Information Technology with Management (MSc) 2021 entry
The MSc in Information Technology with Management provides students from disciplines other than business and management with the knowledge and the analytical and critical skills needed to manage the information and communication technologies that underpin all successful business practice.
Key information
Course type
Postgraduate, leading to a Master of Science (MSc)
Course dates
- Start date: 6 September 2021
- End date: 30 September 2022
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.
Course duration
One year full time or two years part time
Entry requirements
A good 2.1 undergraduate Honours degree in a subject other than business or management. Students with a background in business, management or related subjects are advised to consider the Information Technology (MSc), the International Business (MLitt) or the Marketing (MLitt) programmes.
If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
English language proficiency
For direct entry to a Masters in Computer Science, you will be required to provide evidence of English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.
The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.
Tuition fees
Home: £11,990
Overseas: £24,240
Application deadline
14 June 2021. Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships and for international visa purposes. To maintain staff-student ratios, the University reserves the right to stop accepting applications once the programme is full.
Application requirements
- CV or résumé. This should include your personal details with a history of your education and employment to date.
- personal statement (optional)
- two original signed academic references
- academic transcripts and degree certificates. Please only provide certified copies with official English translations if applicable. Do not send original documents as they cannot be returned.
- evidence of English language proficiency (required if English is not your first language).
For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.
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Course information
The MSc in Information Technology with Management is a one-year taught programme run jointly by the School of Computer Science and the School of Management. The course consists of two semesters of taught modules followed by an 11-week project leading to the submission of a 15,000-word dissertation in August.
Highlights
- This course is an interdisciplinary programme combining the skills and experience of leading academics from the School of Management and the School of Computer Science.
- The programme teaches modern information and communication technologies and management techniques to prepare students for a career in IT management and other related areas.
- Students undertake a significant project, including a wide-ranging investigation leading to their dissertation, which enables them to consolidate and extend their specialist knowledge and critical thinking.
- Students have 24-hour access to modern computing laboratories, provisioned with dual-screen PC workstations and group-working facilities.
Teaching format
The taught portion of the MSc programme includes eight modules: three compulsory and five optional from a wide range available.
Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical classes. Most modules are assessed through practical coursework exercises and examinations.
Class sizes typically range from 10 to 50 students in Computer Science modules, and from 40 to 60 students in Management modules.
All students will be required to complete a Post Entry Language Assessment (PELA) on arrival at the University of St Andrews. Based on their performance in this assessment, students will be advised to attend targeted support sessions during the year to improve language and academic skills. This assessment is required, but will not count towards the final degree classification.
You will also be assigned an advisor who meets with you at the start of the year to discuss module choices and is available to assist with any academic difficulties during the year. A designated member of staff provides close supervision for the MSc project and dissertation.
Modules
The modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and assessment. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue which is for the 2020–2021 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2021 entry.
Students choose two or three compulsory modules from the following:
- Corporate Finance and Accounting: introduces students to the basic principles and practices of accounting and corporate finance.
- Managing Human Resources: covers both the strategic and operational requirements necessary to secure, develop, reward and retain employees.
- Marketing: Principles and Practice: introduces students to the nature and scope of marketing and its role in society.
- Strategic Management: develops students' knowledge and understanding of the strategy process and organisational responses to the rapidly changing global economy.
If students only take two compulsory modules from the compulsory Management modules, they may take one further optional Management module. Students also choose optional modules from a range available in Computer Science.
Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered; some may only allow limited numbers of students (see the University's position on curriculum development).
Computer Science optional modules
The following modules are optional for Computer Science programmes. Not all combinations of modules will be available for all programmes, and some modules are subject to pre-requisites being satisfied.
Here is a sample of optional modules that may be offered.
