Study Regulation For Computer Science: Cand - Scient

STUDY REGULATION for
Computer Science
CAND.SCIENT.
Version: 4
Valid per 1 september 2023
ROSKILDE UNIVERSITY
1
Table of contents
1. Study Regulation
1.1 The programme's name
1.2 Scope of the regulation
1.3 Title
2. The programme's objective, employment and competency profile
2.1 Objective
2.2 Employment
2.3 Competency profile
3. Language
4. Admission requirements
5. ECTS rating and duration
6. Board of Studies, Corps of External Examiners and Main area affiliation
6.1 Board of Studies
6.2 Corps of External Examiners
6.3 Main area affiliation
7. The programme's structure
7.1 Schematic structure of the programme
7.2 First semester
7.3 Second semester
7.4 Third semester
7.5 Fourth semester - Master Thesis
7.6 Transitional rules
7.7 Overall description of study activities
8. Approval
8.1 Approved by the Board of Studies
8.2 Approved by the Dean and the Vice-Dean
8.3 Approved by the Rector
2
1. Study Regulation
1.1 The programme's name
Master programme in Computer Science
1.2 Scope of the regulation
This study regulation is determined pursuant to The University Programme Order No. 2285 of 1 December 2021 on
Bachelor and Master's (Candidatus) Programmes at Universities with any subsequent amendments and Roskilde
University’s common education regulations of 1 September 2022 with any subsequent amendments. The study
regulation will become effective on 1 September 2023 and applies to all students.
Rules and Regulations concerning registration and de-registration for courses, projects, thesis and examination and
regulations concerning start-of-studies examination, dispensations, mobility, credit transfer and pre-approval of credit
transfer are specified in RUC´s common education regulations.
1.3 Title
Graduates of the programme are awarded with the degree: Master of Science (MSc) in Computer Science
Graduates of the programme are awarded with the Danish title: cand.scient. i Datalogi
2. The programme's objective, employment and competency profile
2.1 Objective
The programme focuses on providing the graduate with competences to the development of complex IT systems that are
reliable, user-friendly, and long-lasting. The focus is to anchor software development in realistic settings and with actual
and current technologies. The student will learn to use state-of-the-art methods and techniques to analyse and construct
IT systems, including software, and to test and evaluate software systems. The graduates will achieve skills in the
application of software architecture and design principles for the development of complex IT systems as well as
documenting solutions and critically reflecting both system structure and the context in which solutions must operate.
The education provides opportunities for specialization in a range of areas including algorithms, programming
frameworks, complex IT systems, data science, artificial intelligence, business intelligence, internet of things, robotics,
and virtual technologies.
2.2 Employment
The education in Computer Science qualifies for work in the part of the IT sector that require deep technical
competences, both public and private, for instance, consulting houses, larger organizations in need of internal
development, R&D departments, development, and research departments at the large IT companies.
Possible job functions for graduates in computer science are software development, technical consultants, project
management and other job functions that require an education as a computer scientist, e.g., software engineer, software
architects, software designers, as well as job functions within the areas of data science, artificial intelligence, business
intelligence and physical computing.
2.3 Competency profile
Knowledge and understanding
Students must be able to:
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• know and understand research literature on techniques and theories for the analysis, design, and construction
of IT systems, including software engineering methods and principles, computer and system architecture,
algorithms, data representation and design principles for human to machine interfaces.
• demonstrate research-based knowledge and understanding of theories and methods for the analysis, design,
and implementation of IT applications, including system development methods and principles, IT
architecture, innovative use of IT as a product, service or process and the connection between IT solutions and
their use in applications.
• achieve advanced knowledge and understanding of certain specialized computer science areas, based on the
highest levels of international research.
Skills
• identify scientific research questions in relation to the analysis, design, and construction of complex software
systems.
• work critically with the selection and application of methods and techniques for the analysis, design, and
construction of software systems.
• program advanced software solutions using appropriate state-of-the-art programming languages, libraries,
development tools and equipment.
• test, validate and evaluate software systems and IT applications.
• design advanced IT solutions using appropriate state-of-the-art components or standard packages.
• communicate research-based knowledge and understanding about computer science and discuss professional
computer science-related research questions on a scientific basis with both colleagues and non-specialists.
Competencies
• construct complex IT solutions individually and in software development teams.
• organize, manage and implement complex IT projects that require new solutions.
• initiate and complete IT solutions that require interdisciplinary collaboration and take on professional areas
of responsibility.
• acquire new knowledge about new technologies and their application possibilities.
3. Language
The programme is offered in English.
The examination language is identical to the teaching language.
4. Admission requirements
The Board of Studies specifies the admission requirements following the Ministerial Order on Admission to and
Enrolment on Master’s Degree Programmes at Universities.
On the university’s website, the admission requirements are published as an appendix to the study regulation.
Changes in admission requirements are announced at least one year before the commencement of studies.
4
5. ECTS rating and duration
The programme is a full-time programme corresponding to 120 ECTS and planned in preparation for a two years full-
time study.
6. Board of Studies, Corps of External Examiners and Main area

