BSc (Hons) Business Computing and Information Systems

Welcome to the BSc (Hons) Business Computing and Information Systems Programme!

Hello, aspiring tech leaders!

We are delighted that you’re exploring the BSc (Hons) Business Computing and Information Systems programme. This highly-regarded course is delivered by NCC Education and awarded and validated by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

School of Engineering and Computing

In the modern world, businesses rely on technology more than ever. Our course is designed to bridge the gap between business and technology, creating skilled professionals who can navigate both areas effectively and play a crucial role in achieving organisational success.

Why choose this programme?
- The BSc (Hons) Business Computing & Information Systems online top-up qualification is awarded by the highly reputable University of Central Lancashire.
- It has been specially designed for students wanting to complete the final year of their degree in a flexible, affordable, and accessible way.
- The programme is delivered by NCC Education via our Virtual Learning Environment or VLE.
- All teaching staff are UK-based academics.
- The full-time programme is over 1 academic year.
- Part-time is over 2 years and recommended for those in full-time employment.
- You can study 100% online.
- You can study at your own pace, from your home country, and be awarded a UK university degree.
- Opportunity to improve your employment prospects within the IT sector or progression to postgraduate study.
- Access to a range of transferable skills and an appreciation of working in a diverse and multi-cultural environment.
- UCLan is in the Top 7% of World Universities (CWUR 2023)

What you will do

This distance learning programme is to provide an education that will equip students like you with the knowledge, technical and interpersonal skills necessary for taking part in the design, implementation, and management of information systems and to produce professionally minded computer practitioners able to meet the responsibilities and challenges demanded by the computing industry.

Study options

Full-time: 1 year
Part-time: 2 years

Tuition Fee

£4,000

Course level

Level 6 top – up / Undergraduate

Qualification

BSc (Hons)

Start date

March & September

Location

Distance Learning only

What you will study

Module title	Credits	Semester
Advanced Database Management Systems	20	Spring
Corporate Communications Systems Management	20	Spring
eBusiness	20	Autumn
Managing Information Systems Projects	20	Autumn
Information Systems Project	40	Autumn & Spring
TOTAL CREDITS	120

Students also study the Information Systems Project. Full-time students begin this in their first semester and complete it in their second semester.

Core Modules

Advanced Database Management Systems

Code: CO3902

20 CREDITS / CORE / COURSEWORK

This module aims to build upon the student’s general understanding of database systems, ensuring that the student develops significant knowledge of the major topics (both theoretical and practical) pertinent to the development and management of modern database systems.
Corporate Communications Systems Management

Code: CO3904

20 CREDITS / CORE / COURSEWORK

This module aims to build upon the student’s general understanding of networking, ensuring that the student develops significant knowledge of the major topics pertinent to the management of telecommunications and computer networks for corporate systems.
eBusiness

Code: CO3905

20 CREDITS / CORE / COURSEWORK

This module aims to build upon the student’s general understanding of the Internet, ensuring that the student develops significant knowledge of the major topics (both commercial and technical) pertinent to the use of the Internet to conduct business electronically.
Managing Information Systems Projects

Code: CO3903

20 CREDITS / CORE / COURSEWORK

This module aims to build upon the student’s general understanding of project management, ensuring that the student develops significant understanding and theoretical underpinning of different approaches to project management and the development of a rigorous attitude to quality in information systems development.
Information Systems Project

Code: CO3906

40 CREDITS / CORE / COURSEWORK

This module provides the opportunity for individual in-depth study in a specialised area of information systems. It aims to develop the student’s ability to tackle, individually, a selected problem of suitable scale and complexity, and to develop the ability to present ideas in a series of written reports.

Modules taught in the March semester (beginning March, ending June)

Advanced Database Systems Management
Corporate Communication Systems Management

Modules taught in the Autumn semester (beginning September and ending December)

Managing Information Systems Projects
eBusiness.

How you will learn

Our teaching methods will be varied, interactive and engaging with live delivery from UK academics in each topic of study. The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), is the area where you will work through the module materials created by the Module Leader, participate in the module discussion forums with other students, and discuss the content of the course through live chat sessions. Each week, you are expected to undertake the following tasks for each module you are studying:

Watch the video lecture for the topic, usually at the beginning of the teaching week
Work through the topic tutorial, undertaking tasks as directed
Contribute to discussion forums, answering questions and tasks set out by the Module Leader in the tutorial
Take part in a live chat session with the Module Leader and a group of other students, discussing the week’s topic (times to be set by the Module Leader)
Carry out private study, reading around the topics and additional tasks as directed by your Module Leader.

