BSc (Hons)
Business Information Systems
Combining technical and managerial knowledge of information systems
Course Overview
Why take this course?
Today businesses are driven by the information they offer and more often than not, this is via modern systems using networked computers, the web and large scale databases. This course provides you with the technical and managerial understanding to develop and manage such information systems. The combined abilities of a professional information systems designer who understands the needs of a business, is an extremely employable asset.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Apply your skills to real-life practical problems as part of the department’s partnership scheme with charities, local and global organisations
- Use our fully equipped multi-platform suites and computer labs to enhance your learning experience
- Opt to do a salaried placement year
What opportunities might it lead to?
Accredited by the Chartered Institute for IT (formerly British Computer Society), this course will enable you to gain Chartered IT Professional status and carries exemptions from the professional examinations needed to gain Chartered Engineer and Chartered Scientist status.
Studying this degree will provide a solid foundation for building a career in the business information systems arena.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- IT management
- network design
- software engineering
- computer programming
- web development
One of the best things about the course is it's very hands on. You learn by doing and not just theory.
Katie Tuffrey, computing student 2012
Key Facts
- UCAS Course Code:
- G521
- Duration
- 3 years full time, 4 years sandwich with work placement
- Entry
260-300 points to include 160 points from a minimum of 2 A Levels, or equivalent.
Other qualifications- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £8,750 p/a*
International full-time students: £11,900 p/a*
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- technology.admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 2555 - Department
- School of Computing
Subject:
Computing and Creative Technologies
Find out what our students say about studying at Portsmouth, including:
- Hands-on, practical work and real-life learning, which is transferable to future careers
- Modern facilities and access to the latest technology including numerous computer labs, TV studios and a motion capture suite
- Approachable lecturers who have experience and contacts in the industry
Visit us at our open day
Wed 10 Jul
Structure & Teaching
Year one
Your first year provides a solid technical foundation, which involves a practically based understanding of how computers work and how software systems are developed. You’ll also be introduced to how such systems are applied in a business context and use case studies to explore what works well in modern business practice.
Core units in this year include:
- Business Systems Analysis and Design
- Comp Tutorial Level 4
- Computer and Network Management
- Introduction to Database Design and Development
- Introduction to Web Programming
- Social and Legal Aspects of Computing
- Web Foundations 1
Year two
The main focus this year will continue to be on information systems and business systems analysis. You’ll also have a choice of topics from computer science and information systems disciplines, enabling you to focus on computing topics or those with more of a business or programming flavour.
You will focus on the following core units:
- Business information Analysis
- Business Systems Analysis
- Comp Tutorial Level 5
- Database Principles
- E-Commerce Infrastructure and Technologies
- Information Systems and Project Management
- Work, Social Media and Research in the Information Society
Options you will choose from in this year include:
- Business Information Systems Security
- Mobile Business
- Getting Usability into Development Environments
Year three*
By your final year you will have a good understanding of industry-standard techniques, equipment and software packages. Alongside some further units on information systems management and project management, you’ll be expected to put your new skills into practice in a large-scale personal project. This final year project gives you the freedom to analyse, design, build and evaluate your own work.
You will focus on the following core units:
- Comp Tutorial Level 6
- Information Systems Management
- Project Management for Information Systems
- Final Year Study Project
Options you will choose from in this year include:
- Advanced Topics in Internet Systems
- Business Intelligence
- E-Commerce : A Critical Evaluation of Technology (A)
- IT Operational Service Management
*This course is also available as a 4-year sandwich (work placement)
Teaching and Assessment
Here at the University, we aim to provide a lively and modern learning environment. During this course you will experience a mixture of lectures, tutorials, laboratory and project work. While lecture classes can be large, the more personal approach of seminars and tutorials offer more one-to-one support from our expert academics.
How are you assessed?
We assess you in a ways that encourage a deeper understanding and allow you to develop your skills including through:
- multiple choice tests
- essays
- written exams
- mini projects
- presentations
- review articles
Visit us open day
Facilities & Features
Specialist Software and Equipment
You’ll have a range of excellent resources at your fingertips
Tutor Centre
A one-stop academic help and support resource
Maths Café
The Maths Café - drop in any time and get one-to-one help
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information
Specialist Software and Equipment
A full range of industry software will be available for you to use in the computer labs, supported by multi-platform network suites offering a variety of operating systems. You’ll have a range of excellent resources at your fingertips including:
- the network laboratory
- Cisco equipment
- ECAD and software development suites
- analogue and digital electronics
- microprocessors
- telecommunications and control systems
- Linux, Windows and Unix systems
Tutor Centre
A one-stop academic help and support resource for all School of Computing students. Need help understanding your assessments? Want to talk to someone about your project or about that programming problem? This is the place to go.
Maths Café
Drop in any time and get one-to-one help with that tricky maths or stats problem. With handouts on key topics to take away and computer-aided learning packages, we can get the problem solved and help you improve your numeracy skills.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
On completing this course, you will possess a dynamic combination of technical ability, information systems development and management knowledge, plus a solid grasp of business processes. Our graduates have secured roles within computer design and software houses, computer services consultancies, internet and communications companies, and data systems organisations. It’s also fairly common for our graduates to be snapped up by the employer they worked for in their placement year. Others continue their study at both MSc and PhD levels.
Overall you will be well qualified for many of the major computing graduate programmes or employment in varied fields of the computing industry.
Roles our graduates have taken on include:
- business continuity analyst
- software engineer
- analyst programmer
- systems consultant
- web developer
- systems analyst
Work experience
The best way to boost your CV is by doing an industry placement. This is a great opportunity to put your developing skills into practice in an industrial or commercial setting – and be paid for it! Taking a year in industry is extremely effective way to increase your employability for when you finish the course. You may even find that your placement employer hires you once you graduate.
Our team at the Student Placement and Employability Centre (SPEC) ensure you have access to a range of volunteering and work experience opportunities. We also offer support during your year-long industrial placements, and provide support for the different types of application processes.
Here are some examples of the roles our students have secured for their placements:
- Service Desk Engineer at Xyratex
- Technical Services Consultant at Hewlett Packard
- IT Business Analyst Intern at Intel
Career planning
6.04 minutes
Finding a job is a competitive business, but the statistics show that 89 per cent of our 2011graduates went into employment, further study or training within six months of finishing their degrees.
To make sure you take the right steps on your career path, we’re here to give you help, support and advice throughout your study. Even after you’ve graduated, we continue to give you support for up to five years.
Employers tell us that they want graduates to be able to demonstrate certain skills when they come out of university. Our courses take account of this. We make sure we prepare you for employment through work-related learning, projects, placements and working in simulated environments that are designed to prepare you for the working world.
Open Day
Our next open day is Wed 10 July
VISIT US! Have a look around and get a feel for what it’s like to live and study here. We’ll be on hand to talk to you about your course interests and show you all of our amazing facilities. You’ll also get to meet tutors and other students…
Application, Fees and Funding — find out more