A student at a desk designing an information system, with an entity-relationship diagram on the monitor and a data flow diagram being sketched in a notepad.

DEGREE GUIDE

Information Systems

What do Information Systems degrees involve?

Information Systems degrees teach you how to design, implement, and manage technology solutions that support businesses and organisations. You will explore key areas such as database management, cybersecurity, software development, cloud computing, and business analytics. These courses help you develop technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills while understanding how IT systems drive efficiency and innovation. You will also learn how to bridge the gap between technology and business strategy, ensuring systems meet user and organisational needs. Through hands-on projects, case studies, and industry placements, you will gain the experience needed to work in IT consultancy, systems analysis, and technology management.

Example
Modules

Foundations of Computing: Learn the building blocks of computer science, including programming, algorithms and data structures, to understand how software and systems are developed.

Information Systems Analysis and Design: Explore how to gather business requirements and turn them into system designs using modelling tools and structured design methods.

Database Design and Implementation: Create and manage databases, learning SQL and how to structure data for efficient storage, retrieval and reporting.

Common Degree Names

💼 Placement years are widely offered, particularly in IT, tech consultancy, or digital business.
🌍 Study abroad is available at many universities.

BSc (Hons) Information Systems
BSc (Hons) Business Information Systems
BSc (Hons) Computing and Information Systems
BSc (Hons) Information Systems and Management
MSci Information Systems

MSci is a four-year integrated Master’s degree that combines undergraduate and Master’s level study in one course.

A whiteboard showing a hand-drawn data flow diagram of an order and inventory system, with labelled processes and teal sticky notes to one side.

Level 3 (A-level / IB Diploma (HL) / Scottish Highers)

Information Systems sits between business and technology; it's about using digital tools to solve organisational problems. Because you'll be bridging the gap between technical teams and business needs, universities welcome students from various backgrounds but value evidence of analytical thinking and interest in how technology is used in practice.

Subjects that strengthen your application:

Computer Science or IT – useful for developing technical knowledge
Maths – valued for logical thinking, data analysis, and problem-solving
Business Studies or Economics – relevant for management and strategy aspects
Psychology or Sociology – helpful for understanding how people interact with technology

✨ You don't need to have studied Computing or IT before – some courses focus more on technology and data, while others lean towards business and management. Choose subjects that reflect the pathway that interests you most.

Universities may also accept:

BTEC Extended Diplomas in IT (being phased out), Business, or Digital Technology (being phased out)
BTEC National Extended Certificates or National Diplomas alongside relevant A-levels
T-Levels in Digital Software Development, Digital Data Analytics, or Digital Support and Security
IB Career-related Programme (IBCP) with at least two IB Higher Level subjects (ideally three - see relevant subjects above) alongside your Career-Related Study; an IT or Business pathway would be directly relevant

Courses vary in how technical or business-focused they are. Always check specific course requirements to find the right fit for you.

Level 2 Qualifications (GCSE / MYP / National 5)

Most courses ask for:

GCSE English Language and Maths at grade 4/C or above, or equivalent such as National 5s or MYP

📘 Some courses may prefer a higher grade in Maths if there is a strong data or computing focus.

Computing or IT can be helpful, but they are not essential.

💬 Interviews
Formal interviews aren't usually part of the application process. However, some universities may invite you for a short conversation, either online or in person, to learn more about your interest in the subject.

🔍 Work Experience
You don't need work experience to apply for Information Systems. If you're looking for practical ways to explore the field, building a website, setting up a database, or helping a school club or local organisation with their IT systems are all good starting points. If you have a school placement to fill, any business where you can see how technology supports day-to-day operations gives you useful context.

✨ Personal Statement Tips

What interests you about how technology works within organisations? Information systems sits at the intersection of computing and business; it's about how organisations use technology to operate, make decisions, and solve problems. If you've thought about how the systems you use every day actually work behind the scenes, explored how businesses rely on technology, or considered how digital transformation changes how organisations operate, reflect on what questions that raised. You don't need to be a programmer, but showing curiosity about how technology and organisations interact matters. Reading about digital innovation, following how companies use data and systems, or thinking about the challenges of implementing technology in real-world settings can demonstrate genuine engagement.

If your qualifications don't match the usual entry requirements, there are some other possibilities.

🌱 Foundation Year in Computing or Business

Many universities offer a foundation year if you don't have the required subjects or grades. This adds an extra year but leads directly into the full degree.

