Cambridge Diploma in Computer Science

Originally known as the "Diploma in Numerical Analysis and Automatic Computing", the Diploma in Computer Science was a conversion course in Computer Science offered by the University of Cambridge. Although a "Diploma" for historic reasons, it would be considered a "conversion Masters course" at other institutions.

The Diploma was the world's first full-year taught course in computer science, starting in 1953. It attracted students with degrees in mathematics, science and engineering. At its peak, there were 50 students on the course. UK government (EPSRC) funding was withdrawn in 2001 and student numbers dropped dramatically. In 2007, the University took the decision to withdraw the Diploma at the end of the 2007-08 academical year, after 55 years of service. The spirit of the Diploma lives on in the Computer Science Tripos, a three-year undergraduate programme which developed out of the original one-year Diploma.

History

The introduction of this one-year graduate course was motivated by a University of Cambridge Mathematics Faculty Board Report on the "demand for postgraduate instruction in numerical analysis and automatic computing ... [which] if not met, there is a danger that the application to scientific research of the machines now being built will be hampered". The University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory "was one of the pioneers in the development and use of electronic computing-machines (sic)". It had introduced a Summer School in 1950, but the Report noted that "The Summer School deals [only] with 'programming', rather than the general theory of the numerical methods which are programmed." The Diploma "would include theoretical and practical work ... [and also] instruction about the various types of computing-machine ... and the principles of design on which they are based." With only a few students initially, no extra staff would be needed. [ [http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/UoCCL/misc/EDSAC99/history.html Informal history of the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory] ]

University-supported teaching and research staff in the Laboratory at the time were Maurice Wilkes (head of the laboratory), J.C.P. Miller, W. Renwick, E.N. Mutch, and S. Gill, joined slightly later by C.B. Haselgrove.

In its final incarnation, the Diploma was a 10-month course, evaluated two-thirds on examination and one-third on a project dissertation. Most of the examined courses were shared by the second year ("Part IB") of the undergraduate Computer Science Tripos course, with some additional lectures specifically for the Diploma students and four of the third year undergraduate ("Part II") lecture courses also included.

There were three grades of result from the Diploma: distinction (roughly equivalent to first class honours), pass (equivalent to second or third class honours), and fail.

Starting from 2009, Computer Lab is now offering a postgraduate degree in Advanced Computer Science, as a replacement to the Diploma course.

Notable alumni

* Samson Abramsky
* Ian Bell
* Steve Bourne
* Matthew Fisher
* Stan Kelly-Bootle
* Lee Hsien Loong
* Martin Richards
* Bill Thompson (technology writer)

References

External links

* [http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/ University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory]