BSc (Hons) in Business Information Systems with Foundation Year

• Foundations of learning Develop key learning skills like effective communication, time management, goal setting, and understanding different learning styles.
• Academic integrity and writing for business Develop academic writing and research skills, including referencing, avoiding plagiarism, and understanding business communication.
• Personal career plan Learn how to identify your core strengths, understand various job search processes, and build and maintain a personal brand.
• Elective: Foundation Year: (see Electives: Foundation Year)
• Applied learning strategies This module continues to develop learning strategies, focusing on self-study, communication, presentation skills, and overcoming challenges and setbacks.
• Developing a business mindset* – business related track Explore key skills and attributes for developing a business mindset, covering topics like self-management, learning from failure, and financial literacy.
• Business ethics – business related track Business ethics involves applying ethical principles to business practices, emphasising individual and corporate responsibility within a framework of social justice and sustainability.
• Project: innovation and investigation In this module, you’ll combine your learning from earlier modules in a project related to your subject area.

*Please note, this elective will be available to study from April 2025.

• Introduction to computer science Explore the basic concepts of computer science, including information representation, algorithms, data structures, and the role of computer science as a discipline.
• Business 101 Gain fundamental knowledge of general business administration, covering corporate goals, strategic marketing, organisational structures, and basic accounting principles.
• Object-oriented programming with java Learn the basic skills of object-oriented programming using java, focusing on theoretical concepts and practical problem-solving.
• Statistics – probability and descriptive statistics Understand the fundamentals of statistical description and analysis, covering probability, Bayesian statistics, random variables, and key distributions.
• Collaborative work Develop interdisciplinary competency for professional networking and collaborative work, emphasising the importance of social diversity and conflict resolution.
• Requirements engineering Learn to determine and document the requirements for IT system development, covering techniques and methods to ensure thorough and accurate requirement specifications.
• Management accounting Understand the preparation and use of management accounting information, focusing on cost accounting, performance measurements, and budgeting processes.
• Data structures and Java class library Deepen your knowledge of object-oriented programming with a focus on data structures and their implementation in java.

• Introduction to academic work for IT and technology Learn the basics of scientific thinking and working, including handling sources, academic writing formats, and the methods necessary for writing academic papers in IT and technology.
• Introduction to process management Explore the basics of enterprise modelling, process design, and the evaluation and implementation of processes with an emphasis on organisational change and risk management.
• Corporate finance and investment Understand the fundamentals of corporate finance, including financial markets, agency problems, financial statements, investment decisions, and risk management.
• Fundamentals of IT and ERP systems Gain an understanding of IT enterprise architecture and ERP systems, including their implementation and the role of open-source software and cloud computing.
• Database modelling and database systems Learn the principles of relational data models, SQL queries, and modern database systems (NoSQL) for data storage and access.
• Digital business models Explore key digital business models, understanding their development, strengths and weaknesses, and their role in business planning and positioning.
• Elective A (see electives A section below)
• Elective A (see electives A section below)

• Data analytics and big data Familiarise yourself with methods and techniques for big data analysis, covering data mining, statistical fundamentals, and legal aspects of data analysis.
• Seminar: current topics in computer science Deepen your academic skills by engaging in research and discussions on a specific computer science topic, culminating in a final scientific paper.
• Elective B (see Electives B section below)
• Elective B (see Electives B section below)
• Elective C (see Electives C section below)
• Elective C (see Electives C section below)
• Undergraduate (bachelor) thesis Apply the subject-specific and methodological competencies learned throughout your course to present an academic dissertation. You’ll also learn how to tackle a practical-empirical or theoretical-scientific problem.

• Foundations of academic English Learn the skills for correct and concise academic writing, reviewing language and grammar, and discussing academic integrity. This elective is compulsory for international students.
• Skills for business Learn essential business skills, including writing business emails and proposals, giving presentations, and understanding company structures.
• Maths foundations This module explores essential math concepts, introducing the correct terminology for describing and solving mathematical problems, and developing your independent study skills.
• Digital skills Explore the impact of digital changes on professions and societies, developing essential digital skills and knowledge about emerging technologies.

