Enterprise Systems Management - MSc
- Level: Postgraduate Taught
- Starting: September 2021, January 2022
- Study mode: Full Time, Part Time
- Location: City Centre
Studying with us in 2021/22
It is possible that the 2021/22 academic year may be affected by the ongoing disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Any arrangements put in place by the University for the 2021/22 academic year will be in accordance with the latest government public health advice, pandemic-related/health and safety legislation, and the terms and conditions of the student contract.
Planned business spend on IT continues to grow as business leaders put their trust in technology to drive business growth. Enterprise Systems Management is an innovative MSc degree course designed for those who want to pursue careers as managers and leaders in implementing technology-based information systems solutions and managing technological transformation within organisations.
What's covered in the course?
You will explore systems and activities within an enterprise that bring together processes, people and technology, you will support digital transformation strategies, and help streamline operations to gain competitive advantages, improved performance and reduced operational costs.
You will learn:
- Strategic IS Planning: How to develop a strategic IS/IT plan that is aligned to the strategic information needs of the business.
- Enterprise Systems: How to manage the business processes to support the organisation to gain competitive advantage, improve performance, reduce operational cost, implement efficient business processes, and improve real-time decision-making capabilities via Enterprise Systems (ES), which incorporates ERP, CRM, SCM, and so forth.
- Operations Management: How to analyse, design and develop an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. MRP I, MRPII and PLM are core ERP technologies that have migrated from Manufacturing Industries to the Service sector.
- Digital Change Management: How to address the socio-technology challenges of leveraging value from the IS/IT in the digital society using agile methods. This involves making sense of the business requirements in order to ensure the end products will solve the business problem. Business Intelligence and Technology Entrepreneurship: How to manage and apply a range of visualisation tools to analyse and make business sense of data lakes, and to exploit data to construct informed business decisions.
- Principles of Project Management: How to deliver strategic value within an organisation and ensure the project (or business solution) is completed on time, within budget, within scope and at the desired performance level.
- Individual Master’s Project: A practice-based module working in collaboration with an organization or research-based project within the Socio-Technical Systems Research group to apply multi-disciplinary skills to design innovative solutions to the challenges of digital transformation.
To further recognise the significance of employability and to complement the academic content of this programme you are also provided the opportunity to undertake SAP Certification in a number of key areas including Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) or Business Warehouse (BW).
Graduates from the course will be equipped for careers in a range of sought-after positions including: Junior Consultant, Project Manager, Change Analyst, Digital Transformation – Business Analyst, Business Intelligence Analyst.
Tailor your degree
The Professional Placement version of the course is optional and is offered as an alternative to the standard version of the course. This will allow you to complete a credit bearing, 20 week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market.
Why Choose Us?
- You will have the opportunity to work in teams and collaborate on projects.
- You will learn through case studies, live briefs, discussion and plenary to develop a greater understanding of current challenges facing business and enterprise.
- You will develop management and consultancy skills through critical thinking, appraisal and analysis.
- You will enjoy a high-quality learning experience aligned to real-life business development challenges.
- You will utilise ERPsim to gain experience of end-to-end business processes, using virtual business scenarios to evaluate the impact of integration of processes on manufacturing and business analytics.
- Graduates of this course are highly sought-after with the multidisciplinary skills necessary to manage strategic and high impact enterprise change.
- The Faculty is a member of SAP University Alliance. This programme provides you with the opportunity to undertake SAP certification in a number of key areas including Enterprise Resource Planning and Business Warehouse.
Open Days
Attending one of our Virtual Open Days is a great way to find out more about the courses we offer and get answers to any questions you might have. Our next postgraduate Virtual Open Day is taking place on Wednesday 28 April.
Book now
This course is open to International students

Peter Russell
“The course was well-structured with good facilities, and the support from staff was mostly excellent."

