Key information
Duration: 1 year full time
Institution code: R72
Campus: Egham
UK fees*: £12,600
International/EU fees**: £22,800
The course
Digital Business (MSc)
Please note that this course has changed from MSc Digital Innovation and Analytics to MSc Digital Business.
Digital Business is an exciting new course at Royal Holloway. It is aimed at recent graduates, from any discipline, seeking to boost their employability in a digital economy, as well as professionals wanting to update their workplace knowledge and skills.
The course focuses on the knowledge and skills required to manage digital technologies in the development and delivery of business innovations. It will equip you with an in-depth understanding of how to integrate digital technologies such as mobile computing, social media, and data analytics tools to innovate business practices.
A key feature of the programme is the development of practical knowledge through industry connections and business case studies whilst providing a strong theoretical base on business management in the digital era.
On graduating you will have the ability to analyse business innovation opportunities and challenges and make well-informed tactical and strategic decisions. You will be confident in proposing and evaluating solutions to business problems by using data analytics skills, and be able to effectively communicate complex business information to both professional and non-specialist audiences.
As a student in the School of Business and Management you will join an intellectually stimulating, friendly and supportive research environment and, through working closely with our expert and experienced academic staff, you will be in a position to realise your full potential.
- Strong career prospects in a digital economy where the capacity to innovate and adapt is integral to employability.
- New and exciting opportunity to study cutting-edge topics such as Big Data, business intelligence, digital innovation, and social media. Coupled with exposure to highly sought-after skills in data analysis, data visualisation, and web analytics.
- Develop an effective network through external contacts with leading academics and senior corporate managers through seminars and guest lectures and work on real business projects through corporate guest sponsorship.
From time to time, we make changes to our courses to improve the student and learning experience. If we make a significant change to your chosen course, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.
Course structure
Core Modules
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In this module you will develop an understanding of the principles and practices of gathering information and how it can be synthesised and used in a strategic context. You will look at the key channels and sources that may be used to gather information, and examine how internal and external information is used in organisations. You will consider the 'Big Data' revolution, and the challenge that the exponential rise of external information presents to businesses as they attempt to make sense of it. You will learn how to identify patterns and trends for decision making, as well as modelling future activities.
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In this module you will develop an understanding of the design, development and application of innovative digital technologies in an era where existing solutions and practices are becoming increasingly disrupted and transformed. You will have the opportunity to meet with, and receive guidance from, speakers who have diverse expertise within the digital sector. Working in teams, you will provide digital consultancy for a client that requires a contemporary digital solution, encompassing digital strategy, vision, data analysis, and project management.
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This module aims to equip you with a state-of-the-art understanding of the digital business landscape, covering foundational management concepts as well as contemporary digital business innovations. Learning is through interactive lectures and a series of carefully curated case studies of digital innovation and digital transformation projects. The module places an emphasis on the strategic role of digital technologies in securing competitive advantage and sustainable growth, but you'll also be encouraged to dive deep into specific impact of digital technologies on business operations. Through study and discussion, you will develop a critical understanding of the opportunities and challenges in starting and managing a digital business.
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This module focuses on the social and ethical implications of digital transformation and innovation, examining the technological innovations in private and public sectors, such as mobile technologies, social media, datafication and artificial intelligence. We will discuss the impact and consequences of digital transformation for individuals, organisations and societies in a global context, with particular reference to the UN’s sustainable development goals. You’ll be introduced to the research and frameworks of Sustainable Development and Responsible Innovation and learn to apply the knowledge in relation to the design, implementation and adoption of digital transformation. With an emphasis on critical thinking, the module will be research-led, drawing on up-to-date academic literature and case studies, with the emphasis on supporting students as active learners, knowledge co-creators and distributors.
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The aim of this module is to introduce students to emerging technologies in the context of design thinking and techniques that provide a necessary bridge between potential and actual value in application contexts. The module will provide you with both conceptual knowledge and practical skills, in order that you can critically evaluate the potential of emerging technologies and design ways to translate that into value in given application contexts.
