Design & Development of Digital Business (MSc)

Our MSc Design & Development of Digital Business is a 12-month (full-time) taught master’s degree course. This intensive and innovative course is designed to provide honours graduates who have little or no prior technology experience with a critical understanding of Internet and mobile business strategies, models and processes; a high level of competence in the technical skills needed to develop professional electronic and mobile business systems; and excellent employment opportunities and a world-class student experience.

Programme content

In Part I of the course, you work closely with our staff in lectures, seminars, and in our state-of-the-art development labs to acquire and hone the knowledge and skill areas that underpin the contemporary electronic and mobile business. Modules in Part I focus on a wide variety of subject areas including business strategy, programming for the Internet and for mobile devices, systems analysis, and design, and systems infrastructure. All technology courses are firmly grounded in a practical, real-world business context and are designed for students with little or no prior experience in computing technology.

In Part II, you work in small groups with a mentor to apply new knowledge and skills in a practical way – by developing an idea for a new, innovative electronic business venture. The project groups will bring their venture from an initial concept to a fully-articulated business and marketing plan, culminating in the implementation of a functional proof-of-concept prototype system.

In total students take 90 credits as follows:

Part I

• IS6100 Electronic Business Models and Systems (5 credits)
• IS6124 Business Models for Disruptive Technology (5 credits)
• IS6127 Systems Analysis and Application Modelling (5 credits)
• IS6130 e-Business Strategy Formulation (5 credits)
• IS6131 Programming for Web Application and Services 1 (5 credits)
  
• IS6132 Programming for Web Applications and Services 2 (5 credits)
• IS6133 Fundamentals of Interaction Design (5 credits)
• IS6143 Foundations of Object-Oriented Programming using Java (5 credits)
• IS6144 Introduction to Mobile Application Development (5 credits)
• IS6145 Database Analysis and Design (5 credits)
• IS6146 Databases for Management Information Systems (5 credits)
• IS6147 Service Design Thinking (5 credits)

Part II

• IS6057 Digital Design and Development Project (30 credits)

See the Postgraduate College Calendar (MSc Design & Development of Digital Business) for further course details.

We offer a unique opportunity for graduates from non-computing disciplines. This course provides you with an opportunity to quickly acquire a set of core skills, both commercial and technical, that will enable you to start your own electronic/mobile business, or seek a position in an established company.

College of Business and Law Available Scholarships

We support our postgraduate community by offering scholarships and bursaries to prospective and current students. Please see the College of Business and Law Available Scholarships page for more information.

On this programme you can expect to gain both technical and commercial skills. The technical skills include programming for the web and mobile devices, data modelling, and database management. The commercial skills learned include electronic business models, business systems analysis, and electronic commerce. You will have the know-how to start your own e-business or seek a position in an established company.

Our graduates have secured positions as business analysts, systems analysts, programmers, consultants, etc. with a variety of indigenous and multinational companies in fields as diverse as business consultancy, IT, telecommunications, banking, insurance, and pharmaceuticals.

For MSc Design and Development of Digital Business (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Communicate and work effectively to a high professional standard;
• Demonstrate advanced analytical and problem solving skills associated with professional practice;
• Engage in advanced application of frameworks and techniques in organisational settings;
• Demonstrate an understanding of Internet and mobile business strategies, models and processes;
• Demonstrate a high level of competence in the technological skills needed to develop professional electronic and mobile business systems.

For Postgraduate Diploma in Design and Development of Digital Business (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Communicate and work effectively to a high professional standard;
• Demonstrate advanced analytical and problem solving skills associated with effective practice;
• Engage in advanced application of frameworks and techniques in organisational settings;
• Demonstrate an understanding of Internet and mobile business strategies, models and processes;
• Demonstrate a high level of competence in the technological skills needed to develop professional electronic and mobile business systems.

 

The course is 12 months full-time. In Part I there are typically 16 hours of lectures per week and eight hours of tutorials. Dedicated lab facilities are available for students to work on their course assignments in Part I and their group project in Part II.

Assessment is performed through a number of methods: by examinations at the end of teaching Part I (up to Christmas) and Part II (usually the following May), set class assignments, and continuous assessment.

The course is taught by staff from the Department of Business Information Systems (seven modules) and from the Department of Electrical Engineering (one module). Faculty can be viewed on our Cork University Business School faculty page.

Connected Curriculum

Our teaching approach reflects our commitment to the Connected Curriculum where we emphasise the connection between students, learning, research and leadership through our vision for a Connected University. Our staff are at the forefront of this integrative approach to learning and will support you in making meaningful connections within and between disciplines such as design, technology, management, and business.

Full module information is detailed in the section below.

To apply for this course, you will have:

• at least a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in any discipline except those with high levels of software development content (e.g. computer science, business information systems, etc.) or
• expect to graduate in the year of entry with at least a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in any discipline except those with high levels of software development content

Consideration under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be given to applicants who do not meet the minimum criteria but who have relevant professional experience, subject to approval by the School of Business.

View the grades comparison table

Non-EU Candidates

Non-EU candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to Irish university primary degree level. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language. To verify if you meet the minimum academic requirements for this programme please visit our qualification comparison pages.

For more detailed entry requirement information please refer to the International website .

1. Choose Course

Firstly choose your course. Applicants can apply for up to three courses under one application. Details of taught courses are available on our online prospectus.

2. Apply Online

Once you have chosen your course you can apply online at the online application portal. Applicants will need to apply before the course closing date. There is a €50 application fee for all courses apart from the Education - Professional Master of Education - (Secondary School/Post-Primary Teacher Training) which has a €100 application fee.

3. Gather Supporting Documents

Scanned copies of the following documents will need to be uploaded to the online application portal in support of your application. Applicants may need to produce the original documents if you are accepted onto a course and register at UCC.

• Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC
• Any supplementary items requested for your course.

Please log into the online application portal for more details.

4. Application processing timeline

Our online application portal opens for applications for most courses in early November of each year. Check specific course details. 

5. Rounds

For courses that are in the rounds system (Irish and EU applicants), please check the rounds closing dates here.

Questions on how to apply?

Please use our web enquiry form to contact us.

The closing date for non-EU applications is 30 June 2023

Non-EU Applications

For full details of the non-EU application procedure please visit our how to apply pages for international students. In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above.

For more information please contact the International Office.