Business Information Systems with Foundation BSc Honours

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Course Overview

Attendance

UK Fees £9,250 *
International Fees £15,400 *
Duration 4 or 5 years

* Price per academic year

Course summary

Our degree courses with Foundation year offer the opportunity to prepare you for advanced study before you progress onto a full honours degree at the University of Westminster. Whether you do not feel ready for degree-level study, don’t have the right qualifications, want to change your subject specialism or return to study after an absence from education, we aim to encourage a broad range of students to undertake our Foundation year in order to progress onto their full honours degree with us.

The Foundation year is designed to give you the opportunity to explore new ideas, opening up new perspectives on the key debates within your chosen field. During the foundation year you will explore a range of creative disciplines and get a chance to develop in your chosen field, benefiting from workshops in our high end facilities and working with leading academics who will encourage you to become a confident and creative thinker. Core modules accelerate your academic and professional development and you will also take modules within your chosen field, giving you the chance to develop a cross-disciplinary perspective on your course. 

On successful completion of the Foundation year, you'll be able to move on to study for the Business Information Systems BSc Honours over a further three years study.

Working in the world of information systems can be exciting and rewarding as businesses become more and more reliant on information systems to support innovation, decision making and day-to-day operations.

The creative use of information systems can transform organisations. Successful enterprises require hybrid managers and analysts who can evaluate and use the tools, gauge the risks and provide the key insights and sound direction for strategic business planning.

Our Business Information Systems BSc will give you a clear perspective of the current nature and practice of business information systems, and will develop your understanding of the business challenges of an enterprise, and your ability to conceive and manage solutions which are increasingly ICT dependent.

You’ll integrate your skills of problem solving and information systems modelling with your knowledge of business processes and environments. You’ll be able to consult on, support or develop the technological platforms of an enterprise to achieve competitive advantage, building a career in roles ranging from systems developer to business manager.

Our course offers a short-term work-based learning experience that will give you the opportunity to work on a real-life problem, which is normally set by an external organisation as a small-scale project. This experience will allow you to put your new knowledge and skills into practice by addressing a real-life situation, usually within the context of a business-related problem.

In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake a year in industry (work placement) after completing the second year of your study. This will help you gain work experience and enhance employability. You’ll be offered help and support to find and secure placement opportunities through various workshops and events organised by the Careers and Employability Service and the course team. Typically, you’ll be assigned into roles involving tasks related to business information systems.

Top reasons to study with us

  • Develop the skills and knowledge that will help you play a leading role in using IT and information systems to achieve business goals
  • Learn to use IT management skills to help improve business efficiency and sharpen a company’s competitive edge
  • Build the skills that will help you lead digital transformation, plan strategically and redesign business secure operations as well as establish business processes and direct digitalization in big and small companies
  • You’ll have the opportunity to undertake a work placement year to develop your skills and enhance your employability
  • Our course meets business and industry needs and ensures that you, as tomorrow’s business managers, are equipped with important IT, business, project management, personal and interpersonal skills
  • You'll qualify for free British Computer Society (BCS) academic membership for the duration of your studies. The BCS supports those working in the IT industry and has a commitment to making IT good for society. The organisation has over 60,000 members in 150 countries, and a wider community of business leaders, educators, practitioners and policy-makers. Membership of the BCS will allow you to continue your professional development and enjoy a range of valuable networking opportunities. For more information, visit the BCS website

Course structure

You’ll learn through a mixture of lectures, practical tutorials, laboratory sessions and independent study.

In Year 1 you will be introduced to business and information systems fundamentals, concepts, components and architectures.

In Years 2 and 3 you will follow the Specialist Themes tha interest you the most.

Specialist Themes

Business Information Systems and Business Management

You'll focus on how value is created in business activities through the use of IT to establish competitive advantage, and how the alignment between business strategy and technology can be managed in an efficient and effective way.

Business Information Systems and Business Analytics

You'll focus on unlocking insights into data to improve business efficiency, financial performance and strategic management. You'll learn to interrogate information needs and transform information into knowledge, and knowledge to decisions and actions.

Business Information Systems and IT/ Cyber Security

You'll understand how to defend IT-based business systems, networks and data from cybercrime and become a cybersecurity professional.

The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course. 

Subjects of study include:

  • Computer Systems and Networks
  • Critical Thinking for Academic and Professional Development
  • Foundation Mathematics
  • Information Systems and Data Representation
  • Introduction to Academic Practice
  • Programming

Credit Level 3

Subjects of study include:

  • Business Computing
  • Business Information Systems Concepts
  • Business Mathematics
  • Database Design and Implementation
  • Requirements Modelling
  • Web Design and Development

Credit Level 4

Subjects of study include:

  • Agile Project Management and Professional Experience (work-based learning)
  • BIS Design and Architecture
  • BIS Development
  • Business Analytics
  • Database Systems
  • Information Technology Security
  • Server-side Web Development
  • Elective Module choice

Credit level 5

This course gives you the opportunity to take a year in industry (work placement) after completing the second year of your study. This will help you gain work experience and increase your chances of employability after you graduate.

