Overview & Contacts

Modules

The MSc Safety Critical Systems Engineering is a full time or part time course comprising:

Full Time

• Nine assessed modules, six of which are core. The remaining three are chosen from the available optional modules.
• A six person-month individual project carried out either at York or on site in industry.

Modules on the full time scheme are taken over two terms, in the autumn and spring.  The project is completed in the summer terms and over the summer vacation.

Part Time

• Nine assessed modules, six of which are core. The remaining three are chosen from the available optional modules.
• A two person-month literature survey and a four person-month  individual project.
  

The modules are taken over two years, in the autumn and spring terms of the first two years.  The literature survey is completed in the Summer and vacation term of the second year.  The individual project is taken in the third year.

Modules for both part time and full time students are taught full time in York for one week.  Its associated assessed exercise, which may be completed on or off site, takes approximately 65 hours in addition. All assessed exercises are open, comprising a report, case study, or documented piece of software. There are no closed examinations. The project is examined by dissertation; the amount of time required to complete it is approximately six person-months.

Each student (part time and full time) is allocated a personal supervisor from within the Department who meets the student regularly to discuss progress during both the teaching and project phases. In addition, industrial supervisors will be responsible for the day to day supervision of projects that are undertaken in industry.

Timescales, module and project descriptions for 2012/2013:

Module Title	Start Date	Assessment			Core/ Optional
		Hand-out	Hand-in	Feedback
Foundations of System Safety Engineering (FSSE)	01/10/12	04/10/12	07/11/12		C
Systems Engineering 1 (GSE1)	08/10/12	10/10/12	05/12/12		O
Empirical Methods for LSCITS (EMML)	22/10/12	25/10/12	12/12/12		O
Software Requirements and Architectures (SWRE)	29/10/12	01/11/12	19/12/12		O
Hazard and Risk Assessment (HRAS)	12/11/12	15/11/12	09/01/13		C
Electrical Systems & Electronic Compatibility (ESEC)	26/11/12	29/11/12	23/01/13		O
System Safety Assessment (SSAS)	10/12/12	13/12/12	30/01/13		C
Human Factors for Safety Critical Systems (HUFS)	07/01/13	10/12/12	25/02/13		O
Safety Case Development & Review (SCDR)	21/01/13	24/01/13	13/03/13		C
Safety Management Systems (SMSY)	11/02/13	14/02/13	10/04/13		C
Computers & Safety (CASA)	25/02/13	28/02/13	17/04/13		O
Through Life Safety (TLSA)	11/03/13	14/03/13	07/05/13		C
Predictable Software Systems (PSSY)	11/03/13	14/03/13	07/05/13		O
Software Testing Analysis and Review (STAR)	08/04/13	11/04/13	08/05/13		O
Socio-Technical Systems (SOTS)	13/05/13	16/05/13	03/07/13		O
Full Time (90): Independent Study Project (PRCM) Part Time (60): MSc SCSE Final Project (PRCP) Part Time (30): Critical Evaluation PRCE	01/04/2013 - 16/09/13	Project Submission: 16/09/13
		Presentation: 19/09/13 - 20/09/13

Timescales, module and project descriptions for 2011/2012:

Module Title	Start Date	Assessment			Core/ Optional
		Hand-out	Hand-in	Feedback
Foundations of System Safety Engineering (FSSE)	03/10/11	06/10/11	09/11/11	07/12/11	C
Systems Engineering 1 (GSE1)	10/10/11	13/10/11	16/11/11	21/12/11	O
Software Requirements and Architectures (SWRE)	31/10/11	03/11/11	21/12/12	15/02/12	O
Hazard and Risk Assessment (HRAS)	07/11/11	10/11/11	11/01/12	22/02/12	C
Electronic Systems Design (ESDE)	28/11/11	01/12/11	25/01/12	07/03/12	O
System Safety Assessment (SSAS)	05/12/11	08/12/11	01/02/12	14/03/12	C
Human Factors for Safety Critical Systems (HUFS)	09/01/12	12/01/12	29/02/12	11/04/12	O
Safety Case Development & Review (SCDR)	30/01/12	02/02/12	21/03/12	02/05/12	C
Software Testing Analysis and Review (STAR)	13/02/12	16/02/12	04/04/12	16/05/12	O
Safety Management Systems (SMSY)	20/02/12	23/02/12	11/04/12	23/05/12	C
Through Life Safety (TLSA)	12/03/12	15/03/12	09/05/12	20/06/12	C
Computers & Safety (CASA)	26/03/12	29/03/12	23/05/12 (PT) 04/05/12 (FT)	04/07/12	O
Sensors & Effectors (SAEF)	25/06/12	28/06/12	22/08/12	03/10/12	O
Full Time (90): Independent Study Project (PRCM) Part Time (60): MSc SCSE Final Project (PRCP) Part Time (30): Critical Evaluation PRCE	01/04/2012 - 12/09/12	Project Submission: 12/09/12		-	C
		Presentation: 19/09/12 - 20/09/12

• All modules occupy 5 days, starting on Monday
• Modules may be cancelled if there are insufficient numbers.
• Any cancellations may incur a charge.
• Core (C) and Optional (O) modules are assessed.
• A choice of three Optional modules are to be taken for the MSc.
• One option to be taken on the Certificate course.
• SCSE = Safety Critical Systems Engineering; SSE = System Safety Engineering.

Please Note: This is a provisional timetable and may be subject to change.

Project

The MSc SCSE project for part-time students has two elements:

1. Literature survey (30 credits) on a subject (PCRM) to determine the state of the art in that area. This survey is handed in September of year 2. It must be passed to progress to:

2. A Masters project (60 credits) (PCRC) where a gap in the state of the art identified in the first part is addressed, a proposal made and evidence provided for the proposal.  This project is completed in September of a student's third year.

