Information Systems

The MSc in Information Systems incorporates aspects of information technology and data analytics with a firm grounding social science. The programme is interdisciplinary in nature and examines how information is gathered, analysed and communicated along with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence within the broader context of emerging ethical questions concerning the impact of technology in society.



Students will learn the core theoretical principles involved in the design, development and deployment of technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning and will gain the skills to utilise machine learning and social network analysis to uncover new information from datasets. They will also gain the skills to critically evaluate artificial intelligence and identify issues that pose potential ethical risk to organisations and society. The programme is flexible allowing for a range of specialisations such as human-computer interaction.



The MSc in Information Systems is designed for both non-technical and technical backgrounds. A central aim of this course is to ensure that all students gain the skills needed to participate in the design and critical evaluation of emerging technologies.



The programme engages students primarily through lectures, online learning exercises and group work as well as individual assignments



UCD School of Information & Communication Studies is an active member of the iSchools consortium – a global collection of Information Schools dedicated to advancing the information field and sharing a fundamental interest in the relationships between information, people, and technology.

Module Trimester Credits



Stage 1 Core Modules

IS40730 Quantitative Data Analysis Autumn 5

IS40840 Data & Society Autumn 10

IS41090 Informatics Autumn 10

IS40890 Project Management Spring 5

IS41570 Interactive Dashboards;Python Spring 10

IS41070 Machine Learning Foundations Summer 15

IS41080 AI, Ethics & Auditing Summer 15



Stage 1 Options - A) Min 15CR:

Please note that students who register to POL42540 (Option Rule B) should select 15 credits only from the list below in Option Rule A.

IS40820 Research Theory and Practice Autumn 5

IS40880 Communication Theory Autumn 10

IS40910 Digital Policy Autumn 10

IS41230 Creative & Interactive Media Autumn 5

IS41520 UXD: User-Centered Design Autumn 10

IS40560 Digital Libraries Spring 5

IS40860 Media & Society Spring 10

IS40870 Topics in Digital Media & Comm Spring 10

IS40950 Media Production Cultures Spring 10

IS40960 Digital Policy II Spring 10

IS41020 Information Ethics Spring 5

IS41050 Platform Governance Spring 5

IS41190 Regulation and Emerging Technology Spring 10

IS41510 Social Networks Online and Off Spring 10

IS41720 Language Models and Methods Spring 5



Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:

(Option Module:)

POL42540 Applied Data Wrangling and Visualisation Autumn 5

Stage 1 Options - C)0 of:

Thesis module

IS41750 IS Thesis 2 Trimester duration (Spr-Sum) 25

This programme is intended for applicants with a degree in any discipline. An upper second class honours or international equivalent is required.



Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.



These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage. https://tinyurl.com/2ae2ffax

W267: 1 year full-time

W268: 2 years part-time

Commencing September 2025

Careers & Employability

Information Systems encompass every aspect of society. Understanding how data is collected, processed, analysed and the principles underlying technologies such as artificial intelligence is key to the future success of many organisations from industry, government and NGOs.



The MSc in Information Systems teaches key skills currently in demand such as machine learning, data analytics and ethical evaluation of AI. The strong multi-disciplinary ethos of the School of Information and Communication ensures that students who graduate with the MSc in Information Systems will have strong skills in critical thinking and an ability to work alongside people from a range of backgrounds.



There is a growing job marked for information systems graduates with roles within consulting firms, software and technology companies, start-up companies and government and non-governmental organisations. The MSc in Information Systems is design with an eye to both present and future trends within the job market, particularly in relation to emerging trends in data analytics, technology and emerging societal questions.