🎓 Access to HE Diploma (Computing, Business or Digital Technologies)

Widely accepted by universities offering Information Systems. Make sure your course includes IT and numeracy content, and aim for Merits and Distinctions in your graded units.

💼 Level 3 Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships such as Digital Support Technician or Data Technician carry UCAS tariff points from 2026 and can support a university application. Information Systems degrees are offered broadly, including at universities with flexible admissions policies.

Is this degree right for you?

Members can explore whether this degree fits who they are:

Skills you'd develop and whether they match your strengths
How this aligns with your interests, motivators and values
Career paths and where graduates end up

Start Your Journey → £3 a month

Full access to all self-discovery tools and guides. Cancel anytime.

Skills you would develop in X degree

Skill Name

Context sentence

Heading 6

I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.

Heading 6

I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.

custom skills note goes here

Is this a good fit for you?

Use the tabs to explore the kind of person that this would be a good fit for. Do you share the Interests, Motivations, Values, Work identity and skills that people who thrive in this course tend to have?

Not sure what these things are? Explore your Identity Tree with us first.

Interests that connect well with an Information Systems degree

Students who enjoy this degree often share these interests. You don't need to feel strongly about all of them, and interests develop over time. If one or two catch your curiosity, or sound like something you'd like to know more about, that's a good sign.

Technology, Computing & Digital Systems: Information Systems is the technical study of the systems organisations rely on. You'll learn programming, databases, cybersecurity and systems analysis, building the digital infrastructure that businesses depend on and understanding how the technology actually works under the hood.

Running Projects, Events & Ventures: Information Systems sits at the bridge between technology and how organisations are run. You'll study how businesses use IT to operate, make decisions and gain an advantage, learning agile project management and how to deliver tech projects that meet real organisational needs.

Mathematics, Patterns & Data: Quantitative work runs through Information Systems. You'll study data analytics, statistics, big data and the techniques behind business intelligence, applying mathematical methods to real organisational problems.

Students who thrive in an Information Systems degree are often motivated by

Precision and Thoroughness

You feel satisfied when work is done accurately and completely. Whether it's getting calculations exactly right, spotting errors others miss, or making sure every detail is correct, the pursuit of precision gives you a sense of accomplishment. Sloppy or "good enough" work frustrates you, and you take pride in getting things right first time.

Practical Problem-Solving

You're energised by finding fixes to real-life issues, whether they're mechanical, technological, or social. You're motivated by problems you can see, touch, or experience directly, and you get satisfaction from solutions that work in practice, not just in theory. You'd rather build a prototype than write a report about one.

Analysing and Investigating

You're energised by making sense of information, looking for evidence, spotting patterns, and piecing together how things connect. Whether it's pulling apart data, questioning assumptions, or tracing a problem back to its source, you find energy in the process of understanding what's really going on. You'd rather dig into the details than accept things at face value.

Organisation and Planning

You feel satisfied when everything is organised and running smoothly. Bringing order to chaos, creating efficient systems, and making sure nothing falls through the cracks gives you energy. Disorder and inefficiency frustrate you, and you're often the person who steps in to create structure when things feel chaotic.

What makes Information Systems click for the students who love it?

What they like is making an organisation's technology work: the systems behind the scenes that keep everything ticking over, from stock to staff rotas to bookings. They want to understand how the parts connect, where the data flows, and where it gets stuck, then build something that does what people there need. Structure and logic suit them, and they like bringing order to something tangled. Getting every detail right matters, because when these systems are even slightly off, everyone feels it. The satisfaction is a system that quietly does its job.

These are the skills that students who love this degree tend to enjoy using. You don't need to be great at them already, but if they sound like you, that's a good sign.

Skill Name

Skills that suit this degree

You don't need to be great at these already — but if you enjoy using them or want to get better at them, that's a good sign.

Do you notice how businesses use technology — from their apps and websites to the systems running behind the scenes?
Would you like to learn how to build the databases and digital tools that help organisations run more smoothly?
Do you enjoy looking at data or information and trying to spot patterns, trends, or things that don't add up?
Are you the kind of person who likes to plan things out, keep track of progress, and make sure nothing gets missed?

Careers an Information Systems degree could lead you to

Information Systems

What do Information Systems degrees involve?

Example Modules

Common Degree Names

Is this degree right for you?

Skills you would develop in X degree

Skill Name

Heading 6

Heading 6

Is this a good fit for you?

Careers an Information Systems degree could lead you to

Example
Modules