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In this module you will develop an understanding of the role of online collaboration platforms in fostering and managing digital innovations. You will look at the emergent management and leadership theories related to online communities and virtual teams, considering how leaders emerge in these online spaces and the characteristics of effective online leadership. You will examine social network theory and how online collaborations can be effectively managed.
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In this module you'll examine different platformisation approaches, models and strategies and identify and assess digital transformation building blocks. Digital transformation is imperative for organisations to sustain competitive advantages, create new opportunities and address constantly changing consumer demands and market conditions. This module covers the different aspects of digital transformation building blocks including its operational backbone, digital platforms and gaining market insight. It examines the transformation from products to digital platforms in different industrial contexts and the transformation from transcation platforms to innovation platforms and the associated organisational change.
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This course aims to provide you with theoretical and practical guidance to dissertation preparation and academic research in the broad area of digital organisation and society. This course covers a range of topics including: research paradigms and epistemologies; qualitative and quantitative methods in collecting and analysing data; primary and secondary data sources; empirical research design; hypothesis development and testing; innovations in digital research methods; and ethical considerations of academic research in this digital era.
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The dissertation provides you with an opportunity to learn and practise researching and writing skills for your future career. You will apply the analytical and problem-solving techniques you have acquired throughout your studies to explore a specialist interest in greater depth. You will critically evaluate academic literature, collect data systematically, organise your findings, and present your research results in a clear and logical and manner. To help, your research proposal will be read by the programme director, who will select an appropriate member of staff to act as your dissertation supervisor. Your final submission will be between 12,000 and 15,000 words in length.
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This module will describe the key principles of academic integrity, focusing on university assignments. Plagiarism, collusion and commissioning will be described as activities that undermine academic integrity, and the possible consequences of engaging in such activities will be described. Activities, with feedback, will provide you with opportunities to reflect and develop your understanding of academic integrity principles.
Optional Modules
You will choose one optional module out of a list offered by the department (TBC).
Teaching & assessment
Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including coursework, examinations and a dissertation.
Entry requirements
2:2
UK Honours degree or equivalent.
Normally, we require a UK 2:2 (Honours) or equivalent. Applicants with significant professional experience will also be considered.
International & EU requirements
English language requirements
All teaching at Royal Holloway is in English. You will therefore need to have good enough written and spoken English to cope with your studies right from the start. Find out what scores we require.
Country-specific requirements
For more information about country-specific entry requirements for your country please see here.
Your future career
On graduating with a Masters degree in Digital Innovation and Analytics from Royal Holloway you will possess sought-after knowledge and skills for digital innovation and business consultancy. You will be highly employable and be equipped to work as a business analyst, consultant, or innovation manager in a variety of industries. We will help you to recognise and identify your strengths, skills and abilities so that you can make strong applications for your chosen career, or for further study.
Fees, funding & scholarships
Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £12,600
EU and international students tuition fee per year**: £22,800
Other essential costs***: There are no single associated costs greater than £50 per item on this course.
How do I pay for it? Find out more about funding options, including loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries.
* and ** These tuition fees apply to students enrolled on a full-time basis. Students studying on the standard part-time course structure over two years are charged 50% of the full-time applicable fee for each study year.
All postgraduate fees are subject to inflationary increases. This means that the overall cost of studying the course via part-time mode is slightly higher than studying it full-time in one year. Royal Holloway's policy is that any increases in fees will not exceed 5% for continuing students. For further information, please see our terms and conditions. Please note that for research courses, we adopt the minimum fee level recommended by the UK Research Councils for the Home tuition fee. Each year, the fee level is adjusted in line with inflation (currently, the measure used is the Treasury GDP deflator). Fees displayed here are therefore subject to change and are usually confirmed in the spring of the year of entry. For more information on the Research Council Indicative Fee please see the RCUK website.
** The UK Government has confirmed that EU nationals are no longer eligible to pay the same fees as UK students, nor be eligible for funding from the Student Loans Company. This means you will be classified as an international student. At Royal Holloway, we wish to support those students affected by this change in status through this transition. For eligible EU students starting their course with us during the academic year 2023/24, we will award a fee reduction scholarship equivalent to 30% of the difference between the UK and international fee for your course. This will apply for the duration of your course. Find out more
*** These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2022/23 academic year, and are included as a guide. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.
