Business Information Technology - BSc (Hons)
Medway
Business and commerce rely heavily on information systems, especially now e-commerce is widespread. This degree provides a balance of business and information technology and responds to industry needs, enhancing your employment prospects. You learn to use current technology in communications, databases and web publishing, to analyse business problems and develop effective solutions. This programme has partial Chartered IT Professional (CITP) accreditation from the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.
Our Business Information Technology degree gives you the skills you need for the practical application of computing to areas typically found in industry. These include e-commerce, information systems and computer consultancy.
Overview
Our programmes are taught by leading researchers who are experts in their fields. The School of Computing at Kent is home to several authors of leading textbooks, a National Teaching Fellow, an IET (Institute of Engineering and Technology) Fellow and two Association of Computer Machinery (ACM) award-winning scientists. Kent was awarded gold, the highest rating, in the UK Government's Teaching Excellence Framework*.
Our degree programme
Business and commerce rely heavily on information systems, especially now e-commerce is widespread. This degree provides a balance of business and information technology and responds to industry needs, enhancing your employment prospects.
You study a combination of computing and business-oriented modules. You learn to use current technology in communications, databases and web publishing, to analyse business problems and develop effective solutions.
In your first year, you learn how to program in an object-oriented language. In your second and final years, you further develop your programming skills and can specialise in an area of particular interest to you.
We also offer modules that allow you to gain practical experience. On our Kent IT Consultancy option, you learn how to become an IT consultant, providing computing support to local businesses while earning credits towards your degree.
Year in industry
Over half our students choose to take a year in industry after the second year of the programme. This gives you work experience, a salary and the possibility of a job with the same company after graduation. For details, see Business Information Technology with a Year in Industry.
Extra activities
Apart from core learning towards your degree, we provide access to a wealth of other activities such as entrepreneurship (including business start-up opportunities), community engagement, public lectures, participation in short research projects and assistance in obtaining summer placements.
The School of Computing also hosts events that you are welcome to attend. These include our successful seminar programme where guest speakers from academia and industry discuss current developments in the field.
Professional networks
Our programmes are informed by a stakeholder panel of industry experts who give feedback on the skills that employers require from a modern workforce.
Our two dedicated placement co-ordinators help students obtain and benefit from high-quality work placements. Previous year in industry participants have worked with leading companies such as BAE Systems, Citigroup and The Walt Disney Company. Many return to their final year with the security of an employment offer – testament to the high esteem in which our graduates are held by industry.
We also have a dedicated Employability Coordinator who is the first point of contact for students and employers.
*The University of Kent's Statement of Findings can be found here.
Independent rankings
For graduate prospects, Computer Science at Kent was ranked 7th in The Guardian University Guide 2018.
Of Computer Science students who graduated from Kent in 2016, over 97% were in work or further study within six months (DLHE).
Course structure
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take 'wild' modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.
Stage 1
Possible modules may include:
CO320 - Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming (15 credits)
This module provides an introduction to object-oriented software development. Software pervades many aspects of most professional fields and sciences, and an understanding of the development of software applications is useful as a basis for many disciplines. This module covers the development of simple software systems. Students will gain an understanding of the software development process, and learn to design and implement applications in a popular object-oriented programming language. Fundamentals of classes and objects are introduced, and key features of class descriptions: constructors, methods and fields. Method implementation through assignment, selection control structures, iterative control structures and other statements is introduced. Collection objects are also covered and the availability of library classes as building blocks. Throughout the course, the quality of class design and the need for a professional approach to software development is emphasized
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CO322 - Foundations of Computing I (15 credits)
Mathematical reasoning underpins many aspects of computer science and this module aims to provide the skills needed for other modules on the degree programme; we are not teaching mathematics for its own sake. Topics will include algebra, reasoning and proof, set theory, functions, statistics.
Introduction: revision of basic mathematical and algebraic concepts and techniques.
Set theory: sets and elements, union, intersection, complement and difference, subsets, tuples, Cartesian product, counting, powersets, strings.
Functions: functions as rules, identity function, composition, inverses, injections, bijections, surjections.
