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Business Systems Integration (with SAP Technology) – (M.Sc.)
Brunel University
School of Information Systems, Computing & Mathematics
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| Application Deadline: | as early as possible | ||
| Annual Tuition Fee: | ≈ € 8,195 - ≈ € 15,815 (non-EEA) | ||
| Location: | London / United Kingdom / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 12 months | Start Date: | September |
| Educational Form: |
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| Education Variants: |
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| Credits (ECTS): | 180 | ||
| Languages: | English | ||
Location of Brunel University
In an increasingly competitive business environment, organisations need to make disparate software systems work together in a dynamic way in order to support new and innovative enterprise-level business processes. To date, making systems work together like this has proved to be expensive and time-consuming, with system integration activities often costing significantly more than standard application development. Importantly, traditional integration activities do not naturally support the definition and rapid assembly of innovative business processes in the way that many organisations would like to see.
In response, many organisations and technology providers are promoting a `service-oriented´ approach to integrating systems - both within and across enterprises. The approach seeks to fuse business semantics (definitions that describe the business in a consistent way) and Web services in a way that allows much more flexibility in the development of innovative, enterprise-level business processes. From a global perspective, the purpose is to provide standard definitions and ways of doing things that allows enterprises and parts of an enterprise to act independently but work together.
The aim of this `cutting edge´ programme is to develop practical skills and critical awareness in relation to the state-of-the-art in business/enterprise systems integration (from a service-oriented perspective).
At the end of the course, you should be able to:
- Model key aspects of business in an integrated and logical manner.
- Demonstrate a critical and practical understanding of the issues relevant to business systems integration and use in the context of modern business environments.
- Demonstrate a critical and practical understanding of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP) and the role they play in business systems integration.
- Demonstrate a critical and practical understanding of the professional skills necessary for effective business systems integration.
- Reflect, critically and in-depth, on relevant aspects of the state-of-the art of both the practice and theory of business systems integration.
The practical elements of your course will be supported by SAP technologies. SAP is a leading provider of Enterprise Resource Planning systems and a keen innovator from a service-oriented perspective. Broadly speaking, you will gain experience of SAP R/3, Netweaver platform and business intelligence approaches. Consequently, you will get hands-on experience of technology and systems that will enhance your employability.
Our Master's programmes aim to equip you with the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment. Each course is developed with industry in mind and has one or more industrial advisers who are involved in course development and delivery. The jobs that require the knowledge and skills that you will learn on this will equip you to work in areas such as business analysis, business process management, ERP implementation and customisation, systems integration and support and technology-led change management.
Contents
Our master's programmes seek to develop knowledge, creativity and originality in one package - you. Each programme is a framework to help you to develop:
- a systematic understanding of knowledge
- a comprehensive understanding of techniques relevant to your area of study
- the key skills associated with critical awareness and evaluation.
We expect you to enjoy your course and work hard.
As part of your development on the course, you will be increasingly expected to demonstrate that you can deal with complex issues in a systematic and creative manner and demonstrate self-direction and originality in problem solving.
Your studies on the course will cover:
Professional Development and Research, which aims to develop knowledge and skills to support the continuous learning and competence improvement necessary for ongoing success in commercial and academic environments. Example topics of study include learning to learn, approaches to teamwork, approaches to critical evaluation and research methods.
Business Modelling, which cultivates skills and knowledge related to business, conceptual and software modelling. Example topics of study include different paradigms for modelling (including business services, processes and objects), techniques for modelling the business domain and business behaviour, the relationship between business modelling and software modelling and the use of the Unified Modelling Language (UML).
ERP Systems Theory and Practice, which examines the rationale, theories and practices around Enterprise Resource Planning systems (ERP) and develops the knowledge required to understand the forces driving ERP design and implementation. Example topics of study include enterprise systems strategy and rationale, issues of organisational implementation and business services, processes and functions from an ERP perspective. The module provides an introduction to the SAP R/3 environment and the practice of business process integration in that environment.
ERP Systems Deployment and Configuration, which examines the implications of implementing ERP systems in organisations and develops the key skills necessary to deploy and configure ERP systems. Example topics of study include business process improvement alongside enterprise systems configuration and configuration management (including Master Data Management, business services, processes and functions). The module examines practical aspects of configuration in the context of the SAP R/3 environment.
