M.Sc. in Computer Science

1. Methods of continuous assessments: 

Students will be assessed during the program through written examinations, quizzes, assignments, viva voce examination, practical and tutorials as appropriate.

2. Eligibility requirement for an examination of a course unit: 

A student will be eligible to sit the end of semester examination of a course unit if she has maintained a minimum of 60% attendance at lectures/practical of the course unit. Any student who fails to fulfil the eligibility requirement for any course unit will be allowed to sit the examination of the course unit but the maximum grade he/she can earn for that course unit shall be restricted to ‘C+’.

3. Valid reasons for absence from an examination of a course unit: 

The excuse may be granted only for seriously ill health or death of an immediate family member or any other cause acceptable to the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) subsequently approved by the university senate. A candidate who is absent due to medical reasons shall submit a medical certificate from a registered medical officer within two weeks from the date of the examination. He/She may sit the examination with the next batch, and he/she is considered as a first-time candidate. However, if the course unit is not available in the current M.Sc. program, the candidate must sit the examination of an alternative course unit offered in the respective semester of the current academic year.

4. Carrying forward continuous assessment marks: 

In case of a repeated candidate or an absentee of a course unit, marks obtained for the continuous evaluation of that course unit shall be carried forward for the next examination if the lecturer-in-charge of the course unit is agreed.

5. Duration of a written/practical examination: 

Duration of an end of semester written/practical examination can vary depending on the requirements of each course unit.

6. Calculating the GPA of course units: 

The GPA of course units is calculated as follows:

Where GPi and C_i are grade point and the credit value of the i^th course unit respectively. The GPA shall be rounded to the second decimal place. If a student has taken more than the required number of credits for a certain completion point, only the highest graded course units will be taken to calculate the GPA.

7. Completion of a course unit: 

A candidate needs a minimum of ‘C’ grade to pass the examination of a course unit. Those who do not meet the above criterion may repeat the final examination of the course unit and maximum grade in such an attempt shall be limited to the grade ‘B’.

8. Independent Study: 

At the end of the second semester, those candidates who obtain a GPA not less than 2.70 are eligible to do the independent study and submit a thesis only if they wish to exit with a Master of Computer Science degree. If a student doesn’t have the required minimum GPA to do the independent study, the Department may allow him/her to continue the independent study under the condition of fulfilling the required qualifications (GPA excluding the independent study) before the graduation. However, it is the student’s responsibility to provide a suitable independent study topic before the beginning of the second semester. Students should discuss with academics in any university or qualified personnel in the industry to choose a research topic. The independent study will be evaluated on the basis of a written thesis and an oral presentation (viva-voce examination). The examination panel consists of supervisor(s) of the independent study and two other examiners as recommended by the Board of Study in Physical Sciences and approved by the Senate of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Those who are taking independent study are required to take course units worth 10 credits from the second semester.

 

9. M.Sc. thesis: 

At the end of the second semester, those candidates who obtain a GPA not less than 2.70 are eligible to do a research project and submit an M.Sc. thesis based on the research project. If a student doesn’t have the required minimum GPA to do the research project, the Department may allow him/her to continue the research under the condition of fulfilling the required qualifications (GPA excluding the research project) before the graduation. However, it is the student’s responsibility to provide a suitable research topic before the beginning of the third semester. Students should discuss with academics in any university or qualified personnel in the industry to choose a research topic. The research project will be evaluated on the basis of a written M.Sc. thesis and an oral presentation (viva-voce examination). The examination panel consists of supervisor(s) of the research project and two other examiners as recommended by the Board of Study in Physical Sciences and approved by the Senate of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Those who are taking M.Sc. thesis are required to take course units worth 10 credits from the third semester.

10. Completion of the M.Sc. in Computer Science Degree:

To award the M.Sc. in Computer Science Degree, a candidate should obtain:

(a) A GPA of not less than 2.70 for 40 credits (that should include 30 credits from the first two semesters and 10 credits from the third semester) at the end of the third semester of the program

and

(b)A ‘C’ or higher grade for the M.Sc. thesis

and

(c)`C’ or higher grades for all the foundation course units.