Relations: equivalence relations, partial and total orderings. • Statistics: sample mean and variance, Normal and Poisson distributions.
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CO323 - Databases and the Web (15 credits)
• An introduction to databases and SQL, focusing on their use as a source for content for websites
• Creating static content for websites using HTML(5) and controlling their appearance using CSS
• Using PHP to integrate static and dynamic content for web sites
• Securing dynamic websites
• Using Javascript to improve interactivity and maintainability in web content
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CO324 - Computer Systems (15 credits)
This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the fundamental behaviour and components (hardware and software) of a typical computer system, and how they collaborate to manage resources and provide services in scales from small embedded devices up to the global internet. The module has two strands: 'Computer Architecture' and 'Operating Systems and Networks,' which form around 35% and 65% of the material respectively. Both strands contain material which is of general interest to computer users; quite apart from their academic value, they will be useful to anyone using any modern computer system:
[a] Computer Architecture
- Data representation: Bits, bytes and words. Numeric and non-numeric data. Number representation.
- Computer architecture: Fundamental building blocks (e.g. registers). The fetch/execute cycle. Instruction sets and types.
- Data storage: Memory hierarchies and associated technologies. Physical and virtual memory.
- Sustainability. Energy consumption of computer systems: ways that this can be reduced and methods to estimate use.
[b] Operating Systems and Networks
- Operating systems principles. Abstraction. Processes and resources. Security. UNIX-style operating system fundamentals.
- Device interfaces: Handshaking, buffering, programmed and interrupt-driven i/o. Direct Memory Access.
- File Systems: Physical structure. File and directory organisation, structure and contents. Naming hierarchies and access. Backup.
- Fundamentals of networking and the Internet.
- Networks and protocols: LANs and WANs, layered protocol design. The TCP/IP protocol stack; theory and practice. Connection-oriented and connectionless communication. Unicast, multicast and broadcast. Naming and addressing. Application protocols; worked examples (e.g. SMTP, HTTP).
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CO328 - Human Computer Interaction (15 credits)
This module provides an introduction to human-computer interaction. Fundamental aspects of human physiology and psychology are introduced and key features of interaction and common interaction styles delineated. A variety of analysis and design methods are introduced (e.g. GOMS. heuristic evaluation, user-centred and contextual design techniques). Throughout the course, the quality of design and the need for a professional, integrated and user-centred approach to interface development is emphasised. Rapid and low-fidelity prototyping feature as one aspect of this.
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CO334 - People and Computing (15 credits)
Design and communication, what makes for good written communication, how people get and process information, Personal Development Project, effective spoken communication, how to work successfully in a group, doing academic research, about preparing and giving a presentation, history of computing and the history of communication, the effects of technology, Health and safety issues with computing, the Business of Computing, Employment in IT, software development and software engineering, preparing for examinations, designing –for the web: web usability and web accessibility, the basics of IPR, relevant Laws applying to the use and development of computing, such as the Computer Misuse Act and the Data Protection Acts.
A range of social issues relating to computing, Representative content might include, Digital divide, Cyber bullying, Case studies
Sustainability: e.g. energy consumption, How to estimate? Substantial challenge, Rules of thumb (eg what to upgrade and when, when not to), Legal requirements of sustainability, Economic and ethical constraints.
How to make money in the IT industry: Consultancy, Selling software, Business planning, Pricing and estimating (case studies of what (not) to do from KITC).
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CB366 - Management Principles (15 credits)
Management Principles aims to provide an understanding of the challenges of managing people within complex work organisations. The experience of work and employment are being affected by rapid change as a result of a number of factors including new technology, the growth of global competition and the changing demographic profiles and values of the work force. These developments are considered within an historical context. An exploration of their implications for management practices and organisational forms will be conducted.
Students will be introduced to the main concepts and theories through readings and discussions of the main authors in the field. Case studies will be used to show how these concepts can impact upon management decision making within work organisations.
