Overview

All modern businesses depend upon sophisticated information systems. They are used to support day-to-day operations, to plan strategically for the future, and to manipulate gathered data to gain a competitive advantage. On this course, you will study computing, information technology and business. You will cultivate the knowledge, skills and experience needed for a career designing and implementing computer-based systems in a business environment. You’ll also be well equipped for a career as a consultant or manager, with expertise in information systems and their use in business. You’ll also spend a year in industry, giving you first-hand knowledge of how your chosen field operates as well as valuable career-building contacts. Throughout your course, you’ll benefit from the combined expertise of the School of Computing Sciences and Norwich Business School. Our flexible approach enables you to choose subjects that interest you and that are aligned with your career aspirations.

About This Course

This course will ensure you’re fully equipped for a career in business information systems and are totally up to date on what the industry needs right now. This programme combines in-depth teaching on the capabilities of business systems and a thorough grounding in the operations of contemporary businesses. By studying these crucial and exciting subjects you will also develop skills applicable to the wider employment sector, such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication, organisation, and time keeping. The relatively recent move to more iterative computer systems development methods has had a knock-on effect on the skills and knowledge required from developers. As a developer, you are now expected to be able to work in small multi-skilled teams alongside your business users. That means you don’t just need technical competence but also the ability to be flexible, creative and a good communicator. Above all you need to be able to speak your customer’s language – with an understanding of businesses and how they operate. Our external visiting speakers emphasise this point again and again – so we ensure that our business information systems courses give you this important mix of skills. In your first year, you’ll get a thorough grounding in quantitative methods, systems development, programming and databases, while also learning about business and organisational behaviour. Over the next two years, you’ll explore systems analysis, operations strategy and management, systems engineering and organisational information systems. You will also be able to select from a wide range of optional modules, allowing you to tailor your own degree to concentrate on your computing expertise, your business knowledge, or a valuable balance between the two. In your year in industry, you’ll put what you’ve learnt to practice, gaining new skills and building links with potential employers such as Aviva, Bloomberg and IBM. Another benefit is that you’ll pay a much-reduced tuition fee for your placement year, and you’ll be paid – a great way to help fund your studies. In your final year, you’ll have the option to complete a final year project pulling together the business and computing aspects of your degree.