EU/INT induction: September 2020
2 years part-time
Part-time
£14,000 (INT) *
Overview
Computer networks underpin almost every aspect of modern business. Their competent management is crucial to a company's success and experts who can fulfil this role are highly sought-after. Network management is a rapidly-evolving specialism for which you need leadership, problem-solving and organisational skills as well as the technical ability.
Why study MSc Network Management and Cloud Computing at Middlesex University?
This course has a marked emphasis on professional and applied skills and you will be able to take full advantage of the university's strong links with companies in the IT sector. During your studies, you will work with our LTE test bed and Blade Server, and you will learn how to access and configure cloud-based networks.
You will be encouraged to learn, explore and work within our award-winning technology centre and its five specialist laboratories equipped with the latest industry-standard hardware and software, including OPNET, Wireshark, MATLAB, Simulink, OpNet Modeller 17.0, OMNeT++ , NI and Cisco technology such as Packet Tracer.
Practical work is an important part of every module, and unless you're already in employment, we'll encourage and support you to finding a placement for up to 12 weeks, during which you'll work on your independent research project.
Our strong research profile ensures our courses remain innovative. We have developed our own WSN, Senso LAB, and have also undertaken notable research in areas such as MIMO, LTE and LTE Advanced
The course is designed for those students who have previously studied computing at university level or who are currently working in the sector, and are looking to develop an advanced mastery of the subject.
Course highlights
- You'll have the opportunity to gain practical experience in our industry-standard networking labs
- We encourage students to explore new concepts and developments and were delighted when three of our students were crowned winners at the Young Professional Engineering Challenge
- Middlesex University is an official Cisco Academy and as part of your studies, you'll have the chance to work towards a Cisco CCNA professional certification
- As a student of this course you'll receive a free electronic textbook for every module.
Find out more
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Course content
What will you study on the MSc Network Management and Cloud Computing?
This course gives you an in-depth understanding of computer network design, implementation and optimisation. You will study cloud-based networks and explore modern data centres, virtualisation and distributed storage. More generally, you will focus on network design and construction, programming and operating systems as well as network troubleshooting in a business environment.
What will you gain?
You will be equipped with the knowledge and expertise to model, monitor and analyse networks in various situations, simulating performance and availability to configure them for optimum performance. In addition to this, you will also improve your mathematical, problem solving, communication, and critical skills. As well as in-depth knowledge and practical experience of computer communications and networking, our course will provide you with many transferable skills. It will improve your research, data collection and interpretation, mathematical, communication, problem solving, presentation and critical skills – as well as your confidence and ability to work under your own initiative while managing your own time.
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Modules
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Computer Networks and Internetworking (15 Credits) - Compulsory
During this module you will develop a systematic understanding of the concepts, protocols and standards for computer networks and internetworking, used in current and future communication infrastructures. It is vital in today's networking market that network managers, administrators and engineers have a critical insight and practical experience of the essential tools used for monitoring, managing and evaluating computer networks. This module, which includes at least 12 hours spent working in labs, is designed to equip you with these problem solving and practical skills.
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Enterprise Network Troubleshooting (15 Credits) - Compulsory
This module provides participants with a sound grounding in the theory and practice of investment management. Specific aims include: strategies of portfolio construction, generating investment ideas, estimating investment risk returns and the use of derivative instruments.
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Network Management (30 Credits) - Compulsory
This module is designed to help you develop into a network manager or engineer with advanced problem solving and practical skills, and includes at least 24 hours of lab work. It will provide you with a systematic understanding of the concepts and standards for network management, network management protocols and network management tools which are used in current and future communication infrastructures. You will complete the module with critical insight and practical experience of the essential computer network management tools, as well as their development, operation, monitoring and assessment.
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Network Security and Mechanisms(15 Credits) - Compulsory
This is module covers the principles and foundations of network security. It aims at providing students with security issues, technologies, algorithms and protocols used in securing computer networks and associated systems. It will also provide an understanding of possible security breaches, security risk analysis and mechanisms to protect computer and network communication systems. It also studies an in-depth review of commonly-used security mechanisms and techniques, security threats and network-based attacks.
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Operating Systems and Application Environments (15 Credits) - Compulsory
This module focuses on the design and implementation of the modern operating systems and application environments used to build commercial, online applications. The module involves at least 12 hours of lab work and examines key operating concepts including processes and threads, memory management, scheduling, inter-process communication (IPC), device drivers, storage systems, multiprocessor systems, micro-kernels and networking interfaces. You will concentrate on Linux, Windows, Apple iOS and Android operating systems before focusing on a detailed study of key application environments including the Eclipse IDE, XCode, and Android SDK. Finally, we look at the concept of virtual machines and building applications for the cloud using the Google GAE SDK.
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Virtualisation and Cloud Computing (30 Credits) - Compulsory
This module covers various issues relating to virtualisation and could computing, with at least 24 hours spent working in labs over the duration of the module. You will focus on exploring and understanding modern data centres, virtualisation, distributed storage, MapReduce, NoSQL, platform services, web services and caching. At the end of the module you will be able to critically assess a variety of cloud platforms, use quantitative and qualitative techniques to professionally design and implement scalable applications and services that execute in a distrusted computing environment, and evaluate the trade-offs and challenges when developing a cloud.
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Individual PG Project (60 Credits) - Compulsory
This module is an independent piece of work shaped largely by one’s own decisions and preferences to accomplish and deliver a task via prescribed stages. The module aims to facilitate students’ understanding of designing, planning and conducting applied research. The module encourages students to apply and test theory and to contribute to applications, through enhancing students’ ability to handle data for problem solving and evaluation; to test theory using analysis and simulations, integrating the learning from other modules.
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You can find more information about this course in the programme specification. Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.
Teaching
How will the MSc Network Management and Cloud Computing be taught?
As well as developing your practical skills in laboratory sessions, you’ll attend lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, where you’ll deepen your theoretical knowledge, work on activities and case studies, and develop your analytical and problem-solving skills. You will do research, produce written reports, give presentations and take part in group discussions and group work, supplementing all this with your own independent study.
Assessment
As well as exams, tests and your research project, you’ll be assessed through practical assignments, including laboratory work, and coursework including essays, reports, presentations and class discussions. Some assessed work will also be group work.
For your independent project you will plan, conduct and produce an original piece of research relevant to the industry – either using existing or emerging technology to solve a practical problem, or extending the theoretical understanding of new technology. You will be assessed on your research proposal, written report and via oral examination.
Entry requirements
Fees and funding
Careers
How can the MSc Network Management and Cloud Computing support your career?
This course will leave you perfectly placed for a role as a training specialist, systems dispenser, business analysis manager or university lecturer. Many of our graduates have gone straight into employment in the networking and communications industry and are working in programming, telecommunications engineering or network management. There are also a wide range of other opportunities open to you in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, everything from industry and consultancy to academia and further research. You could even start your own business.
Our graduates have gone onto achieve many successes since leaving Middlesex and a number have even started working for such companies as:
- IBM
- L'Oréal
- Halcrow Group
- Cyberspace Network
- AK Electronics
- One Hundred Computers
- Pilat Media
- F5 Networks.
Contact us
Contact us
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