MSc Information Technology

On this course you’ll develop your understanding of IT from a business perspective, learn how to create a systematic view of business system development, as well implement IT systems.

Delivery:
Full time according to Funding Council definitions, Full-time with placement, Part-Time

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Why study MSc Information Technology at BU?

If you have some experience but no formal qualification in Information Technology, or a first degree in a different subject, then this course will enable you to enter the business computing profession
Software infrastructure forms a core part of many organisations' business function, so it is vital for system developers and managers to understand how the business process and strategy shape the IT applications
You will be exposed to all aspects of modern business IT systems, including but not limited to, IT management, cloud services and their applications, service integration and human-centred design
Draw on our academics' expert knowledge, their research and recent developments in IT to gain awareness of current problems and learn to develop systematic, original and creative solutions to them
A real-world research problem of your choice will give you the opportunity to explore your particular area of interest in greater depth and you will acquire skills on how to plan your project, create and interpret IT knowledge and report to a professional standard
Benefit from a work placement, which provides an excellent opportunity for you to gain first-hand experience and apply your learning, especially if you are considering a change in career or direction.

Find out more about the content of this course.

Career opportunities

Work in an area of growth within this important subject area with employment opportunities constantly evolving. This course allows graduates without IT qualifications the chance to enter the business computing profession.

Next start date:

September 2022, January 2023, September 2023

Location:

Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus

Duration:

September start: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time or 2 years full-time with a 30-week placement, January start: 16 months full-time, 32 months part-time or 24 months with a 30-week placement

Entry requirements:

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) with minimum 5.5 in writing, speaking, listening and reading. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

Course details

Core units

Data Management: The unit aims to explore modern data management applications and technologies. In particular, the unit aims to develop an understanding of data modelling and the design, implementation of data management solutions, evaluate current trends in data management and give introduction to data analytics techniques.
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.
Human Centred Design: Computer-based interactive systems refers to as a spectrum of digital products, services and solutions interact with human users in business, social and global contexts. The primary success factor in implementing such systems is to involve the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process. You will learn how to design and develop such systems by applying human centred design principles and techniques and carrying out relevant activities in the planning and management to satisfy both business needs and its user requirements. It will also help you develop an understanding of interaction design process and best practices through the exposure to usability, user experience and other related fields.
Research Methods and Professional Issues: This unit will provide an overview of different research methods used to address clinical research questions. It will cover aspects of research design and how they apply to the question being asked whether the approach is quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods.
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.

Option units (choose two)

Option units (choose one semester 1)

Cloud Computing: Cloud computing provides a secure infrastructure for systems integration, data processing and manipulation as well as storage. The concept of virtualisation including servers, storage and networks, as well as the cloud structure, services and deployment models will be discussed. Locally-based networks, IT resources/services and their migration to the cloud are elaborated and strategies for migration to the cloud will be explored.
Blockchain & Digital Futures: The objective of this unit is to develop your skills and knowledge about the Blockchain technology and its usage. The material, lectures and seminars includes defining the Blockchain technology, its business aspect, issues, objectives, and challenges, covering Blockchain horizontal and vertical scaling, key basics of cryptography required for understanding the Blockchain technology concepts, different cryptocurrencies, and their issues, challenges, and networks. The unit also covers a few data analysis-based Blockchain technology scenarios and case studies. The aim is to develop related skills and an understanding of critically evaluating the key issues, challenges, and existing solutions.

Option units (choose one semester 2)

Cyberpsychology: You will examine the impact of digital technology on individuals and groups and the implications for organisations and society. The unit will also explore the psychological factors relevant to cyber security and online behaviours and identify means of promoting safer user behaviour.
Persuasive Technology & Behaviour Change: This unit will focus on the use and design of Persuasive Technology (PT) denoting technology-assisted solutions for influencing the attitude and behaviour of individuals and groups. You will cover mainstream psychological theories of persuasion, influence, decision making and behaviour change besides their application on a wide range of domains including health, business and e-learning. We will also discuss the risks and ethical consideration of persuasion and essentials for informed decision making. Analysis and design methods for persuasive technology solutions will also be studied. Studied case studies include applications for encouraging the increase in physical activities, digital well-being, anxiety and stress management skills and sleeping quality. We will also discuss the use of PT in a business context such as increasing staff engagement, digital marketing, user retention and energy consumption reduction.
Accessibility & Assistive Technology: An introduction to the concepts of accessibility and assistive technology, exploring how technology can be used to support people with temporary, situational or lifelong disabilities by helping to overcome challenges to their self-care, educational, vocational and recreational independence. The aim of this unit is to provide you with an introduction to understanding diverse user needs, focusing on challenges caused by temporary, situational or lifelong disabilities. You'll also gather the skills and techniques necessary to conduct foundational, user-orientated research with people who have disabilities to inform the design of assistive technology that can help overcome challenges during specific tasks. You'll be trained in the ability to develop novel prototypes of inclusive assistive technology with an accessibility-first design philosophy combining advances in Human-Computer Interaction, Data, and AI.

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.

Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester by semester basis. They may also change from year to year.

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 417kb)

Placement opportunities

The optional placement, which you can undertake upon completion of the taught and project units, 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 useful.

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.

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.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

International entry requirements

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 (4 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 2:2
Thailand: Thai Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised higher education institution with a minimum GPA of 2.5/4.0
Turkey: Bachelor’s degree (Lisans Diplomasi - four years) with a minimum overall GPA of 2.3/4.0
Vietnam: Bachelor's degree/Bang tot nghiep dai hoc with an average score of 6.5/10, or a Master’s degree/Thac si.

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.

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:

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.
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:

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 shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses.
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.

Repeat units

Financial help available from BU

Deposits

International (not Rep. of Ireland) students need to pay a non-refundable £3,000 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.

Dr Philip Davies – Programme Leader

Professor Andy Phippen – Professor of IT Ethics and Digital Rights

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

View Professor Andy Phippen's staff profile

Dr Nan Jiang – Head of Department in Computing and Informatics

Dr Sofia Meacham – Senior Lecturer in Computing and Informatics

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.

View Dr Sofia Meacham's staff profile

Dr Rashid Bakirov – Lecturer in Computing

Dr Bakirov is a Lecturer in Computing and Programme Leader of Data Science and Analytics BSc (Hons) at Bournemouth University.

He holds a PhD in machine learning from Bournemouth University. His research interests are adaptation, automated machine learning and learning with data streams (particularly video).

He is a member of British Computer Society, International Neural Network Society, and a Fellow of Higher Education Academy.

View Dr Rashid Bakirov's staff profile

Course changes

Changes for 2022 entry

Date	Changes to this course
03/01/2022	Where the change was made: Course details programme specification, Placements Change: Optional minimum 30-week placement is now available after completion of the taught units and individual masters project Previous text: A placement can be taken with a minimum of 30 weeks after completing all stage 1 units
16/02/2022	Where the change was made: Course details optional units Change: Optional unit Psychology of Software Development has been removed

Changes in 2019

Date	Changes to this course
05/06/2019	Where the change was made: Course content Change: Changes to core and the addition of option units for students starting in September 2019 onwards Previous text: See previous Programme Specification for details

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

What our students say

Ryan Delmo

My placement helped to change my goal and career path. It showed my true potential and allowed me to know my limits and strengths. It was a good opportunity for me try out what I had learned at university.

What our graduates think

Kwong Chi Lee

I am working with Thales Hong Kong and the skills I developed at BU have provided me a solid base for my career. I have used the culture I learnt from studying in the UK in the company which really helps a lot!

Statistics shown throughout this page are taken from Unistats and BU institutional data unless otherwise stated.