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Information Systems (Top-up) (Online Distance Learning) BSc Honours

Gain skills the IT industry is looking for with our top-up degree, tailored for international students wishing to add to an existing HND or foundation degree
Code
I30D
Start
September 2024
Duration
1 year full-time
Attendance
Full-time
Fees
September 2024: £6,600 (INT)*
Course leader
Stylianos Kapetanakis

Top-up your degree from anywhere in the world.

Why choose an Information Systems (Online Distance Learning Top-up) BSc Honours with Middlesex?

The demand for IT specialists is rising, so a top-up information systems course could be exactly what you need to succeed in your chosen career.

This one-year course is ideal for students who can work remotely but are looking to gain an excellent understanding of information systems alongside the skills required to succeed in the design, analysis, development, and management of IT.

You’ll be taught through distance learning by experts who also carry out research and industrial collaboration in their specialist areas.

Our information systems degree will provide you with key training in all the latest IT skills and concepts. This includes software development, design for end users, and design for multiple platforms like web and computing. Your existing technical skills will be complemented by new learning, including communication, organisation, teamwork, application, and many more.

Middlesex University's ranked 176-200 in the world for computer science (THE World University Ranking, 2019).

What you will gain

You will develop competencies for specifying, designing and constructing effective implementation strategies for computer-based systems consistent with a range of business needs. You will also develop the ability to form effective dialogue with various stakeholders (a range of audiences) in electronic as well as written and oral forms for effective dialogue with various stakeholders.

You will be trained in identifying and managing resources necessary for all stages of projects – analysis, planning, estimation, execution and improvement – of individual systems development to ensure technical, financial and quality targets are met.

Your numerate and computational skills will be honed and advanced through practical exercises. The modules also support the development of generic computational skills such as processing and representing data, and internet communication

The course will help develop key academic writing skills, notably through report writing and documentation of practical coursework.

Our multidisciplinary programme gives you the chance to top up your currently existing qualifications to a full BSc degree. You’ll also have the opportunity to continue to postgraduate research once you finish the course.

We have 145 years of experience delivering professional, creative and technical education that prepares students – like you – for success in global careers.

What you will learn

The information systems course includes a range of practical and development exercises to give you confidence in applying what you’ve learned. You’ll work on projects like learning and data analytics, using data collected as part of the department’s various projects. You’ll get the chance to attend workshops by Information La and learn about data visualisation with Tableau.

Some of the projects you’ll be part of will focus on how individuals with different personalities learn, the visualisation of stress and emotion during presentations and even investigations of educational technologies.

Our industry links mean you’ll be taught the latest industrial practices, maximising the chances of employment once you graduate. The course will prepare you for a range of different roles like systems designer or developer, IT project manager, user experience architect, and many more.

You’ll work with a supervisor who has specialist knowledge of their field to choose and pursue a theme that suits your interests and career goals. It’ll give you the chance to problem-solve, just like you would in a place of work.

3 great reasons to pick this course

  • Update your IT expertise
    We'll train you in the latest IT skills and concepts – this includes software development, design for end users, and design for multiple digital platforms
  • Excellent career connections
    You will have the chance to benefit from our connections with major companies like Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Mitsubishi, BAE Systems, IBM, Festo, and Siemens
  • International expert access
    Through distanced learning, you'll be taught by experts in their field from anywhere in the world

Keep informed

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Our communications are designed to support you in deciding your future and keep you up to date about student finance, employment opportunities and student activities available at Middlesex University.

The course teaches decision making and strategic planning skills for effective use of information technology, and the appropriate use of key implementation strategies for computer-based systems consistent with a range of business needs.

It also includes a range practical design and development exercises. These include the design and implementation of prototype solutions and their iterative development combined with practical user research and the deployment of formative evaluation techniques.

Theoretical concepts will be introduced which can be applied to method selection, strategic planning problem-solving in IT domains. This includes learning how key theories from various core disciplines relevant to design and development, and an understanding of how they can be applied.

Modules

  • Modules - Compulsory

    • Interactive Design and User Ex (30 credits)

      The module aims to introduce the theories and methods associated with user-centred design, providing theories and models of the way users think and work that have impact on user interface design. The module provides an understanding of the underlying processes of human perception, information processing, and collaborative, socially organised action. You will learn how to construct interface designs that match users' needs.

    • Information Systems Development (30 credits)

      This module aims to introduce the major Software Engineering Methodologies that underpin Information System Development (ISD) and to examine critically issues related to their application in commercial and organisational contexts.

    • IS Planning and Management (30 credits)

      This module aims to provide you with knowledge and skills relevant to the management and planning of Information Systems within modern organisations in Industry. You will learn techniques for planning and controlling IT projects, managing risk and quality and dealing with various organisational aspects.

    • Web, Mobile and Cloud Computing (30 credits)

      This module investigates three modern technological enablers of BIS: Web Services, Mobile Applications and Cloud Computing. These mechanisms power global e-Commerce. The module will first look at Web technology starting with Web protocols, languages and Web standards. It then moves on to issues of design, accessibility, usability and security of Web Services.  The Mobile Computing component of this module is focused around building applications. It first explores the use of Software Development Kits (SDKs) such as the Android SDK and Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) such as Android Studio and ECLIPSE. The module then investigates how applications are managed and deployed and then proceeds on to memory and storage management as well as performance issues. Cloud Computing is the last segment of the module and will start with examining the uses of the cloud for computing, database, storage and networking. Types of Cloud paradigms such as IaaS, PaaS and SaaS are then explored. The implementations of Cloud Computing Environments such as OpenStack, AWS and Microsoft Azure are then investigated. Finally, issue of deployment, monitoring, automation and security of Cloud operations and facilities are discussed.

To find out more about this course, please download the Information Systems (Top-up) specification (PDF).

