• Postgraduate

Information Systems MSc

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Overview

Overview

This MSc Information Systems course aims to give you a full understanding of how information systems (IS) are designed, constructed and integrated within organisations.

Your studies will take into account the large, varied and distributed structures of IS today, with multiple devices in different locations being used to access systems. 

We welcome students from different educational and professional backgrounds who have an interest in IS, and you will benefit from our highly supportive culture and extensive industry experience.

Extended Masters and Enhanced Extended Masters options

If you have an undergraduate degree but do not meet the entry criteria for this course, you may qualify for our Extended Masters or Enhanced Extended Masters courses.

These courses feature four specially designed modules which will improve your academic and English skills. Once completed you can progress directly onto the regular Masters course. See below for more information.

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Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Study options:
We support flexible study by offering some of our courses part-time or via distance learning. To give you real world experience before you graduate, we also offer some courses with a placement or internship. All available options are listed here. Your choices may affect some details of your course, such as the duration and cost per year. Please re-check the details on this page if you change your selection.

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

Why study Information Systems with us?

Why study Information Systems with us?

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What our students say…

UWL has truly state-of-the-art facilities. I feel like I'm learning something new every day.

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Industry focused teaching
Lifelong careers support from the UWL Careers Service.
study full time or part time
Course detail & modules

Course detail & modules

This MSc Information Systems will build on the knowledge and skills taught on traditional undergraduate computing courses. Expanding on this foundation, you will learn about the challenges and solutions for introducing IS into enterprises and organisations.

The success of any IS/IT strategy is largely dependent on specialists who recognise diverse business needs and understand how technology can support an organisation to achieve its goals. Your studies will cover system architecture and supporting technologies as well as the effective management and delivery of content and data. 

If you have not studied computing at undergraduate level, this course also provides a route to engage with the world of information systems. It will help you gain a full understanding of how information systems are designed and constructed, and of the impact of technology and its integration into an organisation.

The skills and knowledge that you will develop on the course, including those in practical work, report writing and critical academic writing, will prepare you to complete your final dissertation. 

Throughout the course, you will have access to laboratories and dedicated information and communications technology (ICT) suites, as well as specialist networks and software, the University library and digital resources. 

Extended Masters and Enhanced Extended Masters

Our Extended Masters and Enhanced Extended Masters courses are intended for students who already have an undergraduate degree but don't meet the entry requirements to study for a Masters degree.

Over a full-time semester, you will study four modules specially designed to improve your academic and English language skills:

  • Advanced Study Skills
  • Critical Thinking, Analysis and Evaluation
  • Statistics
  • English (Business English on the Enhanced course)

Once completed, you will progress directly onto the core Masters course.

What's the difference between an Extended Masters and an Enhanced Extended Masters? The Enhanced Extended Masters is similar to the Extended Masters but with a greater focus on improving your English skills. It also includes a Business English module which will allow you to gain a full understanding of this critical subject area.

For more information on our Extended Masters and Enhanced Extended Masters, please visit our Extended Masters courses page.

Internship*

You can also choose to take this course with an eight week internship at a relevant organisation. Companies throughout the UK offer internship opportunities and, if you choose this option, you can gain workplace experience, develop new skills and connect with potential employers.

There are four main types of study that can be chosen during the internship, through employer engagement:

  • Software development study
  • Research-focused study
  • IS case-study
  • Project management study.

You will have an academic supervisor throughout the duration of your internship module. Regular supervisory meetings will take place at the university during this period as you work on your  dissertation write-up before, during and after the completion of the internship.

*As we are in unprecedented and unpredictable times, there is no guarantee that you will be successful in securing a placement in the UK in the future.

If you choose a course with placement/internship route we would like to advise you that if a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route. This is to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.

The internship route for this course is open to UK students only.

You must take all compulsory modules and may choose one of the optional modules excluding Learning and Professional Development, Programming Support and Employability Skills and Employment which are additional support modules.

Learning and Professional Development is compulsory for international students.

Supporting modules

  • Employability Skills and Employment (for Internship students only)
  • Learning and Professional Development (for International students only)
  • Programming Support.

 

Compulsory modules

  • Consultancy and Technological Innovation

    On this module you will explore the skills needed to understand, and work in, the complex multi-sourced environment that supports business change. Focusing on the strategic management of leading-edge technology, you will examine the organisational structure of IT, including systems integrators and consultancy, and gain an overview of the IT consulting world, its principles and practice.

  • Digital Transformation and Innovation

    This module aims to provide you with an understanding of digital transformation in a range of organisational contexts.

    It will provide you with an understanding of digital disruption and how tools and frameworks can be applied in the planning and implementation of a digital transformation strategy for an organisation.

  • Human Computer Interaction for Information Systems

  • Big Data Analytics

    Big data is a fast-growing field and skills in the area are some of the most in-demand today. Big data technologies cover a range of architectures, frameworks and algorithms designed to handle very large and often highly complex datasets.

    The module will enable you to understand big data, its applications and associated issues for storing, managing, processing and analysing massive amounts of datasets, as well as become familiar with software tools and frameworks underpinning big data analytics.

    You will also acquire the knowledge of statistical, mathematical and machine-learning techniques, and develop the ability to design and implement big data analytics modelling and applications to real-world problems.

