Business in Technology - Degree Apprenticeship MSc

Program Overview

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MSc Business in Technology - Degree Apprenticeship

Overview

Advancing business and leadership capability in a tech-powered world.

Summary

Ulster University's MSc Business in Technology (MBT), the first of its kind in the UK, was created to meet the increasing demand for professionals with both business acumen and technological expertise. Co-designed with industry, this award-winning course aims to equip professionals with the skills needed to navigate the business-technology nexus and lead, influence, and drive transformation and organisational growth. This course is ideal for individuals seeking to advance their careers in senior management and leadership roles within the technology or professional services sectors.

Degree Apprenticeships at Ulster University

A Degree Apprenticeship is a work-based training programme that provides an alternative route to getting a University Degree, where Apprentices complete their course alongside paid permanent employment.

Degree Apprenticeships involve integrated learning - you’ll gain practical experience that will inform your learning, and with mentorship support, you’ll apply what you study to your work within your organisation.

Degree Apprenticeships are funded by the Department for the Economy, so you can complete your undergraduate degree without having to pay tuition fees.

When to Apply

You should apply for a Degree Apprenticeship programme once your Apprenticeship employer has made you an offer of employment.

For details of all available job opportunities, please complete the enquiry form below and our course team will get in touch.

To be eligible to apply for a Degree Apprenticeship, you and your employer must meet all of the scheme’s eligibility criteria.

You must also meet the minimum academic entry requirements for the course you intend to study.

About this course

About

The MSc Business in Technology (MBT) aims to advance business acumen and leadership capability in a tech-powered world. This interdisciplinary capability is crucial for effective leadership in today’s tech-centric environment. By combining business acumen, leadership capabilities, and technology expertise, leaders are equipped to navigate the business-technology nexus, make strategic decisions, create value, drive innovation, respond to market changes, and mitigate risks.

The MBT program was developed through extensive industry collaboration, ensuring its curriculum is closely aligned with industry and leadership demands. The course includes a diverse mix of business and technology modules.

Year 1

• Business Analysis and Consulting
• Stakeholder and Client Management
• Tech and Data Science in Consulting
• Consultancy in Practice

Year 2

• Strategy and Transformation
• Leadership and Transformation
• Tech Operations in Transformation
• Transformation in Practice

Year 3

• Capstone Transformation Project

The MBT uses a mix of applied theory, practical teaching and ‘real world’ project-based learning to develop the business acumen and leadership skills required to manage and lead transformation and sustainable change. This course encourages collaboration and building a community of learners, providing the opportunity to explore ideas, network, and learn with like-minded people.

There is also an option to apply to our PGCert Business Analysis and Consulting (which forms part of this Masters degree).

Attendance

This is a 3-year part-time course that requires you to attend a 1 x 3-hour weekly class and study pre-recorded video tutorials in your own time.

Start dates

• September 2025

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

The course employs a distinctive blended delivery mode, combining on-campus instruction with online learning. Online learning will encompass both real-time (synchronous) and self-paced (asynchronous) components. The asynchronous online learning will consist of pre-recorded lectures and prepared resources that students can access at their convenience to accommodate their individual circumstances.

Assessment is entirely coursework-based, including both individual and group assignments. The course integrates work-based and project-based learning approaches to ensure the practical application of theoretical knowledge. Students will participate in real-world projects and scenarios, which may involve consultancy assignments sourced from industry, employee work projects, or detailed case studies. Assessments will include reports and business case writing, project plans, business simulation tasks, presentations, and learning logs.

Modules

Year one

Business Analysis and Consulting

Year: 1

Status: C

The aim of this module is to provide the skills and capabilities required to undertake effective business analysis to manage and implement change. It focuses on developing the practical, evaluative and analytical skills required to influence and develop strategy and performance that achieve sustainable outcomes. Subjects covered in include business analysis tools and processes, understanding and evaluating business needs, business problem solving, benefits realisation and impact measurement.

Stakeholder and Client Management

Year: 1

Status: C

This module aims to enable participants to apply the principles and practices of effective stakeholder and client management, particularly in implementing sustainable change and delivering sustainable outcomes. The module will develop the skills and capabilities required to influence and manage key stakeholders and manage clients. Subjects covered include stakeholder analysis, client and stakeholder management and influencing and negotiating.

Year two

Consultancy in Practice

Year: 2

Status: C

This module aims to develop and apply valuable business analysis and consulting skills; in particular, business investigation and analysis, reporting, benefits realisation and stakeholder and client management. The module uses project-based learning methodologies to provide students with an understanding of how business analysis and consulting skills and knowledge can be applied to a 'real life' consulting project. This is particularly relevant to students requiring an understanding of business analysis to strengthen their progression on a management career path within the Business Analyst/Consulting sector.

