MSc (Information Technology)

The MSc Information Technology prepares you for the intellectual, analytical and practical challenges of a career in IT. You will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to collate information, define, design and build or select the most appropriate IT solutions and develop a deeper understanding of how those solutions apply to professional contexts.

You can study part-time whilst in full-time employment, as there are few pre-requisites for most modules.

The tools to take you to the next stage

• Upon graduation, you will be able to critically evaluate developments and new applications of information and communication technology systems, and relate them to the roles and uses of IT in different business settings. You will also have an enhanced understanding of system problems and how to choose the right methods and approaches to develop systems.

Content
You'll study:

• Strategy and Governance in IT (15 credits) - In this module, we explore current issues in the strategy of IT services in organisations. We will look at the key challenges and competing demands facing the industry, and the potentially transformative impact of IT on complex organisations. You will learn how to evaluate and reconcile the sometimes conflicting social, business, legal and ethical pressures of working as an IT professional.
• IT Project Management (30 credits) - This module covers software project management principles and provides the opportunity for students to apply gained project management theory, knowledge and skills to a team-based software development project. We will cover all these aspects in the context of working towards successful project outcomes, as well as fitting in with project management frameworks and philosophies such as PRINCE2 and Agile.
• Information Security (15 credits) - This module explores the key information security principles, risks, threats and vulnerabilities faced by public or private organisations. You will analyse issues relating to privacy, civil liberties and intellectual property; learn how to propose a compliant information security framework or policy; and also research and communicate current and emerging information security trends.
• Digital Design and Development (15 credits) - You will learn about the fundamentals of digital design and development, including information architecture and user interface fundamentals, prototyping and delivery on web, mobile and emerging platforms. We will cover how to identify and develop creative solutions to design problems; how to respond to critiques on designs and prototypes; and how to write clean, reusable and efficient code.
• Cloud Computing (15 credits) - A comprehensive overview of the key aspects that shape the current landscape of cloud computing. You'll gain a deep understanding of the business drivers, enabling technologies, and technological innovations associated with cloud computing. The course covers essential concepts and explores both the benefits and challenges of adopting cloud solutions. It delves into important topics such as service and deployment models, data centres, cloud sustainability, virtualization, and its applications, including virtual platforms, storage devices, and computer network resources. Moreover, this module discusses the business reasons behind leveraging these technologies.
• CSCT Masters Project (60 credits) - This is the most significant single piece of work on the MSc. It gives you the opportunity to develop deep knowledge and expertise in a cutting-edge area within your specialism, and to improve your performance on a variety of employability skills, including creative problem solving, negotiation and communication. The project is your own to steer and develop, but you'll have an experienced supervisor to help you develop a suitable and manageable proposal and to progress from concept to execution and evaluation.

Plus two optional 15 credit modules from:

• Big Data
• Business Intelligence and Data Visualisation
• Data and Information Governance
• Designing The User Experience
• Knowledge Management
• Social Media and Web Science.

This structure is for full-time students only. Part-time students study the same modules but the delivery pattern will be different.

Part-time students

• If you are a part-time student, your first year will include the modules: IT Project Management, Digital Design and Development, Strategy and Governance in IT, and Information Security.
• In the second year, you'll take Cloud Computing, CSCT Masters Project and two optional modules.
• The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.

Learning and Teaching

• You learn through taught classes supported by independent study, and we provide considerable material online, via UWE Bristol's virtual learning environment, Blackboard.

January intake
Full-time: 12 months

Lectures and tutorials take place on two days each week. Those studying part-time normally attend on only one of these days.

Each taught module runs over one semester of 12 weeks and is usually assessed within those 12 weeks or in the examination period that follows.

Full-time students study for 60 credits each term (usually one 30-credit and two 15-credit modules) and you'll complete the taught component of the course in two semesters.

For part-time students, there is considerable flexibility in how many modules you take at any one time, as well as the time you take to complete the course. However, we offer a recommended part-time route that means you complete the taught component in four terms over two academic years. This means you attend taught classes on only one day each week. Part-time students study 30 credits in each term of each year.

Careers / Further study

• UWE Bristol monitors its employment trends closely, and since 1986, we have ensured graduates of this course are equipped for the demands of the real world and are highly regarded by potential employers.
• There is a growing need for creative IT graduates who can work with an ever-widening range of technologies and can meet organisational needs in business, education and health. This newly designed course tackles the challenges of technology in modern business and society, head on.