MSc Management and Information Systems: Change and Development
Year of entry: 2024
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Overview
- Degree awarded
- Master of Science (MSc)
- Duration
- 1 year (full-time); 2 years (part-time)
- Entry requirements
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We require a UK Honours degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.
When assessing your academic record we take into account the grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.
- How to apply
- Apply online
Course options
Full-time | Part-time | Full-time distance learning | Part-time distance learning | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSc | Y | Y | N | N |
Course overview
- Join a university ranked second in the UK and 7th in the world for development studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022).
- Gain skills in the effective planning, development implementation and management of information systems.
- Understand the role of management of information, of information technology and of information systems in organisations.
- Acquire the knowledge and skills for the effective management of information systems and the change of organisations during the use of information systems.
Open days
The University holds regular open days, where you will have the opportunity to tour the campus and find out more about our facilities and courses.
On this day, you will find out more about the School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED), and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have.
For more information, see Open days .
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:
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MSc (full-time)
UK students (per annum): £13,500
International, including EU, students (per annum): £28,000 -
MSc (part-time)
UK students (per annum): £6,750
International, including EU, students (per annum): £14,000
Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.
The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.
All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for international students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit postgraduate fees
Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
There are many internal and external funding opportunities for postgraduate study.
We offer several postgraduate taught scholarships and merit awards to outstanding applicants and international students.
We also regularly welcome students on the University's Equity and Merit scholarship scheme.
In addition, the Manchester Alumni Scholarship Scheme offers a £3,000 reduction in tuition fees to University of Manchester alumni who achieved a first-class bachelor's degree and are progressing to a postgraduate taught master's course.
Many of our students have gained British Chevening, British Council or Commonwealth scholarships, as well as country-specific awards.
For more information, see our fees and funding webpages or search the University's postgraduate funding database .
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Environment, Education and Development
- Contact name
- School of Environment, Education and Development +44 (0) 161 275 2814
- Telephone
- +44 (0) 161 275 2814
- gdi.admissions@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- http://www.seed.manchester.ac.uk/
- School/Faculty
-
See: The School .
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
We require a UK Honours degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.
When assessing your academic record we take into account the grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.
English language
For the latest information on demonstrating your English proficiency for those whose first language is not English, please see our language requirements .
This programme also accepts successful completion of the 6 and 10 Week Pre-sessional English Language course. We accept the following qualifications which must be valid on the start date of the Pre-sessional course:
6 week: IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and speaking, and 6.0 in listening and reading OR IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in writing or speaking, and 6.0 in the other sub-skills
10 week: IELTS 6.5 with no sub-skill below 6.0
English language test validity
Other international entry requirements
Professional entry qualification
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
Please submit the following documents with your completed application form:
- copies of official degree certificates and transcripts of your previous study, showing the subjects taken and grades obtained. If these documents are in languages other than English please provide official translations;
- your CV;
- copies of English Language Certification, e.g. IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson test score report.
Ensure that you enclose all the necessary documents to avoid any delays.
Staged admissions process
As there is a high demand for our courses, we operate a staged admissions process with selection deadlines throughout the year.
Due to the competition for places and high quality of applications that we receive, we give preference to students from high-ranking institutions and with grades above our minimum entry requirements.
Please ensure you submit all supporting documentation with your application before the application deadline to avoid a delay in processing.
• Stage 1: Application received by 08 December 2023 ; Application update by 22 February 2024
• Stage 2: Application received by 03 March 2024 ; Application update by 25 April 2024
• Stage 3: Application received by 05 May 2024 ; Application update by 08 June 2024
• Stage 4: Application received by 01 July 2024 ; Application update by 25 July 2024
While we aim to give you a decision on your application by the deadline date, in some instances due to the competition for places and the volume of applications received, it may be necessary to roll your application forward to the next deadline date.
Applications received after our final selection deadline will be considered at our discretion if places are still available.
