Department of Computing Through the past 70 years of the world experiencing the benefits of electrical computer, computing is shaping the future of all other fields of study. At Saint Martin’s Institute, we believe that the computer is a horizontal enabler that with its growth, empowers all the other fields that employ it. The department of computing at Saint Martin’s Institute boasts of a specialised and effective portfolio of courses in this area, which evolved from its affiliation with the University of London offering degrees in Computing and Information Systems in the days where the world was just recovering from the infamous dot.com bust. The world had just learnt the lesson about the importance of effectively merging computing with sound business considerations and principles. Under the academic direction of the University of London, Saint Martin’s Institute was successful in delivering and developed individuals in this discipline with an astounding classifications awarded by the world renowned University. Saint Martin’s is celebrating a decade of offering the Creative Computing degrees in Malta, being the pioneer in this area by offering a BSc degree that gently merges the principles of computing to the discipline required in the creative industry. This saw further growth in the institute by offering a niche that was not offered before in Malta and the Institute has developed this niche ever since. After thirty years since its inception as a school offering computer science courses, fifteen out of which as an affiliate of the University of London International Programme network, Saint Martin’s Institute is now offering a range of Level 5 Diplomas in Computing, specifically designed to address the needs of industry in Malta and overseas. These programmes courses provide the theoretical rigour that one requires prior to proceeding to a Level 6 Bachelors degree while at the same time equipping students with the essential practical skills that the industry expects from today’s graduates. The Institute has at its core the importance of inter-personal skills in such an industry that relies on teamwork and mutual contribution. For the past seven years, the Institute has successfully and consistently organised the Game Development Challenge that enabled participants to work together in a team on a project spread over 5 months where each team is expected to design and develop a themed computer game from scratch. This goes hand in hand with the activities offered through these new qualifications that aim to instigate the same values of commitment and perseverance required by any team.
MSc Information Systems Engineering (90 ECTS) - MQF 7
The MQF Level 7 MSc in Information Systems Engineering is aimed for individuals who are moving up the corporate ladder into middle and senior management positions, and who wish to gain knowledge on how modern organisations may take advantage of leading edge information systems technology applied to improve the work place, even to achieve a meaningful work-life balance for organisational members. The students will come from any type of organisation including service oriented organisations, such as financial institutions, hospitals, schools and colleges, the civil service and Government agencies and authorities, as well as manufacturing firms of all sizes and types. This degree is designed to be neutral regarding organisational size thus providing every possibility for an entrepreneur managing a micro organisation at start-up stage taking benefit of the knowledge to structure a lean organisation from its very inception as well as a graduate climbing the corporate ladder in a large organisation such as a major bank or large manufacturing firm. Graduates will be exposed to the latest technological tools (both hardware and software) available to the information systems engineer, be enabled to understand technological trends and fathom the sociotechnical effects, as well as be exposed to industry standard business process analysis methodologies to produce cost effective solutions for organisations to incorporate in their business strategies. As a graduate of the postgraduate degree at level 7, students will be able to: • demonstrate practical skills in applying information systems to improve business and administrative processes; • understand how information technology is able to improve business and administrative processes of all types of organisations; • comprehend how human beings interact with technology and understand how technology may be developed to tap into the interactivity potential of humans and computer based systems; • demonstrate practical skills in developing systems which are deemed to be leading edge systems.
The MSc in Information Systems Engineering consists of 12 units as indicated below: SMI1010 SMI1011 SMI2012 SMI2016 SMI2020 SMI3018 SMI3019 SMI3065 SMI3114 SMI3115
Foundations of Information Systems (8 ECTS) Information Systems (8 ECTS) Principles of Information Systems Management (8 ECTS) Developing & Querying a Database (4 ECTS) Data Mining & Business Intelligence (4 ECTS) Requirements Engineering (8 ECTS) Design & Implementation of Information Systems (8 ECTS) Information Systems Engineering Group Project (6 ECTS) Human Computer Interaction (8 ECTS) Computer Networks (4 ECTS) SMC30382 Securing Information Systems (4 ECTS) SMI3159 Research Project in Information Systems (20 ECTS) Successful students from all the above units will be eligible to be conferred MSc Information Systems Engineering (MSc I.S. Eng.) conferred by Saint Martin’s Institute of Higher Education as licensed by the National Commission for Further & Higher Education (NCFHE) with license number 196. Graduates may be conferred MSc Information Systems Engineering by distinction if the student achieves a distinction in at least 5 level 2 and level 3 units (that must include the Research Project) from the total 12 units of the degree. To be awarded an MSc by distinction, the graduate must have achieved a pass in all remaining 7 units at the first sit. A graduate may be conferred MSc Information Systems Engineering by merit if the student achieves a merit or better in at least 5 units (that must include the Research Project) from the total 12 units of the degree and achieved a pass in all remaining 7 units.
