BSc (Hons) Information Technology

UCAS code: G502

Start date: September

Course length: Full time: four years (sandwich) (includes a placement year)

Campus: Kedleston Road site, Derby Campus

This course is available to international students

This course has been designed and developed in conjunction with industry to ensure that you develop valuable and much sought- after skills in the design, deployment, business and management of IT products and services. 

In your first year you'll explore different areas of IT and business to give you a solid foundation in the subject before you go on to develop a specialism and expertise in information technology.

In your third year you'll spend a year in industry on placement.  Our students often say that this is the most rewarding part of their course. You'll apply everything that you've learned so far to a business environment and you'll see how the wider social environment affects the way an organisation uses information technology.  More and more employers are now asking for work experience so if your CV shows placement experience you will really stand out when, as a graduate, you are applying for your first job.

Throughout the course you will develop sound knowledge and expertise in the design of IT products, starting with small projects in your first year and moving on to more substantial projects as you progress. You will also expand your understanding of business processes and how to manage IT services in an organisation. In addition, you'll understand how individuals and groups of people work to get things done and how IT can help support a business environment. 

Each year you will build on the mixture of academic, practical and vocational skills you've already learnt. In the first stage you'll be relatively new to a lot of the subject material so you'll have lots of direction and tutoring from your lecturers, especially for the more practical modules. You can also use clinics and drop-in sessions to help you learn independently.

During the second stage you will develop your analytical skills and start to put theory into practice, including decisions about concepts, approaches or solutions in given situations.

In your final stage you'll develop these skills further so that you can critically evaluate and challenge concepts and ideas. You'll also conduct a major piece of research in an area of your own interest for your independent study.

Stage one

You will study these modules:

• The IT Design Studio
• Information Technology in Context
• Understanding People in Organisations
• Computer Architecture, Networks and Security
• Programming Principles
• Client Side Web Development

Stage two

You will study these modules:

• IT Team Project
• IT Product Design
• Multi-User Database Systems
• IT Services Management
• Data Management and Business Intelligence

And you will choose one option from:

• Business Simulation
• Digital and Social Media
• Innovation and Knowledge Transfer

Stage three - Placement year

Final stage

You will study these modules:

• Independent Studies - double module
• Emerging IT Product Developments
• Sustainable Information and Corporate Governance
• Small Business Start-Up

And you will choose one option from:

• Enterprise Systems
• Information Security and Assurance

Our entry requirements are usually 240 UCAS points, of which at least 200 will be from your core A2s (full A levels) or equivalent qualifications such as BTEC Diploma, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers etc.

We'll accept up to 40 points towards the total from level 3 qualifications such as AS levels (where those AS levels are not taken on to A2 level), the Extended Project or Music qualifications.

We don't accept points from Key Skills Level 3. If you have any questions about what is or isn't accepted, please contact our Admissions team.

We also accept the Access to HE Diploma.

Your points at level 3 will be in addition to 5 GCSEs at grade C or equivalent level 2 qualifications.

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The UCAS tariff points are a guide - we'll also consider all the information that you've included in your application. We'll also want to see that you're enthusiastic and motivated to take this course and that you have the potential to benefit from coming to university.

General undergraduate entry requirements

Fees for 2013/14

This is a resource intensive course.

UK/EU students

• Full time: £8,250 (each year)

International students

• Full time: £10,225 (per year)

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2013 and August 2014. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.

There are three modules per semester, each delivered through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, guided reading, practical sessions in computer laboratories, group and individual work, debates, seminars and presentations (by lecturers, guest lecturers and students).

Online materials are available for most modules. These include lecture and tutorial notes, reading lists, web links, examples, hints and tips for assignments and exercises.

As an Information Technology graduate you will find career opportunities in virtually any area of computing and information technology. You could become a systems architect, computer programmer, IT director, help-desk supervisor, systems engineer, or a network technician. 

Alternatively you could start your own business developing and managing your own IT products and services.

"The University is making sure that we leave fully educated and prepared so that we can gain a career in our chosen field. Throughout my studies there has been a lot of information and guidance relating to the ultimate goal of attaining a career. The workshops, CV guidance and mock interviews have been really useful, and I plan to take up a career in web design and development."

Alex Nazaruk