Programme description for Master's Programme in Information and Communication Technology (2019–2021)

The learning outcomes are divided into three separate categories: Knowledge, skills, and general competence.

Knowledge

On successful completion of the study programme, the students should:

- have obtained advanced knowledge of ICT and specialized knowledge within their selected specialization profile
- have a thorough knowledge of the main scientific methods used in ICT research
- be able to analyze ICT problems, both from a research and an industrial perspective

Skills

On successful completion of the study programme, the students should:

- Be able to apply their knowledge in new areas within ICT.

- Be able to analyze ICT problems, both from a research perspective and from an industrial perspective within their specialization profiles.

- Be able to analyze existing theories and methods, and solve applied and theoretical problems independently.

- Be able to apply relevant research and development methods in an independent manner.

- Be able to critically analyse various information sources, and apply these for structuring and formulating arguments.

- Be able to conduct an independent research and development project under supervision, in agreement with the prevailing academic and ethical standards for research.

- Be able to contribute to innovation and the creation of new ideas in academic and industrial ICT projects.

General competence

On successful completion of the study programme, the students should:

- be able to apply their knowledge in new areas in order to pursue advanced tasks and projects
- be able to communicate comprehensive independent work by mastering the relevant forms of expression used in ICT research and development
- be able to disseminate their knowledge of applied and theoretical problems and solutions, orally and in writing, to their peers and to a general audience

The Master's ICT programme consists of courses of 7.5 ECTS, and Master's Thesis of 30 or 60 ECTS. Each student needs to select a combination of courses amounting to 120 ECTS credits over 4 semesters including the Master's Thesis.

The programme is organized into two standard profiles. The students must fulfill the requirements for at least one of these profiles:

- Information Technologies
- Communication Technologies

The first semester provides a basis for later specialization. During the second and third semesters students specialize further within a selected area. In the fourth semester the students work on their master's thesis.

Each student's education plan, which consists of selected course combinations, must be approved by the study programme coordinator. There exist pre-approved combinations with special focus on:

- Data Science and Machine Learning
- Mobile Radio Communications
- Wireless Networks, and
- Embedded Systems

A range of different teaching and working methods will be used, including lectures, Internet discussion groups, seminars, group work and exercises, individual computer exercises, laboratory exercises, case studies and participation in ongoing research projects. In many courses, students are expected to submit well-structured project reports, usually written in a standardized document template. Every semester the students must prepare and update individual education plans. Students are expected to take full responsibility for their own learning and personal progress in keeping with their individual education plans. It is assumed that the students will attain parts of the curriculum objectives through self-study, especially in the seminar courses. Students are also required to have a laptop computer with a wireless network interface. There is usually no compulsory attendance at ordinary lectures, but students may be subject to attendance requirements for some courses, or parts of a course.

Regarding master's thesis: For every student/group there will be 10 compulsory guidance meetings for the regular Master's Thesis, and 20 compulsory guidance meetings for the full year Master's Thesis.

Information and communication technology is an area where companies and professionals both cooperate and compete internationally as well as nationally. The literature in the programme is in English, and English is the language of teaching. Written assignments and project reports may be submitted in English, Norwegian or another Scandinavian language. In several courses, Norwegian and international students work together in groups. This will prepare the students for an international working life and teach them to communicate about their field of expertise in an international environment.

The programme provides the students an opportunity to take parts of the programme at partner universities abroad. Full-time Master´s students can take the 3rd and/or 4th semester at a partner university abroad. Credits awarded at the foreign university may be transferred into the student´s programme at UiA. In order to become an exchange student, the courses/thesis work that the student is planning to undertake at the foreign institution must be given a preliminary approval by the study programme manager at UiA, and a written Student Contract must be signed with the International Education Office. The faculty of Engineering and Science has a large number of partner universities with which the student exchange can be arranged in an efficient manner. The master´s programme is open to incoming exchange students from foreign universities, who may follow one or two semesters of the programme.

Students who have been given conditional admission to the programme must meet all the admission requirements before they can pass into the 2nd year of the programme. Before enrolling for IKT590-G Master's Thesis, the student must successfully complete courses amounting to at least 75 ECTS credits. All courses that lead directly to the thesis work must be successfully completed.

A prerequisite for students to take the full year Master's Thesis, i.e. IKT591, is a minimum grade point average of B in the 1st and 2nd semester. In addition, this choice must be approved by the study programme manager.

A compulsory course in Health, Safety and Environment is required for students admitted to the programme.

A wireless network is available on campus and the master´s students use their own laptop computers in most courses.

It is a requirement that all students at UiA have their own portable computer (laptop) for use in teaching and examinations, see Examination Regulations, University of Agder, §12d