Subject overview

Programme outline

This MSc will equip you with the skills to analyse information technology needs and to devise innovative solutions in companies and other organisations with complex and demanding information technology (IT) system requirements.

You will learn how to design, evaluate and apply information technology systems in a business setting – taking account of human, organisational and strategic factors. You will learn about the concepts and principles of IT systems and their interfaces, and the theories and techniques relating to the management of IT as an innovative and strategic resource in an organisation. You will work on individual and group-based projects, and will develop skills in:

• researching current practice
• analysing IT system trends, methodologies and interfaces
• communicating concepts, designs and evaluation within a technical environment.

This crossdisciplinary course is taught jointly in the Department of Informatics and the Department of Business and Management, by staff specialising in computer science, information technology systems, as well as management and technology innovation.

We continue to develop and update our modules for 2013 entry to ensure you have the best student experience. In addition to the course structure below, you may find it helpful to refer to the 2012 modules tab.

Full-time course structure

Autumn term: Change and Leadership • E-Business and E-Commerce Systems • Human-Computer Interaction • Management Innovation and Organisational Performance • Personal and Professional Development.

Spring term: Business In Context (Europe or Asia) or Critical Perspectives on Management and Organisations • Human-Computer Interaction Advanced Topics • Managing Complex Projects and Systems • Strategic Management.

Spring and summer terms: Management of Information Technology Project.

Part-time course structure

Year 1

Autumn term: Human-Computer Interaction • Management Innovation and Organisational Performance.

Spring term: Human-Computer Interaction Advanced Topics • Managing Complex Projects and Systems • Strategic Management.

Year 2

Autumn term: Change and Leadership • E-Business and E-Commerce Systems • Personal and Professional Development.

Spring term: Business In Context (Europe or Asia) or Critical Perspectives on Management and Organisations.

Spring and summer terms: Management of Information Technology Project.

Assessment

You will be engaged in a range of activities to help your learning process, which may include lectures, seminars, discussions, directed reading, role play and peer review. There is a range of assessment methods including unseen examinations and reports of various lengths. In addition, assessments will include individual and group presentations as well as learning diaries. 

Entry requirements

UK entrance requirements

A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree with substantial computing, information technology, science, technology or business-related content.

Overseas entrance requirements

Please refer to column A on the Overseas qualifications.

If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas qualifications table, contact the University.
E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

Related programme

• Scientific Computation MSc

Fees and funding

Fees

Home UK/EU students: £7,300¹
Overseas students: £16,200²

¹ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
² The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.

Funding

The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.

Faculty interests

Research groups in the Department of Informatics

Research is a core activity of the Department of Informatics often entails collaborations between our groups, as well as with other academic schools at Sussex and external academic, institutional and commercial partners. The research groups are briefly described below.

Cognitive and Language Processing Systems

The research of this group addresses the science and engineering of complex systems for cognitively demanding and language-intensive domains, including the application of methods from cognitive science and natural-language engineering. The group focuses on searching and classifying free text (eg medical records) in large quantities, cognitive processes of writing and drawing, cognitive modelling of processes such as attention and graphical production, and
cognitively informed interactive tools for complex problem-solving, decision-making, instruction and learning.

Faculty research interests include:

Professor John Carroll Hybrid linguistic/statistical approaches to disambiguation of text, efficient parsing, tools for natural language grammar and lexicon development.

Professor Peter Cheng The nature of representational systems (diagrams for complex problem-solving, discovery and conceptual learning); processes of writing and drawing.

Dr Bill Keller The use of language technology to support communication and interaction, language-aware technology, applications of distributional models of natural language semantics.

Dr David Weir Controlling non-determinism in natural language generation, language in pervasive computing environments, efficient parsing, inferring knowledge about words from raw text.

Dr Sharon Wood Multi-agent systems. Cognitive modelling, in particular information acquisition through cognitively plausible visual attention processes, and knowledge-based reasoning.

Evolutionary and Adaptive Systems (EASy)

The EASy group has been internationally prominent since it was established in the early 1990s. It is concerned with the interfaces between the biological and computational sciences, particularly with reference to furthering understanding of brains and minds. The group’s research is highly interdisciplinary and involves many strong links with other departments at Sussex. Research foci include adaptive and cognitive robotics, artificial life, bio-inspired computational methods, computational neuroscience, creative systems, history and philosophy of AI and ALife, clinical applications of neural modelling, machine learning, scientific studies of consciousness, and synthetic neuroethology. It runs the highly successful Centre for Computational Neuroscience and Robotics (CCNR) jointly with the Neuroscience group in the School of Life Sciences. Members of the group also direct the Centre for Research in Cognitive Science (COGS) and the Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science (SCCS), both important cross-campus initiatives.

