Course description
The postgraduate Information Technology programme is delivered by full-time, part-time, and distance learning methods, enabling students to study at a time and place to suit work and other commitments.
It is designed particularly for those who have a degree in a non-IT area, and who wish to develop modern IT skills and knowledge. e-skills UK (2005) identified “The need for IT professionals who have excellent teamworking, analysis and project management skills, and who can design business-relevant systems and services.” The postgraduate IT programme will help satisfy this need.
The programme seeks to widen and deepen students’ understanding of modern IT-based systems; address related development, acquisition and deployment issues of such systems in modern organisations; and introduce business concepts that will enable them to appreciate and implement strategies by which information technology can be managed and utilised fully.
Successful postgraduate students are able to re-orient their career towards the IT industry or re-engage with the profession of their first undergraduate discipline having added relevant IT and business knowledge and skills.
Upon successful completion, students will be able to develop, acquire and deploy information technology-based systems in a variety of business settings. Understanding the business context and driving business case is key for the successful implementation of IT solutions in business organisations.
Course Contents
The postgraduate IT programme consists of a mix of core and option modules. The core modules broaden and deepen students’ understanding of the current IT field and enhance their skills base with modern, vocationally relevant skills. Students will study topics and develop skills in areas such as databases and networks for business organisations, object-oriented analysis and design methods, and modern IT systems development. The first trimester core provides a foundation from which each student can choose either technically-oriented or business-oriented subjects as their area of specialism.
Diploma students can choose to follow technically-oriented themes such as Oracle Application Development or Web Technology or business-oriented themes including eBusiness, Management and Project Management in the second trimester of studies.
Technically-oriented themes will enable students to focus on developing and fine-tuning technical skills such as programming, database design and developing and creating internet aware IT solutions for organisations. Business-oriented themes will enable students to develop skills and strategies that will help business organisations put together and manage appropriate IT-driven solutions. All students, regardless of the theme they follow, will have the opportunity to use a variety of up-to-date software applications used in modern businesses.
Students can complete their Masters dissertation whilst working in industry. Further information regarding the postgraduate IT programme content is available on the University website.
Career Prospects
The postgraduate IT programme is career-focused and vocationally relevant. It equips students with the advanced knowledge and skills required for a successful IT career in business organisations. Recent graduates of the programme are employed in companies such as IBM, T-Mobile, CAP-Gemini, Amazon and Adobe Systems and SMEs. They have gained positions such as Business Systems Analyst, Consultant and Website Manager, Network Manager and Systems Developer.
