This course is open for applications
Page last updated 12 September 2024
Our course is aligned to the requirements of the Professional Knowledge and Skills Base framework from the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) who are our professional accrediting body.
Since the world went online, information has grown rapidly in volume and become infinitely more accessible. At the same time, information science and systems have been converging towards a common focus on information discovery, organisation, and management. Information management is essential in libraries, archives, museums and business, and is a much sought-after skill in careers spanning the sectors for example, in governmental, legal, financial, media and publishing organisations. Meanwhile, owners and users of information need to be able to access and evaluate information in faster and more intuitive ways.
The MSc Information Management is vocational and practice-oriented, designed to support information and knowledge managers. The course provides an excellent balance of traditional information management and library science, informed by cutting edge developments in information architecture and data management. It's an important route for anyone seeking professional chartership or progress to management roles.
"I have found the course exhilarating and challenging. The range of aspects of the information sector that we have considered is impressive. We have gained research and technical skills, as well as insights into numerous areas of specialist expertise. The guidance on soft skills and the demands of leadership in a profession that is undergoing considerable change have been particularly valuable." Emma, MSc Information Management
The course is designed to give you transferable knowledge, skills and approaches that support advanced information management roles and complement a range of wider management responsibilities.
The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
You'll study the following core modules:
Plus two optional 15 credit modules from:
Please note this structure is for the full-time course delivery only. For part-time delivery, you'll study the same modules but the structure will differ.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you.
You'll learn through lectures, discussions, tutorials, practical exercises and independent reading, as well as working together in small groups.
The course has a virtual learning environment online that supports you throughout your studies. It's a useful way to communicate with fellow students and teaching staff, find administrative details about the modules, and access course materials.
We regularly welcome specialist tutors to the department to contribute to specific modules.
For more details see our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Full-time: one year - starting in September.
Part-time: two years - starting in September.
Teaching sessions are normally on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and evenings, with two modules timetabled on each day. Full-time students attend on both days and study four modules in each 12-week semester, over one year. Part-time students attend on one of these days and study two modules per 12-week semester over two years.
While work on modules may not be evenly distributed, full-time students should expect to commit the equivalent of two days a week for private study during term time. Part-time students should commit one day.
Assessment in most modules is through written coursework, portfolios, presentations and written exams. The supervisor and second marker will assess your dissertation.
For more details see our full glossary of assessment terms.
This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).
UWE Bristol's library provides excellent facilities for group work and private study, and gives you access to a range of books and journals in the Library and Information Science field most of the journals are available online. There are 500 workstations in the Faculty's teaching laboratories, and a large open-access laboratory that provides PC and Unix-based machines. The Faculty has its own IT Helpdesk and the campus has 24-hour computer labs.
We operate an extensive pastoral care system that includes induction programmes and access to academic staff and student advisers.
Find out more about the facilities and resources UWE has to offer.
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This qualification is an excellent route to range of careers, and as a complement to existing career skills and professional development for example, for those moving into managerial roles. Our graduates have gone on to successful careers in a wide range of sectors, including educational, public sector and museum archivist roles, plus a variety of consultancy and professional services positions.
Alumni have prominent roles in local library services, university libraries in Bristol and Bath, with the government, and in records management roles in public and private sectors.
For anyone looking to pursue PhD research positions, this course is considered a highly valuable preparatory route.
Our award-winning careers service helps you develop your employment potential through career coaching, a vacancy service for internships, placements, jobs, global opportunities, volunteering and community activity plus support for entrepreneurial activity, and access to employer events.
For information on fees, managing your money and determining your fee status, please go to our fees and funding pages.
For information about funding options visit our postgraduate funding and scholarships pages.
We normally require an honours degree of 2.2 or above.
If you do not meet the above grade requirements but have at least 12 months relevant professional experience and/ or equivalent qualifications, we will consider you on an individual basis.
Before starting the course, we recommend that you gain work or voluntary experience in a library, archive, bookshop, cataloguing, database, records, learning resources or web content management.
We can consider applicants who do not meet the normal entry requirement, but who do have relevant professional experience or qualifications. In your application, you should describe in detail your professional experience and qualifications.
You are required to complete a personal statement for this course. Please read the personal statement guidance carefully and make sure that you answer the questions on the postgraduate application form within the personal statement tabs, keeping to the advised word count.
If you meet the academic requirements but require additional support to take your language skills to the required level, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Students who successfully complete the pre-sessional course can progress onto their chosen degree course without retaking an IELTS or equivalent.
Read more about our Pre-Sessional English Programme.
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The University accepts a large number of UK and international qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.