MSc Business Information Systems
This innovative course responds to the latest developments in business practice. It examines the broader issues of business imperatives and technology responses that have changed the way information systems are perceived. It also addresses the key aspects of contemporary business information systems, from requirements analysis, system modelling and design to the development of modern software solutions and databases that can be incorporated into fully operational information systems.
You will explore the latest technologies and industry standards, with a particular emphasis on the web, internet applications, enterprise information systems, service-oriented and component-based development, and similar areas. By examining issues such as security, privacy and ethics in information systems, you will enhance your understanding of societal use of information systems. The course provides an excellent vehicle for challenging postgraduate study, which will develop your skills for employment and professional life.
Course content
The course contains three pathways/themes which, if followed, enable you to specialise your studies in contemporary information systems, enterprise-wide information systems, and application development.
The project consolidates the taught subjects of the course, while giving you the opportunity to pursue in-depth study in your chosen area.
Core modules
Architectures, Design and Deployment of IS • Business Information System Postgraduate Project Module • IT Business Models • Methods for Research and Industry • Requirements and System Modelling
Option modules
Business Systems Programming • Computing for Business and Management • Database Languages • Data Management and Repositories • Enterprise Utility Computing • Semantic and Collaborative Technologies • Social Systems • Systems Interoperability • Warehousing and OLAP • Web-Enabled Database Applications
Teaching methods include lectures, student-led activity and smaller, instructor-led groups. Your course work will range from presentations and group investigations to software development or research review.
Length of course
One-year, full-time or two-year, part-time
Location
Central London (Cavendish)
Fee band
Fee band 1, see fees spreadsheet
Associated careers
Graduates can expect to find employment as business intelligence consultants, business systems analysts and designers, enterprise consultants and managers,
ETL marketers, and ETL/OLAP programmers and application developers.
Recent graduates have found employment with a range of organisations including Accenture, the British Council, Centaur Holdings PLC, Deutsche Bank, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, GlaxoSmithKline, Home Office, IBM, Logica, Merrill Lynch, Nationwide, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Standard and Poor’s, University of Hertfordshire, Taylor Woodrow, and a number of local authorities.
Entry requirements
You are expected to have a good Honours degree (at least a Lower Second) from a UK university (or overseas equivalent) in an IT/computing discipline, or in another discipline that either is closely related to IT/computing (eg economics and business studies), or provides important underpinning for/insight into it (eg sciences or engineering). You may also be considered according to work experience and other qualifications. If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent.