Please note, all places are subject to availability and if you apply at one of the later stages, some courses may already be reaching capacity or be closed to further applications. We, therefore, recommend that you apply early in the cycle to avoid disappointment.
How your application is considered
Once your application has been received, our admissions team will contact you. We may ask you to submit additional information, if necessary.
Applications for MSc Management and Information Systems: Change and Development are very competitive. Due to the high demand for the programme we may not be able to offer places to all applicants who have the entry qualifications that we require. If you meet our entry requirements but we are unable to make you an offer you may be placed on a waiting list. Candidates on a waiting list will receive an offer only if places become available.
Deferrals
Re-applications
If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.
In your new application, you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.
Course details
Course description
MSc Management and Information Systems: Change and Development aims to train 'hybrid managers' capable of understanding both the job of management in its organisational setting, and the role, management and jargon of information, information systems and information technology.
It intends to help close the gap of knowledge, skills, culture and language that exists between functional managers and information systems professionals - a gap that results in many information systems, including e-government, e-commerce, and e-development systems, under-performing or becoming failures.
You'll therefore graduate in a strong position to lead the successful development and implementation of new information systems in a wide range of organisations. By the course's end, you will have been provided with:
- conceptual frameworks to understand the role of management of information, of information technology and of information systems in organisations;
- knowledge and skills to help in the effective planning, development implementation and management of information systems;
- knowledge and skills for the effective management of information systems and the change of organisations during the use of information systems.
Special features
- We're Europe's largest dedicated development research and teaching institute and have been at the forefront of development studies for over 60 years .
- We're ranked second in the UK and seventh in the world for development studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022).
- We bring cutting-edge insights from our research into all our postgraduate teaching. Our courses bring different development perspectives and voices to Manchester, from activists from the Global South to the leaders of multinational companies.
- We are home to the internationally recognised African Cities Research Consortium , Effective States and Inclusive Development and FutureDAMS research centres.
Teaching and learning
Important notice: factors affecting fieldwork and placements
The School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) recognises the value of fieldwork and placements. However, the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff remains our priority.
The School will assess on a regular basis the viability of any travel and fieldwork and communicate any significant changes to our students at the earliest possible opportunity.
The role of SEED
- changes to the rules and guidance on travel and activities implemented and published by the UK and overseas governments;
- a risk assessment conducted by or on behalf of the University identifying unmanageable risk;
- changes that enhance the educational value and student experience of the activity;
- changes to the situation of a placement provider (for example, which cause them to be unable to accept students);
- the unavailability of appropriate insurance cover;
- the unavailability of appropriate travel and accommodation and any significant changes to their financial costs;
- where fieldwork and placements are a compulsory element of the Programme, they will be replaced with something academically similar;
- where a trip or placement is not a compulsory element of the Programme, it may not be replaced.
We will consult with affected students at the earliest possible opportunity and explore the options available to them.
The duty of students
Preparation, attendance and conduct
Attendance at preparatory classes is a compulsory pre-requisite of the fieldwork and placements to ensure safety and learning outcomes are met.
Students who do not attend the compulsory preparatory classes may be prevented from participating in the fieldwork or placement. It is the duty of students to discuss any attendance issues with the field course or placement convenor.
Students are representatives of the university during their fieldwork or placement. Behaviour deemed by the convenor to be unacceptable may result in students being sent home.
Where a student is unable to attend or complete the fieldwork or placement (e.g. due to mitigating circumstances), is prevented from attending due to absence from compulsory preparatory classes, or returned home due to poor conduct:
- a suitable alternative assessment will be offered (as appropriate) to ensure that the programme ILOs are met, and that the student is not academically disadvantaged;
- the University accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred by the student in relation to the fieldwork or placement.
Immigration, passport and visa requirements
It is the responsibility of the individual student to ensure they have:
- a valid passport to enter the destination country (including sufficient months prior to expiry);
- a valid visa (where required) and comply with its requirements.
