Course overview
Our MSc Information Systems for Business Performance (ISBP) programme is a conversion course offered by the Cork University Business School at UCC. It is designed for applicants who have not previously studied high levels of software development (e.g. Business Information Systems, Computer Science, and Software Development) or who have no more than two years of work experience in these fields.
The MSc programme provides you with a coherent set of skills that are essential in building, managing, and leveraging effective and efficient information systems (IS) for organisations. Our ISBP graduates will acquire the skills necessary to manage and leverage information systems for problem-solving, value-generation and cost savings.
This is a 12-month intensive course with industrially mentored collaborative projects. Students are taught from a beginner level and prepared to take up business analyst/programmer and management positions in IT departments in small, medium or large organisations, whether public or private, in the financial services, manufacturing or any sector.
We have been awarded the GradIreland Postgraduate Course of the Year for seven consecutive years, and our graduates have an excellent employment record.
Job outcomes
Roles such as:
- Business analysts
- Programmers
- Managers
- Web and database developers
- Project managers
- Auditors
- Researchers
- Business intelligence consultants
- Marketing managers, and
- Consultants
Study method
- In-class
- Blended
- Online
Duration study load
- 1 Year Full-time
Entry requirements
The MSc in Information Systems for Business Performance is a conversion course designed for applicants who have not previously studied high levels of software development (e.g. Business Information Systems, Computer Science and Software Development) or who have not more than 2 years work experience in these fields.
Applicants must hold a Second Class Honours Grade 2 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8).
Consideration under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may also be given to applicants who do not meet the above academic entry requirements. Each application will be reviewed by programme directors and is subject to approval by the Head of relevant Discipline within 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
The assessment methods vary in order to facilitate group and individual applied learning. Report writing, presentations, development projects, and in-class exams are examples of the types of assessments used.
Who's it for?
The MSc in Information Systems for Business Performance is a conversion course designed for applicants who have not previously studied high levels of software development or who have not more than two years of work experience in these fields. It is a full-time programme running for 12 months from the date of first registration for the programme.
The MSc ISBP is currently one of the most popular postgraduate courses in our School. Key elements of this course include:
- hybrid business/IT orientation
- focused on understanding how organisations operate
- strong links with industry
- curriculum based on leading-edge technologies
- emphasis on developing students’ ability to work as a team
- develops technical skills from scratch
- customised career and professional workshops
- challenging and collaborative industrial projects
- mentored by leading industrial entrepreneurs, Chief Executive Officers, IT managers, Chief Information Officers and business consultants
- access to an IS and business alumni of over 2,000 professionals
Subjects
Students take taught modules to the value of 60 credits in Part I and complete a research project to the value of 30 credits in Part II.
Part II consists of an industry research project that allows for practical experience of a research project in a business context.
This collaborative project will allow groups of students to specialise in an assigned industry sector (e.g. financial services, technology, pharmaceuticals, government, retail/distribution) in the context of a research project carried out under the supervision of an industry expert and an academic specialist. Groups will develop a proposal and carry out fieldwork in order to produce a report on their topic.
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.
