Program Overview

Information Technology Management via Study Centres MSc

Overview

The course is based at our partners in Kenya and Ghana, and mixes taught elements with independent research and supportive supervision. It is a direct response to the increasing demand for highly effective IT managers, and our aim is to equip you with the knowledge to become a valued professional, combining advanced technical expertise with strong managerial skills.

You will gain the specific IT knowledge of e-business models and the practical skills necessary for developing and implementing IT systems, alongside developing management skills.

Why us?

• You will undertake a real-world Masters project which will bring together the IT and management strands of the course
• Standards at partner study centres are the same as for UK-based courses
• All students who learn at the University of Sunderland via study centres receive a degree parchment from the University of Sunderland

Course structure

We use a wide variety of teaching and learning methods which include lectures, group work, research, discussion groups, seminars, tutorials and practical laboratory sessions. Compared to an undergraduate course, you will find that this Masters requires a higher level of independent working.

Assessment methods include individual written reports and research papers, practical assignments and the Masters project.

Course modules

Core modules:

• Research Skills and Academic Literacy (15 credits) This module covers research methods including qualitative and quantitative approaches. You will carry out literature surveys, data collection, data analysis, critical evaluation and appraisal of published work and data sets. You will also learn how to research and write a technical paper.
• Project Management and Control (30 credits) In this module you will cover project feasibility, identifying stakeholders and their requirements, measures of success and failure, financial evaluation and management. You will also cover project planning, project execution and project management methodologies as well as quality control.
• Managing People and Project Leadership (15 credits) This module covers organisational structure, team leadership, group dynamics, training and development of project team members, subcontractors, and joint/multiple ventures. You will also cover managing change; conflict and politics; power, decision-making, negotiation and collaboration in project teams; communication in project management including briefings and meetings; and the role of the project manager as co-ordinator and facilitator.
• Electronic Commerce (15 credits) This module examines trends, developments and standards associated with electronic commerce, networks and the internet. You will be exposed to e-business models, e-commerce classification, online trading mechanisms, B2C and B2B scenarios, application architectures, online transaction systems, supply chains, value chain management, customer relationship management, business process integration, interoperability and legacy system issues.
• Project Risk and Quality Management (15 credits) In this module you will analyse the pathology of information systems and reported cases of systems success and/or failure to determine key factors and techniques such as post-implementation reviews and risk checklists. You will also cover risk identification, analysis techniques, and generic risk management frameworks as well as evaluating the relationship between risks and opportunities.
• Intelligent Systems for Management (15 credits) You will explore tools, techniques and the latest developments in Intelligent Systems and their applications in management. You will also cover the systems approach, adaptive and learning systems, active information systems, machine-learning techniques, information management, knowledge management, intelligent knowledge-based systems, expert systems and data warehousing for decision support. You will study data mining in detail: the techniques; the methodologies; the best practices; and the use of techniques for business applications.
• Decision Support for Management (15 credits) You will study risk analysis including: risk definition, certainty, uncertainty, risk management methodology, and risk identification and quantification. You will also cover the applications available for decision support relating to project management problems.
• Masters Project (60 credits) You will undertake a real-world project with the support of a sponsor. It will include both a research and a practical element.

Facilities

This course is available at INtel College (Nairobi, Kenya) and BlueCrest College (Accra, Ghana).

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is:

• Qualification | Minimum grade
  • a bachelor's degree (3 years) | 2:2 classification

If you already hold a postgraduate qualification, please see our Applying for additional postgraduate degrees Help and Advice article.

If you don't meet our standard entry requirements, you can take one of the foundation pathways at our partners ONCAMPUS Sunderland. Find out more information and whether your course is eligible on our ONCAMPUS page.

If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at for further advice.

Please contact the study centre for more information on their specific requirements and equivalent qualifications from outside the UK.

Is your qualification not displaying here? For international qualifications, search our full list of international entry requirements for this course.

Fees and finance

Contact the relevant study centre for information on fees and finance.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Career ready

Employment of IT professionals through to 2020 is forecast to grow nearly twice as fast as the UK average. Postgraduates are highly employable and, on average, earn more than individuals whose highest qualification is an undergraduate degree.

Career options

Our specialist postgraduate training in IT management will enhance your employability and open up new job opportunities. On completing this course you will be equipped with the skills and knowledge for employment in any organisation with an IT department.

Potential roles include:

• Project leader
• Departmental manager
• Consultant
• Freelancer

Related courses

• BSc (Hons) Computer Systems Engineering (Top-Up) via Study Centres
• MSc Applied Data Science
• MSc Project Management via Study Centres