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CB371 - Marketing Principles (15 credits)
The module introduces to students the importance of marketing in competitive and dynamic environments. The key topics of the module are:
• The marketing concept
• The marketing environment
• Market segmentation & targeting
• Brand development and management
• Management of the marketing mix
• Marketing research and new product development
• The implications of internationalisation for marketing managers
• Ethical issues in marketing
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
Stage 2
Possible modules may include:
CB5010 - Marketing Analytics (15 credits)
This module will review contemporary approaches to marketing research design, data collection and analysis. A range of customer, market and competitor analysis techniques will be explored from conventional marketing research techniques as well as from ecommerce, geodemographic and new-media sources. Students will also develop an understanding of the importance of effective performance measurement (i.e., making marketing more accountable). Students will further develop their appreciation of market information and intelligence and acquire the specialised skills needed to plan, manage and report marketing research studies.
The key topics of the module are:
- Marketing research planning and process
- Research design and data acquisition
- Qualitative and quantitative consumer research
- Data analysis
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CB740 - The Management of Operations (15 credits)
This module will require students to develop the ability to use appropriate techniques of analysis and enquiry within the management of operations, and to learn how to evaluate alternatives and make recommendations.
The key topics of the module are:
1) Strategic role of operations and operations strategy
2) Design of processes and the implications for layout and flow
3) People, jobs and organisation
4) Capacity planning and scheduling
5) Inventory control
6) Supply chain management, lean systems and enterprise resource planning
7) Quality planning and managing improvement
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CO532 - Database Systems (15 credits)
This module provides an introduction to the theory and practice of database systems. It extends the study of information systems in Stage 1 by focusing on the design, implementation and use of database systems. Topics include database management systems architecture, data modelling and database design, query languages, recent developments and future prospects.
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CO548 - Software Engineering Process (15 credits)
The module studies in detail the activities and artefacts associated with software development process as performed by a development team (i.e. programming in the large).
Topics covered include
• Software development paradigms
• Requirements acquisition, requirements stability
• Project management: planning and scheduling, staffing, cost estimation, risk assessment and mitigation,
• Software architectures and design processes
• Verification and validation, software testing
• Configuration management, change control, version control
• Software quality assurance, software metrics, Capability Maturity Model • Ethics and professional responsibility
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CO539 - Web Development (15 credits)
Building scaleable web sites using client-side and and server-side frameworks (e.g. GWT, CakePHP, Ruby on Rails).
Data transfer technologies, e.g. XML and JSON.
Building highly interactive web sites using e.g. AJAX.
Web services
Deploying applications and services to the web: servers, infrastructure services, and traffic and performance analysis.
Web and application development for mobile devices.
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CB330 - Fundamentals of Financial Accounting (15 credits)
This module aims to give students a better understanding of the importance of accounting in the modern world, and how accounts are produced and regulated to produce meaningful information to all stakeholders in a business.
The key topics of the module are:
1) Role and evolution of accounting
2) Single entry accounting; double entry bookkeeping
3) Financial reporting conventions
4) Recording transactions and adjusting entries
5) Principal financial statements; monetary items; purchases and sales, and bad and doubtful debts
6) Stock valuation; fixed assets, and depreciation methods
7) Liabilities and provisions
8) Accounting for sole traders and Limited Companies
9) Cash flow statements
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CO544 - Networking (15 credits)
Packet data networks, overview of general equipment and function (e.g. hubs, switches, routers). Large network architecture (e.g. the Internet).
The OSI Seven layer model and packet encapsulation.
An understanding and appreciation for physical issues (such as cabling and wireless mediums, bandwidth, interference, etc).
Data-link layer issues (e.g. IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.11, collisions, retransmissions, error recovery)
Network layer issues covering underlying protocols (e.g. IPv4/IPv6) and routing protocols (e.g. RIP/OSPF/AODV)
Transport layer issues and protocols (e.g. TCP/UDP)
Session layer issues and protocols (e.g. TCP).
Presentation layer overview
Application layer protocols (e.g. DNS, HTTP, FTP, SMTP/POP3)
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
Stage 3
Possible modules may include:
CO600 - Project (30 credits)
The project gives you the opportunity to follow and develop your particular technical interests, undertake a larger and less tightly specified piece of work than you have before (at university), and develop the project organisation, implementation and documentation techniques which you have learnt in other modules. The technical and professional aspects of project courses are seen as particularly important by both employers (who will often bring them up in interviews) and by professional bodies.