Post Graduate Certificate in Information Systems Engineering (PG Cert. I.S. Eng.) (36 ECTS) – MQF 7 To be conferred the Post Graduate Certificate in Information Systems Engineering (PG Cert. I.S. Eng.), a student must have passed all the units as per the following list; SMI1010 SMI2012 SMI2016 SMI3018 SMI3114
Foundations of Information Systems (8 ECTS) The Principles of Information Systems Management (8 ECTS) Developing & Querying a Database (4 ECTS) Requirements Engineering (8 ECTS) Human Computer Interaction (8 ECTS)
Post Graduate Diploma in Information Systems Engineering (PG Dip. I.S. Eng.) (50 ECTS) – MQF 7 To be conferred the Post Graduate Diploma in Information Systems Engineering (PG Dip. I.S. Eng.), a student must have passed all the units as per the following list; SMI1010 SMI1011 SMI2012 SMI2016 SMI3065 SMI3018 SMI3019 SMC30382
Foundations of Information Systems (8 ECTS) Information Systems (8 ECTS) Principles of Information Systems Management (8 ECTS) Developing & Querying a Database (4 ECTS) Information Systems Engineering Group Project (6 ECTS) Requirements Engineering (4 ECTS) Design & Implementation of Information Systems (8 ECTS) Securing Information Systems (4 ECTS)
The Post Graduate Certificate and the Post Graduate Diploma are treated as exit routes to the Master degree, and student will attain the parchment and diploma supplement of the highest qualification achieved.
A methodology which helps students succeed
We are very much aware how easily students may be distracted from the attention and commitment necessary to succeed in todays fast paced world. The department is very conscious of the continuously changing environment of computing and the very short response time in which individuals need to re-invent themselves to be able to cope with the evolution of computing and its social impact. The department follows the famous Delors principles in education and provides students with the pertinent knowledge in computing and the ancillary disciplines, mentors students to develop the ability to use their knowledge thus maturing their skills, ascertains the interpersonal skills necessary to work effectively in functioning teams at the place of work and finally inspires the ability to self-develop.
Learn how to learn
Although all four principles, as proposed by Delors, should have equal weighting, the ability of an individual student to learn independently is given even more importance at Saint Martin’s Institute. It is not enough that the faculty oversees the development of a student through the programme to prepare for a job or a career change. It is the creed of the Institute that a student transforms / develops into any requirements of the future, thus becoming a life-long learner and employable over the long term. The transfer of knowledge is done through scheduled lectures and tutorials, supported by prepared materials available over the Saint Martin’s Institute virtual learning environment. Students will be assessed through unseen written examinations and home assignments to help the faculty gauge the absorption of knowledge by the student and the ability to apply the knowledge in real life scenarios.
“Saint Martin’s gave me the opportunity to read for a Degree in the evening and still manage to work.” “At Saint Martin’s I found a very supportive team of lecturers, who were also, very dedicated and professional in their work. A year after having completed this degree, I resumed my studies at a post-graduate level and am currently pursuing my dream of being a fully qualified teacher of computing.”
Entrance Requirements
The course shall be open to applicants in possession of a Bachelor degree from a recognised University with at least Second Class (Honours) in any area which the admissions board deems as appropriate. Applicants in possession of a Bachelor degree from a recognized University with a Second Class Honours (category 2:2) or lower may apply if they are also in possession of other qualifications or at least five years of relevant work experience, obtained following the first cycle degree, and the admissions board may consider that the student will be admitted to the Postgraduate Certificate in Information Systems Engineering and upon successful completion will be able to pursue further studies to the Master programme. The applicant should be at least 20 years old on the date of the first examination. The applicant should have a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.0 with at least 5.5 in all other components or equivalent recognized English language qualification.
Student Requirements
Saint Martin’s Institute of Higher Education is committed to offering quality tertiary education to all students with their respective needs. SMI will make every reasonable effort to make sure that the experience of studying with us is rewarding. The Institute offers fully accessible premises.
Duration
The duration of the programme is over two academic years on a part-time basis.
Tuition Fees
The MSc Information Systems Engineering costs €4,500 plus a one-time application fee of €125 and a registration fee of €475. Students who have read their undergraduate degree with Saint Martin’s Institute of Higher Education will have the registration fee waived. The accumulated tuition fee for the Post Graduate Certificate is of €1,000 excluding the application fee of €125 and the registration fee of €475. The accumulated tuition fee for the Post Graduate Diploma is of €2,500 excluding the application fee of €125 and the registration fee of €475. Both application and registration fees are non-refundable except for the instance where the Institute will not run the programme. In the case that the Institute, for reasons beyond its control that may include lack of registrations, decides not to run the programme, students already applied and registered will receive a full refund against a show of proof of payment.
Financial Assistance Scheme*
The Saint Martin’s Institute Financial Assistance scheme is available for deserving students who may find difficulties in meeting with the fees payable.
Get Qualified Scheme*
The Get Qualified Scheme will reimburse 70% of the total fees paid by the student upon successful graduation through income tax credit. The maximum value of tax credits refundable for this programme is €3,570.
Other Costs
In addition to the fees payable to the Institute, the student needs to budget for the cost of: • Textbooks • Laptop/Computer with Internet Access • Extra-curricular activities, where applicable *terms and conditions apply