affiliation
6.1 Board of Studies
The programme falls under
6.2 Corps of External Examiners
The programme falls under Computer Science
6.3 Main area affiliation
The programme falls under the main subject area natural sciences
7. The programme's structure
7.1 Schematic structure of the programme
5
7.2 First semester
Objective
The first semester focuses on construction of complex IT systems and management of complex IT projects and systems
that are distributed and require focus on security and authentication. Students will gain in-depth knowledge and
understanding within the analysis, design, and construction of complex IT systems and skills to design, implement and
evaluate these. Furthermore, project management and agile development will be required to create solutions for
complex systems.
Study activities
• Complex IT Systems – Theory (15 ECTS)
• Complex IT Systems – Practice (15 ECTS)
7.3 Second semester
Objective
The second semester focuses on advanced data solutions and complex device systems, and on specialization in a selected
area of computer science, such as complex IT systems, artificial intelligence, or pervasive computing. The students will
achieve in-depth knowledge of research within the area and possibilities to apply this knowledge to real problems in
their projects.
Study activities
• Data & Things (10 ECTS)
• Specialization Project (20 ECTS)
7.4 Third semester
Objective
In this semester further specialization in selected state-of-the-art areas of computer science is offered by elective
courses and the semester project. The semester prepares students for the thesis by offering a research seminar.
Internship is possible this semester instead of the project.
Study activities
• Two elective courses (2 x 5 ECTS)
• Research Seminar in Computer Science (5 ECTS)
• Advanced Project in Computer Science (15 ECTS) or Project-oriented Internship in Computer Science (15
ECTS)
7.5 Fourth semester - Master Thesis
Objective
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The final semester academically concludes the study programme. The student should carry out a substantial academic
task, which fulfils the study programme’s scientific standards.
Study activities
• Master Thesis in Computer Science (30 ECTS)
7.6 Transitional rules
Students who have not passed a spezialisation course in computer science (5 ECTS) must instead pass one of the elective
courses (5 ECTS) that are offered in the third semester.
Students who have not passed the Specialization Project in Computer Science (15 ECTS) must complete the
Specialization Project in Computer Science (15 ECTS) following the study regulation of 1 September 2022.
Students who have not passed the spezialisation course (5 ECTS) and the Spezialisation Project (15 ECTS) must
complete the Specialization Project (20 ECTS).
7.7 Overall description of study activities
• Complex IT Systems – Theory (15 ECTS)