The project may be self-proposed or may be selected from a list of project proposals. Typically, a project will involve the specification, design, implementation, documentation and demonstration of a technical artefact. The project is supervised by a member of the academic staff, who holds weekly meetings with the group, during which s/he will give general advice and will assess the progress of the group and the contributions by individual students.
Project deliverables are:
- a technical report, in the style of an academic paper, describing the scientific/technical outcome of the project;
- a well-indexed corpus of material that supports the achievements claimed.
In addition, each individual prepares a report outlining his/her contributions to each of the various aspects of the project. This report should not be a repeat of other material delivered as part of the project, but an assessment of the progress of the project and reflections on what the individual has learnt from undertaking it. In particular, it should include a description of the particular activities and outcomes that individual has contributed to the project, and of how the group worked together. This report will be discussed at a viva voce examination which should include a short presentation/demonstration of the project.
Credits: 30 credits (15 ECTS credits).
CO650 - IT Consultancy Project (30 credits)
Students taking this module will undertake two or (typically) more assignments for the Kent IT Clinic (KITC). Each assignment will be of one of three types: .
Work on one of KITC's contracts with an external client. To the extent that client-funded workallows, every student will be given at least one assignment of this type. Wherever practical, astudent will be encouraged to participate in the negotiation and pricing of contracts, under theultimate supervision of KITC management. For each assignment, the student may work on theassignment individually or as part of a group, as directed by KITC.
A contribution to the infrastructure of KITC itself. These assignments work in a similar way to external assignments, but with KITC as the client.
Formulating a costed proposal for the future development of KITC, and presenting reasoned argument in support of the proposal to KITC management, as a candidate for inclusion in KITC's strategic plan for the following academic year. Every student will have at least one assignment of this type.
Credits: 30 credits (15 ECTS credits).
CO816 - eHealth (15 credits)
• An overview of basic concepts related to eHealth and a perspective on current HIT (Health Information Technology) and innovation
• Review of current healthcare related IT systems
• The use of information technology for handling clinical data, health systems. Data representation and knowledge management. Security and privacy.
• Ethics and legal requirements of eHealth systems
• Clinical decision support systems. TeleHealth tools for remote diagnosis, monitoring, and disease management
• Delivery and monitoring platforms for both hospitals and home environment
• Innovation in eHealth systems leading to start-up companies
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CO539 - Web Development (15 credits)
Building scaleable web sites using client-side and and server-side frameworks (e.g. GWT, CakePHP, Ruby on Rails).
Data transfer technologies, e.g. XML and JSON.
Building highly interactive web sites using e.g. AJAX.
Web services
Deploying applications and services to the web: servers, infrastructure services, and traffic and performance analysis.
Web and application development for mobile devices.
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CO634 - Computer Security and Cryptography (15 credits)
Security has always been an important aspect of computing systems but its importance has increased greatly in recent years. In this module you learn about areas where security is of major importance and the techniques used to secure them. The areas you look at include computer operating systems (and increasingly, distributed operating systems), distributed applications (such as electronic commerce over the Internet) and embedded systems (ranging from smart cards and pay-TV to large industrial plant and telecommunications systems).
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CO639 - Electronic Commerce (15 credits)
E-commerce is an increasingly important area for consumers, businesses and national economies. This module introduces what is meant by electronic commerce, and discusses its economic and social implications, its drivers and limitations. You will learn about the principal features of business-to-business and business-to-customer e-commerce and compare them with traditional forms of trading. The course also includes the chance to implement a simple end-to-end e-commerce system
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CO644 - Semantic Web (15 credits)
• Resource Description Framework (RDF) & RDF Schema:
o Information representation and knowledge exchange on the web o Applications of RDF (e.g. Haystack, Creative Commons etc.) • RDF Query and Inference Languages (e.g. SPARQL etc.)
