Business Information Systems (BSc (Hons))

Programme Description

Why Choose This Course

Skills and Careers Information

Study Abroad

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Learning Outcomes

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Practicalities & Assessment

Assessment

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Entry Requirements

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Application Process

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BIS Careers

Career Guidance

• BIS UCC is the largest business/computing programme of its type in Ireland with an annual intake of 150 students. 
• The BSc BIS is a four year undergraduate programme with a paid business placement at the end of the 3rd year. 
• The degree programme includes a range of technical subject matter and a variety of business subjects hence providing a broad curriculum for students. 
• BIS UCC puts an emphasis on the development of excellent interpersonal skills for each student with personal and professional development modules in each year of the degree programme.
• BIS in UCC are committed to the philosophy of placement as an integral part of the undergraduate degree.
• Review a detailed listing of BIS subjects covered during the four year undergraduate degree programme
• Download the brochure to find out more about BIS

After a challenging and enjoyable four years studying in BIS, what type of career can you look forward to? The range of careers, companies, and locations open to BIS graduates is immense. BIS graduates work in many types of careers, in many types of business, in many areas of the world.

• You could be a manager of an IS project in a pharmaceutical company in Cork.
• You could be a trainee accountant in a major bank in London.
• You could be a business analyst for a consultancy company in Philadelphia.
• You could be a software engineer for a technology company in Belgium.

These examples are a small selection of the options available to you when you graduate from BIS. The list of potential options is huge, but these options are open to you because of the skills and abilities you will have on completion of your time in BIS.
 

As the graph shows, by graduation every September the majority of BIS students are in full time employment. In fact, many BIS students have job offers before starting the final year of the program. During the student's third year placement, the student is often offered a job by the company they worked with. Our students are valued by companies so highly that the companies will wait a year for them, just to ensure that they get the best. With significant Accounting Exemptions, BIS also gives students the opportunity to go down a more business orientated career path. For a challenging and rewarding career, BIS is the degree to give you these options.

BIS Graduate Roles include

•  Business Analysts
•  Business Consultants
•  Business Entrepreneurs
•  Software Developers
•  Web Designers
• UX Designer
• Cyber Security Analyst
•  IT/Management Consultants
•  Management Accountants
•  Project Manager

Starting salaries vary from Approximately €25,000 to €50,000.

For a challenging and rewarding career, BIS is the degree to give you these options.

Like to find out more?  
Download the BIS Brochure
Email: BIS

The first 11 Reasons to consider BIS at UCC

1. Broad-based degree combining Business and Information Technology 
   You will acquire an interesting mix of business and technology skills that will be invaluable when you apply for a job.  In addition we place high importance on your ability to communicate, collaborate and cooperate with colleagues as evidenced by our series of personal and professional development modules.
    
2. Excellent career opportunities in Ireland and abroad
   Your expertise in business and IT will be relevant in both the Irish and global workforce.  BIS is a passport for working anywhere in the world.
    
3. International placement opportunities
   You will have the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills by working as a paid employee in Ireland, UK or the US for six months in the third year of your degree.
    
4. No special entry requirements
   You are eligible for the BIS degree with no prior computing, accounting, economics, business knowledge or Leaving Certificate honours mathematics.
    
5. Student friendly atmosphere 
   You are assigned a year coordinator who will assist and support you in order to ensure that you enjoy your experience as a BIS student.  In addition, BIS runs regular Student-Staff meetings to facilitate discussion and feedback.
    
6. BIS Society 
   You are automatically a member of the BIS Society allowing you to take part in the many events scheduled during the year.
    
7. State of the art computer facilities 
   You will have access to outstanding dedicated laboratory facilities.
    
8. Quality of BIS staff
   You will be actively supported by the expert team of academic, administrative and technical staff members.  BIS is unique as it has its own in-house, dedicated team for industry placement.  This means you will get a tailored experience throughout the process of preparing, completing and reflecting on your placement experience.
    
9. BIS Alumni Association
   You will enjoy continued support and contact with your classmates after you graduate.
    
10. Strong links with Business
    You will benefit by our ongoing partnership with both Irish and international organisations who keep us up-to- date with new and exciting opportunities in business.  External presenters feature strongly in our timetable across all four years of the programme.
11. Outstanding university experience 
    University College Cork is an exciting place to be. With over 120 degree programmes, there is certainly something for everyone. UCC is now ranked amongst the top 200 universities in the world.

BIS Placement

BIS Placement Programme Overview

The objective of the BIS placement programme is

• To provide our students with an opportunity to demonstrate their talents and expertise to leading companies and organisations
• To afford you the company/organisation, the opportunity to assess the quality and relevance of our programme and the calibre of our students and to assess potential employees ie. in their own environment over a period of time.

Why chose a BIS student for placement?
Before embarking on their business placement, students will have completed three years of the BIS degree programme. Skills students will have acquired through the first three years are

• Technology including Internet Development 
• Systems Analysis & Design 
• Software Development 
• Database Development 
• Network Management 
• Managerial & Financial Accounting
• Economics
• Corporate Finance
• Business & Manufacturing Strategy

The mix of technical skills and practical business skills on the programme gives BIS students the flexibility to work in a variety of different business roles or in a number of technical areas in sectors as varied as financial services, software, manufacturing, insurance and pharmaceuticals. To date, students have worked in many diverse roles including:
Before embarking on their business placement, students will have completed three years of the BIS degree programme. Skills students will have acquired through the first three years are:

• Systems Analysis and Design
• Programming
• Testing
• Business Analyst
• Web Development
• Network/Systems Administration
• Customer Support
• Documentation

Meeting Business Needs
The BIS programme ensures that it is responsive to the needs of business and flexible to reflect today's market requirements by seeking confirmation of its goals through external independent consultants.