You will be offered help and support to find and secure placement opportunities through various workshops and events organised by the Careers and Employability Service and the course team.

Typically, you will be assigned into roles involving tasks related to business information systems.

Subjects of study include:

  • Big Data Analytics
  • Business Information Systems Final Project
  • Customer Relationship and Change Management (CRM & CM) with Business Intelligence
  • Cyber Security
  • Data Visualisation and Dash Boarding
  • Digital Marketing, Social Media and Web Analytics
  • Information Driven Entrepreneurship and Enterprise
  • Strategic Management of Information Systems

Credit Level 6

Professional accreditation

This course is CITP (Chartered IT Professional) and partial CEng (Chartered Engineer) accredited by the BCS (British Computer Society).

Studying Computer Science and Engineering at Westminster

Watch the video below to find out more about studying Computer Science and Engineering at Westminster.

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Programme specification

For more details on course structure, modules, teaching and assessment Download the programme specification (PDF).

To request an accessible version please email [email protected]

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Prospectus

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Get in touch

Contact us for general course enquiries:

+44 (0)20 7911 5000 EXT 65511
(Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm GMT)

[email protected]

Live chat with us
(Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm GMT)

Open days

Join us at an open day online or on campus. Get a feel for student life at the University of Westminster and talk to course leaders and our support teams.

Careers

With a growing global network of 3,000 employers, our Careers and Employability Service is here to support you to achieve your full potential.

Transferable skills

You'll gain the knowledge and experience to work in roles such as business analyst, change manager, IT consultant, project manager, security analyst, system analyst, systems architect and web designer.

Work placement opportunities

You’ll have the opportunity to undertake a work placement year to develop your skills and enhance your employability.

3,000

Employers around the world

The University’s Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping all our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.

Career development

Our course offers a short-term work-based learning experience by providing you with an opportunity to work on a real-life problem, which is normally set by an external organisation as a small-scale project.

This experience will allow you to put your new knowledge and skills into practice by addressing a real-life situation, usually within the context of a business-related problem.

This experience will also help you develop subject-specific technical skills as well as employability skills such as leadership, organisation and commercial awareness.

Our course also gives you the opportunity to undertake a year in industry (work placement) after completing the second year of your study and gain work experience, enhancing your employability. You'll be offered help and support to find and secure placement opportunities through various workshops and events.

Job roles

This course will prepare you for roles such as:

  • Business analyst
  • Change manager
  • IT consultant
  • IT project manager
  • IT security analyst
  • System analyst
  • Systems architect
  • Web designer

Graduate employment

Graduates from this course have found employment at organisations including:

  • Citi Group
  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • HP
  • IBM
  • NHS

International Opportunities

Many of our courses offer international study and work experiences, and the University provides other global opportunities that all students can apply for - so whatever you're studying, you'll have the chance to go abroad.

Opportunities could include:

  • Taking part in semester or year-long exchanges at institutions around the world
  • Attending an international summer school or field trip
  • Developing your CV through volunteering or work placements abroad

International experience broadens horizons, boosts self-confidence, and improves global understanding, alongside being fantastic for your career.

Find out more about our international opportunities, including funding options and where you can go.

Students working and studying internationally

Course Leaders

Panagiotis Chountas's default avatar image

"Information technology and business are becoming inextricably interwoven. I don't think anybody can talk meaningfully about one without talking about the other”.

- Bill Gates

Dr Panagiotis Chountas

Principal Lecturer

Dr Panos Chountas's research expertise

focuses on the areas of data and knowledge engineering, and intelligent systems and their application to businesses and public organisations for the purposes of maximising business profitability and achieving more efficient and proactive process management.

His research is focused on the following areas: business intelligence, Big Data analytics, health informatics, large databases and Big Data repositories, and digital media storage architectures.

His research has been supported by the Royal Society and Technology Strategy Board.

Dr Chountas chaired the 12th International Conference on Flexible Query Answering Systems FQAS 2017, and the International IEEE Conference-Intelligent Systems 2006 (IEEE-IS'2006 and EEaE IS'2010). For the 6th IEEE International Conference “Big Data, Knowledge and Control Systems Engineering” (BdKCSE’2019) he delivered the opening keynote talk on “Big Data and Change Analytics”.

See full profileSee full profile of Dr Panagiotis Chountas

Noam Weingarten

Senior Lecturer

Noam Weingarten is a Senior Lecturer within the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Westminster. Noam is the Course Leader of the Foundation Level of all courses offered by the School, and teaches several modules. 

