Two distinct pathways will be offered, leading to the following awards:

MSc e-Commerce (Business)

MSc e-Commerce (Technology)

Application and Contact Details

Gaynor Thomas
Phone: 01792 481117
Fax: 01792 481158
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Programme Length

This Masters degree, validated by the University of Wales, is being offered on both a full-time and a part-time basis. The full-time mode will be of one calendar year's duration, while the part-time mode has a minimum duration of two academic years.

Programme Description

e-Commerce can be defined as the buying and selling of goods and services on the Internet, especially the World Wide Web. It covers such aspects as marketing, advertising, sales order processing and customer service.

A typical e-Commerce site would include a range of facilities and functions, beyond those expected of a traditional web site. For example, stock databases, catalogues, search engine, ordering system, security, order tracking, customer management, stock management. A hardware infrastructure is required to support this typical site, consisting of a range of computing and communications equipment.
The MSc e-Commerce (Business) pathway is an applications pathway, concentrating on the development of content. The MSc e-Commerce (Technology) pathway is a systems pathway, concentrating on the provision of hardware and security.

Students will be expected to extend the acquired knowledge to generate original solutions to the problems with which they are presented. They will be required to analyse requirements, synthesise appropriate solutions and evaluate the effectiveness of their proposals.

Programme Content and Structure

The pathways differ in the choice of taught modules in Part I and in the nature of the project in Part II of the MSc programme.
The programme consists of two parts: a taught part consisting of 10 modules, followed by a second part (the project) requiring in-depth research into a problem, the equivalent of 5 modules.

Part I

Part I consists of six taught modules, at the end of which a student may be eligible for the award of a Post-graduate Diploma. Each module will involve 120 hours of student time, 75 hours of which will be self-study.

MSc e-Commerce core modules

Research Methods (10 credits)
Innovation & Business Development (10 credits)
Web Design and Usability (20 credits)
Inter-networking and Security (30 credits)
Web System Design & Implementation (20 credits)
MSc e-Commerce (Business) specific modules

e-Commerce Law and Marketing (30 credits)
MSc e-Commerce (Technology) specific modules

Advanced Web Programming and Systems Software (30 credits)

Part II

Part II, the Major Project, is an in-depth investigation into a particular area. This element of the programme will be equivalent to 60 credits. The outcome of this project may take a variety of forms. Some examples are given below:

An e-Commerce site of limited functionality, investigating a particular aspect e.g. sales order processing
The analysis & design of the hardware infrastructure requirements for an e-Commerce site, together with a limited implementation
The analysis of a company's requirements for an e-Commerce site and the benefits that would arise, including an implementation plan.
A detailed investigation into the security issues involved with an e-Commerce site, including the implementation of a range of solutions.
Assessment

The taught modules in Part I are assessed through a combination of coursework and examination. The project in Part II is normally assessed through the submission of a dissertation and an oral examination.

Full-time mode

The full-time scheme runs over a calendar year. The 6 taught modules in Part I will be studied over two 15 week semesters. Each semester includes an allowance for revision and assessment of a module. Part II (the project) will involve regular tutorials with members of the project supervisory team.

Part-time mode

A student enrolled on the part-time MSc programme would require a minimum of two years to achieve the award.

Entry Requirements

The normal entry requirements for admission to the MSc programme are:

1. a degree or equivalent in an appropriate discipline
2. for graduates of non-UK universities, sufficient command of spoken and written English to meet the demands of the programme (e.g. TOEFL 550 or equivalent)

The nature of the programme is such that candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds will be considered.

To be read in conjunction with this page

Equivalent Qualifications

Equivalent qualifications will be considered for entry onto the programme. For example, a candidate with a good HND, together with at least five years relevant experience would be considered. The candidate would be expected to provide evidence to support his/her application.

Other Skills Considered

Our offers are not solely based on academic results. We take your skills, achievements and life experience into consideration.