Key facts

Types	Online and Distance Learning Oxford Qualification - Part-time
Start date	Oct 2013
Subject area(s)	Computing
Fees	Fees for 2013-14: £2,150 (Home/EU) £3,675 (non-EU).
Application status	Applications being accepted
Application deadline	Fri 02 August 2013
Course contact	If you have any questions about this course, please email InternetCourses@conted.ox.ac.uk or telephone 01865 280973.

Overview

This course is now open to applications.

This stimulating course builds on your own knowledge of computing and gives an understanding of modern systems analysis, development and management. The theme of this course follows through the analysis and design of practical real-life computing applications, enabling you to extend your skills from being a computer user to being able to analyse and design your own applications.

Description

The Advanced Diploma is a one-year online course and may be used for professional development. Successful participants will gain practical skills to progress their careers either within the computing industry or in the application of computers within other professional disciplines. This part-time course is at third-year undergraduate level (FHEQ level 6), and its theme is the analysis and design of practical real-life computing applications. The course will be of interest to people from a wide range of backgrounds and professions, looking to further their knowledge and develop their careers.

Features of the course:

• Offers a detailed study of Systems Analysis and Design
• Utilizes modern modelling techniques and tools
• Offers practical experience of team working in the analysis and design of software systems
• Is an opportunity for employers to upgrade staff skills
• Involves one year's online learning using Internet technology
• Leads to the award of an Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Data and Systems Analysis
• Carries a CATS credit rating of 60 points at FHEQ level 6

Key Dates

• Open to applications : Friday 30 November 2012
• Last day for applications : Friday 02 August 2013
• Course starts: Thursday 03 October 2013
• Course ends: Monday 14 July 2014

Programme details

The following provides indicative content of the course units. This is regularly up-dated to reflect recent developments and feedback from students.

Unit 0: System Set-up and Introduction

• System and software checks
• How to use the course facilities
• Details of the study programme
• Study skills advice
• Group working

Unit 1: The System Development Life-cycle and Management

• The need for a managed process
• Process models and how to select the most appropriate model for a specific project
• The general concepts of project management
• Practical aspects of organising a software project in a real-life context
• Software Testing

Unit 2: Systems Analysis and Design: Data Driven & Procedural Techniques

• Overview of Systems Analysis
• Overview of Systems Analysis contexts and methodologies including SSADM and Yourdon
• Requirements Elicitation
• Requirements Definition
• Requirements Validation
• Data Driven and Procedural Models
• Testing methodologies
• A case study

Unit 3: Systems Analysis and Design: Data Organisation

• The Relational model
• Object models
• Implementing databases

Unit 4: Systems Analysis and Design: Objects & Architectures

• Introduction to the ideas of O-O
• O-O analysis and design
• UML diagrams
• Modern enterprise computing
• XML
• A case study

Unit 5: Team Project

The team project involves students in working together in teams of 3-5 on the analysis and design of a small computer system. Teams are required to make a number of detailed submissions and work to tight deadlines. 50% of the assessment for this unit comes from the team, and the other 50% is individual. Prospective applicants should note that it is a course requirement that students participate fully in the team working unit.

For the course's full Programme Specification, see here.

Course aims

The Advanced Diploma gives you:

• knowledge of functional, data-driven and object oriented design
• facility with modern systems and data modelling techniques
• understanding of the issues, problems and basic ideas of software development and data design
• practical experience of the analysis and design of a small computer system - working in a team of fellow students and responding to tight operational deadlines

Certification

Awards

Students satisfying the assessment and participation requirements will be awarded an Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Data and Systems Analysis from the University of Oxford. Outstanding performance will qualify for a Distinction. The Advanced Diploma also carries a CATS rating of 60 points at FHEQ Level 6. For details of what benefits that may provide, see below. Credit Transfer Opportunities The Diploma carries a Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) rating of 60 points at FHEQ Level 6. Students awarded the Advanced Diploma may be able to transfer their credit points to other HE institutions, including the Open University. Under the Department's agreement with the Open University, students can be awarded full-rate credit for the Diploma, i.e. they will receive 60 CATS points of transferred credit. These credit points will be without a level, BA/BSc designation or grade of pass. If you are considering taking advantage of transferring credit you are advised to consult our Student Adviser listed under contacts, before joining the course.

