and support, and its aim is to produce network engineers with a strong background in security.

The course focuses on three main aspects – communication, network design and implementation, and security. You'll develop the knowledge and technical expertise to be able to take on specific responsibility within a network team or as a team leader for the security aspects of that network, particularly in industries such as banking, where security is crucial.

Our graduates have gone on to work in the banking sector, as well as organisations such as BT, HP, Cisco, Dell, Google Enterprise, Huawei Technologies and Quinix, as well as smaller private companies.

Top reasons to study with us

• Develop the skills you'll need – learn application-oriented networking skills and know-how
• Gain industry insider knowledge – benefit from expert-led workshops that will help you develop in-demand skills
• Explore our exciting location - our course is based right in the heart of London, one of the world's technology hubs

Our Biological Sciences BSc will give you a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and the key skills to prepare you for careers ranging from research, medicine, science and education, to law and management.

Our flexible course enables you to focus on molecular science, human biology or applied biosciences, or take a route designed specifically toward your own interests.

Alongside developing an excellent foundation in biological knowledge, through the study of our core modules, you'll be able to explore global challenges facing humanity and the planet – and the biological solutions to help overcome those challenges – through an extensive range of optional subjects.

You'll have the chance to explore cutting-edge topics in molecular biology and genetics, microbiology, the urban environment, global challenges, pharmacology, and biological applications. Our modules are research driven, with a passion for scientific enquiry.

You'll also have the opportunity to undertake a lab-based final-year project, giving you experience in the latest methods and developments in medical and scientific research.

The University Careers and Employability Service and course-related events provide opportunities to discover a range of bioscience-related careers to support you in preparing for your future.

Our Biological Sciences BSc has been designed to provide a thorough knowledge of biosciences and to equip you with vital transferable skills that will help you to succeed in both science and non-science careers.