• Web Ontology Language (OWL): o DAML+OIL
o Publishing and sharing of ontologies o Advanced Web searching
o Knowledge management, asset management, enterprise integration o Software agents, automated agents
o Existing Shared Ontologies (e.g. FOAF, DOAC, SIOC, SKOS etc.)
• Dublin Core
• Data Mining (in relation to the Web) & Screen Scraping
• The Wider Picture:
o Personal and corporate privacy issues o Data trust and proof issues o Computer law and professional issues
• The future of the Web (these lists are not exhaustive) o Web 2.0: data-driven; architecture of communication; web services; syndication; online communities; folksonmies; wikis; search engine optimisation; contextual & "pay per click" advertising etc.
o Web 3.0: the Semantic Web; cognitive architecture; automated reasoning; distributed computing; composite applications; semantic wikis etc.
o Aim to give students the tools to critically evaluate the Semantic Web (and alternative proposals)
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CO645 - IT Consultancy Practice 2 (15 credits)
Students taking this module will undertake one or (typically) more assignments for the Kent IT Clinic (KITC). Each assignment will be of one of three types:
Work on one of KITC's contracts with an external client. To the extent that client-funded work allows, every student will be given at least one assignment of this type. Wherever practical, a student will be encouraged to participate in the negotiation and pricing of contracts, under the ultimate supervision of KITC management. For each assignment, the student may work on the assignment individually or as part of a group, as directed by KITC. A contribution to the infrastructure of KITC itself.
A contribution to the infrastructure of KITC itself. These assignments work in a similar way to external assignments, but with KITC as the client.
Formulating a costed proposal for the future development of KITC, and presenting reasoned argument in support of the proposal to KITC management, as a candidate for inclusion in KITC's strategic plan for the following academic year.
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CO649 - Data Mining (15 credits)
Data mining is a process of extracting, from a large amount of data, interesting patterns that are non-trivial, hidden, new and potentially useful. It is a rapidly growing field and is becoming important because with the increasing quantity and variety of online data collections by many organizations and commercial enterprises, there is a high potential value of patterns discovered in those collections.
This module looks at different data mining techniques and gives you the chance to use a state-of-the-art data-mining tool and evaluate the quality of the discovered knowledge. The topics include: introduction to data mining and knowledge discovery process, data description, data warehousing and OLAP, data pre-processing, overview of basic data mining tasks, market basket analysis and association rules, classification using decision tree induction, Naïve Bayesian classification, K-means clustering, outlier detection, post-processing, social impact and trend of data mining.
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CO548 - Software Engineering Process (15 credits)
The module studies in detail the activities and artefacts associated with software development process as performed by a development team (i.e. programming in the large).
Topics covered include
• Software development paradigms
• Requirements acquisition, requirements stability
• Project management: planning and scheduling, staffing, cost estimation, risk assessment and mitigation,
• Software architectures and design processes
• Verification and validation, software testing
• Configuration management, change control, version control
• Software quality assurance, software metrics, Capability Maturity Model • Ethics and professional responsibility
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CB5009 - Contract Law and Consumer Rights (15 credits)
The law affects the commercial world in many ways. This module focuses on the importance of law in governing transactions between individuals and businesses; what is required for legally compliant contracts; what the law expects of organisations in terms of protecting the consumer, and how businesses manage and avoid disputes. By enabling students to become familiar with those parts of the law they are most likely to encounter in their careers and in business the module helps them better understand the obligations that parties have to each other in law.
The module covers the following topic areas:
• The English Legal System
• The Legal Process and Dispute Resolution
• Law of Contract – including:
• Formation
• Contract terms
• Vitiating elements, such as misrepresentation and economic duress
• Performance and discharge of contract, including frustration
• Common law and equitable remedies, including damages
• Consumer Protection
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CB697 - Managing People and Teams (15 credits)
Managing People and Teams aims to provide an understanding of the key concepts within management theory. This core knowledge is applied to a range of organisational settings so that the influence of management theory on management practice is understood. The role played by specialist management functions within Human Resource Management (HRM) and Employment Relations is investigated.
Students will be introduced to the main concepts and theories through readings and discussions of the main authors in the field. Case studies will be used to show how these concepts can impact upon management thinking and decision making within work organisations.
