BSc (Hons) Business Information Systems with a Year in Industry
Course options
Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Science
- UCAS Course Code
- GN55
- Typical Offer
- ABB (specific subject requirements apply)
- Contextual Offer
- BBC (subject specific requirements apply)
- Course Length
- 4 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2024
Why you should choose us
Course Overview
All modern businesses depend upon sophisticated information systems. They are used to support day-to-day operations, to plan strategically for the future, and to manipulate gathered data to gain a competitive advantage.
On this BSc in Business Information Systems, you will study computing, information technology and business. You will cultivate the knowledge, skills and experience needed for a career designing and implementing computer-based systems in a business environment. You’ll also be well equipped for a career as a consultant or manager, with expertise in information systems and their use in business.
You’ll also spend a year in industry, giving you first-hand knowledge of how your chosen field operates as well as valuable career-building contacts.
Throughout your course, you’ll benefit from the combined expertise of the School of Computing Sciences and Norwich Business School. Our flexible approach enables you to choose subjects that interest you and that are aligned with your career aspirations.
This course will ensure you’re fully equipped for a career in business information systems and are completely up to date on what the industry needs right now. It will also give you a strong grounding in computing, business and information systems, as well as the chance to shape your degree based on your interests and career aspirations.
This programme combines in-depth teaching on the capabilities of business systems and a thorough grounding in the operations of contemporary businesses. By studying these crucial and exciting subjects, you’ll also develop skills applicable to the wider employment sector, such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication, organisation, and time keeping.
The relatively recent move to more iterative computer systems development methods has had a knock-on effect on the skills and knowledge required from developers. As a developer, you are now expected to be able to work in small multi-skilled teams alongside your business users. That means you don’t just need technical competence but also the ability to be flexible, creative and a good communicator.
Above all, you need to be able to speak your customer’s language – with an understanding of businesses and how they operate. Our external visiting speakers emphasise this point again and again – so we ensure that our business information systems courses give you this important mix of skills.
This course option also includes a year in industry, where you’ll put what you’ve learnt to practice, gaining new skills and building links with potential employers such as Aviva, Bloomberg and IBM. Another benefit is that you’ll pay a much-reduced tuition fee for your placement year, and you’ll be paid – a great way to help fund your studies.
Placement Year and Study Abroad
You will be expected to seek your own work placement, and in the first two weeks of your second year you’ll be asked to write a CV and to apply to a range of companies. Not only will this ensure that you work within your preferred field, it will also provide you with the essential job-hunting skills you’ll require after graduation. We will, of course, offer our guidance and support whilst students are identifying and negotiating placement opportunities.
During this year, you’ll be supported by an industrial supervisor and a mentor from the University. You and your industrial supervisor will feed back during the placement to ensure that it is progressing well, and your UEA mentor will visit you during the year.
Please note that we cannot guarantee any student a work placement as this decision rests with potential employers.
If you were unable to secure a work placement by the end of your second year, you will have the option to apply to be transferred onto the equivalent degree programme without a Year in Industry.
Accreditations
Study and Modules
Structure
In your first year, you’ll follow a program of compulsory modules designed to establish and develop your skills in computing, business, organisational behaviour, databases, programming and quantitative methods.
You’ll get a thorough grounding in quantitative methods, systems development, programming and databases, while also learning about business and organisational behaviour. Over the next two years, you’ll explore systems analysis, operations strategy and management, systems engineering and organisational information systems.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
We teach a variety of programming or scripting languages including Python, SQL, HTML, CSS and JavaScript. You’ll be working with the software development tools and practices used in the industry right now, getting up to speed with the system development and database principles, gaining computing mathematics fundamental knowledge, practicing employability skills and building your programming experience this year. Teaching methods include team-based learning and hands-on practices
You’ll learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars and lab classes – where the lab and seminar classes reinforce and expand on the lecture materials. Alongside your formal learning, you’ll study independently to gain a deeper appreciation of specialist topics.
