Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

This course aims to:

• Develop students’ knowledge and expertise in multimedia signal capturing, rendering, coding, processing & adaptation through practical application analysing and evaluating problems and responding to challenges in real time
• Develop students’ critical thinking to assess the development, evaluation and implementation of high-end home and low-end mobile media applications in response to addressing real world problems/opportunities
• Develop students’ critical thinking to assess media applications through user interaction techniques, human perception and quality of experience assessment methods
• Use action-based learning to provide individuals and teams with employment skills essential to the digital/tech industry

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• UK Quality Code for Higher Education, The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, April 2012, especially Part A: Setting and maintaining academic standards:
  • The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ), the QAA, August 2008
  • Master’s Degree Characteristics, the QAA, March 2010
  • The Higher Education Credit Framework for England, the QAA, August 2008
• The Quality Code, Part B: Assuring and enhancing academic quality
  • Chapter B1: Programme Design, Development and Approval
  • Chapter B3: Learning and Teaching
  • Chapter B4: Enabling student development and achievement
  • Chapter B6: Assessment of students
• Master’s Degree Subject Benchmark for Engineering, the QAA, 2015
• UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence: The Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes, Engineering Council UK, 3^rd Edition 2014.
• UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence: Engineering Technician, Incorporated Engineer and Chartered Engineer Standard, Engineering Council UK, 2013.
• Proposals for National Arrangements for the Use of Academic Credit in Higher Education in England: Final Report of the Burgess Group, December 2006.
• The Northern Ireland Credit Accumulation and Transfer System (NICATS): Principles and Guidelines, 2002.

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate a thorough knowledge and systematic understanding of…

K1 multimedia signals and their related applications

K2 capturing, rendering, coding & adaptation of multimedia signals

K3 high-end home and low-end mobile applications

K4 Multimedia coding for communication and storage

K5 Demonstrate intended learning outcomes of a complementary subject as this will help students to appreciate how such study deepens knowledge and understanding of the influence of Digital Technologies

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to…

C1 understand how to capture, render, and perform coding & adaptation of multimedia signals

C2 critically evaluate interaction techniques with human perception and perform quality of experience assessments for various multimedia applications

C3 exploit knowledge to design new multimedia applications

C4 optimise the media chain for the highest QoE

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to…

P1 use their deep analytical skills in fixed and mobile communication multimedia applications development

P2 demonstrate skills in media (2D/3D) capturing and rendering

P3 devise techniques and methodologies to assess users’ experience

P4 think laterally and originally to create innovative and practical media system applications

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to…

T1 present their technical and communication skills and experience clearly in a manner that could be understood by a wide audience, including potential employers.

T2 demonstrate a high degree of subject knowledge that would support a wide research field in media and media-applications areas, including those involving creativity and innovation.

T3 competently lead media applications development projects on the basis of the deep technical and project management skills they have acquired from the programme.

T4 demonstrate aptitude for generating new ideas and concepts.

4. Programme structure

List compulsory and optional modules in each Part semester (Code, title, modular weight).

*Students will pick a second subject from the list of nominated second subject modules (below) offered by the other LUiL Institutes in the first semester:

Second Subject Modules:

~Students must choose and complete any 3 of the 6 optional modules to complete the MSc. In Digital Media Systems.  ^In the second semester students can opt to exchange 1 SEESE optional module for 1 SBE module.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to progress be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of regulation XXI.

All modules available in the Special Assessment Period (SAP) unless specified in the Module Specification.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

Not applicable.