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Overview
Master technology and business skills, in a city buzzing with data-driven industries, on this MSc Information Systems.
Whether your background is in business or in information technology, you’ll build on your professional interest in combining them for effective commercial solutions. You’ll study the ways information systems unites these subjects, and develop your problem-solving skills and critical faculties.
You’ll graduate with the ability to investigate complex business situations, develop entrepreneurial solutions to problems, and communicate the value of your plans to the sector you’re working in. You’ll be eligible to register as a Chartered IT Professional (CITP), and you’ll be well placed to explore the modern business world from our London campus.
Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.
Your new home at UoP London
Get a feel for our purpose-built UoP London campus in the heart of lively Waltham Forest, the capital's first Borough of Culture.
Course highlights
- Focus on strategies that apply information technology to analyse and build innovative business solutions
- Develop your problem-solving, managerial and communication skills, so you can lead on delivering technical solutions at the heart of modern industry
- Join the course even if you don’t have a background in IT
- Register as a Chartered IT Professional (CITP) on graduation
The University of Portsmouth is ranked 5th of the modern universities for research quality in computer science and informatics
Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
Contact information
Modules
- Managing Information Systems – 30 credits
- Research Methods – 15 credits
- User Experience Design – 15 credits
- Web Product Development And Management – 30 credits
- Database Management – 15 credits
- Cyber Security And Information Systems – 15 credits
- Masters Project – 60 credits
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Careers and opportunities
Careers this Master’s prepares you for
You’ll be studying in our London campus, at the heart of the UK, where the technology sector reached a trillion-dollar value in 2022. You’ll also find information systems jobs in every sector, as modern business depends on the technological understanding you’ll bring.
During your study, you’ll be able to work on live data from active companies, demonstrating how your business analysis skills can be applied in industry. You’ll also be able to shape your final project to focus on the sector, or the skillset, you want to work with.
Graduates of the Portsmouth campus MSc have gone onto roles such as:
- Business intelligence developer
- Finance officer
- Software test analyst
The decision for pursuing a postgraduate is to improve my career prospects by allowing myself to develop opportunities to try different career paths. My undergraduate degree was purely technical and I’m opening to new ideas, which can enhance the knowledge I have attained.
How you'll spend your time
We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your Master's degree, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.
We'll give you as much indication here as we can of how much time you'll need to be on campus and how many hours you can expect to spend in self-directed study, but please note that these indications are always subject to change. You should receive your full timetable several weeks before you start with us.
Teaching
Master's study is deeper and more specialised than an undergraduate degree. This means you'll focus on something that really matters to you and your career as you work closely with academics committed to the subject.
You'll spend more time in independent study and research than you did for your undergraduate degree, but the majority of your teaching time will be in-person and face-to-face.
Teaching methods on this course include:
- seminars and workshops
- lectures
- tutorials
- lab sessions
You'll be encouraged to do independent work before seminars, develop a critical perspective on the theory and application of each week's topics, and enter into debate with your peers and lecturers.
Assessment
You'll be assessed through:
- written assignments
- presentations
- group and individual lab-based assessments
- final dissertation
Term dates
September start
The Master's academic year runs from September to the following September. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter. Over the summer you'll be writing your project / dissertation.
January start
Courses that start in January have the same amount of teaching as September-start courses, but they normally run over a longer time period.
January-start courses normally run between 14–18 months, beginning in January and ending in the spring / summer of the following year. There are breaks at Christmas, Easter and in the summer. In the last few months you’ll be writing your project / dissertation.
Joining us as an international student
You'll feel at home in our international community in London.
Learn more about international student life and how we can help you with visas, applications, arrival and settling in.
Supporting you
Master's study is more focused on independent learning than undergraduate study, but you'll get lots of support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff at our London campus to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:
- academic writing (such as essays, reports, dissertations, projects and literature reviews)
- reflective writing
- critical thinking skills
- delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
- understanding and using assignment feedback
- managing your time and workload
- revision and exam techniques
You'll also have access to a personal tutor to support you in your studies.
If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.
Costs and funding
Tuition fees
UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man students
- £9,900 (may be subject to annual increase)
EU students
- £20,800 (may be subject to annual increase)
International students
- £20,800 (may be subject to annual increase)
UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man students
- £10,400 (may be subject to annual increase)
EU students
- £20,800 (may be subject to annual increase)
International students
- £20,800 (may be subject to annual increase)
University of Portsmouth graduates may receive a 20% alumni tuition fee discount.
Fees are subject to annual increase. Read our tuition fees terms and conditions.
You'll be able to pay your fees in instalments. Find out how to pay your tuition fees.
Funding your studies
Explore how to fund your studies, including available scholarships and bursaries.
You may be eligible for a Government Postgraduate Master's Loan, which you can use to help with course fees and living costs.
Additional costs
These course-related costs aren't included in the tuition fees, so you'll need to budget for them when you plan your spending. Additional costs could include:
- Accommodation: Accommodation options and costs can be found on our accommodation pages.
- Recommended reading: You can borrow key texts from the library and if you choose to purchase these texts they may cost up to £60 each.
- General costs: Such as photocopying, memory sticks, printing charges, binding and specialist printing. We suggest budgeting £75 per year.
- Final project transport or accommodation: where necessary, which related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
Entry requirements
Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.
May 2024 start
- An upper second-class honours degree in a relevant subject, including Computer Sciences, Business or Social Sciences, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications.
Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.
Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.
To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification.
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 6.0.
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
- you have a UK degree
- you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
- you are a national of a majority English speaking country
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Apply
Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.
There's no deadline for applications to this course. We accept applications right up until the start dates in September and January, as long as there are places available. If you wait until your start month to apply, you may find that the course is full.
If you're applying as an international student, remember that you'll need to leave plenty of time to get your visa organised.
You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. International students, current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth also have some different application options, which are detailed below.
Extra information for international students
If you're an international student, you can apply directly to us using the same application form as UK students.
You could also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.
If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Ready to apply?
Standard applications
Start this course in May 2024
Start this course in September 2024
Start this course in January 2025
I'm a current Portsmouth student, or a recent Portsmouth graduate
If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2023, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:
- a shorter application form to complete
- access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
- a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses
After you apply
Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.
You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.
Learn more about how we assess your application.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.