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Business Information Systems, programmes, postgraduate level

MBS E-Commerce

"I researched a lot of courses. I found the MBS in Electronic Commerce here in Galway offered me a lot of choices after I graduated."
Des Flanagan
MBS Electronic Commerce, 2004
B. Commerce, 2003

Connect to our video clip below to see what Des Flanagan has to say.

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Read the transcript

Do you have or are you about to obtain a good undergraduate Commerce or related business degree and are you contemplating your next step? Perhaps you know already that you want to expand your knowledge of business and technology. Or perhaps you are not yet sure what is the best next step for you, but you know that you want to improve your employment prospects. To help you plan your way forward, consider the MBS in E-Commerce at NUI Galway.

On this page, find out:

Find out more - read about:

What you study on the MBS in Electronic Commerce
The work placement, lasting 6 to 9 months during the second year of the programme
Where you might work after graduation
Why choose the MBS in Electronic Commerce in NUI Galway as the next step in your career path.

What is the MBS in Electronic Commerce?

The MBS in Electronic Commerce is an intensive programme that builds on your business knowledge and introduces a wide range of technological skills. The work placement experience during the second year provides you with an invaluable opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills in a practical, working environment and in many cases, opens the door for you to a potential employer.

Delivered by the Business Information Systems group in the Faculty of Commerce, NUI Galway, this programme has quickly established a reputation for producing graduates with an excellent grounding in skills essential for the modern workplace. On this programme, you develop a comprehensive portfolio of business and analytical skills and you also develop extensive technical expertise. In addition, the progamme enhances your interpersonal skills, through group projects, presentations and other assignments, making MBS in Electronic Commerce graduates a very attractive proposition to a range of employers.

What are the entry requirements?

A second-class honours Bachelor of Commerce grade 2 or higher, or a similar level of academic achievement in an equivalent business degree is required to apply for a place on the MBS in Electronic Commerce.

How do I apply?

Download an application form or obtain an application form from Postgraduate Admissions Office NUI Galway (phone (091) 524411 Ext. 2199). You must also submit a Statement of Intent with the application form, outlining why you want to do the MBS in Electronic Commerce.

First round offers will be made on the basis of applications received from 18 March for 2005. Subsequent applications will be assessed on a rolling basis.

The MBS Selection Committee evaluates each applicant's academic record to date at the time of application and assesses the applicant's level of motivation as per the Statement of Intent. Previous computing and information technology experience is also considered.

If you are offered a place on the MBS in Electronic Commerce, to secure your place you must return a letter of acceptance by the date stipulated, together with a non-refundable deposit of €250, made payable to NUI Galway. The deposit is allowable against the programme fee.

What are the programme fees?

The M.Sc. ISM is partly funded through the European Union's European Social Fund (ESF). Under this scheme, students from within the European Union paid €1,200 for the academic year 2004-2005. The programme will be funded again for 2005-2006.

The programme fee for students from outside the European Union for the academic year 2004-2005 was €12,445.

Will I get a job?

The MBS in Electronic Commerce has been developed to respond to the changing needs of the marketplace. Employers seek postgraduates with the combination of business and technology skills and the experience of working in project teams that MBS in Electronic Commerce graduates have.

The knowledge and skills that you acquire during this programme can be utilised in many industry sectors. In spite of the well-documented decline in the technology sector in 2001/2002, graduates from this programme still quickly find starting positions, because with a combination of skills and expertise that can be utilised in any industry sector, you are not limited to jobs in the technology sector alone. The MBS in Electronic Commerce has the potential to open many doors for you: the precise direction that your career takes is up to you. Check out What destinations? for more information about where you may find your first position.

Frequently asked questions

How will I decide between the M.Sc. in Information Systems Management and the MBS in Electronic Commerce?

If you have a strong Commerce or related business degree, you can choose either the MBS in Electronic Commerce or the M.Sc. in Information Systems Management, whereas if you do not have a Commerce or related business degree, you can apply only for the M.Sc. in Information Systems Management. There is significant overlap between the two programmes and graduates of both programmes are equipped with a wide-ranging set of skills and great breadth in knowledge.

It takes you two years to achieve the Masters in Business Studies degree, whereas you achieve the M.Sc. in Information Systems Management in one year. There are significant benefits to be gained from the prospect of a paid work placement in the second year of the MBS.

Do I need my own laptop?

No, you do not need your own laptop to complete the MBS in Electronic Commerce. The Faculty of Commerce offers excellent computer facilities for postgraduate students, equipped with the latest hardware and software. However, the Commerce building is wired for wireless access, so if you do own a laptop, you will be able to use this facility also.

The MBS in Electronic Commerce is part-financed by the European Union,
under the Advanced Technical Skills programme of the European Social Fund.

Business Information Systems
This page was last updated Monday, April 20, 2009