Master in Software, Systems and Services Development in Global Environment

Master in Software, Systems and Services Development in Global Environment

The Department of Information Processing Science at the University of Oulu organizes a two-year full-time Master’s degree programme in Software, Systems and Services Development in the Global Environment (GS3D).

Graduates from GS3D will have the competence to work as Experts and Managers in global ICT companies.

The programme will provide multidisciplinary knowledge of software, systems and services development in a global context.

Graduates will acquire the skills to understand and to analyze the dynamics of the software business environment. Students can progress with their studies to PhD and participate to GS3D research groups.

Programme Outline

The degree includes:

• Compulsory Studies - 95 ECTS
• Optional Studies - 25 ECTS

Compulsory Master's studies include intermediate subject courses which will deepen into more advanced studies.

The advanced courses form the core of the Master's programme, as they tackle the deeper aspects of the topics introduced in the earlier courses. Studies will have a basis in research and a significant portion of time will be used for the preparation of the Master's Thesis. Its purpose is to develop a student's readiness for the independent acquisition of scientific knowledge, identifying problems, analysing them, and forming a solution to them.

Optional studies include either courses of information processing science or minor studies in other sciences. Courses range from 1 to 7 ECTS composing a wholeness of 25 ECTS.

Learning outcomes

By completing the Master’s level studies in information processing sciences a student can act as an independent expert in a goal-oriented project and is able to professionally manage such a project.

The student masters typical research methods and can select the most appropriate research and data collection methods for a specific research problem. Students can develop the working methods and practices of their subject area by using a scientific approach and can communicate them clearly and fairly.

After finishing Master's level studies in the GS3D programme a student can also:

• Apply existing and produce new IS and SE knowledge for organisational and software companies’ needs;
• Analyse and evaluate human activities in IT use situations, work practice and organisational functioning using conceptual means, and present the results of the analysis using suitable descriptive methods;
• Analyse and evaluate software solutions and processes from the perspective of software architecture, design patterns, established capability and maturity models;
• Evaluate the impact of the development of information technology to organisational functioning;
• Design IT solutions that solve identified problems and improve the efficiency of organisational practices;
• Design and construct software that satisfies specified functional and quality requirements;
• Act efficiently in global and distributed software projects or open the source community;
• Set targets to self-steer and work towards those goals;
• Communicate clearly and analytically using techniques derived from scientific practice.

Students can progress with their studies to PhD degree and participate in GS3D research groups.

Programme Admissions

General Academic Requirements and Language Requirements are same for all of the Master's programmes.

Programme Specific Academic Requirements

The applicant should have a university level Bachelor's degree, or equivalent university level degree, suitable for studies of information processing science, with good grades. The degree may be from abroad or from other Finnish universities or from Universities of Applied Sciences (AMK). The programme is ideal for applicants who have background in Software Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, Information Technology and Computer Engineering or nearby studies.

Selection Process

The selection is made by the selection committee based on the rankings of applications according to the selection criteria (see below).

Detailed Selection Criteria

The students are ranked based on these criteria.

1. Previous Studies

• Relevance of the field in Bachelor degree
• Average grade in Bachelor degree

1. English Skills (documentation required)

2. Motivation

a. Motivation letter, max. 2 pages (included in the electronic application form)

• Reasons for applying (expectations, career plans, interests etc.) and commitment to GS3D studies
• Qualifications to be a successful and prospective graduate (personal strengths, achievements, professional work experience etc.)
• Matching together earlier studies and GS3D
• Financing the studies and stay of living in Finland

b. Reference letter(s)

• Original reference letter(s) must be attached to the application. Typically reference letters are academic references (professors, faculty officials) or references from employers.

1. Interview

The selection committee invites maximum 80 applicants to personal interview based on the criteria 1-3. Interview is arranged with web based tools or locally at University of Oulu.

Student Selection

Applicants will be informed about the admission results by the end of April by email. Accepted applicants will also receive acceptance letter and an information package via post mail.

University of Oulu International Master’s Scholarship Scheme 2017-2018

Connected with the renewal of university strategy, the increased importance of internationalization and the introduction of tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens, the University of Oulu has assigned a significant amount of money for tuition scholarships for 2017 entry. The scholarships will be granted in the form of a tuition fee waiver. The tuition fee waiver awarded covers 100 % of the full tuition fee. Applicants can apply for the tuition scholarship as part of the admissions process.

University of Oulu Scholarship Scheme in more detail

The University of Oulu International Master’s Scholarship Scheme (IM Scholarship) provides scholarships to academically talented international students. The scholarship is aimed at students studying for a Master’s degree in the University of Oulu two-year International Master’s programmes. The scholarship covers the full international tuition fee. University of Oulu IM Scholarships do not cover living costs.

In order to retain the scholarship in the following year of study, a student must have completed 55 ECTS by the end of the previous academic year. If a student does not achieve this requirement during the first year of studies, they will be liable to pay the full international tuition fee for the second year if they wish to complete their Master’s degree programme. An exception to this rule can be made if a student has been granted approved leave from studies (e.g. due to serious illness).

Eligibility Requirements to Apply for International Master’s Scholarship

Applicants are eligible to apply for a University of Oulu IM Scholarship 2017-18, if they are:

• Non-EU/EEA* citizens who do not have a permanent residence permit in Finland.

(Applicants not eligible for the International Master’s Scholarship are: 1) non-EU/EEA citizens who have a permanent residence permit in Finland, 2) EU/EEA citizens or comparable persons, 3) University of Oulu students who have been accepted to study BEFORE the academic year 2017-18.)

• Eligible to apply for a Master’s degree programme at the University of Oulu for academic year 2017 – 18.
  • The applicant has obtained their first academic degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) from a recognised institution of higher education.
  • The applicant proves a high level of proficiency in English language. Approved methods of demonstrating language proficiency.

Applicants who are in their last term/semester of studies for their first academic degree during the application period, can apply for the scholarship. Applicants who receive a conditional offer of study placement for a Master’s programme will receive a conditional scholarship offer.

The scholarship application will be processed in the selection procedure only if the applicant meets the admissions criteria.

*European Union / European Economic Area member states are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein Republic, Denmark, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom. With the EU legislation, Switzerland is also comparable for EU member states.

The nature of residence permit is indicated in the residence permit with a letter. A permanent residence permit bears the letter P or A and an EC residence permit for third-country nationals with long-term EC resident status bears the letters P-EY.

Application for International Master’s Scholarship 2017-18

There is no separate application system for the International Master’s Scholarship. All applicants for University of Oulu Master’s degree programmes need to complete the Student Application Form. Those applicants who are applying for the University of Oulu International Master’s Scholarship have to additionally complete the “Application for Scholarship,” section which can be found at the end of the Student Application Form. The International Master’s Scholarship application section cannot be completed and/or submitted without the Student Application Form.

The application period for the University of Oulu Master’s degree programmes and International Master’s Scholarships is 15.12.2016-25.1.2017

Selection criteria for University of Oulu IM Scholarship 2017-2018

Admissions and scholarships decisions will be taken at the same time. Those students successful in obtaining an International Master’s Scholarship will be notified at the same time as their offer of admission to their International Master’s programme is confirmed. The selection criteria for the University of Oulu IM Scholarship are based on previous academic performance and academic potential.

For questions concerning the University of Oulu IM Scholarship, please contact admissions.officer(a)oulu.fi