Assessment methods

Your assessment is based on the unit assignments. In each year you must complete all of the set assignments. The regulations allow for re-submissions of assessed work in certain circumstances. All assessments are subject to moderation by an external examiner. The detailed assessment requirements are contained in the course regulations, a copy of which will be provided to students upon registering for the course; if you would like a copy, please contact the Department's Registry, via registry@conted.ox.ac.uk The final part of the course is a team project. Its assessment involves a number of different submissions, some individual and some by the team.

Teaching methods

What does studying the course involve?

All of the course material will be provided over the Internet. You will need a suitable computer which has access to the Internet; for details see Computing Facilities Required. In particular, you will be using some open-source tools that may be downloaded, free of charge, from the Internet. The units will be studied in sequence. Normally you will have about seven weeks to study each one, and this includes time to prepare the unit assignment. Your study of a unit will be guided by the Internet material and will involve a mixture of reading web material, doing self-study exercises and participating in group exercises with other students, plus writing the unit assignment. Some of the exercises you do will involve interacting with other students, and to enable this to be effective these exercises may be scheduled to take place during a specified period. For this reason, and in order to help you follow a structured pattern of study, we do issue a recommended unit timetable. Within this, you do have considerable freedom to study in your own time and at your own pace. Details of the unit timetable will be provided on enrolment. It is a requirement of the award that students must participate in the various course activities to the satisfaction of their tutors. Students on the course are also supported by a mail conferencing system. Using this, students are able to discuss their problems with their fellow students and the course tutors. This system forms an integral part of the course experience and is very popular among students, and forms a sort of 'virtual classroom'. There is also a 'virtual common room' in which you can discuss or 'chat' with others in your group on more wide ranging matters - an ideal way of getting to know each other. Each unit will include a marked assignment. This must be submitted electronically for assessment by the stipulated dates. This course does not involve a formal written examination and does not require you to come to Oxford.

Tutorial Support

A feature of study at the University of Oxford has always been the interaction with a dedicated tutor to assist you in your studies. This tradition is continued with this online course. We believe that our attention to this sort of support is a distinctive feature and benefit of the course.

One of our online tutors

Bob Buckley Bob Buckley is and a tutor on the Advanced Diploma course. He is also involved in distance learning programmes with the Open University and the University of Durham Business School. He lives in Newcastle in the North of England with his wife and occasional visiting children. Bob has personal experience of the value of distance learning which helped him to move seamlessly from his job in finance and management into a second career in computing and education. Working mostly through distance learning he obtained a degree from the Open University, a teaching qualification and membership of the British Computer Society. As well as tutoring, he writes course material including modules for the Durham MBA, the Oxford Advanced Diploma and a number of Foundation Degree and Higher National courses.

The Tutor Group

Every student on the course is assigned to a tutor group under the supervision of a qualified tutor. The tutor's role is to provide general guidance on the progress of your studies and to assist with any problems you may have. Your tutor will also mark your assignments and provide feedback on your progress. Communication with your tutor will normally be via the web-based conferencing system or via email.

Payment

The course fees for 2013-14 are £2,150 (Home/EU) £3,675 (non-EU). A non-refundable deposit of £250 or 10% of the course fee, whichever if higher, must be paid on acceptance. The remainder of the fee can be paid in instalments. The fee includes all Internet course materials and tuition. If a student withdraws before completing the course, a refund of part of the fees may be payable, depending on the date of withdrawal. Full details of the refund policy will be sent before enrolment to all applicants offered a place. For further information about methods of fee payment and refunds, please contact the Online Courses Manager listed under contacts. For information on sources of financial support, refer to Financial Assistance below You are advised to take into account the following expenses in addition to the course fee:

• Subscription to an Internet Service Provider and associated telephone charges
• Computing equipment at your place of study

Financial Assistance

Although we do sometimes refer to particular texts none are essential for this course, nor will you need to purchase any additional software. Financial Assistance for Part-time Students Students on this course are not eligible for a UK student loan to cover course fees and living costs. However, you may be able to gain financial assistance through one of the routes listed below

• Access Fund Hardship Grants
• Fee Grants
• OUDCE Bursaries
• Career Development Loans
• Educational Trusts & Charitable Bodies

Further information can be found on the Department’s Student Support Pages Overseas students are recommended to consult the following websites:

• http://www.ukcosa.org.uk
• http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/student/fees_student_support.php
• http://www.britishcouncil.org

Apply for this course