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Information Systems Management (MSc, full-time or part-time)

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Course Overview

This programme is designed as a specialist course which assists students in blending their existing talents with the technological skills and business knowledge needed to design, develop, use and manage information systems within modern organisations. 

Students gain practical knowledge of business systems analysis and design; project management; database design; applications development; business information technologies; Internet and multimedia development; and the business context of IS development and management. Specialised aspects are also covered, such as: human-computer interaction, information systems security, enterprise systems, business analytics and decision support systems, electronic commerce, and IS innovation.

The teaching approach places a strong emphasis on hands-on skills and problem-based learning. Students are required to a Major Project (30 ECTS ) which typically involves working in a team of 3-5 students with a local community group or organisation to design, develop and implement an information system or technical solution to better serve their needs.

HPE Award

The Hewlett Packard Prize in Systems Analysis will be awarded to the student in the M.Sc. in Information Systems Management Programme (full-time and part-time) who attains the highest aggregate score across modules MS804 (Systems Development and Project Management), MS805 (Database Systems) and MS821 (Applied Systems Analysis). To be eligible for this prize, the student must pass all three modules at the first attempt and within one academic year of entering the programme. Students who are exempted from taking these modules are not eligible for this prize. HPEX

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Applications and Selections

Applications are made online via The Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC). Relevant PAC application code(s) above.

Who Teaches this Course

Requirements and Assessment

Semester One exams: December. Semester Two exams: May.

A range of assessment methods are integrated and assessed throughout the programme. These include essays, projects, reports, multiple choice quizzes, presentations, case studies and collaborative activities.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Applicants should normally hold a qualification from a university or other internationally recognised academic institution or authority, corresponding to Level 8 of the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), to a minimum standard of Second Class Honours (or  equivalent). It is expected that successful applicants will come from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds, with prior exposure to information technology and/or business.

Additional Requirements

Duration

1 year, full-time 2 years, part-time

Next start date

September 2017

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

45 (full-time) 10 (part-time)

Closing Date

Please refer to the offer rounds/closing date webpage.


 

Next start date

September 2017

NFQ level

Mode of study

Taught


For part-time students the on-campus commitment is generally one full day per week. For first year part-time students it is on Thursday and for second year part-time students it is on Tuesday.

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

PAC code

GYC24, full-time
GYC25, part-time

Course Outline

The subjects taught on the course are: Web Design and Development, Interactive Systems Design, Business Data Communications, Systems Development and Project Management, Database Systems, Business Applications Programming, Information Systems Management, Enterprise Systems, Applied Systems Analysis, Project, Information Systems Strategy and Innovation, Information Systems Security and Ethics, Decision Systems and Business Analytics and Advanced Applications Programming.

There is also a major group project to be completed by the end of June. In teaching these subjects, a variety of sought-after technical skills are covered using leading-edge industry software such as: SQL, Visual Basic, Java, HTML, CSS, XML, PHP, Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop, Visual Paradigm, DBDesigner, Microsoft Visio, UML, Linux, database design, business process modelling, usability / accessibility principles and software quality techniques. A strength of the MSc is that all of the technical skills are taught using examples, practical exercises and projects drawn from the world of business. Our focus is very much on the application of technology to business.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Extensive career opportunities exist for graduates of the MSc in Information Systems Management with companies in a wide variety of sectors, in Ireland and abroad. Employers in Ireland of last year’s graduates include Hewlett Packard, Bearing Point Consulting, Information Mosaic, Ericsson, Medtronic, Avaya, Metalogic, Paddy Power, XILINX and Dell Computers.

Who’s Suited to This Course

The MSc in ISM works in both ways for prospective applicants. For those with a low level of technical exposure who feel the need to expand their technical skills the course offers up to date IT and computing knowledge for use in a business or organizational context. On the other hand it is also ideally suited for those with a number of year’s technical background that need to develop people and business skills—as one graduate put it: “… they could reap the benefits of the course most as they could move into consultant and project manager roles straight after completing the course.”

We have graduates from all backgrounds: business, arts, science, engineering, and technology! They bring their skills to the programme and leave with a wider skill set and toolset at their disposal.

Learning Outcomes

 

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€5,000 p.a. 2017/18

Fees: Tuition

€4,776 p.a. 2017/18

Fees: Student levy

€224 p.a. 2017/18

Fees: Non EU

€13,250 p.a. 2017/18

 EU Full time programme:  €5,000 [GYC24]; Part time programme:  €3,095 p.a. [GYC25].

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €2,000 towards your tuition.  You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee.  An F5 grant is where SUSI will pay TUITION up to a maximum of €6,270.  SUSI will not cover the student levy of €224.

Postgraduate fee breakdown = tuition (EU or NON EU) + student levy as outlined above.

Find out More

Ms Emma Brinton
T +353 91 492 308
E emma.brinton@nuigalway.ie

What Our Students Say

Joe

Joe Joyce |   Graduate (2015)

I've been working as a Business Analyst with SQS since just after my summer exams, and the MSc in ISM has proved to be a great asset. Business Analysis requires a combination of good business acumen and technical knowledge. With that in mind, I feel this course is the perfect place to start for someone considering a career in this line of work. Modules such as Applied Systems Analysis and Systems Development and Project Management provided me with exposure to tools and techniques that are frequently used by Business Analysts such as Use Case modelling, process mapping techniques and approaches to stakeholder management. It only took a few weeks in my new position to realise just how useful the MSc in ISM would continue to be long after exams had finished!
Srinivasan

Srinivasan Arumugam |   MSc in Information Systems Management

The programme has students from different cultures, backgrounds and countries. It provides you the essential hands on required for the competitive corporate world. IT firms like Accenture, HP, Deloitte, Avaya and many, provide job-related seminars and Challenges to interact directly with student who are in this programme.
Richard

Richard Carr |   Technical Engineer - CMS Peripherals

I have been working with CMS Peripherals since immediately after the exams. My role as a Technical Engineer involves me gaining accreditations from the world’s leading IT companies like Microsoft, Symantec, Commvault and Vmware, implementing Professional Services and installs of backup solutions for companies in the UK and Ireland. It also involves a lot of travel in Ireland, the UK and Europe. The modules of the MSc in ISM have helped me enormously. It is a great course that gives non-technical students a feel of a technical environment.
Danielle

Danielle Ahearne |   MSc. ISM Postgraduate '16-17'

This course has strengthened many of my skills and expertise; from innovative thinking, to critiquing and analysing, as well as developing my soft skills which are extremely useful to have in the workplace. This course has strengthened many of my skills and expertise; from innovative thinking, to critiquing and analysing, as well as developing my soft skills which are extremely useful to have in the workplace. I would recommend this course to anyone looking to further enhance their business and system analysis skills, and wishing to gain some practical experience in system development. I would recommend this course to anyone looking to further enhance their business and system analysis skills, and wishing to gain some practical experience in system development.

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