Modules

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Full-time

Year 1

Your first year provides a balanced foundation for your degree, introducing technical skills (programming, maths, web technologies), and a critical understanding of how societies use information in decision-making (social anthropology or social theory, ethics, information literacy). No matter what your existing academic background is, this first year provides the foundation on which you will build your knowledge and skills in Years 2 and 3 of your studies.

Year 2

In the second year, you will deepen your knowledge and skills to address increasingly complex information problems that bridge the socio-technical divide. From digital media platforms to the information life cycle, to databases and data processing, the focus of the second year is to take those foundational skills into real-world scenarios. You will take four compulsory modules and can choose two further optional modules located at either UCL East or Bloomsbury, subject to availability. These can include picking up a new foreign language, for example, if you wish to add an international element to your skillset.

Year 3

In your final year, you have the chance to focus on a study path and specialise towards a career that most interests you. You will take three core modules and have a range of choices for two additional options from our offering at UCL East or Bloomsbury, dependent on availability. This includes the chance to apply for a specialist masters-level module from within the Information Studies department. The degree culminates with a dissertation, in which you will develop an independent and original piece of research under the direction of an academic supervisor.

Your learning

You will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, computer labs and independent study. To ensure you graduate as a well-rounded and flexible thinker with both strong communication and technical skills, this blend of in-depth discussion and practical technical work is split roughly 50:50 across the core curriculum. To build real-world skills, students will work both independently and collaboratively, learning to project manage effectively with other students, mirroring the world of work.

In your final year, you will also work under an academic supervisor to design and execute a substantial and challenging individual project that acts as the capstone to your degree and your academic achievements.

As a full-time student, you would be expected to spend approximately 40 hours a week studying. This is made up of a combination of contact hours and self-directed study.

Assessment

You will learn to communicate your knowledge in a range of formats and for a range of audiences. These include portfolios of creative or technical work, essays and reports, presentations, and technical assignments. Some optional modules have different modes of assessment, including technical portfolios and take-home exams. Most assessed pieces of work are individual assignments, while some modules also include group work to promote collaborative skill building. The weighting given to each assessment method will vary across modules to ensure manageable workloads throughout your programme.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.