• Complex IT Systems – Practice (15 ECTS)
• Data & Things (10 ECTS)
• Specialization Project in Computer Science (20 ECTS)
• Elective Course (5 ECTS)
• Research Seminar in Computer Science (5 ECTS)
• Advanced Project in Computer Science (15 ECTS)
• Project-oriented Internship in Computer Science (15 ECTS)
• Master Thesis in Computer Science (30 ECTS)
Title Complex IT Systems – Theory
Type of activity Course
Mandatory or elective Mandatory
ECTS-rating 15 ECTS
Teaching language English
Software engineering methods and principles, machine architecture and

operating systems, distributed systems, databases and human to
Overall objective machine interactions. The course includes a presentation and critical
discussion as well as testing of knowledge and understanding of the core
areas in each of these subjects.
After completing this activity, students will be able to:
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key theories in

the core subject areas and techniques for the design and
Overall learning outcomes construction of software systems meeting specific
requirements.
• show comprehensive overview of and understanding of the

general principles behind the hardware and software systems
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that are part of modern computers and the users' interactions
with these.
• selecting and applying appropriate methods and techniques

from the subject area for the analysis, design, and construction
of software systems.
• demonstrate competences in being able to work with IT issues,

both independently and in teams, and in being able to critically
and systematically learn new approaches to the subject area
and thereby independently take responsibility for one’s own
professional development.
Type of exam
Individual oral exam without time for preparation.
Time allowed for exam including time used for assessment: 30

minutes.
Permitted support and preparation materials: All.

Type of exam
Assessment: 7-point grading scale.

Moderation: External examiner.
Each semester the Board of Studies will choose the exam type if more
than one is listed.
Title Complex IT Systems – Practice
ECTS-rating 15 ECTS
Construction of complex IT systems and management of complex IT

Overall objective projects.
• construct complex IT solutions individually and in software

development teams and acquire new knowledge about new
technologies and their application possibilities.
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of methods for the

Overall learning outcomes analysis, design, and implementation of IT systems.
• assemble larger distributed systems, with data storage,

backends and frontends.
• use appropriate state-of-the-art programming languages,

libraries, development tools and equipment.
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• demonstrate insight into the tools and libraries offered in
modern development environments and usage of future-proof
technologies.
Type of exam
Group portfolio and oral exam.
Permitted group size: 2-6 students. Examples of written

products are exercise responses, talking points for
presentations, written feedback, reflections, written
assignments. The preparation of the products may be subject to
time limits.
The character limit of the portfolio is:

For 2 students: maximum 48.000 characters, including spaces.
The character limits include the cover, table of contents,
bibliography, figures and other illustrations, but exclude any
appendices.
Time allowed for exam including time used for assessment is

Type of exam for:
2 students: 60 minutes.
The assessment is individual and based on the student's

individual performance.
The assessment is an overall assessment of the written
product(s) and the subsequent oral examination..
Permitted support and preparation materials at the oral exam:

All.

Moderation: Internal co-assessor.
than one is listed.
Title Data & Things
ECTS-rating 10 ECTS
9
Overall objective Advanced data solutions and complex device systems.
• analyse, implement, and verify complex data solutions to solve

problems within complex IT systems.
• demonstrate knowledge of modern data storages, and data

engineering and science.
Overall learning outcomes • understand and implement solutions that integrate
computation into the environment and use serval devises and
systems.
• design and implement coordination for systems with many

software and hardware components and interfaces suitable for
ubiquitous computing.
Type of exam
Individual oral exam based on a written product..
The character limit of the written product is maximum 48.000

characters, including spaces.
appendices.

minutes.
Type of exam The assessment is an overall assessment of the written
product(s) and the subsequent oral examination.
Permitted support and preparation materials for the oral exam:

All.

