Study location	United Kingdom, Egham, Surrey
Type	Master courses, full-time
Nominal duration	2 years
Study language	English
Awards	MSc

Entry qualification

Undergraduate diploma (or higher) 2:1 (Honours) or equivalent in Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics, Physics, or other subjects that include a strong element of both mathematics and computing. Relevant professional qualifications and relevant experience in an associated area will also be considered. The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English. Often you can get a suitable transcript from your school. If this is not the case, you will need official translations along with verified copies of the original.

Language requirements	English IELTS: 6.5 (with a minimum of 5.5 in all other subscores) CAE: 176 overall (with a minimum of 162 in all other subscores)

Other requirements	At least 2 reference(s) must be provided. Academic A motivation letter must be added to your application.

More information	royalholloway.ac.uk/..ear-in-industry.aspx

Overview

Interested? To learn more about this study programme, entry requirements and application process, please contact one of our consultants in a country nearest to you.

Programme structure

Year 1
Interconnected Devices
In this module you will learn about the applications of the Internet of Things (IoT) in society, the components of typical IoT systems and the trends for the future. You will be exposed to IoT design considerations, constraints and interfacing between the physical world and IoT devices. You will develop an understanding of the Arduino platform and how it works in terms of the physical board, the libraries and the IDE (integrated development environment). You will elarn how to program the Arduino via C/C++ code and how to access the pins on the board via the software to control external devices. Finally, you will gain hands-on experience in plugging shields into the main Arduino board to perform other functions such as sensing and actuating.

Advanced Distributed Systems
The module cover the fundamental principles of building modern distributed systems, for example in the context of the Internet of Things (IoT), focussing in particular two central components of the IoT reference architecture-cloud infrastructure and wireless networking. The module will discuss major challenges found in these environments (such as massive scales, wide distribution, decentralisation, unreliable communication links, component failures and network partitions) and general approaches for dealing with these. Topics covered will include abstract models (such as the synchronous and asynchronous distributed computing models, models for wireless networks); algorithmic techniques (such as distributed coordination, fault-tolerant design of distributed algorithms, synchronization techniques); and practical case studies. You will also have an opportunity to implement various components of a realistic distributed system through a series of formative coursework assignments, lab practicals, and a final project.

Wireless Sensor and Actuator Networks
This module combines lectures focussing on the algorithms and the protocols behind wireless sensor and actuator networks (WSANs) with lab classes that focus on how to build wireless sensor and actuator networks for a variety of applications. You will learn about the critical design factors for WSANs, the protocal stack, models and algorithms for WSANs, routing protocols and more advanced open research problems, such as topology control and mobility. The practical classes will cover how to design and build wireless sensor networks and intelligent interactive devices with the ZigBee wireless networking protocol.

Year 2
You will spend this year on a work placement. You will be supported by the Department of Computer Science and the Royal Holloway Careers and Employability Service to find a suitable placement. This year forms an integral part of the degree programme and you will be asked to complete assessed work. The mark for this work will count towards your final degree classification.

Individual Project

Optional modules
In addition to these mandatory course units there are a number of optional course units available during your degree studies. The following is a selection of optional course units that are likely to be available. Please note that although the College will keep changes to a minimum, new units may be offered or existing units may be withdrawn, for example, in response to a change in staff. Applicants will be informed if any significant changes need to be made.

Career opportunities

Graduates in Distributed and Networked Systems with a Year in Industry at Royal Holloway, University of London can expect excellent employability prospects in a variety of expanding fields. You’ll gain a desirable Masters qualification from a highly-regarded department, and develop a range of transferable skills to take into the workplace. A year in industry also provides the opportunity to gain valuable experience and to develop industry connections to take into your future career.

Our proximity to the M4 corridor – also known as ‘England’s Silicon Valley’ – provides excellent networking opportunities with some of the country’s top technology institutions. The Department of Computer Science is also located close to Royal Holloway’s on-site College Careers Service, providing you with help, support and advice on your future career and further postgraduate study.