Study Here - Postgraduate and Professional - Courses

What is the Programme About?

This MSc programme aims to improve management skills and career prospects by greater understanding of technology mediated work and information strategy and leadership. It serves the needs of three target groups:

managers and graduates from any background who wish to become more information technology savvy so that they are able to effectively resource, use, manage and leverage technology to optimise work practice and information and knowledge exchanges and holdings; people from technical information technology backgrounds who may wish to enhance their opportunities to take management roles by developing leadership skills

The programme explores challenges for Information Management at operational, tactical and strategic levels exploring issues such as information technology infrastructure management, policy, acquisition and control with a special emphasis on Internet and other emerging technologies. Students will learn how to perform essential Information Technology related business analysis, feasibility studies, requirements specification and estimations, and evaluate solutions as is essential for managers. They will also crucially develop a gamut of soft and hard skills in decision making; managerial finance; customer relationship management; digital marketing; legal, human, political and ethical considerations in Information Systems. 

Options offered by the Department of Computing will provide opportunity for students who may wish to take more technical modules in computer networking and communication management, computer security, eCommerce, and database and web design and development. All students will also receive hands-on experience of computer applications and packages for design, accounting, estimation, analysis, and business simulations as relevant to each module.

Programme Structure

Core modules are as follows:

• Strategy and Leadership - 20 Credits
• Information Systems Strategy, Acquisition and Auditing - 20 Credits
• Business Processes and Enterprise Systems - 10 Credits
• Decision Making and Implementation - 10 Credits
• Internet Business and Web Design - 20 Credits
• Marketing Strategy - 10 Credits
• Marketing Information Systems (MKIS) and Digital Marketing - 10 Credits
• Financial Management - 20 Credits
• Management Report / Dissertation - 40 Credits

Options - to be taken to the value of 20 credits

• Direct Marketing and Customer Relationship Management - 10 Credits
• Supply Chain and Logistics Management - 10 Credits
• IT Service Management, Computer Networks and Communications Management - 10 Credits
• eGovernment and Public Sector Information Management - 10 Credits
• Human Factors in Information Systems - 10 Credits
• Knowledge Management and Enterprise Intelligence - 20 Credits
• Corporate Database Design and Development - 10 Credits
• Professional and Ethical Computing - 10 Credits
• Computer Security - 20 Credits
• eCommerce - 10 Credits

How is the programme taught and assessed?

The full-time programme will normally be delivered over four terms usually with a September or a January start as follows:

Term 1:	taught modules to the value of 60 credits (usually September to December; or January to March)
Term 2:	taught modules to the value of 60 credits (usually January to March; or April to June)
Term 3:	Research induction, Dissertation proposal and literature research plus taught modules to the value of 20 credits (Usually April to June; or June/July to August)
Term 4:	Dissertation (usually July and August; or September to December)

Note: Endeavours have been made to provide a flexible structure that promotes student choice effectively and efficiently. To this end, the programme team reserves the right to make modifications as and when required.

We may vary the start dates, depending on demand, to sometimes include a January start or an April start.

The modules have also been written so that there is no sequential prerequisite between them so that part-time students can take the modules in any order on the basis of an individually tailored learning plan which may sometimes accommodate January or April starts. The flexibility also allows students who need to interrupt or who would otherwise drop-out to complete their study based on a tailored schedule.

Students who have already taken a Level 6 module that matches cores modules on our programme can also at the discretion of the programme team substitute the core by an option.

The programme also offers tailor-made block delivery for private companies and groups or organisations such as NHS, Police or Fire Service. 

Candidates who wish to take the MSc in Information Management and Business Communication but who may not have the necessary qualifications are advised to consider taking one of our undergraduate programmes to enhance their entry qualifications.

If you are an international student wishing to study in the Business School, please also visit the Canterbury Christ Church International web pages.

Teaching Methods

Our teaching and learning strategies are varied and designed to actively involve students by building on students own experiences, contemporary issues and Information Management tradition. They include lectures, seminars, practical workshops, group discussions, presentations and written essays and reports. Teaching will include full use of a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) with some sessions using technology substitution of face-to-face sessions at module team discretion. We also encourage self-managed learning supported by individual and small group tutorials. Further, we also encourage students via our internal postgraduate colloquium and external contacts to participate in research papers and conferences.

Final projects leading to the dissertation for both full-time and part-time students can be conducted remotely with supervision and viva via electronic communication tools. This means that international students who wish to return to their countries of origin during the dissertation period can continue their studies remotely.

Assessment Methods

The programme is developed so that we offer students the greatest chances to demonstrate their knowledge and skills using a variety of methods for formative as well as summative assessments: written essays and reports; practical projects usually supported by reflective reports or other analytical or design-based project documentation; scholarly paper, articles and posters; presentations, written examinations including both theory and problem solving tasks and so on. We also provide opportunities for collaborative work (pairs, teams…).

Our philosophy is that the assessments not only test the ability to complete given tasks but also include assessments of soft skills such as scholarly research, problem solving, communication skills particularly the ability to present a good argument, ability to work to a requirement specification as well as creativity and innovation, and the ability to complete tasks to deadlines.

What Qualification is Awarded?

The programme includes 120 credits worth of taught core modules, plus optional modules to the value of 20 credits and Dissertation/Management Report to the value of 40 credits. The MSc in Information Management and Business Communication will be awarded on successful completion of 180 credits which must include the Dissertation/Management Report.

Students who for whatever reason are unable to complete the entire programme may be entitled to the following alternative awards:

• Postgraduate Diploma in Information Management and Business Communication on successful completion of a minimum of 120 credits;
• Postgraduate Certificate in Information Management and Business Communication on successful completion of a minimum of 60 credits. 

How is the programme different from others?

• Our programme content is in line with key industry shifts evidenced by an approach which closely embeds Information Management in key organisational process areas such as Supply Chain Management and Operation Research, Customer Relationship Management, and Enterprise Resource Planning
• We make concerted efforts to blend theory and practice by providing a case study based approach plus hands-on experience of management tasks and information systems as well as providing opportunity to share experiences with other students from a host of sectors
• We have the advantage of hands-on face-to-face teaching excellence with learning and teaching strategies that adopt a blended approach
• Our degree is supported by a team that is comprised of experts in Computing (from the Department of Computing) and in Business and Marketing (with varied industry experience). This means that what we offer is not a degree in Computing or a degree in Management but a blend of the two – there is no-one who has quite the same directed blend of management and Information Technology.
• We also offer a flexible start date on the part-time route
• Our approach affords tailoring for block cohorts
• Part-time students will be able to take their modules on a modular basis with the full-timers based on a mutually agreed work plan

How to Apply

Details on how to apply and an application form can be downloaded from here.

Copies are also available from:

Admissions (Postgraduate Office)
Canterbury Christ Church University
North Holmes Road
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 1QU

Telephone: 01227 782900
Fax: 01227 782888
Email: admissions@canterbury.ac.uk

International students can download an application form from here.