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CB726 - Leadership and Corporate Strategy (15 credits)
Leadership and Corporate Strategy aims to provide an understanding of strategic analysis, strategic decision-making and strategic processes within organisations. The module content comprises two complementary components. The first involves the understanding and learning of the main strategic management concepts and theories. The second implies its application in organisations.
These two core components of the course are then divided into four main sections:
1) Strategy development: comprising topics on how strategies are developed;
2) Strategic decision-making: introducing students to concepts and theories on strategic methods; evaluation (including risk assessment and management), and implementation and change;
3) Strategic context: introducing issues of leadership and their impact on strategy;
4) Strategic content: comprising topics on management issues such as resource management.
Topics on this module include:
1) Strategic leadership
2) Identification of strategic issues and options
3) Evaluation of strategic options
4) Implementation of strategic options
For each of these topics the students will be introduced to the main concepts and theories. Further to that, contemporary issues of businesses and case studies will be used to show how these concepts affect the strategic management of organisations.
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CB729 - Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (15 credits)
This module aims to enable students to understand the social and economic changes that have raised the status of enterprise, small business and entrepreneurial ventures in the global economy. It examines the diverse nature of entrepreneurs, their characteristics and motivations, as well as the barriers and issues facing entrepreneurs when planning and establishing a new venture.
The key topics of the module are:
1) Factors that have influenced the growth of the enterprise culture in the UK.
2) The role and relevance of SMEs in the UK economy; definitions of SMEs; statistical information; Government policies and initiatives, and support agencies.
3) Whether entrepreneurs are born or made; whether enterprise skills can be taught or learned, and whether entrepreneurs differ from business owners and other managers.
4) Enterprise and innovation development in organisations.
5) Differences in attitudes, objectives, skill requirements and business strategies between small and large firms.
6) Surviving the early stages of business development, including failure rates in new and small enterprises and barriers to growth and development.
7) The planning process for starting a new venture – including risks and liabilities; problems and pitfalls, and potential profit and success.
8) The protection of ideas and intellectual capital.
9) Funding a new enterprise, including via 'friends, family and fools', business angels and venture capitalists.
10) Enterprise in different contexts, including corporate enterprise, public sector enterprise and social enterprise.
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CB740 - The Management of Operations (15 credits)
This module will require students to develop the ability to use appropriate techniques of analysis and enquiry within the management of operations, and to learn how to evaluate alternatives and make recommendations.
The key topics of the module are:
1) Strategic role of operations and operations strategy
2) Design of processes and the implications for layout and flow
3) People, jobs and organisation
4) Capacity planning and scheduling
5) Inventory control
6) Supply chain management, lean systems and enterprise resource planning
7) Quality planning and managing improvement
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CB742 - Creating Your Own Enterprise (15 credits)
The understanding and application of enterprise knowledge is seen as a transferable skill that can have cross-school application within the University, in that it has relevance to students from a broad range of academic disciplines who might be considering self-employment after graduation.
The curriculum is based on the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (National Standards-setting body for small business) Standards for Business Start-up, but has been expanded to include contemporary issues such as Intellectual Property and recent legislation.
The module will include the following areas of study:
1) Why firms become insolvent – economic financial and operational reasons for business failure; risks & liabilities; skills requirements for business ownership; self-development planning; sources of advice, and support for businesses.
2) The new business planning process and format - developing and evaluating the business idea, and producing a business plan for potential lenders.
3) Financial aspects – budgetary planning and control; cash-flow and working capital; understanding financial accounting and key financial documents; break-even analysis; credit control, and debt recovery.
4) Market research, competition and barriers to market entry - identifying customers; market segmentation; planning the sales and marketing processes; customer perceptions and customer care, and developing quality standards for the business
5) Legal issues - reporting requirements; UK & EU law relevant to small businesses; business formats and trading status and their respective risks and liabilities; insurance; insolvency, and intellectual property rights such as patents and copyright.
6) Planning and employing staff - planning and obtaining premises; physical and financial resources, and the phased implementation of the business plan.