Faculty research interests include:

Dr Luc Berthouze Motor development in infants and in machines; EEG-based brain-machine interfaces; epigenetic robotics; and modelling cognitive development with robotic systems.

Professor Margaret Boden Computational approaches in the philosophy of mind and psychology; purpose and creativity; philosophy of AI and ALife; and social implications of AI.

Dr Ron Chrisley Non-conceptual representation; philosophy of cognitive science, AI, mind, consciousness, computation; computer/robotic models of visual experience, emotion, creativity.

Professor Phil Husbands Evolutionary and adaptive robotics; evolutionary computation; ALife; computational neuroscience; adaptive systems; neuromodulation; history of AI; creative systems.

Dr Thomas Nowotny Information processing in nervous systems; sequence learning in neuronal systems; accurate conductance-based neuron models; and hybrid systems.

Dr Andy Philippides Computational neuroscience and neuroethology; evolutionary robotics; insect visual homing strategies; and gaseous neuromodulators in neural networks.

Dr Anil Seth Theoretical neuroscience and evolutionary and adaptive systems; time-series analysis of neural dynamics, neurorobotics; and evolutionary theory and ecological modelling.

Dr Chris Thornton Computational learning using symbolic algorithms and connectionist mechanisms; and theories of creativity.

Foundations of Software Systems

This group is interested in the theory and practice of future computation and communication. We build mathematical theories of computation and use such models to inform the design of programming languages and compilers. We design and evaluate distributed applications and services that provide the foundations of the pervasive computing infrastructure and other software systems. We model and analyse data representing system configurations, social networks, trust, and provenance.

Faculty research interests include:

Dr Martin Berger Concurrency theory, semantics and pragmatics of programming languages, program logics, metaprogramming, computer science methods in theoretical biology.

Dr Dan Chalmers The design of pervasive computing systems, particularly those which process and consider emotion, social networks, trust and context to enable efficient and usable system behaviour.

Dr Ian Mackie Foundations of programming languages and models of computation. Applying techniques from mathematical logic and quantum mechanics to programming language implementation.

Dr Bernhard Reus Mathematical semantics of programming languages and their foundations; constructive logic; and techniques and tools supporting program analysis, design and verification.

Dr Ian Wakeman Networks and distributed systems, emphasis on design from the user perspective, pervasive computing, computational trust.

Interactive Systems

This research group operates at the intersection between people and digital technology. We are interested in interaction in the broadest sense and consider it in relation to both traditional desktop-based technologies and more novel digital technologies, including mobile, immersive, ubiquitous and pervasive technologies.

We are interested in users of all kinds, ranging from experts using technology in their work (such as medical professionals) and experts developing technology for their work (such as programmers) to novices of all kinds (from children using educational technology through to adults using social technology).

Our research focuses on human-computer interaction, accessibility, music informatics, learning with and through technology (including social networks), technology-enhanced social interaction, new models of e-business, e-government and e-citizenship, tangible and embodied interaction, motion capture techniques, building virtual worlds for digital heritage and other applications, real-time animation, digital content creation and digital video.

Faculty research interests include:

Dr Natalia Beloff New models of e-business, business models for small and medium digital enterprises, adver-gaming, advertising for social networks, education and social networks.

Dr Nick Collins Electronic and computer music including interactive music systems; sound analysis/synthesis; performance, composition and modelling of music.

Dr Judith Good Constructivist learning environments, game-based learning, technology toolkits for learning, visual programming languages, learner-centred and participatory design methodologies.

Dr Paul Newbury Multimedia systems, in particular virtual prototyping, ubiquitous systems and digital content creation. Technology-enhanced learning and video techniques for distance learning.

Dr Phil Watten Software development; virtual prototyping; high-level design; system modelling; display systems; interface design; and media production, new media and web broadcasting.

Dr Martin White 3D graphics; virtual, augmented and mixed reality; animation; motion sensing; motion gaming; digital heritage systems; interaction; work flows.

Crossdisciplinary research centres

The Department of Informatics plays a central role in the following major crossdisciplinary research centres:

Centre for Computational Neuroscience and Robotics (CCNR)

CCNR is a collaboration between the Department of Informatics and the School of Life Sciences. This thriving centre seeks to explore and exploit the interfaces between the biological and computational sciences. CCNR is jointly run with the Evolutionary and Adaptive Systems group.

