Why this course?
Delivered by the top information science school in Scotland and top three in the UK, this is the only dual-recognised information management degree providing graduates with direct entry to two internationally-affiliated professional bodies.
Core subjects include:
- business systems analysis
- data analytics
- strategy and architecture
- information law
- introduction to cutting-edge technologies
In the era of big data, our professional graduates are driving the information society and digital economy as leaders, innovators, and managers in the areas of business, data, and technology.
The course has been developed in close consultation with industry practitioners and professional bodies and is for students who are new to the subject as well as those who looking to enhance their existing levels of knowledge and gain a professional qualification. It also offers the opportunity to undertake an MSc with placement where you'll have the opportunity to work within an organisation to get hands-on practical experience.
This course is delivered by the Department of Computer & Information Sciences. The department is an iSchool member, a partnership of the world's leading information science departments. Our staff are regular contributors to the leading international Information Science Index (ISI) ranked library and information science journals, and are directly engaged in professional practice.
You’ll study
Spanning computer and information sciences, business, and management science, this programme will provide you with the professional skills and knowledge to successfully:
- identify and analyse organisational business information needs
- contribute to the strategic development of information management capabilities within an organisation
- develop and deploy emerging information and communication technologies
- manage high-value enterprise information resources
When you graduate, you'll have gained:
- high demand business, data, and technology knowledge and skills
- practical business analysis experience via an embedded industrial engagement project
- direct entry to two internationally affiliated professional bodies: Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, and the Chartered Management Institute
You'll also develop other valuable transferable skills including effective presentation and writing research reports, which will further enhance your skills as an information leader.
Compulsory classes
Students take the following compulsory classes:
- Big Data Technologies
- Business Analysis
- Data Analytics
- Database and Web Systems Development
- Information Law
- Information Retrieval
- Information Systems (Enterprise) Architecture
- Research Methods
Dissertation
This is an individual research project on an approved topic. It allows you to pursue an area of specific interest, providing scope for original thought, research and presentation.
Accreditation
Information Management (MSc) is professionally accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals and further recognised by the Chartered Management Institute.
Graduates are entitled to become associate members of CILIP and are eligible for chartership leading to the award of MCLIP. Graduates are also entitled to associate membership of CMI (ACMI) and can progress to Member grade (MCMI) and finally Chartered manager.
Facilities
The Department of Computer & Information Sciences is based on levels 11 to 14 of the Livingstone Tower. We have a large quiet study zone and a large social zone for working on group activities.
There are three large computer laboratories within the department, each containing state-of-the-art equipment with over 175 dual boot Windows and Linux machines available. Each lab machine is equipped with up-to-date software.
All departmental machines are linked by a high-speed local area network and operate under a single network file system so you can access your files from any of our machines. High-speed wireless access is also available throughout the department.
The University has a large modern library which contains all of the materials that you need for your course. Many of the books are also available online electronically meaning they are available to all students at all times.
Course content
Diploma and MSc students follow the same instructional course for the first two semesters.
If you meet the standard required to proceed to MSc you’ll undertake a dissertation in the following three months.
Classes
Business Analysis
This class will:
- highlight the importance and role of business analysis as part of information systems development
- provide tools and techniques for the effective analysis and design of business information systems
- develop an understanding of their respective advantages, disadvantages and applicability
Data Analytics
The aims of this class are to help you:
- develop a critical awareness of the range of tools being marketed under the labels of decision support, business intelligence or more generally data analytics
- provide an understanding of the key algorithms and techniques which are embodied in data analytics solutions
- develop the ability to model real life optimisation problems
Information Systems Architecture
The aims of this class are to help you:
- apply systems thinking, and manage and communicate information systems complexity
- apply strategic analysis tools and techniques to ISA planning
- demonstrate functional knowledge of the individual architectural components of an ISA, and the technical relationship between components
- model and analyse services and business processes
Database & Web Systems Development
The aims of this class are to help you:
- display knowledge of the process of designing a database system, starting from an informal specification
- display skill in formulating database queries using SQL
- show an appreciation of the facilities and services which should be provided by a fully featured database management system
- demonstrate knowledge of commonly occurring data models
Information Retrieval
You'll learn to:
- critically examine a number of influential information seeking models
- provide understanding of research methodologies for studying human information behaviour
- examine important concepts, such as relevance, in the context of information seeking and retrieval
- examine how findings from information seeking theory and practise can inform the design of information access systems
- outline the theory and technology used to construct modern Information Retrieval and Access systems
- critically evaluate the assumptions behind the evaluation of Information Retrieval systems
Information Law
The aims of this class are to help you:
- understand the laws relating to the delivery of information services
- be aware of the implications for society of the various legal issues related to information and computing work
- understand the legal framework in which criminal investigations involving digital evidence are carried out
Big Data Technologies
This class will provide you with:
- an understanding of the new challenges posed by the advent for big data, as they refer to its modelling, storage, and access
- an understanding of the key algorithms and techniques which are embodied in data analytics solutions
- exposure to a number of different big data technologies and techniques, showing how they can achieve efficiency and scalability, while also addressing design trade-offs and their impacts
Research Methods
This class will enable you to:
- appreciate the nature and application of selected statistical methods
- appreciate the range of qualitative research methods
- write a research proposal
- develop a research methodology for a given research problem
MSc students
Dissertation
MSc students prepare a dissertation of up to 20,000 words on an approved topic.
This takes the form of an individual project on an approved topic, which allows you to pursue an area of specific interest, providing scope for original thought, research and presentation.
Learning & teaching
Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials and practical laboratories. Dissertation is by supervision.