He has been working at the University of Westminster since 2002 and is highly experienced at catering for the foundation level.

His research interests include cloud computing and the applications of such computing power such as bioinformatics.

See full profileSee full profile of Noam Weingarten
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Why study this course?

Get ahead before graduating

Our work placement opportunities will prepare you for your career after graduation and improve your employability.

Fantastic central London location

Based in our Cavendish Campus in central London, you’ll enjoy the benefits of studying in a global business hub.

A supportive environment

We provide our students with the right environment, support and guidance throughout their studies to keep them motivated.

Entry Requirements

  • A Levels – DDE (64 UCAS Tariff points)
  • T levels – 64 UCAS Tariff points
  • International Baccalaureate – 64 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis
  • BTEC Extended Diploma – MPP
  • BTEC Diploma – MM
  • Access – 64 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course

In addition to one of the above, you should have: 

  • GCSE English Language grade 4/C – IB grade 4 Higher Level, GCSE Maths grade 4/C – IB grade 4

If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 5.5  overall, with 5.5 in each component.

We also welcome applications from students who are taking a combinations of qualifications listed above. For further information, please contact Course Enquiries.

View more information about our entry requirements and the application process

  • International Baccalaureate – 64 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis

If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 5.5  overall, with 5.5 in each component.

More information

Learn new skills

Learn a new language

From Arabic to Spanish, you can learn a new language alongside your degree with our Polylang programme

Develop your entrepreneurial skills

Our award-winning Creative Enterprise Centre offers industry networking events, workshops, one-to-one business advice and support for your startup projects. 

Gain extra qualifications

We provide access to free online courses in Adobe and Microsoft Office applications, as well as thousands of specialist courses on LinkedIn Learning.

Fees and Funding

UK tuition fee: £9,250 (Price per academic year)

When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.

Find out how we set our tuition fees.

Funding

As well as tuition fee loans, there is a range of funding available to help you fund your studies.

Find out about undergraduate student funding options.

Scholarships

The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students, which cover all or part of your tuition fees.

Find out if you qualify for one of our scholarships.

International tuition fee: £15,400 (Price per academic year)

When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.

Find out how we set our tuition fees.

EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme

If you are an international student accepted on an undergraduate programme starting in September 2024 or September 2025 at level 3 (Foundation) or level 4 (first year) on the basis of an eligible EU qualification only, you will be awarded a tuition fee reduction which will align your fee more closely to the one for UK students. For more information, see the EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme.

International student funding

Find out about funding for international students.

What our students say

Hannah Edward

Business Information Systems BSc - 2024

I find the course very stimulating as it equips me with the practical skills that are highly relevant in today's tech-driven business world. The combination of business knowledge and technical skills makes the course a valuable asset for any aspiring business or IT professional.

Teaching and Assessment

Below you will find how learning time and assessment types are distributed on this course. The graphs below give an indication of what you can expect through approximate percentages, taken either from the experience of previous cohorts, or based on the standard module diet where historic course data is unavailable.  Changes to the division of learning time and assessment may be made in response to feedback and in accordance with our terms and conditions.

How you'll be taught

Teaching methods across all our undergraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application. Learning typically falls into three broad categories:

  • Scheduled hours: examples include lectures, seminars, practical classes, workshops, supervised time in a studio
  • Placement: placement hours normally include placement opportunities, but may also include live projects or virtual activity involving employers
  • Independent study: non-scheduled time in which students are expected to study independently. This may include preparation for scheduled sessions, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks, or revision
Year
F
24%76%
1
28%72%
2
24%76%
P
1%6%93%
3
24%76%
Scheduled hoursIndependent studyPlacement

How you'll be assessed

Our undergraduate courses include a wide variety of assessments.

Assessments typically fall into three broad categories:

  • Practical: examples include presentations, videos, podcasts, lab work, creating artefacts  
  • Written exams: end of semester exams 
  • Coursework: examples include essays, reports, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation
     
Year
F
28%72%
1
100%
2
2%1%97%
P
100%
3
30%70%
Written examsPracticalCoursework

Data from the academic year 2022/23

Supporting you

Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.

  • Study support — workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
  • Personal tutors — support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
  • Student advice team — provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas
  • Extra-curricular activities — volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more

Visit our student hub

Course location

With state-of-the-art science and psychology labs and refurbished computer suites, our Cavendish Campus offers our science and technology students a range of learning spaces that are both dynamic and inspiring,

Located in central London, our Cavendish Campus is just a five-minute walk from Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road.

For more details, visit our Cavendish Campus page.

Contact us

Call our dedicated team on:

+44 (0)20 7911 5000 ext 65511

Opening hours (GMT): 10am–4pm Monday to Friday

[email protected]

Start live chat

Opening hours (GMT): 10am–4pm Monday to Friday

More information

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