Assessment

This is a fully online distance learning programme. You will be assessed with a mix of assignments and supervised project work.

Four of the five modules are 40% assignment and 60% time constrained assignments (TCAs).
The assignments are released in week 3 and you will submit these in week 8 on the VLE.
The TCAs are released in week 15 and you will have 48 hours to download, complete and submit these via the VLE.

Are you ready to start?

Apply Now

Entry requirements

This is a final-year degree top-up programme. All students must join the programme having gained 240 academic credits.

The NCC Education Level 5 Diploma in Computing (L5DC or L5DBIT)
NCC Education Level 5 Diploma in Computing (with Business Management)
ABMA Computing & Information Systems**
Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Computing*
Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Computing & Systems Development
ATHE Level 5 Diploma in Computing
Informatics Diploma in IT and Advanced Diploma in IT***
Informatics International Advanced Diploma in Computing
OTHM – Level 4 and Level 5 Diploma in Information Technology
BCET (Brit College of Engineering & Technology) Level 4 and 5 Diploma in Strategic Business Information Systems
Any similar qualification approved by UCLan

Your Module Leaders

Gary Budgen – Advanced Database Management Systems

Gary has considerable experience in a number of computing areas, especially databases and system security. He has previously held a senior lectureship at London Metropolitan University and is currently an IT lecturer at Redbridge College.
Chitra Balakrishna – Corporate Communication Systems Management

Chitra is an academic and author with over 20 years of experience spanning across academia and industry in the areas of cyber security, data networking, mobile communications, technologies, and applications. She is currently a senior lecturer and program lead for cyber security at the Open University.
Shane McMordie – Managing Information Systems Projects

Shane has over 10 years of experience designing and delivering online learning at the university level in the UK. After completing an MBA at the University of Durham, Shane has developed his career with the University of Liverpool, the London School of Business and Finance and the University of Essex Online (formerly Kaplan Open Learning).
Maxine Shaverin – eBusiness

Following 20 years business improvement experience gained within manufacturing, public, commercial and education sectors, Maxine has developed her career designing and delivering online learning at university level in the UK with the University of Liverpool, the University of Derby and the University of Essex Online.
Steve Wade – Information Systems Projects

Steve worked as a COBOL programmer with British Steel before returning to Sheffield University to study for an MSc Information Systems which led to a PhD in IR (Information Retrieval). His research was in the implementation and evaluation of novel algorithms for text-based retrieval. He completed his PhD in 1989 and after this, took up a teaching position at the University of Sheffield in the Department of Information Studies. He left Sheffield to take up his current position at the University of Huddersfield in 1993.

Fees and funding

Pricing for February 2024 intake. Deadline for registration is 16th February 2024. We offer flexible payments for all students of up to 5 instalments.

Register by December 31st for 5% discount

Payment Option	Total Cost	1st Instalment	2nd Instalment	3rd Instalment	4th Instalment	5th Instalment
Upfront	£3,800
Instalments	£4,200	£800	£850	£850	£850	£850

Career Prospects

As a graduate you will be very desirable to employers thanks to specific subject knowledge and the transferable skills you will have gained during your degree. Skills such as problem solving, communication, organisation, and critical thinking are extremely valuable in the workplace and open up a multitude of options for your career.

What can a top-up degree in computing do for me?
Once you’ve completed your degree, you’ll have:
- Fundamental skills and knowledge required by employers in the IT sector.
- Specialist understanding of database design and management, computer networks and information systems.
- The ability to learn and solve problems in multiple areas of computing and business.
- A variety of transferable business and IT skills.
What can I do after this?
After completing a top-up degree you will graduate with a full UK honours degree. Many NCC Education students and graduates tell us that having a full UK honours degree has allowed them to progress further in their career or helped them to achieve a promotion in their current role! Some of the typical job roles you might want to explore include:
- IT Management and Consultancy
- Software Engineering
- Systems Analysts & Designers
- IT Solutions Specialist
- Web Developer