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CB760 - Business Law and Employment Rights (15 credits)
The law affects the commercial world in many ways. This module focuses on how businesses fulfil their legal obligations to customers, suppliers and their workforce. As well as exploring how businesses are structured and the duties on directors and partners it also considers the legal obligations individuals and organisations have over those to whom they have a duty of care. The module further covers the main laws governing the employment of staff and contractors. By applying the law to real-world business situations students are able to fine-tune their problem solving skills and their ability to construct well-reasoned and persuasive arguments.
The module covers the following topic areas:
• The English Legal System, Legal Process and Dispute Resolution;
• Law of Negligence – including general principles and negligent mis-statement
• Law of Business Organisations - classification of business organisations; main principles applying to general and limited liability partnerships and registered companies, and directors' duties
• Employment Law - the general scope of the legal obligations owed by employers to employees, including the employment contract, discrimination and dismissal
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
CB784 - Service and Supply Chain Management (15 credits)
Students will be expected to develop the ability to use appropriate techniques of analysis and enquiry within supply chain and service management, and to learn how to evaluate the alternatives and make recommendations. Topics include:
• The nature of services and service strategy
• Supply chain management
• Managing quality within supply chains
• Service development and technology
• Service quality and the service encounter
• Project/Event management and control
• Managing capacity and demand in services
Credits: 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits).
Teaching & Assessment
Teaching
Within the School of Computing are authors of widely used textbooks, a National Teaching Fellow and Association of Computer Machinery (ACM) Award-winning scientists. Programmes are taught by leading researchers who are experts in their fields.
Teaching is based on lectures, with practical classes and seminars, but we are also introducing more innovative ways of teaching, such as virtual learning environments and work-based tuition. Work includes group projects, case studies and computer simulations, with a large-scale project of your own choice in the final year.
Overall workload
Each stage comprises eight modules. Most modules run for a single 12-week term. Each module has two lectures and one to two hours of classes, making 14 formal contact hours per week and eight hours of 'homework club' drop-in sessions each term.
Academic support
We provide excellent support for you throughout your time at Kent. This includes access to web-based information systems, podcasts and web forums for students who can benefit from extra help. We use innovative teaching methodologies, including BlueJ and LEGO© Mindstorms for teaching Java programming.
Teaching staff
Our staff have written internationally acclaimed textbooks for learning programming, which have been translated into eight languages and are used worldwide. A member of staff has received the SIGCSE Award for Outstanding Contribution to Computer Science Education. The award is made by ACM, the world's largest educational and scientific computing society.
Assessment
Assessment is by a combination of coursework and end-of-year examination and details are shown in the module outlines on the web. Project modules are assessed wholly by coursework.
The marks from stage one do not go towards your final degree grade, but you must pass to continue to stage two.
Most stage two modules are assessed by coursework and end-of-year examination. Marks from stage two count towards your degree result.
Most stage three modules are assessed by a combination of coursework and end-of-year examination. Projects are assessed by your contribution to the final project, the final report, and oral presentation and viva examination. Marks from stage three count towards your degree result.
