1. ORIENTATION LECTURE FOR ENGLISH MASTER’S PROGRAM STUDENTS 2002 Jyrki Nummenmaa jyrki@cs.uta.fi http://www.cs.uta.fi/~jyrki/orientation02/

2. The aim of this lecture 4 To give the basic understanding of English MSc studies at the department –What is studying at the department like? –What do you need to do to get your MSc? –Introduce you to the directors of studies (teacher-tutors) for English MSc students: Isto Aho (Software Development) Aulikki Hyrskykari (Interactive Technology)

3. MSc degree 4 The MSc degree contains 160 Finnish study credits: –Bachelor’s degree 120 credits –40 credits further studies in your major subject –Possibly you need to take some other studies as prerequisities for your studies –Also, if your Bachelor’s degree or other earlier studies do not contain 6 credits worth language studies, you need to do them as well

4. MSc Level Studies 4 The 40 MSc level credits are to contain: –Course modules according to your Master’s program worth 20 credits –An MSc thesis, which gives another 20 credits –You may exceed the 40 credit limit, if you wish

5. Duration of studies 4 In principle, it would be possible to do the MSc in one academic year. 4 However, a one-and-a-half year schedule might be more realistic. 4 The one-year schedule requires in practice that you start your thesis work already in the autumn term.

6. Study planning 4 You will each make an individual study plan with your director of studies.

7. ”Academic quarter” 4 Lectures, exercise sessions and such usually start at quarter past 4 Often a double-teaching hour is given as one 1h30min session (2x45mins) 4 General examinations start at sharp hours (nn:00) 4 If in doubt, ask!

8. Seeing your teachers 4 Each teacher has a regular ”surgery hour” (which, of course, may be cancelled due to a trip, illness,...) 4 It is usually a better idea to settle an individual time for seeing the teacher, in particular for ”bigger” conversations, like thesis work, etc... 4 At our department, electronic mail is often the most convenient way to contact the teachers

9. ”Official” forms of study work 4 Lectures 4 (Weekly) exercises 4 Demonstrations 4 Coursework 4 Essays 4 Seminar works 4 Group supervision 4 Individual supervision 4 Exams –an oral examination may also somtimes be possible 4 MSc thesis work 4 All this requires indivdual work: reading, proglem solving, programming, writing,...

10. Lectures 4 ”Traditional” 4 Typically not compulsory to attend – but you should somehow be aware of what the lectures contained

11. Weekly exercises 4 Exercises are given several days ahead 4 At the session, the teacher collects of who has solved what 4 Students are to present solutions 4 When all the exercises are dealt with, the session is usually over 4 Some percentage of the exercises may be compulsory, or give bonus exam points

12. Weekly exercises / 2 4 Sometimes it is possible to hand in written solutions and skip the session. 4 Sometimes you need to have a reason for this. 4 If this is necessary for your schedule, contact the teacher in advance.

13. Coursework(s) 4 Separate assignment 4 Separate schedules

14. Exams (cs, maths, statistics) 4 Typically the following rules hold: 4 Exam time 4 hours. 4 You may leave after 30 mins. 4 Some exams allow you to have written material and some don’t – check up! 4 Typically a re-sit possibility at the start of the following term.

15. A typical course module 4 Weekly lectures 4 Weekly exercises 4 Courswork 4 Exam

16. MSc Thesis 4 Typical forms: theoretical, empirical, constructive 4 The length of the written thesis work varies but, is typically around 60-70 pages. 4 Scientific writing