than one is listed.
Title Specialization project in computer science
Type of activity Project
ECTS-rating 20 ECTS
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The project work is problem-oriented and must develop the student's
skills in applying theories and methods within a defined academic topic.
The project work involves a self-chosen problem in relation to a selected
specialization.
The project work gives the student the opportunity to describe and
reflect on independently performed work, in which complex issues are
addressed. The student must acquire knowledge, skills and competences
in order to translate theories, methods and solutions ideas into their own
Overall objective
practice in relation to software development.
The project work will be supplemented by several workshops relevant to

the specialization chosen for the project. Such workshops will typically
focus on areas such as:
1) algorithms, programming frameworks and complex IT systems. 2)

data science, artificial intelligence and business intelligence. 3) internet
of things, gaming, robotics and virtual technologies
• demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of the

specialization area chosen for the project report
• know and understand the general principles behind the

specialization area’s theory, methods, and technological
solutions
• apply methods and techniques and theories appropriate to the

specialization chosen for the project report and become
proficient in approches in the specialization
• analyse, design and construct reliable and user-friendly

systems
Overall learning outcomes
• identify scientific questions in relation to the analysis, design,
and construction of software systems
• work critically with the selection and application of methods

and techniques
• communicate research-based knowledge and understanding

about computer science
• discuss professional computer science-related research

questions
• organize, manage, and implement complex IT projects that

require new solutions individually and in software
development teams.
Type of exam
Oral project exam in groups with individual assessment
Type of exam
Permitted group size: 2-6 students.
The character limits of the project report are:

For 2 students: 4,800-180,000 characters, including spaces.
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summary, bibliography, figures and other illustrations, but
exclude any appendices.

for:
Writing and spelling skills in the project report are part of the
assessment.

All

than one is listed.
Title Elective Course
Mandatory or elective Elective
ECTS-rating 5 ECTS
The purpose of elective courses is to give the student opportunitities to

specialize within a specific subject area, where the student acquires
Overall objective knowledge, skills and competences in order to translate theories,
methods and solutions ideas into their own practice.
After completing this course, students will be able to:
• demonstrate knowledge within a defined subject area.

Overall learning outcomes • demonstrate an overall overview and understanding of the
general principles behind the field’s theory, methods and
technological solutions.
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• choose and apply appropriate methods and techniques relevant
to the field to analyse, design and implement solutions
• work with it-related problems within their field, both

individually and in groups.
• be proficient in new approaches within the subject area in a

critical and systematic way and thereby independently take
responsibility for their own professional development.
Type of exam 1
Individual oral exam based on a written product
The character limit of the written product is maximum48,000

appendices.

minutes.
The assessment is an overall assessment of the written

All.

Type of exam 2
Type of exam
Individual written take-home assignment
The character limit of the assignment is: maximum48,000

The character limit includes the cover, table of contents,
appendices.
The duration of the take-home assignment is 7 days and may

include weekends and public holidays.
Assessment: 7-point grading scale
Type of exam 3
Take-home assignment written in a group
Assignments written by a group must be individualised.
13
The character limits of the assignment:
For 2 students: maximum36,000 characters, including spaces.
appendices.
The students start writing the take-home assignment during the

course. The duration is 10 weeks and may include public
holidays. The submission deadline will be announced on
study.ruc.dk.
Assessment: 7-point grading scale
than one is listed.
Title Research Seminar in Computer Science
ECTS-rating 5 ECTS
The course is designed to prepare the students for their subsequent

master’s thesis in Computer Science. The course enables the students to
describe a specific area of specialization and prepare a draft of the
Overall objective research question within the subject area. During the course, the
students will find and select key, relevant peer-reviewed research
publications within the subject area.
• demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of a

selected specialized computer science area based on the highest
levels of international research.
• work independently on research-based questions in the field of

computer science.
• take responsibility for one’s own professional development and
specialization in the field of computer science.
• communicate research-based knowledge and understanding of

computer science and discuss professional computer science-
related research questions on a scientific basis with both
colleagues and non-specialists.
14
• work with IT issues both independently and in teams and be
able to become proficient in new computer science subject
areas in a systematic and critical way and independently take
responsibility for one’s own professional development and
specialization.
Type of exam
Individual oral exam based on a written product..
The character limit of the written product is maximum 48.000

appendices.

