Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Master of Business Information Systems (MBIS) combines business knowledge with information technology and is designed for graduates who want to work at the intersection of business and IT.
• UC describes it as a taught conversion master's, meaning students can enter from an academic background unrelated to Information Systems.
• The programme responds to demand for professionals who can bridge the gap between business requirements and technology-based solutions.
• Students develop knowledge and practical skills in areas such as:
  • information systems management
  • systems analysis
  • digital business
  • project management
  • information-security and risk management
  • data management
  • business intelligence
  • artificial intelligence in business
  • data analytics.
• Christchurch's technology sector provides an industry environment relevant to the degree. UC describes the region as the "Silicon Plains" of Aotearoa New Zealand, with numerous high-tech companies employing UC graduates.
• The programme provides the option to specialise in Business Analytics or Technology Management.
• Students can also choose an applied project, research project or internship, subject to availability and approval.
• Recent UC graduate stories demonstrate employment outcomes in business analysis, data analysis and IT-related roles. For example, UC's August 2026 student profile features an MBIS graduate working as a Business Data Analyst at Napier City Council.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The current MBIS contains:

• one compulsory course;
• a choice of project or internship;
• optional major;
• elective coursework.

Compulsory course:

• MBIS601 – Management of Information Systems, 15 points.

The current 2026 course schedule identifies MBIS601 as a Semester 1 campus course.

Project / internship options:

• MBIS680 – Research Project, 45 points
• MBIS673 – Applied IS Project, 30 points
• MBIS691 – Information Systems Internship, 30 points.

Important availability condition:

• MBIS680 and MBIS691 are subject to availability and approval.
• There is a separate application process for these options.
• Places cannot be guaranteed.

The Information Systems Internship consists of 100 hours of work on a discrete IS-related project within an organisation, followed by a report.

If a student selects the 30-point Applied IS Project or Information Systems Internship, another 15 points is selected from:

• MBUS673 – Innovation
• MBUS674 – Critical Thinking and Problem Solving.

Core/elective Information Systems subjects include:

• MBIS602 – Systems Analysis and Process Modelling
• MBIS603 – Digital Business and Technology
• MBIS621 – Project Management
• MBIS622 – IS Security and Risk Management
• MBIS623 – Data Management
• MBIS624 – Business Intelligence in Organisations
• INFO621 – Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Business
• INFO633 – Knowledge Management
• INFO634 – Data Analytics & Business Intelligence
• COSC480 – Computer Programming.

Examples of what students learn include:

• digital business strategy and implementation;
• e-commerce;
• technology infrastructure;
• ethical, legal and societal issues in technology;
• IT project management;
• information-security policy;
• e-business security;
• network management;
• data management in modern organisations;
• business intelligence;
• artificial intelligence;
• data analytics.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The current MBIS provides two formal major options:

1. Business Analytics

Required major component:

• MBIS623 – Data Management
• 30 points from:
  • INFO621 – Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Business
  • INFO634 – Data Analytics & Business Intelligence
  • MBIS624 – Business Intelligence in Organisations
• an additional 15 points from:
  • INFO621
  • INFO634
  • MBIS624
  • DATA410–479
  • 400-level Statistics courses.

Typical career direction from this major includes:

• Business Analyst
• Process Analyst
• Digital Business Analyst
• Systems Analyst
• Business Intelligence Analyst
• Data Insights Analyst.

2. Technology Management

Required major component:

• MBIS602 – Systems Analysis and Process Modelling
• 45 points from:
  • INFO621 – Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Business
  • MBIS603 – Digital Business and Technology
  • MBIS621 – Project Management
  • MBIS622 – IS Security and Risk Management.

Typical career direction includes:

• Project Manager
• Product Owner
• Information Management Analyst.

Programme Highlights

• 180-point Level 9 master's degree.
• February and July intakes.
• 17 months full-time according to the dedicated programme page.
• Up to four years maximum study period.
• Taught conversion programme suitable for graduates from different academic backgrounds.
• Business and IT integration.
• Two formal majors: Business Analytics and Technology Management.
• Option to study without a major.
• Industry-focused courses.
• Option of an applied project, research project or internship, subject to availability and approval.
• Internship includes 100 hours of work on an IS-related organisational project.
• Strong coverage of AI, data analytics, business intelligence, digital business, project management and cybersecurity.
• Christchurch's technology sector provides an industry environment relevant to the programme.

Career Outcomes

UC's current international Business School page identifies career outcomes by major.

For Business Analytics, potential roles include:

• Business Analyst
• Process Analyst
• Digital Business Analyst
• Systems Analyst
• Business Intelligence Analyst
• Data Insights Analyst.

For Technology Management, potential roles include:

• Project Manager
• Product Owner
• Information Management Analyst.

Depending on electives and prior experience, the degree can also support careers in:

• digital transformation
• information systems consulting
• business process analysis
• IT project management
• data and business intelligence
• technology management
• information-security management
• systems analysis
• digital business.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current 2026 MBIS regulations came into force on 1 January 2026.
• UC has introduced two formal MBIS majors: Business Analytics and Technology Management.
• UC Business School's current international page describes the programme as a taught conversion degree open to students from any academic background.
• The dedicated MBIS page currently states 17 months full-time, while UC Business School's newer international overview describes the programme as 15 months/three semesters. Because these are different current UC pages, this is a published UC discrepancy. For admissions planning, use the dedicated qualification page's 17-month figure unless UC confirms otherwise for the student's study plan.
• MBIS680 Research Project and MBIS691 Information Systems Internship are subject to availability and approval and have separate application processes. Places are not guaranteed.
• Some individual courses can be taken through UC Online or distance learning, but the programme's principal courses are campus-based.
• The current programme provides an optional industry internship of 100 hours when the internship option is available and approved.
• UC has a current India pathway in which students completing the first year of a Postgraduate Diploma in Management at Vidyalankar School of Information Technology with specified courses can receive up to 60 points of credit toward UC qualifications including the MBIS; the pathway specifies one year/120 points at UC.
• The supplied IPU page is unrelated to MBIS and currently concerns IPU's Master of Contemporary International Studies.

International Student Visa Requirements

An international student physically studying the MBIS in New Zealand will generally require a New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa.

Current Immigration New Zealand requirements include:

• Cost from NZD $850.
• Maximum stay: up to four years.
• 80% of applications processed within eight weeks.
• An offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Evidence of sufficient funds to pay tuition, or an applicable scholarship.
• Evidence of sufficient funds for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Acceptable insurance.
• Meeting other health, character and genuine-intention requirements.