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

Assessment 

You will be engaged in a range of activities to help your learning, which may include lectures, seminars, discussions, directed reading, role play and peer review. Assessment methods include unseen examinations, reports of various lengths, individual and group presentations, and learning diaries. 

Course structure

We continue to develop and update our modules for 2014 entry to ensure you have the best student experience.

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 • HCI Advanced Topics • Managing Complex Projects and Systems • Strategic Management. 

Summer term: you undertake supervised work for the MSc dissertation. 

Part-time course structure

The part-time structure for each degree is as follows: 

Year 1: in each of the autumn and spring terms you take two modules. In the summer term you undertake work on the dissertation. 

Year 2: you take two modules in the autumn term. In the spring and summer terms you complete work on the dissertation. 

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

Overseas qualifications

If your country is not listed below, please contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

Country	Overseas qualification
Australia	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
Brazil	Bacharel, Licenciado or professional title with a final mark of at least 8
Canada	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3/4.0 (grade B+)
China	Bachelor degree from a leading university with overall mark of 75%-85% depending on your university
Cyprus	Bachelor degree or Ptychion with a final mark of at least 7.5
France	Licence with mention bien or Maîtrise with final mark of at least 13
Germany	Bachelor degree or Magister Artium with a final mark of 2.4 or better
Ghana	Bachelor degree from a public university with second-class upper division
Greece	Ptychion from an AEI with a final mark of at least 7.5
Hong Kong	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
India	Bachelor degree from a leading institution with overall mark of at least 60% or equivalent
Iran	Bachelor degree (Licence or Karshenasi) with a final mark of at least 15
Italy	Diploma di Laurea with an overall mark of at least 105
Japan	Bachelor degree from a leading university with a minumum average of B+ or equivalent
Malaysia	Bachelor degree with class 2 division 1
Mexico	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 8
Nigeria	Bachelor degree with second-class upper division or CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0
Pakistan	Four-year bachelor degree, normally with a GPA of at least 3.3
Russia	Magistr or Specialist Diploma with a minimum average mark of at least 4
South Africa	Bachelor (Honours) degree or Bachelor degree in Technology with an overall mark of at least 70%
Saudi Arabia	Bachelor degree with an overall mark of at least 70% or CGPA 3.5/5.0 or equivalent
South Korea	Bachelor degree from a leading university with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
Spain	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 2/4
Taiwan	Bachelor degree with overall mark of 70%-85% depending on your university
Thailand	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or equivalent
Turkey	Lisans Diplomasi with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 depending on your university
United Arab Emirates	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
USA	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3-3.5/4.0 depending on your university
Vietnam	Masters degree with CGPA 3.5/4.0 or equivalent

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

Additional admissions information

If you are a non-EU student and your qualifications (including English language) do not yet meet our entry requirements for admission directly to this degree, we offer a Pre-Masters entry route. For more information, refer to Pre-Masters.

Related programmes

• Advanced Computer Science MSc
• Advanced Mechanical Engineering MSc
• Automotive Engineering MSc
• Computational Mathematics MSc
• Computing with Digital Media MSc
• Corruption and Governance MA
• Development Economics MSc
• Economics Dip (Grad)
• Economics MSc
• Embedded Digital Systems MSc
• Evolutionary and Adaptive Systems MSc
• Human-Computer Interaction MSc
• Information Technology with Business and Management MSc
• Innovation and Sustainability for International Development MSc
• Intelligent Systems MSc
• International Economics MSc
• Science and Technology Policy MSc
• Sustainable Energy Technology 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

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

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

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 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 Bruce Hearn Emerging financial markets of Asia and Africa. 

Dr Surendranath Jory Mergers and acquisitions. 

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

Dr Marv Khammash Marketing and consumer research. 

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. 

Professor Robert Livingston Intergroup relations, managing cultural and ethnic diversity, conflict resolution. 

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. 

Dr Piera Morlacchi Entrepreneurship, organisation studies, technology. 

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

Dr Malcolm Stewart Global marketing, digital marketing, advertising and branding strategy. 

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

Professor Roger Strange Corporate governance and FDI decisions. 

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 Joana Vassilopolou Organisational behaviour, employment studies. 

Dr Jie Wen Banking and finance. 

Dr Mirela Xheneti Entrepreneurship in post-communist countries. 

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