Transcript Introduction to Undergraduate Study Slides

Inside Information: Studying
Informatics in Edinburgh
www.inf.ed.ac.uk
Degrees in the School of Informatics
Single honours degrees:
• Computer Science
• Software Engineering
• Artificial Intelligence
• Cognitive Science
Joint degrees with:
• Mathematics
• Psychology
• Physics
• Management
• Electronics
www.inf.ed.ac.uk
What is Informatics?
• The science of information – how natural and artificial systems
process, store and communicate information
• Informatics includes Computer Science, Software Engineering,
Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Science
• Computational thinking applies to systems, biology, language, and
thought itself
• Information is everywhere
"In their capacity as a tool, computers will be but a ripple on the
surface of our culture. In their capacity as intellectual challenge,
they are without precedent in the cultural history of mankind."
Edsgar Dijkstra, 1930--2002
www.inf.ed.ac.uk
Information is everywhere
• Huge increase in information capture
• All settings: work, home, leisure, …
• 21m UK households - 83% of homes - now have an internet
connection, compared with 54% in 2006
• Underpins stock markets, communications, industry, science and
entertainment
• Embedded in devices: mobiles, MP3 players, games consoles,
security systems, cars …
www.inf.ed.ac.uk
Computing for business and commerce
• Financial Services – service manufacture
• Entertainment industry
• Security and safety
• World wide web
• Enabling global collaboration
www.inf.ed.ac.uk
Computing for science and engineering
• Climate modelling
• In-silico drug design
• Materials science
• Design and testing of vehicles, buildings …
• Modelling whole organisms
• Modelling human intelligence
www.inf.ed.ac.uk
Human information handling
• The brain inspires new ways to
process information
• Modern imaging is a key tool
and challenge
• Neuroinformatics: a new
science built on Edinburgh’s
strengths in Biology, Medicine
and Informatics
www.inf.ed.ac.uk
Why study Informatics?
• Interesting
• Challenging
• Interdisciplinary
• Science in its own right
• With lots of practical
applications
• Wide range of careers will be
open to you
www.inf.ed.ac.uk
Skills
• Logical thinking
• Problem analysis and solution
• Project management
• Business skills
• Programming (of course!)
• Not just using a computer but
making computers do new things
www.inf.ed.ac.uk
Alumnus Profile: Alex Healing
• Graduated with Artificial Intelligence and
Computer Science in 2005
• Currently working as Principal
Technology Researcher at BT
• In 2012 received ‘Young IT Professional
of the Year’ Award at UK IT Industry
Awards
• Work is focused on new online security
tool that could help lead the fight against
cyber attacks
“The high level of practical, hands-on
group working at Edinburgh was both
great fun and incredibly useful.”
www.inf.ed.ac.uk
Careers
• Our reputation means our graduates are
highly regarded by employers
Types of jobs:
• 70% of our graduates go into employment
in many different areas:
database administrator,
information systems
manager, applications
developer, IT consultant,
multimedia programmer,
network engineer,
systems business analyst,
systems designer, etc…
– Media
– User-friendly technology
– Mobile systems
– Medicine
• Average starting salary is above average
at £29,000
• Almost 20% of our graduates go on to
further study!
www.inf.ed.ac.uk
Why study Informatics in Edinburgh?
• Best and largest informatics department in
the UK
• 220 research staff, over 350 postgraduate
students, 400 undergraduates
• Regularly voted by our students in teaching
awards
• Edinburgh came top in the last two Research
Assessment Exercises
• In
the
latest
assessment-
The School of
Informatics was seen to produce more world-leading
and internationally excellent research (4* and 3*)
than any other university in the UK (REF 2014
assessment for computer science and informatics.)
• We attract the brightest and best from all over
the world – we have students from over 60
countries outside the UK
• Awarded an Athena Swan Silver Award in 2013
www.inf.ed.ac.uk
Why study Informatics in Edinburgh?
• Wide choice of degrees
• Most degrees accredited by the
British Computer Society and may
also be recommended for Chartered
Engineer Status (CEng)
• Flexible degree structure
• Wide choice of honours courses,
many unique
• You will be taught by the leaders in
the field
• You will study a fascinating subject in
the UK’s best department and in one
of the world’s most beautiful cities!
www.inf.ed.ac.uk
Why study Informatics in Edinburgh?
• Excellent network of support for our
students
• Personal Tutor
• Dedicated administrative team Informatics Teaching Organisation
• CompSoc – a student-led network of
support
• Hoppers – a student-led organisation
for women in technology
• Excellent facilities - 24-hour access
computing labs
• Excellent links to industry
• £8.4M investment in commercialisation
and entrepreneurship training
www.inf.ed.ac.uk
Industry links = Opportunities for you
• Scholarships are available from KAL and Bank of America of £1,000
per year
• Prizes
• Paid 1 year long work placements between 3rd and 4th year
• Internships
• Sponsorship for research projects
• Regular recruitment presentations from major employers
• Dedicated Commercialisation team
who can help turn your idea into a
start- up company
www.inf.ed.ac.uk
Degrees in the School of Informatics
Single honours degrees:
• Computer Science
• Software Engineering
• Artificial Intelligence
• Cognitive Science
Joint degrees with:
• Mathematics
• Psychology
• Physics
• Management
• Electronics
www.inf.ed.ac.uk
Typical degree structure
120 credits
per year
40 credits
40 credits
40 credits
1st year
Informatics
Mathematics
joint subject or course
of your choice
2nd year
up to 80 credits Informatics
Mathematics and/or joint subject
3rd year
Specialist honours courses, including a major group project
4th year
More honours courses
Emphasis on project work & dissertation
www.inf.ed.ac.uk
Masters of Informatics (MInf)
• 5-year degree
• Matches the Bologna structure signed by all EU member states
• Greater emphasis on project work in years 3-5
• Masters level courses in the final year
• Increased mobility within Europe for both higher education and
employment
www.inf.ed.ac.uk
Examples of honours courses
• Algorithms and Data Structures
• Computer Graphics
• Computer Communications and
Networks
• Data Integration and Exchange
• Computer Security
• Database Systems
• Enterprise Computing
• Automated Reasoning
• Embedded Software
• Energy Aware Computing
• Formal Programming Language
Semantics
• Cognitive Modelling
• Parallel Programming
Languages and Systems
• Operating Systems
• Theories of Mind
• Advanced Vision
www.inf.ed.ac.uk
Visit our facilities & talk to our staff
and students
• Talk to staff at our
enquiries desks
• Talk to our students
• Tours available at
enquiries desk
www.inf.ed.ac.uk