Study Information Systems and graduate with a university degree

Information systems are the heart of our data-driven society, and the ability to develop and use them is highly valued. This course is a superb grounding: its combination of theory and practice gives a broad base of skills and resonates well with employers.

You'll study the application of computer systems in an organisational context. This goes beyond examining the technical side of computing science to consider the environments in which systems are used. You’ll look closely at the role computers play in a commercial environment, addressing issues such as underlying technologies and techniques adopted; information systems design and analysis; decision making; and the role of information in a data-driven society.

Ours is a small, friendly team with an 'open door' policy for students. Our computing labs are fitted with state-of-the art PCs.

The British Computer Society (BCS), the Chartered Institute for IT, is the foremost professional and learned society in the field of computers and information systems in the UK. The Institute of Computing Science and Mathematics is an Educational Affiliate of the BCS.

The Single Honours BSc course in Information Systems gives full accreditation by the BCS for being a Chartered Information Technology Professional (CITP), which is the professional member level of the BCS.

Year 1

Highers BBBB.
A-levels BBC.
IB Diploma with a total of 32 points.
HNC or HND with Bs in graded units.

Access courses and other UK/EU and international qualifications are also welcomed.

General entrance requirements apply.

International students can study our Undergraduate Certificate if they do not possess the necessary entrance requirements to be admitted directly to Year 1 of an undergraduate degree course.

Other information

If examinations are taken over two sittings, or there are repeats or upgrades, the entrance requirements may be higher.

Required subjects

English Standard Grade (2), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent.
Applicants with English Standard Grade (3) will also be considered, although alternative entry conditions may be made in this case.
Mathematics Standard Grade (3), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent.

information on possible sources of funding

Full-time (three modules per semester).
Part-time (one or two modules per semester).

Year 1

Year 2

A Scottish HND in related subjects with BB in Graded Units in Year 2 can give direct entry to the second year of our degree courses.

There are four computing-related degrees on offer at Stirling: BSc (Hons) Computing Science, BSc (Hons) Software Engineering, BSc (Hons) Business Computing and BSc (Hons) Information Systems. During the first three semesters students on all related courses are required to take the same core modules in Computing Science. Students take Computing Science plus two other subjects in Year 1.

Semesters 1 - 3

You will take core modules, encompassing study in the following areas:

• Skills and Applications
• Programming using Java
• Usability and Accessibility
• Information Systems
• Object-oriented Development, Data Structures and Algorithms
  

You will take the following core Business modules:

• The Firm
• The Business Environment
• Business in the 21st Century
  

In Semester 1, we understand that students have a variety of backgrounds, and we can adapt the course to suit your previous experience and qualifications.

Semesters 4 - 8

In Semesters 4 – 8 the degree comprises core modules and optional modules, giving you a chance to explore your particular interests further.

Current core modules include:

• Information Systems
• Software Engineering (involving group work)
• Database Principles and Applications
• Multimedia and Human Computer Interaction
• Communications and Networks
• Management and Information Technology
• Managing Information
• Technologies for E-commerce
  

Options are drawn from the range of Computing Science topics and include:

• Computer Game Technologies
• Computing and the Brain
• Computer Security and Forensics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Telecommunications Systems and Services
• Web Services
  

The final-year project is also a core element of the course. Typically this involves independently developing a major piece of software from initial requirements through to final delivery.

Year 1

• Skills and Applications
• Programming and User Accessibility
• The Firm
• The Business Environment
  

Year 2

• Objects and Information Systems
• Systems I
• Programming Language Paradigms
• Managing Information 
• Business in the 21st Century
  

Year 3

• Software Engineering I
• Database Principles and Applications
• Multimedia and Human Computer Interaction
• Software Engineering II
• Computer Game Technologies
• Communications and Networks
• Information Systems
• Management and Information Technology
  

Year 4

• Concurrent and Distributed Systems
• Language Implementation
• Computer Security and Forensics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Technologies for E-commerce
• Telecommunications Systems and Services
• Web Services
• Computing and the Brain

You will learn about Information Systems through lectures, small tutorial groups and most of all through laboratory work. Information Systems is taught as a very practical subject, and almost all modules include practical assignments. Typically these count for 50 percent of the assessment grade, with the remainder given to the examination.

For the Honours degree, the grades for all advanced modules taken in Semesters 5 – 8 are combined to give the final classification.

Related Degrees

Business Computing; Computing Science; Management Science; Software Engineering.

Computer Science at Stirling was top in UK, scoring 100% student satisfaction for the quality of the course (National Student Survey, 2011).

You have the opportunity to study abroad through Stirling's well-established connections with several international universities.

In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), 90 percent of the research in the Institute of Computing Science and Mathematics was graded as ‘Internationally Excellent’, with the top five percent judged to be ‘World-leading’.

The Institute of Computing Science and Mathematics has strong links with Scottish industry through its Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) – with members from both Scottish and international industries such as IBM, HSBC, Sword-Ciboodle and Stirling Council. Through the IAB we:

• Maintain links with potential employers, giving students an insight into the types of job they may find and giving employers a chance to find the right employees now and influence what is taught in the future
• Transfer knowledge and technology from the institute to a wide user base
• Make our research relevant to the user base
• Collaborate with the user base on joint research and development projects

Academic Strengths

We are an active research Institute. We have funded research from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Medical Research Council (MRC), Biological and Basic Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC), from the European Community and from other sources.

We provide a stimulating and lively environment for all students.  Final-year Honours projects can be associated with active research projects in the Institute.  Research areas of particular interest are Applied Formal Methods, Medical Informatics, Computational Intelligence, and Communications and Services.

Information Systems graduates offer a unique blend of skills to potential employers. As well as a good grounding in the technical aspects of computing offered by more traditional computer science degrees, you will have a bank of additional business awareness skills. You will also be equipped to design and develop information technology infrastructures as well as to use such tools to contribute to the strategic planning and decision making performed within organisations.