• IT law Learn the basic concepts of IT law, including data protection, intellectual property, and the legal frameworks in different countries.
• Intercultural and ethical decision-making Understand intercultural competencies, ethics, and the processes of intercultural learning and working through practical case studies.
• Programming information systems with Java EE Develop skills to build enterprise web applications using the Java technology stack, covering web technologies, application interfaces, and database connections.
• Agile project management Gain a practical introduction to agile project management, its principles, and practices, comparing it with plan-driven project management methods.
• Project: AI excellence with creative prompting techniques Explore prompting in generative AI applications through hands-on exercises, learning to create, analyse, and evaluate AI-generated content.
• Theoretical computer science and mathematical logic Explore the theoretical foundations of computer science, focusing on predicate logic, finite automata, the Chomsky hierarchy, and the P=NP problem, applied to practical areas like SQL and state transition diagrams.
• Self-arranged internship I (*) Develop your practical and analytical skills by doing an internship and improving your employability. In several preparation tutorials, you’ll consider the working environment and the overall goal of your placement.
• Self-arranged internship II (*) As with the first internship, this is an opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge in a business environment. Develop your communication style, problem-solving ability and time management.

*You’ll be responsible for arranging a suitable internship for your field of study. Once arranged, please complete an application to the internship module via myCampus, to make sure your internship can be recognised and credited towards your course requirements.

Big data and business intelligence

• Big data technologies Understand the different types and sources of data, database concepts, data storage frameworks, distributed computing environments, and the ethical impact of big data technology choices.
• Cloud computing Learn the fundamentals and enabling technologies of cloud computing, including serverless computing, and popular cloud offerings for analytics.

IT operations and project management

• IT service management Explore IT service management concepts and best practices through the IT infrastructure library (ITIL), focusing on IT operations.
• Project: IT service management Apply IT service management theories to practical problems, evaluating solutions and maintaining an IT service management project.

Cyber security

• Introduction to data protection and cyber security Learn important IT security concepts, procedures, and techniques, including legal regulations and methods for IT security implementation.
• Cryptography Gain in-depth knowledge of cryptographic processes, including symmetric and asymmetric methods, hash functions, and their practical applications.

International marketing and sales

• International marketing Understand the necessity of strategic marketing in an international context, focusing on cultural differences, international market research, and ethical considerations.
• Online marketing Learn the theories and methods of online marketing, including channel strategies, customer acquisition and retention, and measuring success with web analytics.

Supply chain management and industry 4.0

• Supply chain management I Explore modern supply chain management concepts, value creation processes, and strategies to deal with the coordination problem of SCM.
• Supply chain management II Understand the requirements for successful supply chains, the SCOR model, and strategies like postponement and order-promising.

Human resources

• Introduction to new work  Learn about the challenges and implications of technological and societal changes on human resource management and leadership culture.
• Organisational behaviour Understand key theories and frameworks in organisational behaviour, focusing on improving employee performance and engagement.

Big data and business intelligence

• Business intelligence Learn the motivation, use cases, and concepts of business intelligence, applying techniques and methods for data modelling and information generation.
• Project: business intelligence Develop a solution to a practical problem in business intelligence, designing and prototyping a business intelligence application based on specific requirements.

IT operations and project management

• IT project management Explore typical problems in managing software projects, learning techniques and methods to address challenges and minimise risks.
• IT architecture management Understand the principles, activities, and models of IT architecture management, aligning IT infrastructure with business and IT strategy.

Cyber security

• Technical and operational IT security concepts Learn to evaluate IT systems and networks, develop protection profiles, and design tools for network monitoring and intrusion detection.
• Project: configuration and application of SIEM systems Gain hands-on experience implementing a security incident event management (SIEM) tool in an enterprise IT environment, considering practical aspects and converting technical data into operational information.

International marketing and sales

• Applied sales I Learn the key aspects of sales, including sales organization, customer acquisition, and sales planning in different economic sectors.
• Applied sales II Understand the connection between marketing and sales, customer relationship management, and the application of persuasive communication techniques.

Supply chain management and industry 4.0

• Product development in industry 4.0 Explore modern product development methods and tools in the context of industry 4.0, focusing on digital and virtual product design.
• Project: smart product solutions Apply smart product solutions in a practical project, using various instruments and modelling tools to analyse digital business models.

Human resources

• Digital HR Understand the impact of digitalization on HR management, focusing on emerging technologies, new professions, and the transformation of HR functions.
• International HR management Learn the special features, opportunities, and challenges of country-specific and cross-national HR management, applying theories and concepts to real-world scenarios.