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Your year in industry takes place between your second and final year, giving you invaluable work experience. You earn a salary and there may be the possibility of a job with the same company after graduation.
Overview
The 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. On this degree, you study a combination of computing and business-oriented modules.
It is also possible to take this degree as a three-year programme, without a year in industry. For details, see Business Information Technology.
The Kent IT Consultancy option offers you the opportunity to learn how to become an IT consultant by providing computing support to local businesses while earning credits towards your degree.
The School of Computing is an internationally recognised Centre of Excellence for programming education, with 95% of our research judged to be of international quality. The School is also home to a National Teaching Fellow and authors of widely used textbooks. The award-winning Java teaching systems, BlueJ and Greenfoot were developed at Kent.
The School hosts the University's GCHQ/EPSRC accredited Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research, one of only 13 in the country.
Think Kent video series
Computers are very good at mechanical tasks but can they be creative? In this talk, Dr Anna Jordanous from the School of Computing looks at why we would want to study computers being creative and what we can learn from this work. Anna is based at the Medway campus and teaches at both Canterbury and Medway.
Independent rankings
Computer Science at Kent was ranked 12th for graduate prospects in The Complete University Guide 2017.
Of Computer Science students at Kent who graduated in 2015, 92% were in work or further study within six months (DLHE). Of those who went into employment, 95% found professional jobs.
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.
Year in industry
You spend a year working in an industrial or commercial environment between Stages 2 and 3.
Our students go to a wide range of companies including:
- IBM
- Intel
- Disney
- Morgan Stanley.
They have also been to overseas employers in locations including Amsterdam, Hong Kong and the US.
The year in industry forms an integral part of your degree and constitutes 10% of your final grade. Assessment comprises an employer evaluation, a reflective report and a logbook/portfolio.
Although it is your responsibility to find a suitable placement, the School of Computing’s dedicated Placement Team will help to identify suitable opportunities, assist with your application and prepare you for interviews.
To automatically progress onto the year in industry, you must pass Stage 2 at the first attempt. If you fail, you must pass the first resit opportunity in the August of the same year. Students who do not obtain a work placement will have their registration changed to the equivalent three-year programme without a year in industry.
Teaching and assessment
Most modules run for a single 12-week term, and usually include a combination of lectures, seminars, private study and practical sessions.
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. 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.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- attract and meet the needs of those contemplating a career involving a significant element of computing and those motivated primarily by intellectual interests in applied computing and business administration
- provide a sound knowledge and systematic understanding of the principles of business information technology
- provide generally applicable skills that will be of lasting value in a constantly changing field
- offer a range of modules covering the foundations of business IT
- offer a range of options to enable students to study in depth selected areas of applied computing and/or business administration
- provide teaching that is informed by current research and scholarship and 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 management, finance, marketing and organisational strategy
- social science concepts and theories and the ability to apply them to business and management contexts
- aspects of the core subject areas from the perspective of a commercial or industrial organisation.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual abilities:
- modelling: knowledge and understanding in the modelling and design of computer-based systems in a way that demonstrates comprehension of the trade-off involved in design choices
- reflection and communication: present succinctly to a range of audiences rational and reasoned arguments
- requirements: identify and analyse criteria and specifications appropriate to specific problems and plan strategies for their solution
- criteria evaluation and testing: analyse the extent to which a computer-based system meets the criteria defined for its current use and future development
- methods and tools: deploy 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
- computational thinking: demonstrate a basic analytical ability and its relevance to everyday life
- critically evaluate arguments and evidence
- analyse and draw reasoned conclusions concerning structured and, to a more limited extent, unstructured problems
- apply some of the intellectual skills specified for the programme from the perspective of a commercial or industrial organisation.
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: effective information retrieval, 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.
Careers
Graduates who have both IT knowledge and business skills can expect excellent career prospects. Our recent graduates now work at:
- Accenture
- Barclays Capital
- BT
- GlaxoSmithKline
- IBM
- Intel
- KCC
- Kent Police
- Lilly
- Microsoft
- Oracle
- Thomson Reuters
- T-Mobile
- Thales.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. 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 at 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 advise about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
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.
Fees
The 2017/18 tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
UK/EU fee paying students
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
In accordance with changes announced by the UK Government, we are increasing our 2017/18 regulated full-time tuition fees for new and returning UK/EU fee paying undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses will also rise from £4,500 to £4,625. This was subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. This fee will ensure the continued provision of high-quality education.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Fees for Year Abroad/Industry
As a guide only, UK/EU/International students on an approved year abroad for the full 2017/18 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Please note that for 2017/18 entrants the University will increase the standard year in industry fee for home/EU/international students to £1,350.
General additional costs
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
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.
The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support for the duration of their course.
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. 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.