Course overview
Our MSc Design & Development of Digital Business is a 12-month (full-time) taught master’s degree course. This intensive and innovative course is aimed at creatively minded honours graduates from non-technical backgrounds. The program provides students with the design skills and technical knowledge to explore interesting, real-world problems and create innovative digital products and services.
The course aims to provide students with a world-class student experience and excellent employment opportunities. The course places an emphasis on applying an agile, design thinking approach to problem solving. You will gain both the practical skills, and an approach to working, that is collaborative, creative and impactful.
What you'll learn
On this programme, you can expect to gain technical, design and commercial skills. The technical skills include programming for the web and mobile devices, data modelling, and database management. The design skills include, design thinking, interaction design and service design. The commercial skills learned include digital business models, business systems analysis, and e-commerce. You will have the know-how to start your own digital business or seek a position in an established company.
Our graduates have secured positions as UX designers, product managers, business analysts, systems analysts, programmers, and consultants with a variety of indigenous and multinational companies in fields as diverse as business consultancy, IT, telecommunications, banking, insurance, and pharmaceuticals.
Study method
- In-class
- Blended
- Online
Duration study load
- 1 Year Full-time
Entry requirements
To apply for this course, you will have:
- at least a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in any discipline except those with high levels of software development content (e.g. computer science, business information systems, etc.) or
- expect to graduate in the year of entry with at least a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in any discipline except those with high levels of software development content
Consideration under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be given to applicants who do not meet the minimum criteria but who have relevant professional experience, subject to approval by the School of Business.
For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information, please submit an enquiry.
International/Non-EU Applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure, please submit an enquiry.
- In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.
- Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants; please check the fact file above. For more information, please submit an enquiry to find out more.
English Language Requirements
Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements.
Assessment
In Part 1 of the course, assessment is performed through a number of methods, including examinations, set class assignments, and continuous assessment.
Who's it for?
We offer a unique opportunity for graduates from non-computing disciplines to seek employment in the technology sector. This course provides you with an opportunity to quickly acquire a set of core design, commercial and technical skills that will enable you to start your own digital business or seek a position in an established company.
College of Business and Law Available Scholarships
We support our postgraduate community by offering scholarships and bursaries to prospective and current students.
Delivery
The course is 12 months full-time. In Part I, there are typically 14 hours of lectures per week and six hours of tutorials. Dedicated lab facilities are available for students to work on their course assignments in Part I and their group project in Part II.
In Part 1 of the course, assessment is performed through a number of methods, including examinations, set class assignments, and continuous assessment.
The course is taught by staff from the Department of Business Information Systems. Faculty can be viewed on our Cork University Business School faculty page.
Connected Curriculum
Our teaching approach reflects our commitment to the Connected Curriculum, where we emphasise the connection between students, learning, research and leadership through our vision for a Connected University. Our staff are at the forefront of this integrative approach to learning and will support you in making meaningful connections within and between disciplines such as design, technology, management, and business.
Subjects
In Part I of the course, you will work closely with our staff in lectures, seminars, and tutorials to acquire and hone the knowledge and skills that underpin contemporary digital businesses. Modules focus on providing students with expertise across four key areas: analysis, design, strategy, and implementation. Technical and design subjects are grounded in business and societal contexts, empowering you to create digital solutions with impact. Part 1 modules include software development and database design, interaction design, business model innovation, digital business strategy and service design. Technical modules are designed for students with little or no prior experience in computing technology.
In Part II, you work in small groups with a mentor to apply your knowledge and skills in a practical way – by developing an idea for a new, innovative digital business solution. The project groups work in sprints, to research the problem area and ideate innovative solutions. In later sprints, groups transform their initial concepts into a fully articulated business plan, culminating in the implementation of a functional proof-of-concept prototype system.
In total, students take 90 credits as follows:
About University College Cork
University College Cork is ranked in the top 1.1% of universities in the world. It is Ireland’s leading institution for the delivery of research impact and the top Irish institution for highly cited researchers. We are the leading global university for sustainability and the Irish university with the highest level of industry collaboration.
The university was founded in 1845 as one of three Queen's Colleges located in Belfast, Cork, and Galway. It became University College, Cork, under the Irish Universities Act 1908. The Universities Act 1997 renamed the university as National University of Ireland, Cork, and a Ministerial Order of 1998 renamed the university as University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork, though it continues to be almost universally known as University College Cork.
