MSc Information Technology

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Delivery:
Full time according to Funding Council definitions, Sandwich (Thick) out of college.

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Whether you have some experience but no formal qualification in Information Technology, or have a first degree in a subject other than Information Technology, this distinctive programme allows graduates without IT qualifications the chance to enter the business computing profession.

As a graduate from this course you'll understand IT from a business perspective, be able to create a systems view of business system development, as well as being able to implement systems.

For many organisations their software infrastructure actually forms a core part of their business function so it is vital that those developing software systems understand how the business process and strategy shape the development of IT applications.

The Information Technology programme exposes graduates to all of these aspects of modern business systems. Instead of focussing on traditional software development, greater emphasis is given to the development of business systems such as web systems and database systems.

The placement option on this degree is an excellent opportunity for you to gain first-hand industry experience. Companies that have taken our Computing students include IBM, Barclays Bank, Lockheed Martin, Sun Microsystems, United Advertising, Hewlett-Packard and British Aerospace.

Interested in studying this course part-time? Enquire now.

For 2019 entry: In order to take advantage of new approaches to learning and teaching, as well as developments in industry to benefit our students we regularly review all of our courses.

This course is currently going through this process and we will update this page in March 2019 to give you full information about what we will be offering once the review process has concluded.

Key information

Next start date:

January 2019, September 2019, January 2020, September 2020

Location:

Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus

Duration:

1 year full-time, 2 years with an optional work placement

Entry requirements:

For 2019 entry: A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in any subject, or equivalent.

International entry requirements:

If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS 6.0 (Academic) or above. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

Course details

Year 1

Core units

IT Management: Information technology (IT) is important to the activities, processes and components of all organisations. Effective managers must understand their current technologies and its effect on markets, products and services. You'll explore issues and options linked with managing information systems (IS) and IT today.
Database Design & Development: Giving you a practical grounding in database technology, you'll design and test a relational database in our computer labs using the latest systems. You'll analyse security issues in data-driven applications, assess performances and design and use data management solutions.
Process Oriented Requirements Engineering: All organisations need to have the right IT systems to support business processes. You'll learn how to analyse business processes effectively, and evaluate and select business process models or problem domains. This will help you to research, match requirements and inform specifications.
Web Systems: Web systems play an increasingly important role in business. In this unit, you'll develop AJAX front-ends for enterprise information systems, and explore the design of web applications using web services and Representational State Transfer (REST) to interact with an underlying information system.
Usability Engineering: Information systems are highly structured and predictable. However, Human intervention can be unpredictable. When we use information systems, usability problems are inevitable. This unit aims to help you design and build useful and user friendly information systems.
Research Methods & Professional Issues: Research requires a structured and disciplined approach at all stages. We will help you to develop key research skills in many areas from project proposals and planning to critical analysis of research findings, academic writing, and dissemination. Ensuring you give due consideration to professional standards and ethical issues in research.
Research Project: The Research Project provides you with an opportunity to undertake a significant piece of self-managed research in a relevant area of particular interest. Your project will give you the opportunity to engage with a complex, real-world problem.
Optional Industrial Placement: If you choose to take this opportunity, you will gain experience of working within an appropriate professional environment in line with the BU employability strategy.

Programme specification

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry. If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

Download the programme specification (pdf 848 kb)

Placement opportunities

The optional placement provides an excellent opportunity for you to gain first-hand industry experience and apply the learning that you have achieved through the course.

The placement can be paid employment but voluntary work can be just as enjoyable.

Find out more about placements for postgraduate students

International opportunities

Employment prospects are now truly international and BU encourages students to consider an international work placement or volunteering experience during their degree.

One way could be through the EU funded Erasmus mobility programme which supports placements or study exchanges in Europe.

Students can also participate in international placements outside of Europe. There are opportunities to engage with summer schools and volunteering projects. These experiences help students to enhance their global employability skills.

Our placement students have previously worked for

Your application

How and when to apply

There is no application deadline for this course. However, if you will need a visa to come to the UK to study, think carefully about the length of time it will take for your visa application to be processed and make sure your visa will be ready in time for the beginning of your course.

Click the green ‘Apply now’ button to submit your application free of charge online through myHub, our application portal. You will create your own myHub account so that you can track the progress of your application. Don’t forget to save your application as you go; you can return to it at as many times as you want before you submit it. For more information visit our How to apply section.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

International entry requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you can understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component of writing, speaking, listening and reading, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

Bournemouth University International College offers a number of pre-sessional English and preparatory programmes to prepare international students for postgraduate study at BU. Admission to the degree is guaranteed on successful completion of your course to the required level.

You can also find further details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our international entry requirements page.

Careers

Upon completion of this course, you will possess the practical skills and theoretical knowledge necessary to enter the business computing profession, regardless of whether you currently hold any IT qualifications. As Information Technology forms a core part of the business function for many organisations, you will enjoy a wide range of career opportunities in a variety of industries.

Potential job roles

Further study

Costs and fees

You can find full information about the deposits required and how to pay your fees in our postgraduate fees and funding section, including details of the Postgraduate Loan (subject to fee status).

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per annum. Fees quoted are for tuition only unless stated otherwise. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course.

Find out more about living expenses for postgraduate students

No hidden extras

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

One set of study-related consumables such as a memory stick/ DVD
Materials for laboratory and field-based teaching activity
Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement
A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme
Disability and additional learning support
The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website.
Optional fieldwork travel, outdoor wear and footwear (where applicable)
Text books, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of text books and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses.

Repeat units

Financial help available from BU

Deposits

International (non-EU) students need to pay a non-refundable £2,000 deposit to secure their place on a postgraduate course. You will need to pay your deposit by the date stated in your offer letter. The remainder of your fee will be payable on registration/enrolment. There are two exceptions to the non-refundable rule on the deposit:

You fail to meet the academic or English requirements of your offer
You are refused a visa to enter the UK, provided the reason for the refusal is not a fraudulent application.

Our staff

On this course you will be taught by staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This could include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students, many of whom are actively engaged in research and/or professional practice which is integrated into the teaching of this course. Please note that teaching staff can change.

Professor Vasilis Katos

Dr Philip Davies – Senior Lecturer (Academic) in Computing

Dr Nan Jiang – Principal Academic in Software Quality & Software Testing

Course changes

Changes in 2017

Date	Changes to this course
16/11/2017	Where the change was made: Fees Change: After an annual review of the placement year tuition fee, a price increase in line with current inflation, equating to 3% has been introduced. Previous text: £790