Information Technology for Business BSc (Hons)

You will learn about programming, information systems, business and practical management skills. You will have access to excellent facilities and state-of-the-art technology.

You will hone key professional skills through:

• Technical presentations
• Team exercises
• Interviews
• Mock assessment centre days

Our Information Technology for Business course equips you with the range of skills you need to manage IT for a diverse job market, including:

• Technical knowledge
• Business understanding
• Interpersonal skills
• Project skills

In Year 3 you have the opportunity of a work placement, with a wide range of organizations. Many graduates go on to work for their placement employers. Students from Oxford Brookes University have obtained placements at the following companies, among many others;

• IBM
• BT
• Procter & Gamble
• Cisco
• Deloitte
• Hewlett-Packard
• SAS 
• Unilever

Pathways courses for international and EU students

• If you do not meet the entry requirements for this degree, or if you would like more preparation before you start, you can take an international foundation course. Once you enrol, you will have a guaranteed pathway to this degree if you pass your foundation course with the required grades.
• If you only need to meet the language requirements, you can take our pre-sessional English course. You will develop key language and study skills for academic success and you will not need to take an external language test to progress to your degree.

Learning and assessment

• In Year 1 you will learn programming and information systems. You will also gain key business and practical management skills. These encourage your professional development and introduce you to key business, management and computing technology. 

In Year 2 you will continue your studies in business and management. You will also study subjects which are key to working in IT management, including;

• Business intelligence programming
• Computer security
• Database management.

In Year 3 you can take a work placement. We encourage professional working practices and we support you through our involvement with international companies. 

Study modules

• Teaching for this course takes place face to face and you can expect around 10 hours of contact time per week. In addition to this, you should also anticipate a workload of 1,200 hours per year. Teaching usually takes place Monday to Friday, between 9.00am and 6.00pm.
• Contact hours involve activities such as lectures, seminars, practicals, assessments, and academic advising sessions. These hours differ by year of study and typically increase significantly during placements or other types of work-based learning.

Year 1
Compulsory modules

Basic Communications and PC Networking

• This is a foundational module designed to equip you with an in-depth understanding of communication networks and their application in a real-world context. This module aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to the basic principles of computer networking, focusing on layered network models, and the design, connection, configuration, and testing of computer networks that involve PCs, switches, and routers. Hands-on laboratory experiments will allow you to implement and validate network designs using a range of analytical and simulation tools, reinforcing theoretical knowledge with practical application. 

Upon successful completion of this module, you will have a firm grasp of the principles that underpin communication networks. This module is an engaging introduction into the world of communications and PC networking and a first step towards becoming a proficient network designer and operator.

• Problem Solving and Programming
• Digital Technology and Mathematics for Business
• Networking and Multimedia
• Professional Applications of Communication Theories
• Exploring International Business & Management

Year 2
Compulsory modules

Business Intelligence Programming

• Delve into the realm of Business Intelligence Programming and uncover the foundations of Business Analytics. Explore a wide range of methods, tools, and techniques that enable the development of applications for complex decision making. This module utilises a dynamic online learning approach to deliver engaging and comprehensive content. Throughout this module, you will gain a deep understanding of data, information, and knowledge within the organisational context. Develop the skills to create strategic decision-making plans by harnessing an organisation's valuable information assets. Design, implement, test, debug, and review applications that facilitate decision making based on diverse and fragmented information.

By the end of this module, you will possess the expertise to apply Business Intelligence Programming techniques and tools, enabling you to make informed decisions based on complex data sets.

• The Human Computer Interface
• Databases
• Web Application Development
• Innovative Product Development
• Foundations of Security

Optional modules

• Management Information Systems

Year 3 (Optional Work Placement Year)

Optional modules

• We encourage you to take the optional, supervised work placement in the computing industry for 12 months between Year 2 and your final year. You will need to apply for your placement position yourself; however you will be taught about how to apply for jobs effectively in a second year module, and we have a placements office with dedicated staff to provide information and advice to help you secure a placement. We maintain links with industry and most students who go on placement obtain their position through the Department. More and more students are finding that a placement benefits their final-year studies and career prospects. Possible placement organisations include IBM, Microsoft and PepsiCo. On returning to University for your final year, the experience you have gained will improve your academic performance. In addition, we have an excellent record of students gaining full-time employment on graduation, often with their industrial placement company or organisation.

Learning and teaching
Our teaching methods include:

• Lectures
• Practical activities
• Problem-solving classes
• Tutorial support.

We supplement these with materials produced by the relevant departments in the University.

Brand new facilities

• All Computing courses are moving from Wheatley Campus to brand new, custom designed buildings at our main Headington site. These buildings will open in the 2024/25 academic year. You'll benefit from state-of-the-art facilities and equipment including a VR cave, digital, computing and robotics labs, as well as social learning spaces, teaching rooms and cafe space.

Study abroad

• You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Brookes. Most exchanges take place in the second year. Although we will help as much as we can with your plans, ultimately you are responsible for organising and funding this study abroad.

Career prospects

• Successful completion of this course will give you excellent employment prospects. The profile of students from this programme has been tailored to match the requirements of some of the biggest employers of IT graduates.
• The combination of technical knowledge, business awareness, and interpersonal and project skills will make you especially well qualified for an increasingly diverse job market in managing IT applications.

A number of our students go on to work for companies involved in the course.

Further study

• World-class research and superb links with industry come together to make Oxford Brookes one of the best places in the UK to study technology at postgraduate level, whatever your subject interest.
• Our courses, taught by leading academics with active research programmes, are designed to meet the needs of modern industry. And our location in Oxford places us at the heart of one of Europe's biggest concentrations of high-tech businesses - opening up opportunities for research collaboration and employment.