Assessment
Coursework assignments involve:
- individual work
- group projects
- exams
- practical work in computer laboratories
For the award of the MSc, you’ll be required to complete an individual project under supervision. This should contain an element of original research.
Entry requirements
Minimum entry requirements: UK Bachelor’s degree at 2:1 or higher, or its equivalent if outside the UK.
Applicants whose first language is not English are normally required to have an IELTS score of 6.5.
Fees & funding
How much will my course cost?
2017/18
All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.
Information Management (MSc)
Scotland/EU
Rest of UK
International
How can I fund my course?
A number of scholarships are available for outstanding UK, EU and international applicants. For details, please visit our scholarship search.
Scottish and non-UK EU postgraduate students
Scottish and non-UK EU postgraduate students starting in 2017 may be able to apply for support from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). The support is in the form of a tuition fee loan and for eligible students a living cost loan. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from England
Students ordinarily resident in England can apply for Postgraduate support from Student Finance England. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from Wales
Postgraduate students starting in 2017 who are ordinarily resident in Wales can apply for support from Student Finance Wales. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. We are waiting on further information being released about this support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from Northern Ireland
Postgraduate students starting in 2017 who are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland can apply for support from Student Finance NI. The support is a tuition fee loan of up to £5,500. We are waiting on further information being released about this support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
International students
We have a large range of scholarships available to help you fund your studies. Check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Please note
The fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year. Find out more about fees.
Careers
Our highly skilled graduates are employed in a variety of roles across a wide range of industries. Among these roles are:
Previous employers of our graduates include:
- Arthur Anderson
- Cap Gemini
- Price Waterhouse Coopers
- Sun Microsystems
- IBM
- Compaq
- Tesco
- Ericsson
- Analysys
- Glaxo
- Standard Life
- British Council
- Ministry of Defence
- Royal Bank of Scotland
- ThinkAnalytics
- Capita
Strathclyde University provides a range of professional development services, including career support services introduced during induction and offered throughout the period of study and even after graduation, to help our students achieve their career ambitions. The Department of Computer & Information Sciences has one of the highest rates for Graduate Prospects in the UK (Complete University Guide, 2016).
Business Analyst
A business analyst is a person who uses analysis and design techniques to solve business problems using information technology. Business analysts identify organisational improvements needed, design new IT solutions, modify, enhance or adapt existing systems and integrate new features or improvements, all with the aim of improving business efficiency and productivity.
To achieve this they must liaise with and report to internal and external clients and stakeholders, including colleagues and developers. Business analysts possess a high level of technical expertise and clear insights into current business practices.
Data Analyst
A data analyst is a highly trained professional who performs an analysis of data, running various mathematical calculations to determine how the data samples might best be applied e.g. to profit the business.
A data analysis role includes importing, cleaning, transforming, validating or modelling data with the purpose of understanding or making conclusions from the data for decision making purposes.
Data analysts work in diverse domains including government, healthcare, social sciences, business etc.
Database Administrator/Analyst (DBA)
A database administrator/analyst (DBA) is responsible for the performance, integrity and security of a database.
DBAs are found working in all types of organisations, including large corporations and government, medium and small-sized companies. The role typically includes design, planning and development of the database, installation, configuration, migration, performance monitoring, security, troubleshooting, as well as backup and data recovery.
As part of the role DBAs will work closely with IT project managers and a range of programmers as well as technical, applications and operational staff. DBAs are also responsible for commissioning and installing new applications and customising existing applications in order to make them fit for purpose.
Enterprise Architect
The role of an enterprise architect is to apply IT resources to meet specific business requirements. This requires a high degree of technical expertise as well as business understanding.
Enterprise architects bring operational efficiency to an organisation through information integration and management. To do this they must understand the non-functional requirements of a business and ensure that these non-functional requirements are addressed by designing technical solutions.
Enterprise architects must communicate with and direct many key stakeholders within a business including managers, software developers, testers etc. Overall enterprise architects should provide technical leadership and be drivers of methodological and qualitative aspects of the development process with a business.
Information Security Manager
An Information Security manager is responsible for protection of information and information infrastructure assets against the risks of loss, misuse, disclosure or damage within an organisation.
They need to provide leadership and strategic direction for information security, including planning, budgeting, design, implementation, operation and maintenance of Information Security Management Systems, as well as motivational and promotional activities clarifying the value of information security.
They must liaise with and offer strategic direction to related departments (such as Physical Security/Facilities, Risk Management, IT, HR, Legal and Compliance) through senior and middle managers.
IT Test Manager
Within IT, test management most commonly refers to the activity of managing the computer software testing process. An IT test manager is responsible for maintaining the test team within an organisation and ensuring product and quality assurance is up to standard.
An IT test manager typically oversees the coordination of all testing activities during every stage of the test process, as well as coordination with senior executives on testing projects and strategies.
Authoritative guidance and advice to the test team is an important aspect of the job, as is advising on the practicality of the project.
Web Developer
A web developer is a programmer who specialises in the development of web applications. Web developers are found working in all types of organisations, including large corporations and government, medium and small-sized companies, or alone as freelancers.
Web developers typically implement all of the visual elements that users see and use in the web application (using technologies like HTML, JavaScript, CSS), as well as all the web services and backend software that are necessary to power the front-end (using technologies such as Perl, Python, Ruby, PHP, Java, ASP, .NET, .NET MVC).
Depending on the size and type of organisation, developers might work closely with people in other key roles including content creator/copy writers, marketing advisors, user experience designers, software architects, or database administrators - or they may be responsible for tasks such as web design or project management themselves.
