MSc Information Systems

Why take this course?

The design, development and management of large-scale computerised information systems are critical to organisations in the 21st century. Managing, analysing and understanding the huge volumes of data that these systems generate are critical to the success of many organisations.

This course focuses first, on systems development and business analysis: the technical and social issues involved in building and maintaining large systems. The second focus of the course is on business intelligence: the techniques and tools for evaluating, understanding and analysing information systems and the data they generate.

The MSc Information Systems offers you a programme of study that allows you to develop:

• An understanding of the issues in designing and developing information systems,
• Understanding of contemporary approaches to analysis and design,
• Exposure to key areas of knowledge for developing, analysing and understanding systems,
• A broad understanding of the context and success factors for successful information systems projects.

The course is a full-time, one-year taught programme that can also be taken part-time over two years.

This programme has full Chartered IT Professional (CITP) accreditation (Further Learning Element) as well as leading to Chartered Engineer (CEng) status from the (BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT)

Contact time

Students have on average 15 hours of contact time per week with teaching staff through lectures, laboratory sessions and seminars, though this may vary depending on module choices. Additionally, students should allocate at least 25 hours per week for study, coursework assignments and projects.

Teaching and Assessment

You will take a number of taught modules covering technical and organisational aspects of the development, management and use of modern information systems. The choice of modules is made according to your academic background, experience and interests. You will also complete a dissertation on a subject in the field of information systems; this is often done in collaboration with a company or other organisation.

Recent dissertation titles include:

• An enterprise ordering information system for a pharmaceutical supplier
• Collaborative development of web-based information resources
• Investigation into web accessibility and usability
• Context and preferences for mobile computing
• Stakeholder participation in web information systems

Career opportunities

As a graduate from this course you will be able to pursue a career in a number of fields, including software engineering, systems analysis, IT management or general management with a technical bias. You might also choose to continue your education through a PhD in order to pursue a career in industrial research or an academic career.

Course Organiser:Dr. Dan Smith

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Entry Requirements Degree Subject: Computer Science, Information Systems or a related subject. Degree Classification: Good first degree (minimum 2.1 or equivalent). Students for whom English is a Foreign language

We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English. To ensure such students benefit from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:

IELTS: 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in all components)
TOEFL: Internet-based score of 88 (minimum 18 in listening, 21 speaking, 19 writing and 20 reading)
PTE (Pearson): 62 (minimum 55 in all components)
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

Other tests such as TOEIC and the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English are also accepted by the university. Please check with the Admissions Office for further details including the scores or grades required.

INTO UEA and INTO UEA London run pre-sessional courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information and to see if you qualify please contact intopre-sessional@uea.ac.uk (INTO UEA Norwich) or pseuealondon@into.uk.com (INTO UEA London).

• 95% of research activity is classified as internationally leading, excellent or recognised in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise.
• Teaching of the highest quality; rated “Commendable” in the most recent Teaching Quality Assessment.
• Our Masters programmes are accredited by the BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT to full Chartered IT Professional (CITP Further Learning Element) as well as leading to Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
• The School maintains close links with industry and many of our student assignments relate to real world problems.
• The School of Computing Sciences leads the university in utilizing its internationally recognized research commercially, through SYS Consulting, its Consulting company and through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.
• Our students also use their technical and entrepreneurial skills to play influential roles in the creation of companies such as Travel Republic, Evoke systems, Fyfo and Shoretech systems.

Come and Visit Us

Our Open Days will give you the opportunity to experience the University of East Anglia's unique campus atmosphere.

Fees and Funding Tuition Fees 2013/14

• UK/EU £5,000
• International £12,500

Funding

• International applicants applying to this course can be considered for one Faculty of Science half fees scholarship or one £2000 scholarship. The deadline is 1st April 2013.

Faculty of Science Scholarships
Students wishing to apply should submit an essay answering the following question in 1000 words: 'Taking an organisation with which you are familiar as a case study, describe the biggest issues it has with its information systems and the changes that might feasibly be made to improve them. In particular, you should consider management practices, approaches to analysis and design, and the impact that agile methods could have (or have had if the organisation already uses an agile approach). Your analysis of the issues and proposal for change should be clearly related to recent published work in the area'. Essays should be emailed to the Admissions Office. Please ensure you include your full name, the course you have applied to, and your applicant number in your email.

For more information please contact the Computing Sciences Postgraduate Admissions Office (cmp.pgt.admiss@uea.ac.uk).