Digital Business

Overview

The MSc Digital Business is an innovative one-year full-time programme designed to equip students from diverse academic backgrounds with advanced digital skills and leadership capabilities to excel in the digital economy. A key feature of the programme is its emphasis on practical, real-world applications and employability, offering students multiple opportunities to collaborate with industry leaders in digital business. The curriculum covers a broad spectrum of contemporary digital business topics, including digital strategy, data analytics, artificial intelligence, digital innovation, and e-commerce, while also addressing critical issues such as sustainability, digital ethics, and global digital governance.



By integrating theory with practice, the programme provides students with hands-on experience in a vibrant, tech-enabled learning environment. It addresses critical digital challenges facing organisations and fosters professional connections with digital pioneers. With access to cutting-edge technology and world-class facilities, students will develop the skills needed to drive digital transformation in a range of industries and sectors. This programme is an ideal foundation for careers in roles such as digital strategy, data analytics, digital marketing, consulting, and technology management in global industries. Students on the programme will study seven core modules and one optional module, each worth 15 CATS, and will undertake a Capstone module worth 60 CATS.



Course Structure

The MSc Digital Business is a one-year programme structured across 3 semesters.

Students who successfully complete eight taught modules (120 CATS) and an International Business Capstone module in semester 3 are awarded an MSc in Digital Business.



Exit qualifications are also available: students may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma by successfully completing 120 CATS from taught modules or a Postgraduate Certificate by successfully completing 60 CATS from taught modules.

An MSc in Digital Business will prepare students for a wide range of career paths in areas like digital marketing, e-commerce, data analytics, FinTech, and more. Students will explore the latest technologies shaping the business world, from artificial intelligence and blockchain to big data and machine learning. This programme goes beyond theory. The students will gain hands-on experience through case studies, simulations, and real-world projects, equipping them with the practical skills employers seek. The programme will also feature guest lectures from industry experts, giving students valuable insights and a chance to build connections.



Semester 1 - is structured through a 60 CATS package in the same manner as other MSc programmes offered by QBS. This package consists of 4 core modules, each worth 15 CATS. Semester 1 modules include Digital Business Strategy, which explores the strategies implemented in the context of digital business; Generative AI and Business Intelligence, covering the application of generative AI for data analysis and business insights; Marketing in the Digital Age covering the nuances of marketing in the context of digital business; and Technology for Good, focusing on the potential for AI and digital technologies to promote social and environmental objectives.



Semester 2 - is structured through a 60 CATS package. Building on the foundational knowledge provided in Semester 1, Semester 2 enables students to deepen their expertise in digital business, focusing on areas like data-driven strategy, cybersecurity, digital supply chain management, and emerging digital technologies. Semester 2 includes 3 core modules: Analytics with AI, which covers the use of AI for data-driven decision making; Cyber Security & Digital Risk Management, covering different types of cybersecurity risks confronting organisations and the role of different stakeholders in managing them; and Digital Supply Chain Management, exploring the role of digital technologies in transforming global supply chains. Additionally, students can choose one optional module from AI Entrepreneurship and Consulting, and Emerging Technologies for Business, allowing them to tailor their studies to specific interests within AI and digital business.



Semester 3 – is structured around a 60 CATS module called Digital Business Capstone. The Capstone represents the culminating independent piece of research of the MSc Digital Business programme. This substantial research work allows students to apply the knowledge and skills acquired over previous semesters to design, develop, and propose digital technology-driven solutions for real-world business challenges.

Graduate

Normally a strong 2.2 honours degree (with minimum 55%) or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in any discipline.



We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds so may consider previous managerial work experience alongside lower academic qualifications.



The University's Recognition of Prior Learning Policy provides guidance on the assessment of experiential learning (RPEL). Please visit the link below for more information. http://go.qub.ac.uk/RPLpolicyQUB

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 15th August 2025 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal prior to the deadline stated on course finder. Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page.



Please note: international applicants will be required to pay a deposit to secure a place on this course.

1 year (Full Time)

Entry Year: 2025/26

Career Prospects

An MSc. in Digital Business will prepare students for a wide range of career paths in areas like digital marketing, e-commerce, data analytics, FinTech, and more.