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gy206 b.sc. in business information systems

degree structure

The B.Sc. in Business Information Systems is a four-year degree programme. Life for a BIS student in each year involves a combination of lectures, applied teaching sessions based in computer suites and tutorials (read the student profiles to learn more). Significant emphasis is placed on individual and group assignments, focusing on developing both applied technology skills and key interpersonal skills. The degree is structured as follows: (Click Here for a printer friendly version)

What is first year like?

First year concentrates on developing a basic knowledge of business skills and related technologies. Most subjects have a continuous assessment component, which means you complete assignments and/or projects during the year. Final assessment in all subjects is through written examinations in May.

The first year of the B.Sc. in Business Information Systems assumes that everyone is starting from the beginning, so prior knowledge of the subject areas is not essential.

In first year, you attend approximately 15 hours lectures per week and have an average of 5 hours of tutorials per week. There are also dedicated sessions in the computer suites where a teaching assistant is available to help you on an individual basis with your practical work.

What will I study in first year?  

In first year, you study Accounting, Economics, Information Systems Technology, Business Application Development, Business Systems Analysis and Design, and Management Information Systems.

The objectives of these first year courses are to get you started in a number of different areas:

• To give you the skills necessary to being to interpret and use accounting and financial information in a business context
• To provide you with a good grounding in business analysis
• To give you a foundation in information systems
• To provide you with a specific knowledge of software, programming languages, systems analysis and design techniques

As stated above, prior knowledge of any subject area is not essential.

Throughout first year, you complete a number of assignments. Some of these are individual assignments, some are group assignments. Academic staff provide close supervision of these assignments to ensure that all individuals and groups make progress.

What are second, third and fourth year like?

Each year after first year is divided into two semesters, with examinations in December at the end of the first semester and in late April/May at the end of the second semester. In each year, there is continuous assessment, through assignments and projects.

In second year, you build on the concepts already learned and expand further on the skills acquired in first year. You study Business Management, Quantitative Techniques for Business, Information Systems Management, Management Accounting, E-Business, Enterprise Systems, Web & Multimedia Application Development, Networks & Communications, Database Systems and more Business Application Development.

Group assignments are emphasised even more in second year and the makeup of the groups is changed for each assignment. Therefore, you get to work with many different types of people with different levels of skill and knowledge, working to tight deadlines, a good rehearsal for teamwork in real work environments.

The first semester in third year concentrates on developing applied skills, learning how to use various technologies in a business environment. In addition to approximately 12 hours of lectures, there are up to 12 hours of tutorials each week, where academic staff work with you to enhance your practical skills to prepare you for your work placement. You study Marketing Principles, Applied Systems Analysis and E-Business Technologies as well as continuing with Advanced Programming, Database Systems and more. There are examinations at the end of the first semester. You complete a major group assignment during the first semester, which spans a number of subjects and which accounts for 30 per cent of the marks.

During the second semester in third year, you undertake a work placement, using the skills and knowledge that you have learned in a real business environment.

The fourth and final year draws together the knowledge and experiences that you will have acquired thus far with strategic business planning and organisational change management. You study Management Decision Systems, Information Systems Strategy & Planning, Business Systems Engineering, Organisational Development & Change Management, Business Systems Engineering, Business Finance, E-Business Technologies, Economics of Technology & Electronic Markets and Strategy.

You also complete a major project, where you can implement the knowledge and skills you have gained over the four years of the programme. This project may in some cases be linked to your work placement, with the potential for some collaboration with your placement company.

There is also a seminar series in fourth year, where a range of topics are discussed, with a view to develop in students an understanding of theoretical developments in information systems.

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