The MSc SCSE project for full-time students has a single element (PR9)

For full-time and part-time students the Project(s) enable(s) students to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of an area by means of a literature review covering all significant developments in the area and placing them in perspective;
• Exhibit critical awareness and appreciation of best practice and relevant standards;
• Investigate particular techniques and methods for the construction of safe systems, possibly involving the construction of a prototype;
• Evaluate the outcome of their work, drawing conclusions and suggesting possible further work in the area.

The project(s) address(es) a major technical problem concerned with real issues. It should, if possible, include the development and application of a practical method, technique or system. It is a natural progression from the taught modules, and builds on material covered in them. Ideally it addresses the problem from a system perspective, including hardware, software and human factors. It will typically have an industrial flavour. Part-timers are encouraged, with the help of their managers and academic staff, to select a project which is relevant to their own work.

The project begins at the start of the Summer term after completion of the taught modules, and lasts 18 months part-time / 6 months full-time. For part-time students there are three weeks attendance at York during the project, for progress assessment and access to library facilities: in July near the start of the project; and in the following January and July. Full details are provided during the course.

Past projects have covered a wide range of issues in safety critical systems engineering. A list of titles can be obtained by form the past projects page of Safety Critical Systems Engineering MSc course.

How to Apply

To apply for this MSc please complete and submit your application electronically using the University's online application system.

Prerequisites

Typically applicants for MSc Safety Critical Systems Engineering will have achieved at a first degree in a numerate, technical discipline. Industrial experience is also useful. This course is specifically directed at those with several years of industrial experience. Applicants who do not have a first degree but who have relevant expertise will be considered on a case by case basis.

We welcomes students of all backgrounds and circumstances. You can request a hard copy of the Postgraduate prospectus upon request by filling out the informal enquiry form.

Applicants are required to nominate two referees, of which at least one should be from the applicant's current employer or place of study. Applicants are normally interviewed before acceptance either in person if UK based or by telephone for international students.

International Students

The University welcomes international students. Read more information specifically for prospective international students. 

Non-English speaking candidates are required to have certain English language qualifications prior to admission.

Meeting IET Principles

IET Position Statement on Safety-Critical Systems – A response

The IET position statement issued in October 2009 sets forward 10 principles and two recommendations for Safety-Critical Software-based systems in safety-related applications. Here we show how the MSc Safety-Critical Systems Engineering course can be used to address this position statement.

Principle 1: The fundamental starting point for the development of any SCS is the creation of a rigorous and and consistent statement of user requirements.
Addressed by:
Core modules: Foundations of System Safety, Hazard and Risk Assessment and Safety Critical Project Management
Optional Modules: System Engineering 1, Software requirements and software testing

Principle 2: Every SCS must have a comprehensive hazard analysis carried out
Addressed by:
Core modules: Hazard and Risk Assessment, Hazard and Risk Management, System Safety Assessment
Optional Modules: Computers and Safety, Through-Life Safety

Principle 3: The architecture of the SCS should avoid major hazards wherever possible.
Addressed by:
Core modules: Hazard and Risk Assessment, System Safety Assessment, Hazard and Risk Management
Optional Modules: Computers and Safety, Systems Engineering 1, Software Requirements, Sensors and Effectors, Electronic System Design

Principle 4: Where overall safety depends on correct actions taken by human operators, the human-computer interface and the training of operators should be considered.
Addressed by:
Core modules: Foundations of System Safety
Optional Modules: Human Factors for Safety

Principle 5: Every SCS must have a documented safety analysis
Addressed by:
Core modules: System Safety Assessment
Optional Modules: Computers and Safety, Software Testing

Principle 6: Showing that a particular set of development processes have been followed is never sufficient to demonstrate that the resulting system meets its safety target
Addressed by:
Core modules: Foundations of System Safety, Hazard and Risk Assessment, Hazard and Risk Management, 
Optional Modules: Computers and Safety, Software Implementation, Software Testing

Principle 7: Developer's competencies should be appropriate to their project roles and kept current.
Addressed by:
Core modules: Foundations of System Safety, Safety Critical Project Management, 
Optional Modules: Ethics of SCS work dealt with throughout the course

Principle 8: Software systems are mathematically formal objects and it is possible to reason about their behaviour and to prove that they have certain properties
Addressed by:
Optional Modules: Software Requirements, Software implementation, software testing

Principle 9: It is generally impractical to rely on test based evidence in advance of putting a system into widespread service
Addressed by:
Core modules: Foundations of System Safety, Hazard Risk Management
Optional Modules: Software Requirements, Software implementation, software testing, Computers and Safety

Principle 10: There should be regular reviews of systems in service to assess whether the threat profile has changed and whether risks are still as low as reasonably practicable
Addressed by:
Core modules: Through life safety, hazard and risk management, safety critical project management

The IET Recommends:

• Use of tools and approaches that industry best practice
  Addressed by: all modules
• Research and development effort and financing directed towards extending the scale and range of system properties that can be proven through analysis
  Addressed by: Assessments and the MSc project.
  

Fees

Non-standard annual tuition fees for postgraduate students in 2011/12 can be found here:  Non-Standard Tuition fees for 2011/12

Fees all include all relevant course materials, tuition and examinations and are payable in advance. They do not include text books or living expenses. VAT is not applicable. Find out more about fees and how to pay them.

Modules on this course can be attended individually as a short course.

Discounts may apply if you are a self financing student, to find out if you are eligible to qualify as a self-financing student please contact us at postgraduate@cs.york.ac.uk.