  • Research Methods

  • Project Dissertation

Optional modules

  • Principles of Project Management

    During this module you will be introduced to the concepts, principles and techniques needed for effective project management. The module covers the roles, responsibilities and skills required to work in ever-changing project environments and how these relate to effective project management.

  • Mobile Web Component Development

    During this module you will be introduced to the concepts and techniques required to support component-based development for mobile web. The module will also give you practical experience in modelling component specifications as well as an indication of future developments in this area.

  • Security Operations and Assurance

    This module will introduce you to security operations and assurance of systems, networks, data and user identities, which is an essential aspect of organisation and information systems.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

You should have an honours degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university or equivalent in computing, or business or engineering with a significant level of computing.  

We will also consider equivalent professional qualifications or a relevant HND provided you can demonstrate relevant work experience. In this case you will have to complete an interview with your application and some optional modules may not be available without a first degree in computing. All applications are considered individually. 

Find out more about our processes for recognising previous experience

Extended Masters Degree

To study the Extended Masters programme you will need:

  • a Bachelor's degree
  • international students need to meet our English language requirements of IELTS 6.5 or above and a minimum of 5.5 for each of the individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening).
Enhanced Extended Masters Degree

To study the Enhanced Extended Masters programme you will need:

  • a Bachelor's degree
  • international students must meet our English language requirements at IELTS 6.0 or above, and a minimum of 5.5 for each of the individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening).

Please note: If you qualify for a regular Masters, you will not be accepted on the Extended Masters or Enhanced Extended Masters course.

6.5 IELTS or above

You need to meet our English language requirement of 6.5 overall score for IELTS, with a minimum of 5.5 for each of the 4 individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening). Visit our English language requirements page for information on other English language tests we accept.

You also need academic qualifications at the same level as UK applicants. In some countries where teaching is in English, we may accept local qualifications. Check for local equivalents.

We offer pre-sessional English language courses if you do not meet these requirements. Find out more about our English Language courses.

Extended Masters Degree

To study the Extended Masters programme you will need:

  • a Bachelor's degree
  • international students need to meet our English language requirements of IELTS 6.5 or above and a minimum of 5.5 for each of the individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening).
Enhanced Extended Masters Degree

To study the Enhanced Extended Masters programme you will need:

  • a Bachelor's degree
  • international students must meet our English language requirements at IELTS 6.0 or above, and a minimum of 5.5 for each of the individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening).

Please note: If you qualify for a regular Masters, you will not be accepted on the Extended Masters or Enhanced Extended Masters course.

Fees & funding

Fees & funding

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Please note:

  • Fees for the 2026/27 academic year and onwards may be subject to Government regulation and change.
  • Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course. If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year.
  • If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.
  • If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

If you are studying a Masters course you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Loan, this may help contribute towards your course fees and living costs.

Additional funding is available to some types of students, such as disabled students or those with dependants.

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries, including awards for specific subjects.

Awards for computing and engineering students are also on offer.

Help with funding
{{ formatCurrencyValue(currentVariantData.field_p_cv_int_main_fee.name) }} per year*

Please note:

  • Fees for the 2026/27 academic year and onwards may be subject to Government regulation and change.
  • Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course. If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year.
  • If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.
  • If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

International students - funding your studies

We offer scholarships for international students including International Ambassador Scholarships. 

Further information about funding and financial support for international students is available from the UK Council for International Student Affairs.

 

Financial support for international students
Teaching staff

Teaching staff

Jose Abdelnour Nocera is wearing a blue suit and glasses, smiling in front of a white background

Professor Jose Abdelnour-Nocera

I am a Professor at UWL and lead the Sociotechnical Research Group for Innovation and User Experience. I co-chair the sociotechnical specialist group for the British Computer Society, and also chair the UNESCO IFIP TC 13.8 Working Group in Interaction Design for International Development. My interests lie in the sociotechnical and cultural aspects of systems design, development and use.

I am a Professor at UWL and lead the Sociotechnical Research Group for Innovation and User Experience. I co-chair the sociotechnical specialist group for the British Computer Society, and also chair the UNESCO IFIP TC 13.8 Working Group in Interaction Design for International Development. My interests lie in the sociotechnical and cultural aspects of systems design, development and use.

Study & career progression

Study & career progression

A man on a laptop whilst looking at a bank of servers

There is demand among employers for skilled IS and ICT professionals on both the development and service sides. Our graduates have been successful in finding employment in the private, public and voluntary sectors. Once you graduate, you could go on to work as a: 

  • data manager
  • information officer
  • information service staff
  • content or intelligence gatherer
  • analyst
  • researcher
  • searcher or intermediary – making sure network users have current information
  • librarian
  • advice or assistance worker
  • management information systems staff 
  • multimedia content manager

You could also apply to advance your studies with an MPhil or PhD, either at UWL or another institution.

How to apply

How to apply

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Important notes for applicants

Disclaimer

*Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and subsequent to, 1992.

**The National Student Survey 2023 and 2024 - Average of answers to all questions by registered student population. Excludes specialist institutions.

Testimonials - our students or former students provided all of our testimonials - often a student from the course but sometimes another student. For example, the testimonial often comes from another UWL student when the course is new.

Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.

Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming. In some cases a new Course Leader has joined the University since the video was filmed.

Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route we would like to advise you that if a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, this is to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.