MSc Analysis, Design and Management of Information Systems (ADMIS)

Page contents > Entry requirements | Aims and Objectives | Course Structure | Career Prospects | Alumni Network

The MSc ADMIS is a pioneering course and is one of the highest regarded and longest established Information Systems programmes in the world. It regularly attracts over 120 students, typically from 30-40 different countries. The ISI Group has been rated excellent for teaching quality by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and as reaching international and national excellence in research in the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

Entry requirements

Students may come from a variety of backgrounds but must have a basic knowledge of information technology. Academic requirements for entry follow the School’s guidelines detailed on the Graduate Admissions website.

Key Facts

12 Month full-time course

6 Taught courses & a dissertation

Entry Requirements: 2:1 degree in relevant area. Basic familiarity with IT essential, professional experience beneficial. Standard English Language requirements.

Typical Background: business, economics or computer science backgrounds.

Application Deadline: None, rolling admissions

Career Prospects: Consultancy and information systems management.

Aims and Objectives

MSc ADMIS is a 12 month full-time advanced degree programme which has been thoroughly revised and updated for 2010. Its core modules now focus students on the interconnected themes of Management, Information Systems and Innovation, while a number of optional modules allow students to explore a range of themes and issues. In 2010 we offer two new, highly contemporary modules: Global Sourcing and Management of Business and IT Services, and Digital Convergence and Information Services.

Read what our students say about studying ADMIS

The ADMIS programme takes a management-centered approach to the fast evolving business and technological environments that impact the practice and theory of information systems. The central aim is to encourage a deep understanding of information technologies, the processes of technical innovation, how these are shaped, and how they impact on individuals, organisations and economies. The programme is interdisciplinary and draws on contemporary management, innovation theory and social science thinking. More specifically, ADMIS aims to:

Provide an up-to-date, relevant and high quality education in Management, Information Systems and Innovation in a research–active environment for students from a wide range of backgrounds
Provide an understanding of the changing role of information systems in contemporary organisations and the issues that affect their management and development. The programme highlights the use of web-based and emerging technologies and networks.
Provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to build careers in corporate IT management; general management with a specific focus on a skills base in innovation processes, emergent technologies and information; public management in which IT management plays an important role.
Provides a solid platform for those wishing to undertake further research at MPhil / PhD level through the social study of IT lens, or in the areas of Innovation, Emerging Internet-based Technologies or Information
Encourage students to develop their critical reasoning ability in order to make well-informed judgements concerning new developments in Information Systems
Develop a series of transferable skills including: problem formulation and resolution, team work, report writing and research methods.

The core curriculum focuses on Information Systems Management and Innoation theories, perspectives and practices: new technologies, and their development in organisations and the application of information technology in business. Options within the course allow students to specialise in policy, management, economic or technological aspects.
Teaching is informed by current faculty research, as illustrated by our flower logo. The team of full-time academic staff have an international reputation and are considered leaders in their fields. They also collaborate in teaching and research with a variety of visiting professors, industry experts and research fellows.

Information Systems MSc courses available 2010/11

Course Structure

The academic year consists of three terms with the main teaching taking place in the first two terms, while the third term is devoted to examinations and preparation for the final dissertation. Assessment is by a mixture of course essays and final examinations - see the page on each module for details.

Submission dates 2009/10

Core Units

The first term is composed of three compulsory half units, which provide conceptualisations of Information Systems, their management and development, based on both theory and practice. The term includes a real-world consultancy-based group project providing practical experience of key issues. The three core courses are:

There is also a compulsory non-examined course, which runs through the first two terms and includes a range of presentations from industry employers, IS alumni and visiting academics, skills based presentations and dissertation guidance:

IS490 Information Technology: Issues and skills

Optional Units

Students choose optional courses usually within the Group or within the wider Department of Management, according to their particular interests and ambitions. There are also numerous options available to non-specialists from elsewhere in the LSE. ADMIS students must take one full unit option and one half unit option or three half unit options by special agreement.

Options from within the Group are:

One full unit stream from:

IS413 Information Systems for the Public Sector
IS414 Information Technology and Service Innovation
IS474 Innovation and Technology Management
IS475 IT and Development
IS476 Information Risk and Security (not running in 2010/11)
IS477 Management and Economics of e-business (not running in 2010/11)

And one half unit option from:

Options from Outside the Group

Students may take a half unit MSc option available elsewhere within LSE, subject to agreement by the relevant department and the ADMIS course tutor. Previously, students have chosen to take the following options:

Dissertation

Each student also writes a report (dissertation) of not more than 10,000 words on a project selected with the approval of the candidate's teachers. See Sample of recent ADMIS summer dissertation titles.

IS499 Dissertation.

Career Prospects

Employment prospects for our graduates are excellent and most find permanent employment within six months of graduating (see IS Careers). ADMIS leads to careers in consultancy and information systems management. We have alumni in all the major consultancy companies, as well as a wide range of other organisations throughout the world.

The UK Home Office allows graduates of ADMIS to stay and work in the UK for up to two years after they graduate through the Post Study Work Scheme

Alumni Network

ISIG Graduates keep in touch via our active IS Alumni Network, by joining the LSE's Alumni department you can stay in contact with fellow alumni and members of the ISIG staff, receive updates on the latest news and events.