BSc (Honours) Business Information Systems
UCAS code
G510Attendance
Full-time
Four years full-time (including one year work placement) or three years full-timeAt a glance
Learn how businesses can benefit from reacting to change through choosing the right technology. Then apply what you’ve learnt and make an impression with a placement year working at multinational organisations like HSBC, Intel, or Eli Lilly.
Key points
• Learn how to respond to change with the right IT solution.
• Benefit from our specialist computing labs.
• Enhance your career prospects with our excellent links with business.
• Gain a placement with a large multinational corporation such as Xerox, IBM, Airbus, TNT, Caterpillar.
What are business information systems?
Change is an essential and unavoidable part of modern business. The introduction of new technology can play an important part in making changes to a business. Technology-enabled change influences the way a business is organised and the way in which people work within that business to benefit the organisation.
Business information systems study examines how to bring about business benefits through technology-enabled change while recognising the role of people in this process.
About this course
Gain the knowledge and experience required to help businesses and organisations react to new challenges with the right technology on a course that is well-respected by employers.
You prepare for a range of roles that include project manager, business integrator and systems analyst. The course prepares you for these roles by giving you
• business problems to solve using IT solutions
• case studies from real businesses to examine
• modules focused on technology-enabled change
You study in the University’s excellent computing facilities that include six specialist IT laboratories at City Campus.
Once you have gained the latest knowledge and skills, you then get to put them into practice in a year-long paid placement. Thanks to the course’s excellent reputation, students often complete placements with large international companies such as • Eli Lilly • Lloyds Banking Group • Procter and Gamble • GlaxoSmithKline • Nestlé • Xerox • IBM • Cummins • HSBC, or with government bodies such as • DASA – Ministry of Defence • NHS • RAF HQ Strike Command. Often, students return to pursue a career at their placement organisation after graduation.
In addition to classroom-based activities, you have the chance to gain knowledge and develop skills outside the traditional settings. Some students have learnt teamwork skills with the Army, others have been on a field trip to Sofia where they taught Bulgarian college students, and others have taken up the opportunity to train as mentors to support first year students.
Key areas of study
We designed the course to emphasise practical problem solving and business information systems management from creation through to implementation.
Associated careers
As a graduate, you’ll be qualified to work in the IT departments of large multinational corporations. Roles you are most likely to find include • systems analyst • business integrator • project manager. You may choose to pursue other IT roles such as • database administrator • consultant • software developer.
Our graduates have found careers and undertaken placements with companies such as • GlaxoSmithKline • Airbus • PwC • Ford Motor Company • Powergen Retail • Eli Lilly • Ernst & Young • Siemens • HMGCC • GE Finance • HSBC • IBM • Ministry of Defence • Network Rail • Lloyds TSB • RAF Strike Command • Intel.
Our career development media box shows examples of the careers of some of our former students. Those who have left more recently like Serena and Paul at the start of their careers are working on small to medium sized IT projects, while those that graduated further back like Phillippa, Kari and Waheed are using IT to bring about changes on a regional, national or international level.
Some people, like Richard, can go on to become IT directors in large multinational companies and others, like Colin and Catherine, used their IT skills for a career working in a large organisation. Not all graduates follow these career paths but they are typical of many business information systems graduates.
Professional recognition
This course is accredited by the British Computer Society. It counts towards the academic requirements for registration as a Chartered IT Professional and Chartered Engineer.
Course content
Year one modules
• professionalism and communication skills • information systems • computing technology for business • understanding organisations • mathematics • programming practice
Year two core modules
• professional project management • databases • business modelling for enterprise systems • web-based information systems • information systems methods and organisations
Year two options
• information management • interactive multimedia design • managing change
Year three
• work placement
Year four core modules
• project • business and information systems strategy • business appraisal and infopreneurship • data warehousing and data mining
Year four options
• knowledge management • managing change • advanced web applications
Assessment
• examinations • coursework • project work • professional assessment of your work placement
Entry requirements
2014 entry requirements
Normally GCSE English language and mathematics at grade C or above, plus one of the following
• 280 to 340 points with at least 160 from two GCE/VCE A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications.
You must attend an interview. The level of your offer will be based on the strength of your application and interview performance.
• Access – an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 18 Level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.
If English is not your first language you must have an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
We welcome applications from people of any age. We may be flexible in our normal offer if you can show a commitment to succeed and have the relevant skills and experience. This must show that you will benefit from and finish the course successfully.
2013 entry requirements
Normally GCSE English language and mathematics at grade C or above, plus one of the following
• 280–340 points from at least two GCE/VCE A levels, AS levels or BTEC National qualifications. You must attend an interview. The level of your offer will be based on the strength of your application and interview performance.
Fees
Home and EU students
2013/14 academic year
For 2013 entry, membership of a professional body is included in the course fee.
International students
2013/14 academic year
Typically £10,680 a year
2014/15 academic year
Typically £11,250 a year
How to apply
You apply for this course through UCAS.
Contact details
For more information or to check the progress of your application phone +44 (0)114 225 5555, fax +44 (0)114 225 2167, e-mail admissions@shu.ac.uk