The MSc in Information Technology is a one-year course for those who wish to enter the IT field. It places emphasis on the application of computers in Business and Commerce, and is specifically designed for those with little previous experience in computing regardless of previous academic discipline. It is thus particularly suitable for those with first degrees in Arts or Social Science subjects. The course has proved very suitable for mature applicants who wish an opportunity to retrain. In 2007/2008 modules are planned in the following topics:

Autumn semester:
Principles and Practice of Programming (using Java), Foundations of Information Technology, Database Principles and Applications, Interface Design and the World Wide Web.

Spring semester:
Decision Support Systems, Networking and Technologies for E-commerce, Object Oriented Software Design, and Multi-media.

The MSc in Internet Technologies for eBusiness is a one-year course for graduates who have already completed a computing degree. It is concerned with the advanced application of the internet to business and e-commerce, with particular emphasis on web design and scripting, decision support systems, web services and telecommunications. In 2007/2008 modules are planned in the following topics:

Autumn Semester:
Web scripting using PHP and XML, Interface Design and the World Wide Web, Information Systems Management and Analysis.

Spring Semester:
Decision Support Systems, Networking, Web Services, Telecommunications, Object-oriented Software Design.

Assessment at Stirling is by coursework and examination. There is also a more substantial Winter programming assignment undertaken at the University during a three-week period starting in mid-January. Examinations take place in December and in May, at the end of each semester.

In each programme, students may choose to graduate with the Postgraduate Diploma after nine months, or, if they wish, may continue with a three-month project and dissertation to qualify for the award of the MSc degree. The project usually concerns the application of computers in a field that is of special interest to the student - often a topic developed in previous studies.

For 2007/2008 a further Master of Science programme is being developed: This will be a course for computing graduates, but will cover a wider range of advanced computing topics than the focussed ITeB course, and may be preferred by some applicants.