Nassir Ibrahim
“I was attracted to the course by the level of certification offered; for example Prince 2, SAP and the MSc itself."
Entry Requirements
Essential Requirements
A good UK honours degree at 2:2 or above/equivalent in computing, information systems, information technology, business information systems, business information technology, business technology, business manufacturing technology, or any other degree in computing and IT subjects. |
In exceptional circumstances, if you have relevant professional experience, you may be invited to an interview and test, at which you will be required to demonstrate the necessary knowledge and understanding for entry onto the course. |
Additional information for EU/International students
Essential |
---|
An equivalent overseas qualification in computing, information systems, information technology, business information systems, business information technology, business technology, business manufacturing technology or any other degree in computing and IT subjects. |
If you do not possess the above qualifications, you may also be considered if you can provide evidence of the necessary knowledge and skills to successfully complete the course. |
Overseas students need to demonstrate a good command of English. IELTS 6.0 or equivalent is needed before you can enrol in this programme. |
International Students
Don't meet our entry requirements? You could apply for courses at our International College.
- UK students
- International students
Award: MSc
Starting: Sep 2021
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
-
TBC
- Full Time
- 18 months with Professional Placement (see below*)
-
TBC
- Part Time
- 24 months
-
TBC
Award: MSc
Starting: Jan 2022
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
-
TBC
- Full Time
- 18 months with Professional Placement (see below*)
-
TBC
- Part Time
- 24 months
-
TBC
Award: MSc
Starting: Sep 2021
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
-
TBC
- Full Time
- 18 months with Professional Placement (see below*)
-
TBC
Award: MSc
Starting: Jan 2022
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
-
TBC
If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our PDF application form and equal opportunities PDF form instead. The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
Professional Placement option*
The Professional Placement option will allow you to complete a credit bearing, 20 week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.
You will be responsible for finding and securing your own placement. The University, however, will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will also benefit from support sessions delivered by Careers+ as well as advice and guidance from your School.
Placements will only be confirmed following a competitive, employer-led selection process, therefore the University will not be able to guarantee placements for students who have registered for the ‘with Professional Placement’ course. All students who do not find a suitable placement or do not pass the competitive selection process will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.
Personal statement
Students are required to submit a personal statement as part of their application for this course.
Your postgraduate personal statement is going to shine a light on your personal experience, academic success, personal skills and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:
Your passion and motivations
Studying a postgraduate course usually means you want to specialise in something. So what’s driving you?
Why this course?
Show that you’ve researched the course offering. What is it about this particular course that appeals to you? Is it the lecturers? The modules? Etc.
What makes you a good postgraduate candidate?
Tutors want to know that you can handle postgraduate study, so show them how your undergraduate experiences or work life has equipped you for a more advanced level of study. Key areas to address are research and group work but this can vary depending on your chosen course.
Relevant academic or work experience
Add anything relevant that relates back to your chosen course and shows how your skills will contribute towards your learning. What extra-curricular activities have you taken part in? What awards have you won? What employment or voluntary experience do you have that has helped you develop transferable skills? How do these specifically relate to the course you are applying for?
You should also mention your future plans and how a postgraduate qualification fits in. Try to look beyond your postgraduate study – do you plan to jump straight into a specific career or follow your studies with a research degree? Lastly, use plain, professional English and, where possible, utilise the language of your chosen industry.
Get more information on writing personal statements.
Additional costs
There are no compulsory additional costs or charges associated with studying on this course. While you may choose to purchase personal copies of text books, all our key text books are available from our library or online (subject to normal library loan and online access arrangements). If your course includes a residential study session, the accommodation costs for this are already included in your course fee.
Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £50 for each year of your studies for stationery and study materials. All our students are provided with 100 free pages of printing each year to a maximum total value of £15.
Accommodation and living costs
The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.
Financial Support
We offer further information on possible postgraduate financial support. This includes the type of loans, grants and scholarships available both from the government and from Birmingham City University.
Did you know that you will soon be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £11,222 for some courses and options?
Module
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits):
Our teaching philosophy revolves around you both ‘learning by doing’ and also transferring acquired knowledge to others. Activities will be conducted both individually and in teams, with tutors providing leadership and mentoring aimed at supporting your transition into independent learners. In this partnership, we will be encouraging you to become proactive, so that you can develop your confidence to undertake a range of progressively complex and challenging tasks.
We expect you to attend all teaching sessions, as well as to read and prepare before these sessions. Good preparation will enable you to get the most from your contact time and will help you become an autonomous learner. Advanced preparation is also a critical skill which you must develop if you wish to succeed in business or professional practice. Teaching sessions will include lectures and small group interactive seminars.
You will be assessed in a number of different ways, including coursework, patchwork assessment, examinations (seen and unseen, open and closed-book), presentations, practical assignments, vivas, online forums, podcasts and project work.
Professional Placement option*
The Professional Placement option will allow you to complete a credit bearing, 20 week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.
You will be responsible for finding and securing your own placement. The University, however, will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will also benefit from support sessions delivered by Careers+ as well as advice and guidance from your School.
Placements will only be confirmed following a competitive, employer-led selection process, therefore the University will not be able to guarantee placements for students who have registered for the ‘with Professional Placement’ course. All students who do not find a suitable placement or do not pass the competitive selection process will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.
Further Study
Within the Centre for Enterprise Systems we welcome graduate applications for PhD Research opportunities in the following fields:
- Business processes integration, modelling and optimisation
- Socio-technical systems
- Adoption of information systems in IoT
- Information security in IoT
Trips and visits
As part of the programme you will get access to SAP User Group events across the country to visit SAP customers and participate in SAP function and business related discussions.
Enhancing your employability skills
Birmingham City University programmes aim to provide graduates with a set of attributes which prepare them for their future careers. The BCU Graduate:
- is professional and work-ready
- is a creative problem solver
- is enterprising
- has a global outlook.
The University has introduced the Birmingham City University Graduate+ programme, which is an extracurricular awards framework that is designed to augment the subject-based skills that you develop through your programme with broader employability skills, enhancing your employment options when you leave university.
The programme will help you with crafting your CV, personal statements, covering letters and presentations, and will also help you seek part-time work experience and voluntary placements.
OpportUNIty

OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.
It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.
Graduate jobs
Graduates have gone on to careers at local and international companies and organisations such as Accenture China, Jaguar Land Rover, Capgemini, Deloitte, Photon, BT, Fidelity Bank, Aurum Holdings and Birmingham City University.
Graduates of this course hold a range of professional positions including:
- Project management
- Junior application consultant
- Business analyst
- Business technology analyst
- BI analyst
- Systems analyst
- Functional consultant
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies.
£1500 Scholarship
Start in January and receive a £1500 scholarship on eligible courses.
Find out moreBirmingham City University International College (BCUIC)
International students who have a serious interest in studying with us but who perhaps cannot meet the direct entry requirements, academic or English, or who have been out of education for some time, can enter Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC) and begin their degree studies.

BCUIC is part of the global Navitas Group, an internationally recognised education provider, and the partnership allows students to access the University’s facilities and services and move seamlessly through to achieving a Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham City University.

Our Facilities
We are constantly investing in our estate and are currently in the process of spending £340 million on new learning facilities. This course will be taught at Millennium Point at the City Centre Campus.
As a student at the School of Computing and Digital Technology, you have access to networked laboratories equipped to industry standards and running the latest software, giving you the best possible introduction to the technologies you will encounter in the world of work.
Dedicated facilities are provided for systems analysis, computer networks, programming in a wide range of languages, artificial intelligence, modelling and visual programming, e-commerce and .net environments, and business intelligence, as well as supporting the application areas of mechatronics, games technology, electronics and computer forensics.

Computer networking
The laboratories are well-equipped for all our computer networking courses, as well as specialist areas for practical work such as voice-over internet protocol (VoIP), forensic and ethical hacking technologies, wireless and mobile technologies and radio frequency identification technologies to name but a few.

Software development and computer programming
There are a number of open access, software development and computer programming
laboratories that can be used to develop systems and programmes, including database management systems such as MySQL, to name but a few.

Systems laboratories
Our embedded systems laboratories are used to develop real-time systems, such as specialist hardware training and development resources, and industrial-standard software development and simulation tools. These include microcontroller software and robotics design and development, to name but a few.

Electronic systems
To underpin the basic principles of electronic systems, we have a well-equipped laboratory of general and specialist test and measurement kits, including powered prototyping development boards, dual power supplies, frequency generators and counters and digital multi-meters to name but a few.Forensic computing
Our successful development of forensic computing has led to a specialist forensics laboratory that is fully equipped with essential hardware and software for this sensitive area of study. The laboratory includes high-spec PC’s with built-in multi interface Tableau write blockers, EnCase and FTK computer forensic software and steganography detection and analysis software, to name but a few.
More on our facilities

Deborah Evans
Associate Professor
Deb Evans is an Associate Professor in the Centre for Digital Transformation at Birmingham City University. She is the Academic Lead for the Digital Systems and Change Team within the Centre for Digital Transformation. She teaches Strategic Information Systems Planning, Enterprise Systems, IT Innovation, Business intelligence and Technology Entrepreneurship, and Digital Change Management at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
She has worked extensively with senior management of businesses throughout the UK on a range of innovation projects, including academic supervision of KTPs focussing on the creation, development, and implementation of transformative change in traditional artisan SME companies.