MSc Management and Information Systems: Change and Development (Distance Learning)

Year of entry: 2025

Overview

Degree awarded
Master of Science (MSc)
Duration
2 years (August Intake),33 months (January Intake)
Entry requirements

We require a UK Honours degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent in any discipline.

Full entry requirements

How to apply
Apply online
Sustainable Development Goals

Find out how this course aligns to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including learning which relates to:

  • Goal 1: No poverty

Course options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
MSc N N N Y

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 new 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.
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Interested in MSc Management and Information Systems: Change and Development by Distance Learning?

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 2025, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MSc (part-time distance learning)
    UK students (per annum): £1,167 per 15 credits, £4,664 dissertation
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £1,583 per 15 credits, £6,336 dissertation

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

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

We offer several postgraduate taught scholarships and merit awards to outstanding applicants and international students.

For more information on scholarships and bursaries, see our Fees and funding webpages and make sure to check our Manchester Alumni Loyalty Discount , the widening participation access Manchester Master's Bursaries as well as Humanities Postgraduate Scholarships

We also regularly welcome students on the University's Equity and Merit scholarship scheme.

Many of our students have gained British Chevening, British Council or Commonwealth scholarships, as well as country-specific awards.

UK/EU students joining the August entry route, which has a fixed two-year structure, may be eligible for the Postgraduate Master's loan.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the world's call to action on the most pressing challenges facing humanity. At The University of Manchester, we address the SDGs through our research and particularly in partnership with our students.

Led by our innovative research, our teaching ensures that all our graduates are empowered, inspired and equipped to address the key socio-political and environmental challenges facing the world.

To illustrate how our teaching will empower you as a change maker, we've highlighted the key SDGs that our courses address.

  • Goal 1: No poverty

    End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Environment, Education and Development
Contact name
School of Environment, Education and Development +44 (0) 161 543 4028
Telephone
+44 (0) 161 543 4028
Email
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.

English language

For the latest information on demonstrating your English proficiency for those whose first language is not English, please see our language requirements .

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Other international entry requirements

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see Accepted entry qualifications from your country

Professional entry qualification

If you do not meet our academic entry qualification criterion, your admission may still be approved if satisfactory evidence of postgraduate study, research or professional experience can be provided.

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, eg IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson test score report.

Ensure that you enclose all the necessary documents to avoid any delays.

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.

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;
  • new knowledge and skills to help in the effective planning, development implementation and management of information systems;
  • new knowledge and skills to help in the effective management and change of organisations.

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. 
  • You will join our 10,000 strong alumni network. We'll keep you up to date with all the new insights and implications from our research. 

  Distance learning  

The Global Development Institute has more than 20 years' experience of delivering high-quality postgraduate programmes via distance learning, and this master's degree offers you: 

  • Competitive costs - participants remain at home and in work while they study, typically reducing the total net cost of study by two-thirds. 
  • Career-relevant learning - we use cases and models from the real world, enabling you to apply learning direct to your workplace and to build career-enhancing skills profiles. 
  • Flexible learning - the pace of learning can be varied according to other commitments, and can also be combined with periods of on-campus learning in Manchester.

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

Each course unit generally requires one assignment of 3,500 words.

Assignments for all course units typically relate to organisational application of management and information systems ideas.

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.

TitleCodeCredit rating
Fundamentals of Information and Information Systems MGDI70001 15
Introducing Information Systems in Organisations MGDI70002 15
Issues in the Management of Information Systems MGDI70003 15
e-Business - Organisation and Strategy MGDI70004 15
Research Methods MGDI70005 15
Organisational Behaviour MGDI70040 15
Organisation Development and Change MGDI70050 15
International Management MGDI71030 15

What our students say

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

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 of participants: 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 newly developed, transitional and developing countries. 

Our graduates have an impressive career record in the UK and internationally. 

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 .

Career trajectories

The MSc in Management and Information Systems can help you select and target jobs in any part of the hybrid triangle. 

See more examples and a diagram of typical jobs taken by our graduates.  

Further studies  

Each year, some students are bitten by the postgraduate bug and decide to continue their studies by undertaking a PhD. 

Those who take a PhD typically see themselves with a career trajectory into academia or into a research-intensive job role such as consultancy or policy advisory positions. 

Those from the MSc M&IS programme may study with the University's Centre for Digital Development .

Career examples

Masuda Ahmad joined the MSc programme when working as a Business Analyst for software house Uraan Software in Lahore, Pakistan. Her MSc studies facilitated her promotion within Uraan to take on a programme management role. Subsequently she took a significant step up with a new job as General Manager for Business Development and Media - exactly the type of hybrid role the MSc seeks to develop, combining management and ICT expertise - for Qadir Enterprises; an engineering and construction company based in Peshawar working on civil and electrical engineering projects. Masuda also started volunteering at a local school - Qadir Nagar High School - developing an education management information system, based on work undertaken for her MSc dissertation. 

Eisah Mayanja joined the MSc programme when working as a Senior Applications Analyst for Grameen App Lab in Kampala, Uganda. His MSc studies facilitated his promotion within Grameen to the role of Senior Technology Analyst, using some of the management content of the programme to help move from mainly technical development to a more project management role. Following three years overseeing software quality assurance for MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission, he is now Technical Director of New Wave Technologies, coordinating deployment of Internet-based applications for UN agencies and NGOs in Africa. 

At the beginning of her studies, Emma Jackson was a website editor for the Department of Telecommunications, Science and Technology within the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Her MSc studies facilitated her promotion to Deputy Director of the Public Sector Reform Unit, with a hybrid job profile of the type the MSc programme aims to develop. Her role supports the government's public sector reform programme and requires systems analysis, change management and process re-engineering capabilities that various MSc modules helped Emma develop.