Transformation in Practice

Year: 2

Status: C

This module provides an opportunity for students to apply the principles and practices of transformation management and leadership through a live consulting project. The module uses work-based learning to provide students with real-life work experiences where they can apply transformation management and leadership theories, concepts and tools. The module also explores the role and application of tech and data in transformation.

Leadership and Transformation

Year: 2

Status: C

This module provides students with in-depth knowledge of leading transformation within the organisational context. It will equip students with an in-depth understanding and ability to critique and appreciate the key concepts and theories of leadership development in the context of transformation management and building and leading teams for effective transformation execution.

Strategy and Transformation

Year: 2

Status: C

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of strategy and transformation in a range of organisational contexts. It will provide students with an understanding of how tools and techniques can be applied in the planning and implementation of strategy and transformation.

Capstone Transformation Project

Year: 2

Status: C

The Transformation Project enables students to apply the theoretical concepts encountered on the MSc Business and Technology (MBT) to a "live" management issue. In doing so they choose appropriate research methodologies, gather data and make conclusions and recommendations to the host organisation.

Tech and Data Science in Consulting

Year: 2

Status: C

This module aims to explore a variety of data storage, management and analysis paradigms in order to enables students to effectively understand the OSEMN data science pipeline.

Within this module, the OSEMN pipeline will be applied to obtaining meaning and insights from an array of disparate data sources which align to the definition of big data.

Tech Operations in Transformation

Year: 2

Status: C

This module aims to explore a range of modern development and deployment concepts in the context of scalable cloud computing infrastructure such as AWS and Azure.

Within this module concepts such as containerisation, Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery, cloud architectures and infrastructure will be explored.

Year three

Business Research Skills

Year: 3

Status: C

Research is imperative for implementing change, transformation management and making informed business decision making. The aim of this module is to facilitate an understanding of the main concepts and principles of research in a leadership, change and transformation context. The module develops the student's understanding of how to source, interpret and analyse business information and data. It considers how the information is reported and utilised for the purposes of business or organisational development.

Complex Business Projects

Year: 3

Status: C

This module provides an understanding of complex business projects. It considers business ecosystems and enterprise architectures, business models, innovation, culture and corporate financial structures and financial systems. Concepts such as multidisciplinary, digital transformation, connectivity and collaboration are integrated within the learning.

Transformation Consultancy Project

Year: 3

Status: C

The Transformation Project enables students to apply the theoretical concepts encountered on the MSc Business and Technology (MBT) to a "live" management issue. In doing so they choose appropriate research methodologies, gather data, develop a project plan and make conclusions and recommendations to the host organisation.

Standard entry conditions

We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must:

• have gained
  • a second class honours degree or better from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from a recognised national awarding body, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or
  • an equivalent standard (normally 50%) in a Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification; [and]
• provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent).

In exceptional circumstances, as an alternative to (a) (i) or (a) (ii) and/or (b), where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.

English Language Requirements

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

Exemptions and transferability

N/A

Eligibility

To participate in a Degree Apprenticeship programme, you must:

• be a school leaver aged 16 or over;
• be newly employed (less than 6 months before the start of the course) or be about to take up employment on a permanent contract with a minimum of 21 hours per week;
• have achieved the minimum academic entry qualifications for the course;
• pass any entry tests specified by the relevant sector;
• have a right to live and work in the UK.

Additionally:

• You can participate if you already have a degree, provided that it the course you are applying for is at a higher level than or unrelated to your previous qualification.
• You can still apply for a Degree Apprenticeship if you have been at your organisation for more than 6 months, provided you are entering a new job role that requires new competences/knowledge.
• You cannot participate if you are self-employed.

To participate in a Degree Apprenticeship programme, your employer:

• must have a permanent base in Northern Ireland;
• must ensure that apprentices are enrolled on UK/HMRC payroll for the duration of the programme, and that all apprentices are paid a wage commensurate with the role and not less than the UK minimum wage;
• must not be a public sector employer.

Careers & opportunities

Career options

The MSc Business in Technology programme is highly relevant in today’s marketplace with an increasing demand for technology professionals with business and leadership skills. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge necessary to transition to senior management and leadership roles, particularly in the technology and professional services sector.

Fees and funding

Fees - Higher Level Apprenticeships

For the apprentice there's no cost to do a higher level or degree apprenticeship. You'll be paid as an employee of the company you're working for as well as receiving a university education that is paid for by the Department for the Economy.

Visit the Apprenticeship Hub for more information on Higher Level Apprenticeships.

*Degree Apprenticeship programmes are subject to DFE funding approval.

Scholarships, awards and prizes

N/A

Additional mandatory costs

It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.

Where a course has additional mandatory expenses (in addition to tuition fees) we make every effort to highlight them above. We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free Wi-Fi are also available on each of the campuses.

There are additional fees for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as a part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs, as well as tuition fees.

See the tuition fees on our student guide for most up to date costs.