Scientific Computing

Entry requirements

Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK High 2:1 Honours Degree.

Applicants' first degree should be in science or a technology discipline, and applicants are expected to be able to demonstrate an adequate level of computer literacy (should be able to write code performing a science or maths application using a high-level computing language).

Months of entry

October

Course content

The MPhil programme in Scientific Computing is based in the Department of Physics and is a full-time 12-month course which aims to provide education of the highest quality at master’s level. Covering topics of high-performance scientific computing and advanced numerical methods and techniques, it produces graduates with rigorous research and analytical skills, who are well equipped to proceed to doctoral research or directly into employment in industry, the professions, and public service. It also provides training for the academic researchers and teachers of the future, encouraging the pursuit of research in computational methods for science and technology disciplines, thus being an important gateway for entering PhD programmes containing a substantial component of computational modelling.

The MPhil in Scientific Computing has a research and a taught element. The research element is a project on a science or technology topic which is studied by means of scientific computation. The taught element comprises of core lecture courses on topics of scientific computing and elective lecture courses relevant to the science or technology topic of the project. Most of the projects are expected to make use of the University’s High-Performance Computing Service.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will have:

• a comprehensive understanding of numerical methods, and a thorough knowledge of the literature, applicable to their own research;
• demonstrated originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in their field;
• shown abilities in the critical evaluation of current research and research techniques and methodologies; and
• demonstrated self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and acted autonomously in the planning and implementation of research.