"BIS students have a wonderful combination of technical and interpersonal skills. They are mature and professional. They are dead-line driven and have shown tremendous initiative in resolving problems" Test Team Leader - Microsoft

Advisory Board
Operates to advise on how the programme should progress. Its members include a broad range of elite business stakeholders who meet on a regular basis to consider the focus of BIS courses as well as research and development projects undertaken by BIS.

Evalaute your BIS student on placement
 

BIS Placement  

The six-month paid business experience at the end of the third year (March through August) is a defining feature of the BSc BIS, UCC.

Students are available for employment for a period of six months from March through August each year. The focus of their placement should preferably be related to the skills they have developed in the information systems field.

Download a brief overview of the      BSc BIS     

BIS Host Organisations

If you are interested in offering placement to BIS students, check out the relevant information: 

•                               BIS Placement Overview 
• For US Companies - If you are interested in offering placement to BIS students check out relevant information:

About CIEE (CIEE is designated as a program sponsor by the U.S. Department of State).  www.ciee.org/hire/intern

 

BIS Placement Programme FAQs  

• What is the feedback from previous employers?
  The experience of employers has been that the students from the BIS degree are among the very best students that have had as Co-ops/Interns in their organisations. They have been particularly impressed by their technical skills; their understanding of business environments and their ability to communicate well.
  
  "Without exception, the students made such a favourable impression during their work placement that we would have recommended them all for a full-time job after graduation, if that were possible. We were greatly impressed by the breadth of their preparation, their knowledge of subject and their poise and self assurance". Director, Fidelity Investments, Boston.


• How will having a BIS student on placement affect your company?
  We work in such a way that offering an internship position to a BIS student is a seamless process from the time you review the resumes until the successful candidate commences their six-month internship. All visa, health insurance, travel and accommodation requirements are organised by us.


• How should the students be evaluated by your organisation on completion of their six months placement?
  This six month placement accounts for 10% of the students final graduation mark. We ask that you provide an assessment of the students performance at the end of their time with you.


• How will the students evaluate their business placement experience?
  The students are required to provide you with a feedback report on their work experience.


• Are the students monitored during their time at our organisation?
  We like to pay two on-site visits during the students placement. This co-operation results in the placement experience being very beneficial to all parties.


• Like to find out more about our International Placement Programme?

Contact the BIS Placement Co-Ordinator    Stephanie Larkin at [email protected]  -for further information.

Final Year Projects (FYP)

What is the FYP?

The BIS Final Year Project is a 6 month development project in which each student must manage all stages of the development lifecycle, from idea generation, analysis and design, through to prototype development, testing and implementation. Representing one sixth of their marks for 4th Year, in practice the project assumes far greater significance, as it is an expression of the students own understanding of the role of technology in organisations and society in general.  

Where do FYP ideas come from?
Ideas for Final Year Projects come from a variety of sources, but there is an emphasis on addressing “real world” issues with the management of information. Many students gain inspiration for projects on placement, through discussions with their managers and colleagues. Others will have identified a novel use of technology in a domain they are passionate about. Whether projects come from a commercial, social or community context, the experience of driving a project from conception to implementation is, albeit challenging, hugely valuable to students. 

Why project “sponsors” are vital to the success of a good Final Year Project
Final Year BIS students have the technical skills to deliver technology based solutions to problems, and their placement experience will have helped them to make the connection between those skills and the sorts of problems faced by today’s managers. However, on returning from placement, and faced with a deadline to come up with a proposal, they have no-one to help specify the requirement. This is where a sponsoring organisation can play a crucial role in nailing down an actual requirement, with a clear business benefit. We have found in the past that this communication process itself helps the students to focus on understanding the problem, and developing the solution. 

Why engage with an FYP student?
Organisations interested in engaging with BIS through the Final Year Project will benefit in several ways. A student can address a real business requirement, which gives a level of freedom in exploring potential solutions to problems that are not necessarily immediately critical, but have high potential in delivering future benefit. Sponsoring organisations thus get an opportunity to prototype innovative solutions in a no risk environment, and students learn how their ideas and experience might be translated into an industrial context. Secondly, this work can be a stepping stone towards a more substantial research relationship with the university, where further resources may be brought to bear on the problem domain. Thirdly, working closely on a Final Year Project builds a relationship between BIS students and potential employers, one that is all the more valuable because it is practice based. BIS students have a well nurtured appetite for problem solving, and this relationship allows them to “cut their teeth” on the reality of using technology in organisations today. 

Deliverables and timescale

• Preliminary Proposal (Mid-September)
• High Level Design (Beginning October)
• Fortnightly Development Iterations (October-March)
• Final System (Mid-March)

Do you have a requirement that could be tackled by a BIS student?

BIS are constantly seeking industry-based business requirements to inspire Final Year Project ideas. To specify your requirements please compile your idea into a short email under the following headings: 

Objective : aim of the project.  What is the problem to be solved or advantage to be gained?

Client : project client, name of company and contact details for project sponsor

Requirements : describe problem domain / business need

Benefits expected for users : speed, efficiency, control, quality, etc. ...

Data requirements : eg. Customers, products, orders, etc. 

Interface requirements : for example, does system need to talk to other systems?

Technologies used : hardware, software, constraints or wishes etc.

Please scope out your idea to the best of your knowledge (a few lines per heading will suffice initially) and email to Dr. John McAvoy, Business Information Systems. If you would simply like to discuss a requirement initially please do not hesitate to get in touch via email: [email protected] or contact the BIS Department via [email protected]