MSc Information Technology

• Human Computer Interaction: You will gain a critical understanding of human factors and how they are integrated into the development of complex socio-technical systems. You'll also develop practical skills in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), including processes, standards, tools, and techniques for designing interactive systems using a human-centred approach.
• Cloud Computing, Edge Computing and IoT: You will deepen your understanding of Cloud Computing, Edge Computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT), focusing on how they work together in the Cloud-Edge-IoT continuum. You'll explore secure Cloud infrastructures, virtualisation, and migration strategies, as well as the role of Edge Computing in improving data processing. Additionally, you'll learn about IoT technologies, key communication protocols, and how they integrate with Cloud and Edge systems to create innovative solutions.
• Programming and Prototyping: You will gain proficiency in programming fundamentals and prototyping techniques to design user-centric application prototypes, while also learning to apply sustainable and ethically responsible software development practices.
• Data Processing and Analytics: You will gain a critical understanding and practical skills in data modelling, processing, and analytics. The course will also provide hands-on experience in building scalable data pipelines using appropriate platforms to address data and big data challenges effectively.
• Industrial Skills and Professional Issues (IT): You will develop a critical understanding of industrial skills and professional issues relevant to your field. The unit is designed to enhance your practical experience and skills through teamwork and project-based learning, preparing you for real-world work environments.
• IT Governance and Ethics: You will explore the challenges of managing information systems (IS) and information technology (IT) in modern organisations, focusing on aligning IT with business strategy, stakeholders, and governance. Using case studies like the London Ambulance Service and Therac-25, you'll examine governance issues from legal, ethical, and rights-based perspectives, while also considering the personal and professional aspects of IT management.
• Individual Masters Project: You will develop an understanding of the characteristics and implications inherent in the solution of a complex, real-world problem within the context of a substantial, independently-conducted piece of work. 

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.

The normal requirements for embarking upon this course are:

• A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in any subject, or equivalent

If you are in doubt if you lack the formal academic qualifications needed to enter a postgraduate or post-experience degree, please get in touch with the Future Students Enquiry team.

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry:

• India: Bachelor’s degree (three years) from a recognised HE institution with a minimum overall result of 55%  
• Nigeria: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution with a minimum classification of 2:4  
• China: Chinese Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised higher education institution with 65% or above  
• Turkey: Bachelor’s degree (Lisans Diplomasi - four years) with a minimum overall GPA of 2.3/4.0  
• Ghana: Bachelor's degrees from University of Ghana or Legon with a grade of 2.00 or above, or from Cape Coast with a grade 2.5 or above  
• USA: US Bachelor’s degree (four years), with a 2.5 GPA or above  

All applications will be subject to a minimum grade and your degree may need to be in a relevant subject area.

English language requirements

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

IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in 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. 

Please see our website for the application deadlines. You should apply as early as possible to be considered for your course of choice. If you require a student visa, apply for the visa as soon as you have an unconditional offer and receive your CAS. There may be delays in visa processing in your country and you need to be in Bournemouth ready to study for the start of term.

December and January is one of our busiest application periods and therefore it may take us a little longer to process incoming applications. For courses with a January start date, we recommend submitting your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

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.

As an MSc Information Technology graduate, you will be prepared to undertake roles such as:

• IT Manager
• Web Developer
• Database Designer
• Software Developer
• Usability Engineer

If you want to continue your studies after achieving your Master’s, you can look into our range of doctoral programmes.

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:

• Materials for any mandatory 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.
• Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features.
• 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.
• Disability and additional learning support.
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

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:

• Laptops, Tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds.
• 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 shop stocks a wide range of stationery supplies.
• Accommodation and living costs. Please visit our website for more information.
• Travel costs for optional field trips, outdoor wear and footwear for mandatory and optional field trips (if applicable).
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass can be purchased alongside your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately.
• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas). Information about funding your placement year can be found on our website.
• Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study.
• SportBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

If you need to repeat one or more units during the course of your studies (with or without attendance) the pricing will be pro-rata of the full time fee.

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries to eligible students who are beginning their studies at BU. Please visit www.bournemouth.ac.uk/funding for details on living costs, budgeting and paying your tuition fees.

International (not Rep. of Ireland) students need to pay a non-refundable 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.

Dr Jane Henriksen-Bulmer is a Principal Academic whose research centres around Privacy, Cyber Security and managing privacy risk, both on an individual and organisational level. She also actively carries out research on Open Data and how privacy can be incorporated into safeguarding and helping Young People and Children stay safe online.

The latest research project that Dr Henriksen-Bulmer is instrumental in implementing is a Campus wide rollout of Cybersecurity training to all 18,000 BU's students. The aim of the project is to facilitate students in building cyber awareness and cyber resilience irrespective of the industry or academic discipline.

Dr Henriksen-Bulmer is Level Tutor for the second year cohort across all 8 UG programmes, having previously acted as Placement Tutor for the department the past 4 years.

Working closely with Industry, Dr Henriksen-Bulmer currently teaches UG Business Analytics (L4) and Business Development & Enterprise (L6), as well as regularly providing Guest Lectures on her area of expertise, Privacy. Previously she has taught Business Continuity, Information Assurance and Business System Analysis and Design.

Dr Henriksen-Bulmer is an experienced researcher with experience of both leading research projects, including (HEIF and Cyber ASAP), and supporting a number of prominent Cyber security projects including ECHO, Ideal Cities, CyGamBIT, Cairis and HuaHana.

Dr Henriksen-Bulmer's PhD focused on privacy, GDPR, risk and organisational decision making, looking at how business can incorporate contextual nuances into their privacy and risk decision making processes. Previous to this she gained an MSc in Information Technology from Bournemouth University; an MBA from Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia, and a Bachelor of Law from the Open University.

Coming from an industry background Dr Henriksen-Bulmer has a wide ranging experience of running and managing businesses and change including business process improvement. This has strongly influenced her research topic of privacy and risk and how she can best use her research and outputs to influence, assist and support businesses in a practical manner by providing practical tools, guidance and assistance to professionals in the field.

Andy Phippen is a Professor of Digital Rights at the Bournemouth University. He has specialised in the use of ICTs in social contexts and the intersection with legislation for over 15 years, carrying out a large amount of grassroots research on issues such as attitudes toward privacy and data protection, internet safety and contemporary issues such as sexting, peer abuse and the impact of digital technology on well-being. He has presented written and oral evidence to parliamentary inquiries related to the use and regulation of ICTs in society, is widely published in the area and is a frequent media commentator on these issues 

Dr Sofia Meacham received her Diploma in Computer and Informatics Engineering, in 1994, and her PhD degree, in 2000, from University of Patras, Greece. Her research interests fall in the area of system-level design for embedded systems, and include specification techniques for complex embedded telecommunication systems, hardware-software co-design, formal refinement techniques, and reuse practices.