MSc Management and Information Systems: Change and Development / Course details

In today’s data-driven world, the success of development and organisational initiatives increasingly depends on professionals who can combine strategic insight with technological understanding.

The MSc Management and Information Systems: Change and Development is designed to train these rare but essential individuals; hybrid managers who can speak the languages of both management and information systems.

You’ll explore how information, IT, and information systems shape, and are shaped by, organisations, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries.

Whether you’re tackling the challenges of e-government, e-commerce, or broader digital development strategies, this course prepares you to lead change from the inside out, ensuring that digital solutions not only work technically, but also align with organisational goals and social realities.

Too often, a disconnect between technical experts and decision-makers results in underperforming or failed systems.

This course is purpose-built to close that gap. You’ll gain conceptual tools to understand how organisations operate and evolve, alongside hands-on skills to plan, manage, and implement effective digital interventions.

From systems analysis and project management to change leadership and strategic alignment, you’ll graduate ready to drive digital transformation in the places where it’s needed most.

Whether you're already working in a managerial or technical role, or looking to pivot your career toward digital development and innovation - this MSc will position you to lead technology-enabled change in governments, NGOs, international agencies and businesses worldwide.

• 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 are ranked first for research environment and second overall in the UK in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021).
• We are proud to tackle global inequalities and rank first in the UK for our impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (THE Impact Rankings 2025).
• 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.
• Students are part of our vibrant research community, including our public lecture series which brings world experts, former heads of state, and leading development thinkers, to discuss current issues in development.

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.

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.

The University of Manchester’s scholarship for developing country students made my dream of a master’s degree possible.

The course polished my management, information systems and research skills to a level I haven’t seen elsewhere, and it has been a major step towards my career and PhD ambitions.

Masuda Ahmad - MSc Management and Information Systems: Change and Development

Find out how our students feel about studying at The University of Manchester by visiting Student Spotlights .