Percentage of the course assessed by coursework
In stage three your project counts for 25% of the year's marks.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- meet the needs of those contemplating a career involving a significant element of computing and those motivated by intellectual interests in applied computing and business administration
- provide a sound knowledge and systematic understanding of the principles of business information technology
- teach skills that will be of lasting value in a constantly changing field
- offer a range of modules covering the foundations of business IT
- enable students to study in depth selected areas of applied computing and/or business administration
- provide teaching informed by current research and scholarship which requires students to engage with aspects of work at the frontiers of knowledge
- develop general critical, analytical and problem-solving skills that can be applied in a wide range of different business, computing and other settings.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- hardware: the major functional components of a computer system
- software: programming languages and practice, tools and packages, computer applications, structuring of data and information
- communications and interaction: basic computer communication network concepts
- communication between computers and people, the control and operation of computers
- practice: problem identification and analysis, design development, testing and evaluation
- organisations: their environment and their management, including people, operations, finance, marketing and organisational strategy
- social science concepts and theories and the ability to apply them to business and management contexts.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual abilities:
- an understanding of the modelling and design of computer-based systems in a way that demonstrates comprehension of the trade-off involved in design choices
- communication: present rational and reasoned arguments to a range of audiences
- identify and analyse criteria and specifications appropriate to specific problems and plan strategies for their solution
- analyse the extent to which a computer-based system meets the criteria defined for its current use and future development
- deploy appropriate theory practices and tools for the specification, design, implementation and evaluation of computer-based systems
- professional responsibility: recognise and be guided by the professional, economic, social, environmental, moral and ethical issues involved in the sustainable exploitation of computer technology
- demonstrate a basic analytical ability and its relevance to everyday life
- critically evaluate arguments and evidence
- analyse and draw reasoned conclusions concerning structured, and unstructured, problems.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in the following:
- design and implementation: specifying, designing and implementing computer-based systems
- evaluation: evaluating systems in terms of general quality attributes and possible trade offs presented within the given problem
- information management: applying the principles of effective management, organisation and retrieval skills to information of various kinds
- tools: deploying effectively the tools used for the construction and documentation of software, with particular emphasis on understanding the whole process involved in using computers to solve practical problems
- identifying, formulating and solving business/decision-making problems using appropriate qualitative and quantitative tools
- creating, evaluating and assessing options, in a range of business situations, applying concepts and knowledge appropriately
- communicating effectively, orally and in writing, about business issues.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following:
- communication: making succinct presentations to a range of audiences about technical problems and their solutions
- IT: knowledge of information retrieval skills (including the use of browsers, search engines and catalogues) and effective use of general IT facilities
- numeracy: understanding and presenting cases involving a quantitative dimension
- self-management: managing your own learning and development including time management and organisational skills.
KIS Course data
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Typical requirements are listed below. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
New GCSE grades
If you've taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | ABB |
| GCSE | Mathematics grade C |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If we make you an offer, you will need to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | BTEC National Diploma Distinction, Distinction, Merit |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 points at HL including Mathematics 4 at HL or SL |
International students
The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country.
If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.
Meet our staff in your country
For more advice about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| English Language Requirements | Please see our English language entry requirements web page. Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme. |
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Careers
Graduate destinations
Graduates who have both IT knowledge and business skills can expect excellent career prospects. Our graduates have gone on to work in:
- software engineering
- mobile applications development
- systems analysis
- consultancy
- networking
- web design and e-commerce
- finance and insurance
- commerce
- engineering
- education
- government
- healthcare.
Recent graduates have gone on to develop successful careers at leading companies such as:
- BAE Systems
- Cisco
- IBM
- The Walt Disney Company
- Citigroup
- BT.
Help finding a job
The University has a friendly Careers and Employability Service, which can give you advice on how to:
- apply for jobs
- write a good CV
- perform well in interviews.
The School has a dedicated Employability Coordinator who is a useful contact for all student employability queries.
Work experience
You can gain commercial experience working as a student consultant within the Kent IT Consultancy.
Career-enhancing skills
To help you appeal to employers, you learn key transferable skills that are essential for all graduates. These include the ability to:
- think critically
- communicate your ideas and opinions
- analyse situations and troubleshoot problems
- work independently or as part of a team.
You can also gain extra skills by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.
Professional recognition
This degree has partial Chartered IT Professional (CITP) accreditation from the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.
Independent rankings
Of Computer Science students who graduated from Kent in 2016, over 97% were in work or further study within six months (DLHE).
According to Which? University (2017), the average starting salary for graduates of this degree is 'high' at £27,000.
Funding
University funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
Government funding
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
Scholarships
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence.
For 2018/19 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either Mathematics or a Modern Foreign Language. Please review the eligibility criteria.
Enquire or order a prospectus
BSc (Hons)
- Full-time Enquire online | Order a prospectus
Resources
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Contacts
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Enquiries
T: +44 (0)1227 827272
Open days
Our general open days will give you a flavour of what it is like to be an undergraduate, postgraduate or part-time student at Kent. They include a programme of talks for undergraduate students, with subject lectures and demonstrations, plus self-guided walking tours of the campus and accommodation.
Please check which of our locations offers the courses you are interested in before choosing which event to attend.