Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about studying ADMIS

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about studying MSc Management of Information Systems and Innovation (MISI)

(See also the New arrivals page in the Student Services Centre section.)

This page provides further information for students about MSc Management, Information Systems and Innovation (MISI) at the London School of Economics and Political Science. We have another page with Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about applying for MISI.

Read what our students say about studying IS at the LSE

What is MISI?
What is the structure of the MSc year?
Can I choose options outside the ISIG?
How many hours of teaching do I have per week?
Is it just lectures and classes?
Will I have a chance to work on real IS problems?
What is the age breakdown of students?
Is MISI a new degree?
Can I look at some past exam papers?
Where can I find other sources of information about information systems?
What preparation should I do before coming on the course?
How can I find out more about the LSE library?
What computing experience do I need?
Do I need to know any programming?
Will I learn to program?
How much does it cost to study MISI?
Where can I live in London?
After I have completed MISI, what are my job prospects like?
Where can I find out more about studying at LSE and living in London?

1. What is MISI?

The Masters in Management Information Systems and Innovation studies organizational and IT innovations in business and government across the world. Information systems drive modern business and public services, the internet is changing drastically how we form and share information, and knowledge in the networked society crosses all boundaries and challenges all previous models of organizing business and government. This MSc is an intellectually rigorous, innovative, inter-disciplinary degree that creates capabilities for future management and IS practitioners, advisers and researchers, in the ever changing arenas of technology and organizations. MISI integrates established knowledge on management, strategy and major IS issues, such as applications development, projects, outsourcing with the critical study of emerging domains of innovation exploiting the internet, including cloud computing and social networking. It is not a quantitative course.

The practice of innovation requires understanding of the social and economic context within which technology and organizations are constructed and managed. Our learning approach places emphasis on the critical discussion of academic literature from across a range of scientific fields. We include theories and frameworks for understanding the processes of information systems and innovation and case studies for illustrating issues in particular instances of management and innovation practice.

ADMIS students working on their summer dissertations in one of our computer labs

2. What is the structure of the MSc year?

The MSc is a full year course, based on LSE's three terms and the summer break. The first term (October-December) is focussed on the compulsory core of the MSc (IS470 Innovation and Information Systems: concepts and perspectives; IS471 Innovating Organisational IT; and IS472 Global Strategy Management and IS) plus a non-examined course: IS490 Study skills and research methods.

In the second term, students specialise in a stream by taking two options within it, either Management of IS and Global Sourcing (IS484 Information Risk and Security; IS485 Management and economics of E-business; IS417 Global Sourcing of Business; IS415 Health Information Systems) or The Internet and Information Services (IS479 IS for the Public Sector; IS414 Information Technology and Service Innovation; IS418 Digital Convergence and Information Services). They then have a half unit option that they can choose from a list of possible courses. The IT Study skills and research methos course continues this term and students begin work on their summer dissertation.

In the third term, students take examinations and then work on their summer dissertation, which is submitted at the beginning of September. (See Sample of recent ADMIS summer dissertation titles.)

You can find information about Term Dates, the current Full timetable and 2 week timetable for Michaelmas Term 2010, but please note that they do vary from year to year.

3. Can I choose options outside the ISIG?

Yes, you can take a half unit option from any other MSc subject to pre-requisites and timetabling constraints. Students need the permission of the module leader and the Course Tutor.

4. How many hours of teaching do I have per week?

In the first term, students take three core examined half-unit courses and one nonexamined course. Each of these typically has two hours of lectures and one hour of classes per week. This gives a typical load of twelve contact hours per week. In addition to this, of course, there are assignments, personal research and group meetings.

In the second term, students specialise taking three half-unit options, as well as the one non-examined course. This results in a typical load of ten hours per week, plus assignments, personal research and team meetings.

Videos of sample lectures

5. Is it just lectures and classes?

No. There are projects, group exercises and many other activities. For example we run a business game in IS471.

There are many extra-curricular and social activities. Many of these are organised by the student-run IS Society. In addition, the ISI Group runs three additional seminar series, which students are welcome to attend. Check News and Events for further information.

IS students also edit, review and write a journal: ISChannel.