minutes.
Type of exam The assessment is an overall assessment of the written

All.

than one is listed.
Title Advanced Project in Computer Science
Elective
Mandatory or elective It is mandatory to sign up for either the Advanced Project in Computer
Science or Project-oriented Internship in Computer Science.
ECTS-rating 15 ECTS
The project work is problem-oriented and must develop the student's

skills in applying theories and methods within a defined academic
computer science topic. The project work involves a self-chosen problem
Overall objective in relation to the design and implementation of an IT application in a
complex context. The project gives students the opportunity to describe
and reflect upon independently completed work dealing with a complex
research question.
Overall learning outcomes After completing this course, students will be able to:
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• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the latest
theories and methods within the selected computer science
subject area.
• describe and reflect upon independently completed work

dealing with a research question related to a selected computer
science subject.
• define and justify a selected research question and

independently plan and complete the solution using relevant
high-level scientific literature.
• manage complex IT development situations that require new

solution models.
Type of exam
Oral project exam in groups with individual assessment.
The character limits of the project report are:


Type of exam
for:
Writing and spelling skills in the project report are part of the
assessment.

All

than one is listed.
16
Title Project-oriented Internship in Computer Science
Elective
Mandatory or elective It is mandatory to sign up for either the Advanced Project in Computer
Science or Project-oriented Internship in Computer Science.
ECTS-rating 15 ECTS
Completing an internship at an academically relevant workplace for the

purposes of gaining first-hand knowledge of typical work tasks and more
Overall objective experience with the connection between professional practice and the
programme’s academic content.
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of theories and

methods in a selected computer science subject area and how
they are used in practice.
• apply and evaluate the subject’s theories and methods to solve

concrete computer science tasks in practice.
• reflect upon the professional competences needed to
participate in solving concrete computer science research
questions in practice.
• reflect upon one’s own learning process and how the acquired
knowledge and understanding, skills and competences can be
used to work on the internship project’s research questions.
Type of exam
Oral exam based on project oriented internship report
The character limit of the internship report is: maximum

48,000 characters, including spaces.
appendices.
Type of exam Time allowed for exam including time used for assessment: 30
minutes.
The assessment is an assessment of the report and the oral

performance.
Writing and spelling skills in the report are part of the
assessment.

All.
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than one is listed.
Title Master Thesis in Computer Science
Type of activity Master Thesis
ECTS-rating 30 ECTS
The thesis academically concludes the study program. It should be done

in the area of computer science, as specified in section 2 “The
programme's objective, employment and competency profile”. The
objective of the course of study is to carry out a substantial academic
task, which fulfils the study program’s scientific standards. Through
working on the thesis, the student should develop thorough knowledge of
a topic of his or her own choosing. This must be within the parameters of
Overall objective the academic field of study and must be based on the relevant scientific
literature of the field. The thesis must further develop the student’s
ability to independently structure his or her own work processes,
including the ability to plan, organize, and create a substantial academic
work as well as the ability to identify the need for the independent
acquisition of new knowledge, and the ability to communicate his or her
work in a clear and intelligible fashion.
• demonstrate research-based knowledge of selected subject

areas and demonstrate an understanding of and reflection on
how one’s own thesis research fits into its academic context.
• know and understand the academic genre and the academic

target group to which the master’s thesis is addressed.
• use and master scientific theories and methods while working

with a defined, professional and relevant research question.
Overall learning outcomes • identify scientific research questions.
• analyse, categorize, discuss, argue, reflect and evaluate on a

scientific basis.
• critically address and choose scientific sources, literature,

theory and methods.
• discuss and participate in academic argumentation.
• write in accordance with academic text norms and for an

academic target group.
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• independently initiate, manage and complete a long-term
academic research and writing process.
• identify and take responsibility for their own professional and

written language development and specialization.
Type of exam
Master thesis written individually or in a group. Permitted
group size: 2-4 students.
The student(s) can choose whether the assessment should be

based on solely the written product or on both the written
product and the oral exam.
The character limits of the master thesis are:

for 1 student: 40,800-192,000 characters, including spaces.