Service-oriented Architecture, which examines the organisational impact of service-oriented approaches and the technologies necessary for the successful implementation of enterprise and web services. Example topics of study include issues in creating and managing a system landscape based on services, architectural approaches to service-orientation and web service technologies (including semantic web services). Practical aspects of web service implementation are examined in the context of integration via the SAP Netweaver environment.
Data Management and Business Intelligence, which aims to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to support the development of business intelligence solutions in modern organisational environments. Example topics of study include issues in data/information/knowledge management, approaches to information integration and business analytics. Practical aspects of the subject are examined in the context of the SAP Netweaver and Business Warehouse environment.
Systems project management, which aims to develop a critical awareness of the central issues and challenges in information systems project management. Example topics of study include traditional project management techniques and approaches, the relations between projects and business strategy, the role and assumptions underpinning traditional approaches and the ways in which the state-of-the-art can be improved.
Business Integration, which aims to develop a critical understanding of the issues of integrating people, process and technology systems both within and across organisational contexts. Example topics of study include the dimensions of business integration, collaborative working and its issues, virtual organisations, electronic markets and commerce policy.
Dissertation
In addition, provided that you have reached an acceptable standard in the assessments and examinations, you may then undertake a dissertation. Work on a dissertation for this course will normally involve an in-depth study in the area of distributed information systems and computing (e.g., a state-of-the-art review together with appropriate software development) and provides you with an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your expertise in this area to future employers or as a basis for future PhD study. Additionally, you can now work on an internship during your dissertation (see Special Features below).
Awards
A master's degree is awarded if you reach the necessary standard on the taught part of the course and submit a dissertation of the required standard. If you do not achieve the standard required, you may be awarded a postgraduate diploma or postgraduate certificate if eligible.
You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test if you come from a non-English speaking country.
Most European Universities recognise the IELTS test.
More informationRequirements
To apply for the course you should normally have a good Honours degree (2.2) or foreign equivalent qualification and be motivated to develop a reflective understanding of the theory and practice of this complex and exciting subject area. A computing-related background may be advantageous to your application but is not a strict requirement.
If you have alternative qualifications and/or substantial industrial experience (that is relevant to the subject area) you may be eligible to study on the course. In this case we will interview you and may ask that you do some preparatory work for the course.
English Language Requirements
- Brunel English Language Test (BrunELTS) - 60% overall, minimum 50% in each section
- IELTS - 6.5 overall
- TOEFL (Computer based) - 213 plus TWE 4
- TOEFL (Internet Based) - 79, minimum of 15 in each section
- TOEFL (Paper Based) - 550 plus TWE 4
Additional Requirements
| Minimal degree required: | Bachelor's degree |
| Minimal amount of work experience | Not specified |
Language Proficiency
| IELTS Band: | 6.5 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): | Grade C (Score: 60) |
| TOEFL Paper-based: | 550 |
| TOEFL Computer-based: | 213 |
| TOEFL Internet-based: | 79 |
Funding details
The Brunel International Scholarship
The Brunel International Scholarship is an annual award scheme designed to promote talent and encourage excellence in scholars coming to Brunel from around the globe. For 2010/11, 35 awards of either £3,000 or £2,000 are available to both undergraduate and postgraduate students who have been offered a place on a full-time course at Brunel.
All applications must be submitted online before 26 May 2010.
Bursaries
Bursaries may be available from your School, and your course director once you have secured and accepted a place on a course for information on any funding opportunities.
- A limited number of part-scholarships of £1,500 are available for the MA programmes in Music and Drama. Details will be sent to candidates who have confirmed their intention to study at Brunel in the 2010/11 academic year.
- The Leaders of Tomorrow PhD Bursary in Human Centred Design is supported by a donation from Brunel graduate and philanthropist Peter Ilori. The bursary provides £5,000 of financial support towards the study fees of high-achieving graduates who wish to pursue a PhD in Human Centred Design. Selection is based on the quality of applicants´ PhD study proposal.
Extra-curricular scholarships
Extra-curricular scholarships do not cover living costs or tuition fees. They are available to both taught and research students.
A number of Music Awards to help cover music tuition costs are made each year to students who are not studying music performance as part of their academic course.
The Brunel Sports Scholarship helps elite performance athletes by supporting their academic study and sporting needs simultaneously.
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