6. Will I have a chance to work on real IS problems?

Yes. Many students undertake their summer projects based on placements in organisations, and there are other opportunities during the course. For instance students of Systems Design in Context can work on real-life projects resulting in design prototypes.

Four groups of students worked with the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce (RBCC). Based on a methodology developed by RBCC, the groups explored various aspects of a system supporting Russian firms in establishing proper corporate governance. There are currently no such systems on the market so the students had the unique opportunity to explore new technological ground.

7. What is the age breakdown of students?

This varies from year to year, although the overall pattern is fairly consistent. Most students are in their twenties but there are always some in the thirties and older. Older students contribute valuable work experience to the course and are encouraged to apply.

8. Is MISI a new degree?

MISI has been developed from and replaces the well established MSc ADMIS, taking 30 years experience of teaching IS from a critical socio-technical perspective and placing it within an improved, streamlined programme structure. MISI reflects the globalization and management context in which IS and Internet developments now operate and dynamic innovation takes place. The new design updates content and places increased emphasis on management and innovation in order to address needs of current and future managers and IS professionals.

9. Can I look at some past exam papers?

Previous year's exam papers can be accessed by the library web pages. However, it is far too early to be thinking about exams before you even start the course!

10. Where can I find other sources of information about information systems?

One of the best resources is the Association for Information Systems website; or see Resources and links.

11. What preparation should I do before coming on the course?

We do not require you to read any particular items before you come on the course, as you will have enough reading to do during the 12 months that you are at LSE. However, some people do want to do some preparatory reading so we have some suggested preparatory readings for MISI that you might enjoy.

There is a Summer School Course that you may find interesting, MG270 Business Development and ICT Innovation and you are welcome to apply and take it.

Other resources that you may find helpful are Prepare for Success, Advice about studying in the UK and LSE Vocabulary.

12. How can I find out more about the LSE library?

The LSE library (the British Library of Political and Economic Science) is the world's leading social science library. It has a web page giving details of services for Information Systems students.

13. What computing experience do I need?

There is no formal computing requirement, although we do expect students to have a basic familiarity with common desktop tools. The LSE computing environment is based around personal computers running Windows XP and using Microsoft Office 2003 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Outlook). Specialist packages for systems development and research are taught on the course and we presume that you are comfortable with using the standard office packages.

14. Do I need to know any programming?

No. We do not expect people to come with programming knowledge. If you really want to learn to program, then we suggest you learn either a visual programming environment (for example Visual Basic) or explore some of the Web 2.0 programming environments (such as Ruby on Rails). All the packages in Microsoft Office have a Visual Basic interface, allowing you to do some programming within the structure of the application package. It is our experience that design skills are much more applicable than narrow programming skills.

15. Will I learn to program?

ADMIS does not have a formal taught course on programming, although students do have opportunities to develop their programming skills through the use of packaged software for various assignments. The Systems Development in Context option, for example, encourages students to develop their designs through a programming environment of their own choice and seminars will support this effort.

16. How much does it cost to study MISI?

The fees for 2010/11 are £20,496. There are many grants and scholarships available through the Financial Support Office.

17. Where can I live in London?

For details of LSE and University of London halls and flats and how to get help finding private accommodation, see Accommodation for students.

18. After I have completed MISI, what are my job prospects like?

MISI prepares students for general management work, advisory, consultancy, and analyst roles, work in the business demand side of information systems where strategy, business applications, and customer and internal service have to be decided and delivered, roles in the supply side of technology including quite technical work, through to a portfolio of roles major service suppliers need to relate to customers and deliver and improve their processes and systems. Students also go on to further research and doctorates, for which MISI offers a strong grounding. We expect MISI graduates to be in demand all over the world by employers who value our ability to deliver in depth understanding of management, information systems and the importance of well informed independent thinking for innovation.

We find that most IS students find permanent employment (see Sample employers of IS graduates) or further study opportunities during or shortly after completing their studies. See IS Careers for more information.

MISI students receive privileged access to the Careers Service (see Careers Services for IS students (PDF)).

19. Where can I find out more about studying at LSE and living in London?

See the New arrivals page in the Student Services Centre section, which has a lot of useful information and links on living and studying in London.