The master thesis must include a summary. The summary can

either be written in English or Danish.
The summary is included in the overall assessment.
Before submitting a master thesis written by a group, that have

chosen an assessment solely based on the written product, each
Type of exam
member of the group must clearly indicate which part(s) of the
thesis they are responsible for.
All group members are responsible for the introduction,
conclusion and summary.
The oral exam is individual for students that have written the
thesis alone, or students that have requested an individual
exam. All other oral master thesis exams are conducted as
group exams.
The oral exam, if relevant, will be based on the master thesis.

The students begin the exam with a presentation (10 min per
student), followed by a dialogue between the student, examiner
and external examiner.
There may be posed questions related to the subject area(s) that
the master thesis covers.
Time allowed for exam including time used for assessment for:
1 student: 30 minutes.
There will be an individual assessment of each student’s
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performance.
The assessment is an overall assessment of the master thesis
and, where relevant, the oral performance.
Writing and spelling skills in the thesis are part of the

assessment and will count for 5 percent.

All.

Moderation: External examiner.
than one is listed.
8. Approval
8.1 Approved by the Board of Studies
Studienævn for Datalogi og Digital Tranformation on 19 December 2022.
The chairperson for external examiners and the panel of employer representatives are informed about major
amendments before the study regulation comes into force.
8.2 Approved by the Dean and the Vice-Dean
Approved by the Dean and the Vice-Dean ofDepartment of People and Technology on 13 April 2023.
8.3 Approved by the Rector
Approved by Rector Hanne Leth Andersen on 17 April 2023.
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STUDY REGULATION for

1.1 The programme's name

Master programme in Computer Science

1.2 Scope of the regulation

2. The programme's objective, employment and competency profile

2.3 Competency profile

Knowledge and understanding

Students must be able to:

Students must be able to:

• test, validate and evaluate software systems and IT applications.

• design advanced IT solutions using appropriate state-of-the-art components or standard packages.

Students must be able to:

• construct complex IT solutions individually and in software development teams.

The programme is offered in English.

The examination language is identical to the teaching language.

6. Board of Studies, Corps of External Examiners and Main area

6.1 Board of Studies

The programme falls under

6.2 Corps of External Examiners

The programme falls under Computer Science

6.3 Main area affiliation

7. The programme's structure

7.1 Schematic structure of the programme

7.3 Second semester

7.4 Third semester

7.5 Fourth semester - Master Thesis

7.6 Transitional rules

7.7 Overall description of study activities

• Complex IT Systems – Theory (15 ECTS)

Title Complex IT Systems – Theory

Type of activity Course

Mandatory or elective Mandatory

Teaching language English

Software engineering methods and principles, machine architecture and

After completing this activity, students will be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key theories in

• show comprehensive overview of and understanding of the

• selecting and applying appropriate methods and techniques

• demonstrate competences in being able to work with IT issues,

Time allowed for exam including time used for assessment: 30

Permitted support and preparation materials: All.

Assessment: 7-point grading scale.

Title Complex IT Systems – Practice

Type of activity Course

Mandatory or elective Mandatory

Teaching language English

Construction of complex IT systems and management of complex IT

After completing this activity, students will be able to:

• construct complex IT solutions individually and in software

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of methods for the

• assemble larger distributed systems, with data storage,

• use appropriate state-of-the-art programming languages,

Permitted group size: 2-6 students. Examples of written

The character limit of the portfolio is:

Time allowed for exam including time used for assessment is

The assessment is individual and based on the student's

Permitted support and preparation materials at the oral exam:

Assessment: 7-point grading scale.

Title Data & Things

Type of activity Course

Mandatory or elective Mandatory

Overall objective Advanced data solutions and complex device systems.