Centre for Research in Cognitive Science (COGS)

COGS is an internationally recognised centre for interdisciplinary investigation into the nature of cognition, be it natural or artificial. Staff in Informatics and Psychology, as well as Sussex linguists, focus on teaching and research.

Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science (SCCS)

SCCS is a new venture between the Department of Informatics, the School of Psychology, and the Brighton and Sussex Medical School. The Centre’s aim is to unravel the complex neural mechanisms underlying conscious experience by bringing together computational modelling, cognitive neuroscience, and clinical applications.

Research interests in the School of Business, Management and Economics

The research interests of selected faculty are briefly described below. For more details, visit the Department of Business and Management, the Department of Economics, the Department of Mathematics, and SPRU – Science and Technology Policy Research.

Professor Carol Alexander Mathematical finance, financial econometrics, market risk analysis.

Mike Barrow Public-sector economics, local government, efficiency and value for money.

Lisa Blatch Delivers the Negotiation module on the MSc in Global Supply Chain and Logistics Management.

Dr Odul Bozkurt International human resource management.

Dr Ioanna Chini Social study of ICT, ICT policy.

Professor Ian Davidson Financial markets and instruments, application of quantum mechanics.

Dr Des Doran Supply chain management, modularisation, service operations.

Dr Bertram Düring Applied and financial mathematics.

Rob Eastwood Demographic change and economic development.

Dr Sonja Fagernas Development economics.

Professor John Forker Financial accounting and reporting, earnings quality, equity pricing.

Dr Kevin Grant IT/IS strategic alignment.

Dr Bruce Hearn Emerging financial markets of Asia and Africa.

Dr Michael Hopkins Biomedical innovation systems, for products (eg drugs) or services (eg diagnostic testing).

Dr Surendranath Jory Mergers and acquisitions.

Dr Norifumi Kawai Internationalisation of Asian firms, strategic human resource management.

Dr Marv Khammash Interactive marketing, consumer behaviour, marketing communication.

Dr Andreas Kornelakis Globalisation and models of capitalism, outsourcing, training policies.

Dr Omar Lakkis Numerical analysis and scientific computing.

Dr Rebecca Liu New product development.

Dr Michelle Luke Self/identity, attitudes and values, positive psychology and risk perception. 

Dr Anotida Madzvamuse Bio-membranes.

Professor Emmanuel Mamatzakis Banking and finance, forecasting, public finance.

Dr Monica Masucci Strategy and entrepreneurship.

Professor Roman Matousek Bank efficiency, microeconomics of banking, monetary policy.

Professor Martin Meyer Emergent technologies, technology transfer.

Royston Morgan Consultant who delivers the Outsourcing module on the MSc in Global Supply Chain and Logistics Management. 

Dr Piera Morlacchi New technological, organisational and institutional forms.

Dr Mike Osborne Applications in economic theory.

Dr Dimitra Petrakaki Implications of technology in organisational change.

Dr Matias Ramirez Relationship between labour mobility, knowledge flows.

Professor Barry Reilly Applied econometrics.

Dr Vikrant Shirodkar International business, strategy.

Dr Josh Siepel Development of the venture capital sectors in the US and the UK.

Professor David Storey OBE The economic environment in which small firms operate.

Professor Roger Strange Corporate governance and FDI decisions.

Professor Mike Sumner Macroeconomics and public finance.

Richard Sykes Working for a range of clients in the public and private sectors.

Dr Qi Tang Mathematical and statistical modelling of financial, corporate and technological risks.

Dr Shqiponja Telhaj Economics of education.

Professor Joe Tidd Innovation strategy.

Dr David Twigg Technology, operations and innovation management.

Dr Joana Vassilopoulou Organisational behaviour, employment studies.

Dr Jie Wen Banking and finance.

Dr Mirela Xheneti Entrepreneurship in post-communist countries.

Dr Biao Yang Logistics and supply chain management, service operations management, mass customisation.

Dr Yong Yang International business, applied economics, technology outsourcing.

Dr Xiaoxiang Zhang Corporate governance, corporate finance, information efficiency.

Careers and profiles

On graduation, you will be equipped to work in companies and other organisations with complex and demanding IT system requirements. You will be suited to roles requiring an integrated understanding of the internal and external business context, the factors influencing successful IT innovation, the opportunities presented by new kinds of information technology in business, and the successful planning and deployment of IT systems.

There is a global shortage of IT professionals. This course provides a strong theoretical and practical preparation for a career in this area.

School and contacts