Assessment
Your first year will have a mixture of individual and group assessments. These may include written work, presentations or demonstrations, and in-class tests (closed and/or time-limited assessment). They combine theoretical understanding with practical application and are designed to test the range of skills and competencies required for the learning outcomes of each module. Additionally, there is a synoptic project, covering material from all modules.
Structure
In your second year, you’ll study two compulsory modules, focusing on systems analysis and principles of project management. Your remaining modules will be optional – so you’ll take your pick of topics ranging from software engineering and data science to business ethics and marketing. Choosing from a wide range of optional modules allows you to tailor your own degree to concentrate on your computing expertise, your business knowledge, or a valuable balance between the two.
You’ll also start to put your CV together, explore placement opportunities and prepare for selection processes.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 80)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
In all your modules, you’ll have lectures, some including smaller group teaching – helping you explore the material or experience it first-hand.
You’ll have plenty of opportunities to learn and practise professional skills such as report writing and oral presentations. You’ll also work on a real-world project to make recommendations around analysis, design and implementation to UEA or a local organisation.
As well as learning from our academics, you’ll have the chance to meet IT professionals and talk to them about their experience of systems development as part of one of our modules.
Assessment
Similar to your first year, you will have a mixture of individual and group assessments. The balance of assessment types varies according to the options chosen. Additionally, there is a synoptic project, covering material from all modules.
Structure
Subject to successfully passing your company of choice’s selection procedure, you will spend 9-12 months working in industry to gain real life experience of working within the field of Business and IT. Our well-established commercial connections throughout the UK and beyond will help you secure the best possible placement for you. Positions are usually paid, but the amounts may vary.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Typically, you’ll spend between 9 to 12 months out on industry placement. You will apply what you have learned in industry practice. In addition, you will learn and receive guidance from industry peers as part of your year in industry experience. You’ll be supported by UEA mentor as well.
Assessment
The year in Industry is assessed through a series of periodic reports during the placement and a final report, completed at the end of the placement. The placement year is a pass/fail assessment.
Structure
In your final year, you’ll study critical issues in information systems and systems engineering alongside a wide range of optional modules, depending on your interests and career aspirations. All the module options represent the School’s current research and strengths. In addition to that you’ll have the opportunity to choose topics from a wide range of business optional modules.
You’ll also have the option to complete a final year project, pulling together the business and computing aspects of your degree. If you choose to do a project, you will get the chance to bring all your knowledge together to focus on a real-world issue, potentially involving external companies.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 40)Optional C Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Your final year will give you the opportunity to focus on specific areas of either computer science or business information systems through a piece of independent research. You’ll work on an individual project, which will involve developing high quality solutions for real problems – a skill that is highly valued by employers. You will explore a topic or work on a problem in depth, under the supervision of a member of the faculty.
We strongly encourage you to spend time going over your lecture notes and reading around the topics independently to prepare for your seminars and lab sessions in advance. This may involve researching a particular topic, reading articles, watching videos, or having a go at certain exercises. The more you prepare in this way, the more you’ll get out of your course.
Your final year individual project is your ultimate opportunity to show how well you can take on a problem, research it, prepare a plan, manage yourself, and achieve your objectives. You’ll have a project supervisor to guide you and to bounce ideas off, but essentially the project is your own work. It’s an excellent opportunity to put into practice what you have learned throughout your time at university and is often instrumental in your job interview success.
Assessment
In your final year, again, you will have a mixture of individual and group assessments. Similarly to your second year, the balance of assessment types varies according to the options chosen. Additionally, there is an individual project which is assessed through a combination of written work and demonstration or presentation.
Entry Requirements
- A Levels
- ABB including Mathematics, Computing Science, Business, Digital Technology, Chemistry, Physics, Electronics or Economics. Where applicable Science A Levels awarded by an English Exam board require a pass in the practical element. Critical Thinking and General Studies not accepted. If you are taking an EPQ and three A-levels, we may offer you a one grade reduction on our advertised typical offer alongside an A in the EPQ.
- T Levels
- Obtain an overall Pass including a B in the core of the T Level and a Distinction in the Occupational Specialism. Accepted subjects: Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction, Digital Production, Design and Development, Digital Business Services, Digital Support Services, Science, Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control, Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing.