The School cannot guarantee that visas required for fieldwork or a placement will be granted by the relevant authority. Please note that countries may change their immigration and visa regulations at short notice.
Where a student is unable to attend fieldwork or a placement because they do not have the required visa or passport:
- a suitable alternative assessment will be offered to ensure that the programme ILOs are met and that the student is not academically disadvantaged;
- the University accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred by the student in relation to the fieldwork or placement.
Coursework and assessment
The taught element of the course, carrying 120 credits overall, is continuously assessed by a variety of methods (e.g., project-based reports, essays), involving largely individual submissions, but also elements of group work.
You must also complete a 12,000-15,000-word dissertation on a topic of your choice approved by the Programme Directors.
You are encouraged to base your dissertation on topics of direct professional concern.
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
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Introducing Information Systems in Organisations | MGDI60012 | 15 | Mandatory |
Fundamentals of Information and Information Systems | MGDI60481 | 15 | Mandatory |
Research Skills Development | MGDI72090 | 15 | Mandatory |
Teaching and Learning Online | EDUC70050 | 15 | Optional |
Multimedia Design and Development | EDUC70511 | 15 | Optional |
Issues in the Management of Information Systems | MGDI60052 | 15 | Optional |
Public Sector Reform and Management | MGDI60081 | 15 | Optional |
International Management | MGDI60101 | 15 | Optional |
Digital Governance | MGDI60311 | 15 | Optional |
eBusiness: Organisation and Strategy | MGDI60352 | 15 | Optional |
Displaying 10 of 18 course units | |||
Display all course units |
What our students say
Disability support
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service.
For more information, email dass@manchester.ac.uk
Careers
Career opportunities
This course is designed to develop two groups: functional managers who wish to take greater control over, and make a more direct contribution to, change in their organisations via the development and implementation of information systems; and information systems professionals who wish to improve the success rate of the information systems they develop or use, and who may also wish to upgrade their management skills and knowledge.
It will be relevant to those with career trajectories in the private, public, and NGO sectors, and it is particularly appropriate for those working in or with low and middle-income countries.
Our graduates have an impressive career record in the UK or in their home countries.
Teaching and research at the Global Development Institute covers a wide variety of topics and as a result our students can be found in a range of jobs and careers.
Our teaching aims to support students from all backgrounds to acquire valuable knowledge, skills and attributes to achieve their educational and professional goals.
It includes regular contributions from researchers and practitioners with a view to equip our students to make a positive difference in their chosen sphere.
NGOs and third-sector organisations
Our teaching and research aims are suited to work in non-government and civil society organisations where you take on a range of roles from policy advisors, project managers, HR and communications staff.
Our alumni can be found at large international NGOs like Oxfam as well as in many smaller organisations.
Government and policy
Graduates can be found in national governments, multilateral organisations and policy influencing positions around the world, in organisations including DFID, the World Bank, African Union, United Nations and as civil servants around the world.
Private sector
Our focus on how businesses and the private sector can play a role in development enables you to gain employment in multinational organisations, private sector firms or to start your own organisations addressing some of the biggest global challenges.
Research and teaching
Our master's courses provide you with a strong theoretical foundation for further study.
Alumni find employment in research and teaching positions at universities and research institutes around the world. Top employers include:
- African Union;
- Oxfam;
- Inter-American Development Bank;
- Care;
- Mercy Corps;
- The British Council;
- the World Bank;
- the Department for International Development;
- United Nations;
- USAID.
Find out more about our alumni and some of our notable former students .
Careers support
The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate.
At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .
Careers support for international students
The Careers Service provides specialist resources, advice and events to help with career planning and making the most of your time while studying in Manchester.
- Working in the UK after study
- Working during study
- Professional and alumni networks for international students
Global networks
The University of Manchester is proud to have the largest global alumni community of any campus-based university in the UK.
After your course, you'll join our 10,000 strong alumni network .
We'll keep you up to date with all the new insights and implications from our research.