 

11. Completion of the Master of Computer Science Degree: 

To award the Master of Computer Science degree, a candidate should obtain:

(a) A GPA of not less than 2.70 for 25 credits (excluding the independent study) at the end of the second semester of the program

and

(b) A ‘C’ or higher grade for the independent study thesis

and

(c) `C’ or higher grades for all the foundation course units.

12. Completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science: 

To award the Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science, a candidate should obtain:

(a) A GPA of not less than 2.50 for 25 credits (that should include 15 credits from the first semester and 10 credits from the second semester excluding the independent study) at the end of the second semester of the program

and

(b) `C’ or higher grades for all the foundation course units.

13. Completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Computer Science:

To award the Postgraduate Certificate in Computer Science, a candidate should obtain:

(a)  A GPA of not less than 2.00 for 20 credits (that should include 15 credits from the first semester and 05 credits from the second semester excluding the independent study) at the end of the second semester of the program

and

(b) `C’ or higher grades for all the foundation course units.

14. Exit points: 

The following exit points are offered to a candidate of the program:

(a) A candidate who fulfils the requirement given in Assessment process – 13 has the option of exiting at the postgraduate certificate level and obtaining the Postgraduate Certificate in Computer Science [SLQF 7].

(b) A candidate who fulfils the requirement given in Assessment process – 12 has the option of exiting at the postgraduate diploma level and obtaining the Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science [SLQF 8].

(c) A candidate who fulfils the requirement given in Assessment process – 11 has the option of exiting at the master’s by course work level and obtaining the Master of Computer Science [SLQF 9].

(d) A candidate who fulfils the requirement given in Assessment process – 10 has the option of exiting at the M.Sc. by course work and research level and obtaining the M.Sc. in Computer Science [SLQF 10].

Note: However, no candidate is allowed to obtain more than one certificate from the above exit points of the M.Sc. in Computer Science program from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

15. Merit pass: 

(a) Merit Pass in M.Sc. in Computer Science:

Those who obtain a GPA of not less than 3.60 for 40 credits (that should include 30 credits from the first two semesters and 10 credits from the third semester excluding the research project) at the end of the third semester of the program and obtain an ‘A-‘ or higher grade for the thesis will be awarded a merit pass.

(b) Merit Pass in Master of Computer Science:

Those who obtain a GPA of not less than 3.60 for 25 credits (excluding the independent study) at the end of the second semester of the program and obtain an ‘A-‘ or higher grade for the independent study will be awarded a merit pass.

16. Repeating a course unit: 

A candidate is allowed to repeat a course unit only two times. A separate repeat examination will not be held under any circumstance. The maximum grade that could be obtained for a repeated course unit is restricted to ‘B’. If a student obtains a lower grade at a repeat attempt than the grade received in an earlier attempt, the better will be used to compute the GPA. However, if the course unit is not available in the current M.Sc. program, the candidate must sit the examination of an alternative course unit offered in the respective semester of the current M.Sc. program and the maximum grade that could be obtained for this alternative course unit is also restricted to ‘B’. However, the candidates need to pay a repeat examination fee decided by the Board of Study in Physical Sciences of the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS).

17. Effective dates of certificates: 

(1) M.Sc. in Computer Science:

The latest date of either the submission of the M.Sc. thesis or the completion of examinations shall be considered as the effective date. In the case of a thesis with major corrections, the effective date shall be the date of submission of the revised thesis subject to the acceptance of the panel of examiners. In the case of completion of examinations, the day following the last examination of the respective semester (the last examination the candidate has sat including the repeat examinations) shall be considered as the effective date.

(2) Master of Computer Science:

The latest date of either the submission of the independent study thesis or the completion of examinations shall be considered as the effective date. In the case of an independent study thesis with major corrections, the effective date shall be the date of submission of the revised thesis subject to the acceptance of the panel of examiners. In the case of completion of examinations, the day following the last examination of the respective semester (the last examination the candidate has sat including the repeat examinations) shall be considered as the effective date.

(3) Postgraduate Diploma/Certificate in Computer Science:

The day following the last examination of the respective semester the candidate has sat (including the repeat examinations) shall be considered as the effective date.

Note: 

A candidate who takes a repeat examination (subsequent to submitting of thesis), the effective date shall be the day following the last examination of the respective semester.