- Artificial Intelligence in Practice
- Artificial Intelligence Principles
- Critical Systems Engineering
- Database Management Systems
- Data-Intensive Systems
- Green Information Technology
- Human Computer Interaction Principles and Methods
- Information Security Management
- Information Technology Projects
- Information Visualisation
- Interactive Software and Hardware
- Knowledge Discovery and Datamining
- Language and Computation
- Masters Programming Projects
- Principles of Computer Communication Systems
- Programming Principles and Practice
- Software Architecture
- Software Engineering Practice
- Software Engineering Principles
- User-Centred Interaction Design
- Web Technologies
Management optional modules
- Alternative Investment
- Behavioural Finance
- Creative Marketing Communications
- Entrepreneurship and Business Planning
- Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creativity
- Ethics, Organisations and Management
- Financial Systems
- International Financial Management
- International Marketing
- Leadership in Organisations
- Managing Natural Resources
- Managing Non-Governmental Organisations
- Managing People in Global Markets
- Marketing and Society
- Risk Management
- Scenario Thinking and Strategy
During the second semester, students work with staff to define and agree upon a topic for the extended project, which they will work on during the final three months of the course. The project finishes in a 15,000-word dissertation. Dissertation projects may be group-based or completed individually (students are assessed individually in either case).
The dissertation typically comprises:
- a review of related work
- the extension of existing ideas or the development of new ideas
- the development of a software system or skilled use of one or more applications
- a critical analysis and evaluation of the project outputs.
Students are required to give a presentation of their work in addition to the written dissertation.
Each project is supervised by one or two members of staff in the School of Computer Science, typically through regular meetings and review of software and dissertation drafts.
If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MSc, there are exit awards available that allow suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MSc.
The modules listed here are indicative, and there is no guarantee they will run for 2021 entry. Take a look at the most up-to-date list of modules in the module catalogue.
Conferences and events
The School of Computer Science organises a regular programme of colloquia, talks and seminars by external and internal speakers from both industry and academia. The talks are aimed at bringing the diversity, excitement and impact of computer science from around the globe to staff and students within the School.
The St Andrews Computing Society (STACS) regularly organises hackathons and other events open to local and external participants, including MSc students. These are very popular events, often supported by industrial sponsors.
The Computer Science blog regularly publishes news and events.
The School of Management hosts events and guest lectures beginning in orientation week and throughout the year, providing students and staff with opportunities to socialise and to engage with visiting scholars, professionals and practitioners.
The Management Society, a student-led organisation, hosts a broad range of events and activities, both subject-related and social.
Students also have the opportunity to participate in the Masters Extra (MX) Programme, which includes guest lectures from eminent academics and business executives, specific sessions to enhance career development opportunities, and a range of corporate visits.
Funding
Jane M Klausman Women in Business Scholarship
For women pursuing a business or business-related degree.
Recent Graduate Discount
The University of St Andrews offers a 10% discount in postgraduate tuition fees to students who are eligible to graduate or who have graduated from St Andrews within the last three academic years and are starting a postgraduate programme with the University of St Andrews.
After the MSc
Research degrees
In addition to the MSc, the Schools offer a two-year Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree option in Information Technology with Management.
The EngD programme in Computer Science is a 4-year Engineering Doctorate involving an industrial partner and incorporating a 30-week taught component and a 170-week individual research component. Students who have already completed an MSc may be able to proceed directly to the individual research component of the EngD.
Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere. The School of Computer Science is highly rated for its theoretical and practical research in areas such as AI, symbolic computation, networking, distributed systems, human computer interaction, and systems engineering and offers research opportunities leading to a PhD in Computer Science.
Careers
Alumni of Computer Science MSc programmes have gone on to work in a variety of global, commercial, financial and research institutions, including:
- Amadeus
- Amazon
- Atlas
- Avaloq
- Barclays Capital
- BP
- BT Openreach
- Capricorn Ventis
- FactSet
- Hailo
- Hewlett Packard
- Hitachi Data Systems
- Microsoft
- OpenBet
- Rockstar
- Royal Bank of Scotland
- Sky
- Skyscanner
- Symantec
- TriSystems.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students on a taught postgraduate course and offers a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.
Contact
School of Computer Science
University of St Andrews
Jack Cole Building
North Haugh
St Andrews
KY16 9SS
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 3253
Email: msc-admin-cs@st-andrews.ac.uk
School of Management
University of St Andrews
The Gateway
North Haugh
St Andrews
KY16 9RJ
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2200
Email: pgmanagement@st-andrews.ac.uk
Policies
Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our admissions policy.
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.
Curriculum development
As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online.
Tuition fees
The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online.