- BTEC
- Extended Diploma: DDM in IT, Engineering or Science based subject OR DDM plus A-Level grade B in Mathematics, Computing Science, Business, Digital Technology, Chemistry, Physics, Electronics or Economics. See below for accepted subjects and combinations.
- Contextual Offer
A Level – BBC (including one A Level in Mathematics, Computing Science, Business, Digital Technology, Chemistry, Physics, Electronics or Economics)
BTEC L3 Extended Diploma – DDM in an IT, Engineering or Science-based subject
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes.
- Scottish Highers
- AAABB including grade A in Mathematics, Computing Science, Business, Chemistry, Physics or Economics.
- Scottish Advanced Highers
- BCC including Mathematics, Computing Science, Business, Chemistry, Physics or Economics. A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable.
- Irish Leaving Certificate
- 3 subjects at H2 plus 3 subjects at H3, including Mathematics, Computing Science, Business, Chemistry, Physics or Economics.
- Access to HE Diploma
- Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 30 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 15 credits at Level 3, including 12 credits in Mathematics, Computing, Physics, Electronics or Economics.
- International Baccalaureate
- 32 including HL5 in Mathematics, Computing Science, Chemistry, Physics or Economics.
- GCSE
You are required to have Mathematics and English Language at a minimum of Grade C or Grade 4 or above at GCSE.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
-
IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components) for year 1 entry
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
-
- Interviews
Most applicants will not be called for an interview and a decision will be made via UCAS Hub. However, for some applicants an interview will be requested. Where an interview is required, the Admissions Service will contact you directly to arrange a time.
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Intakes
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake is in September each year.
Additional Information or Requirements
Extended Diploma: DDM in IT, Engineering or Science based subject OR DDM plus A-Level grade B in Mathematics, Computing Science, Business, Digital Technology, Chemistry, Physics, Electronics or Economics.
Diploma: DD in IT, Engineering or Science based subject plus B at A-level OR DD plus A-Level grade B in Mathematics, Computing Science, Business, Digital Technology, Chemistry, Physics, Electronics or Economics.
Extended Certificate: D in IT, Engineering or Science based subject plus BB at A-Level OR D plus BB at A-Level including Mathematics, Computing Science, Business, Digital Technology, Chemistry, Physics, Electronics or Economics.
Not accepted: Public Services, Uniformed Services or Business Administration.
If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes such as - BSc Computing Science with a Foundation Year.
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes.
We welcome and value a wide range of alternative qualifications. If you have a qualification which is not listed here, or are taking a combination of qualifications, please contact us via Admissions Enquiries.
International Requirements
We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. View our International Students pages for specific information about your country.
INTO University of East Anglia
If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, INTO UEA offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree:
International Foundation in Mathematics and Actuarial Sciences
International Foundation in Physical Sciences and Engineering
International Foundation in Business Economics Society and Culture
Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees.
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
You are eligible for reduced fees during the year in industry. Further details are available on our Tuition Fee pages.
There may be extra costs related to items such as your travel and accommodation during your year in industry, which will vary depending on location.
Many of the course texts are available from the library but it’s likely you will need to purchase at least some of them.
If you are required to undertake re-assessment a charge will be made.
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of other course-related costs.
How to Apply
Apply for this course through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), using UCAS Hub.
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started.
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information:
Employability
After the Course
You’ll leave as a well-rounded graduate with a range of enviable employment opportunities open to you. Our recent graduates have secured roles at IBM, Logica, Capgemini, Marks & Spencer, and Aviva.
You’ll develop your employability throughout the course by hearing from industry guest speakers, going on company visits and participating in the local tech community (NorDev) and start up community (SyncNorwich).
Our students have been very successful in the annual 54-hour start up event, called Sync the City. Taking part in events like this will boost your confidence, employability and contacts book.
Careers
A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
-
Business analysis
-
Project management
-
Systems development
-
Systems analysis
-
E-Marketing
-
Business management
Discover more on our Careers webpages.