How we'll teach you

This course is an online distance learning programme, so all teaching and learning is done online. Your lectures will be pre-recorded for asynchronous online delivery. Your seminars, labs and workshops will be delivered online synchronously.

Each module syllabus is divided into topics and a schedule of weekly learning tasks covering those topics broadly in order. The learning tasks comprise a combination of tuition events and learning activities.

Work is divided into credits of approximately 10 hours of study time. You will need to complete 120 credits per year, which are broken down into modules of typically 30 credits.

Where will I study?

For distance learning courses, you can study from anywhere with an internet connection.

Timetable

Whether you are studying full or part-time – your course timetable will balance your study commitments with time for work, life commitments and independent study.

Typical weekly breakdown

During your first year, your weekly timetable will typically consist of:

  • 3 hours of pre-recorded lectures
  • 6 hours of online supervised practicals and seminars
  • A meeting with your top-up year project supervisor.

Teaching vs independent learning

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework and presentations.

Here is an indication of how you will split your time.

Percentage

Hours

Typical activity

20%

240

Teaching, learning and assessment

80%

960

Independent learning

Academic support

Our excellent teaching and support teams will help you develop your skills from research and practical skills to critical thinking. Our Sheppard Library is open 24 hours a day, either online or on campus, during term time.

Coursework and assessments

Your learning will be assessed regularly and is made up of 100% coursework.

Assessments

Every module on this course is an individual portfolio of assessed coursework compiled for the module. Each coursework assignment is accompanied by a marking scheme to assist you in structuring and scoping your work.

Feedback

To help you achieve the best results, we will provide regular feedback.

The Sheppard Library

Our library is open online 24 hours a day during the term and includes:

  • Over 1,000 study areas with rooms for group study and over 600 computer spaces
  • 350,000 books and e-books and more than 24,000 online journals.

Student support

We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health and disability support.

Additional needs

We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.

Wellness

Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions and useful guides.

Financial support

You can apply for scholarships and bursaries and our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.

We have also reduced the costs of studying with free laptop loans, free learning resources and discounts to save money on everyday things. Check out our guide to student life on a budget.

How can the Information Technology and Business Information Systems (Distance Learning Top-up) BSc support your career?

Our degree prepares you for a wide range of varied careers. As a graduate you will have excellent career prospects and the range of potential employers will be vast across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. There is also the potential to work as a self-employed director of your own business. This course will appeal to students considering careers as IT consultants, application developers, Internet and web designers, or in computer support.

Graduate job roles

  • IT project manager
    This role will allow you to manage the development and implementation of plans to meet business needs.
  • Systems designer
    In this role, you will be developing and implementing information systems in various sectors, including hardware, software, installation and maintenance
  • User Experience (UX) architect
    The UX architect ensures that system designs serve the needs of end users through user research, prototyping and evaluation.
  • Systems developer
    You will test systems, diagnose and fix faults, write diagnostic programs and design and write code for operating systems and software.
  • IT systems/business analyst
    If you choose this role, you will design new IT solutions to improve business efficiency and productivity, analysing the business needs of your clients and stakeholders to help identify business problems and propose solutions.
  • Information systems manager
    In this role, you will be installing computer systems, providing the ICT technology infrastructures for an organisation, and contributing to organisational policy and strategic planning.

Graduate Employers

Graduates can progress into careers in organisations such as:

  • RS2
  • Citadel Insurance
  • VT
  • KPMG
  • Ingenyx
  • CCBill
  • ANT 1TV
  • Dreamwork Healthcare
  • NHS
  • Dragonwind
  • Bank of Valetta
  • Malta Environment & Planning
  • Brighthouse
  • 5FK
  • OPTA
  • Multinational School
  • Ictek
  • ITP Publishing
  • Leapfrog

Transferable skills

In addition to the specific technical skills that are required for each job role, IT graduates who take this top-up also develop a number of transferable skills that are valuable in any workplace. These skills include:

  • Teamwork and leadership
  • Business analysis
  • Problem-solving and critical thinking
  • Systems analysis and design
  • Information systems development
  • Project management
  • Analytical and bug-fixing practice
  • Communication skills

MDXworks

Our employability service, MDXworks will launch you into the world of work from the beginning of your course, with placements, projects and networking opportunities through our 1000+ links with industry and big-name employers in London and globally.

Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has been recognised with the following awards:

The top 20 UK universities for business leaders and entrepreneurs – Business Money, 2023 

A top 10 university for producing CEOs  – Novuana, 2023

MDXcelerator Student Start-Up Support

Want to be your own boss? You'll have the chance to pitch your business to gain mentoring and grants of up to £15,000.

Global network

You’ll study with students from 122 countries who’ll hopefully become part of your global network. And after you graduate, we'll still support you through our alumni network to help you progress in your chosen career.

  1. International entry
  2. How to apply

The fees below differ depending academic year:

All students January 2024

Full-time students: £6,000

All students September 2025

Full-time students: £6,600

Additional costs

The following study tools are included in your fees:

  • Free access to everything on your reading list
  • Free online training with LinkedIn Learning.

The following course-related costs are not included in the fees, and you will need to budget for these:

Computer and reliable internet connection.

Scholarships and bursaries

To help make uni affordable, we do everything we can to support you including our:

  • MDX Excellence Scholarship offers grants of up to £2,000 per year for UK students
  • Regional or International Merit Awards which reward International students with up to £2,000 towards course fees
  • Our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.

Find out more about undergraduate funding and all of our scholarships and bursaries.

Fees disclaimers

Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

Joanna Loveday
Programme leader

Dr Mark Springett
Module leader

Dr Springett has 30 years’ experience working in the area of interaction design, both in industry and academia. He is a member of the British Computer Society Human Computer Interaction Group.


We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.

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