Applied Informatics Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU)

Computer systems affect every part of our daily lives and are used in every conceivable type of organisation. These systems are highly interdisciplinary with historical roots in mathematics, physics and electronics.

The MSc Applied Informatics programme will train you for advanced technical or managerial roles in computing areas such as finance informatics, information systems or telecommunications.

Graduates of this programme, as with all XJTLU masters degrees, earn a University of Liverpool degree that is recognised by the Chinese Ministry of Education.

Knowledge and skills

Studying the MSc Applied Informatics programme will equip you with:

• theoretical and practical knowledge of key technological and business areas in today's IT industry and research
• practical skills in research, analysis, realisation and evaluation of IT systems including the write-up of technical or research documents
• key tools enabling you to enhance and apply your skills in management, design and the implementation of IT-based solutions to different application domains.

Modules

You will undertake four required modules, a dissertation project and three optional modules from areas such as financial mathematics, telecommunications, interactive systems, social computing or information security.

• Core modules

  • Data mining and Big Data analytics
  • Project management
  • Research methods
  • Software architectures
  • Dissertation.

• Elective modules

  • Computational methods in finance
  • Computer systems security
  • Image and video processing
  • Interactive systems
  • Mobile communications
  • Object-oriented programming
  • Social network analysis
  • Social web programming.

• Additional learning activities

  The completion of additional learning activities is required to complete your masters degree. Normally, required ALA hours will be distributed evenly across each semester, amounting to 200 hours per semester. Part-time programmes will normally require 100 to 150 hours per semester.

Careers

MSc Applied Informatics graduates will find employment in the IT sector as systems analysts, managers, software engineers, application architects, and developers or project leaders. Some students choose to continue as PhD candidates.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements

UK

Upper second class (2:1) honours

China

• 1st tier universities: 75 percent or above
• 2nd tier universities: 80 percent or above

Note: Chinese applicants are not required to take the MoE postgraduate entrance exam.

North America

3.0 Cumulative GPA (out of 4) or 3.2 Cumulative GPA in the final two years of your undergraduate programme

Other regions

Equivalent academic qualifications

Academic background

An undergraduate degree (UK 2:1 or equivalent) in related fields (e.g. computing, engineering, business, or financial mathematics).

English language requirements

If English is not your native language or if you have not studied in English at degree level, you will need to provide evidence of your English proficiency. You should normally possess one of the following qualifications:

• IELTS: 6.0 (minimum of 5.0 in all sections)
• TOEFL iBT: 80

In exceptional circumstances, individual cases will be considered on their own merits. You may be required to attend interviews or tests to further demonstrate your English proficiency.

If you miss the English language requirements by 0.5-1.0 of an IELTS band, or a similar number for other English language exams, you can be admitted to the programme after successful completion of our five- or eight-week intensive English presessional course.

You can also apply to take the XJTLU English language test in lieu of an IELTS/TOEFL or equivalent. Based on the score, students may be admitted or may be required to take and successfully complete the five- or eight-week intensive English presessional course.

Additionally, students may be required to complete English language courses on a pass/fail basis as part of the additional learning activity requirement during their studies at XJTLU.