Course overview

The effective use of information technology is vital to industry and commerce and hence the need for the provision of multi-disciplinary professionals with wide ranging information systems, computer and technology skills in a rapidly changing national and international environment.

Our MSc Information Systems course aims to equip you to work professionally within an information systems environment. In particular, the course aims to develop reflective academic skills and provide technical knowledge and skills associated with the development and management of information systems and related software and equipment.

Portsmouth has a reputation for providing a supportive and friendly atmosphere in which its students can quickly settle and enjoy their studies. By coming to Portsmouth you will experience a lively and modern learning environment with lectures, tutorials and web-based learning sessions. We have a long and distinguished record of running very successful degree courses and work at the leading edge of technology and learning methods.

The School of Computing runs a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in computing. The staff of more than 45 full and part-time academics and researchers are active in many subject areas including medical informatics, educational technology, networking and digital forensic investigation, and bring their enthusiasm for their subjects to their teaching.

The course suits applicants with a strong interest in computing, who have prior experience of the subject that they may have gained directly by previous study or indirectly through professional experience. Familiarity with a range of common computing software (word processing, spreadsheets, etc) and the internet is assumed. It is not necessary to have prior experience with computing programming or systems analysis. The course may also suit graduates of general computing degrees who wish to consolidate and extend their skills.

Course content

Information Systems Development: The unit prepares and enhances skills for industry with specialisation in the areas of the software process, systems design, object-oriented analysis and relational database development. It provides a balance between theoretical and practical elements.

Information Systems Management: This unit introduces students to the project management of IS/IT developments and encourages understanding of the techniques and methods currently used. It is based on monitoring and managing the activities in a project development life cycle, covering estimating and planning techniques, design, implementation and integration, project team building and motivation, configuration management and risk management. The unit requires students to consider project management techniques applicable to the development of current types of information system and to apply these techniques and methods specifically to the task of website development.

Interaction in Computer Systems: This unit introduces interaction with and by computer systems, and the role of computer systems and data communications in network environments. Concepts of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and ergonomics are introduced to students, and used to analyse and assess interactive systems in terms of accessibility and usability.

Web Development: Website design and development is a central skill for IS professionals. It involves not only a basic understanding of how websites are constructed and served, but also an understanding of how the websites function as part of a user-computer interactive system. This requires a developed understanding both of users, and of the information tasks they are trying to perform.

Master's Project: You will undertake EITHER an engineering unit or a study project, during the summer period.

The project offers students the opportunity to apply the taught material in the solution of a real-world problem directly related to their course. The engineering project usually involves building a piece of software to solve a problem. An example of the sort of thing you might do would be building an information system to address a specific organisation’s requirements. The study project usually involves undertaking a study of an information systems problem domain. An example of the sort of thing you might do for a study project would be an evaluation of the information systems impact of mobile devices on an organisation.

To prepare for this, during the first part of the course the project includes a number of preparatory sessions, which contribute to part of your final mark. This part of the project enables students to acquire essential skills in research methods and communication, and to consider the professional issues related to their work.

Teaching and assessment

You will be taught using a combination of formal lectures, tutorials and lab sessions. Each 30-credit unit has 48 hours of scheduled activities and in addition, requires significant time to be spent in private study, which may involve additional work on the computer or directed reading as appropriate to the unit.

You will encounter a range of assessment depending on the content and nature of the unit. This will almost certainly include coursework, supervised work sessions (day-long assessments, generally comprising both a group element and an individual section), examinations and at least one presentation. The most significant assessment element is the final MSc dissertation, which reports and reflects on the project undertaken during the latter stages of the course.

All students also have a personal tutor who can help with any personal or academic problems should they arise. Academic support is also available from the Tutor Centre and Maths Cafe.

Career prospects

Graduates from this course could enter into a wide variety of careers in the computing industry, progress onto computing research or use computing as an additional skill in support of their principal career. Most students undertake the MSc Information Systems course with a view to changing direction, be it as part of an IT company or an IT department of a company or local government organisation. Some students see the addition of these skills as enhancing their ability to undertake whatever tasks they were engaged in before undertaking the course.

Having completed the MSc programme, some graduates have continued an academic career by undertaking research study leading to a PhD, often with the aim of becoming a university lecturer or researcher.

Facilities and features

Our facilities include dedicated labs, newly refurbished and expanded in 2012, for:

• human computer interaction (usability) evaluation
• mobile application development and evaluation

The University Library is at the centre of academic life and is only a short walk away. Open from 8am until midnight every day during term-time, it provides a variety of information to help with study and research. It has also invested heavily in the purchase of electronic resources. There are thousands of electronic journals and ebooks, which can be accessed across campus and from home, or wherever there is an internet connection.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for MSc Information Systems are shown above, for more detailed information please contact:

Department: The School of Computing
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 2555
Email: technology.admissions@port.ac.uk