MSc Information Systems - Organisations and Management: The University of Manchester

Course description

Organisations and Management is one of the four pathways for the MSc Information Systems course.

In the current financial climate, organisations are facing major challenges and having to adapt their business practices to survive. The internet, blogging, Web 2.0 and online auctions are changing the ways goods and services are sold, and the way organisations manage their daily work.  New organisational practice is essential to keep up with contemporary business practices.

This pathway gives you the critical knowledge to help companies face these new challenges. You look at organisational practice and how the potential application of information systems (IS) can help businesses improve their practices. You gain a much sought-after insight into how IS are related to organisational structures and management practices, and the effectiveness of both.

As well as providing a thorough understanding of IS and its use in business and organisational practice, this pathway also focuses on managing the relationship between people, organisations and technology in contemporary society.

You gain transferable employment-related skills to help you compete in today's business climate and to apply your knowledge and skills in a variety of contexts.

Module details

The course consists of two taught semesters followed by the dissertation.

You are required to study the following core options:

• IT Leadership Forum
• IS Research Methods and Practice
• Plus three core units:
• Application and Evaluation of IS
• Globalisation and IS Society
• IS Strategy and Enterprise Systems

You then take three optional course units  from a range of subjects available on the course.

Having completed the taught element of the course you will carry out an original piece of research. You will have a supervisor, who will discuss your choice of research project with you and advise and guide you through the process.

Career opportunities

Successful completion of the course provides an entry platform into a variety of career platforms ranging from systems analyst, project management, knowledge management and technology management careers. To date graduating students have obtained positions in organisations such as Accenture, Arcadia Group, CHP Consulting, HSBC, Ernst and Young, Merrill Lynch, and many International Governmental Departments.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview:

They normally look for a UK bachelor degree with upper second class honours, or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.

When assessing your academic record they take into account your grade average, position in class, references, and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification. They particularly welcome applications from institutions of high ranking and repute.

English language: If English is not your first language, you are required to take an English language test to prove your level of proficiency.

They accept the following tests and minimum scores:

• IELTS: 7.0 with no individual element below 6.0
• TOEFL Paper-based: 623
• TOEFL Internet-based: 100 with no individual element below 20
• Cambridge Proficiency Examination (CPE): Minimum grade C. Please note Cambridge First Certificate is not accepted.
• Cambridge Advanced Examination (CAE): Minimum grade B. Please note Cambridge First Certificate is not accepted.
• English for Academic Purposes (EAP): Minimum grade A with no element below C