Master's in Information Systems: Top Universities, Admissions, Cost, Scholarships and Jobs

Are you looking for a master's that can provide a high scope to build your career? If yes, pursuing a Master's in Information Systems abroad can be one of your best choices to develop your career in the IT space. 

Studying abroad, like the USA, UK, etc., offers more opportunities for aspirants. It includes the chance to study in the world's top universities, the availability of multiple specialization options, extensive learning experience, state-of-the-art infrastructure, a high scope of employment, and more. 

Here, we prepared a list of top universities that offer Master's in Information Systems and detailed information on their admission fees, scholarships, total cost, job opportunities, and more to consider while searching for the best available options.

Top Universities for Master's in Information Systems

Following are some of the top universities in the world to pursue Master's in Information Systems.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is the number one university in the QS World University Rankings 2023. Although it’s a private university, MIT is known for its affordability for international students, especially from India and China. Postgraduates from MIT are highly paid professionals in the global IT market.

• QS Ranking: 1
• Course Offered: Master’s in System Design and Management
• Duration: 2 years
• Tuition Fees: US$59,000 per annum
• Location: United States

Stanford University

Being one of the top universities in the world, Stanford University offers a Master’s in Information Systems and science with affordable fees for international students. Stanford is noted for its alumni of Nobel Laureates, Turing Award Laureates, and the world’s best entrepreneurs. 

• QS Ranking: 5
• Course Offered: Master’s in Information Management Systems
• Duration: 2 years
• Tuition Fees: US$50,703 per annum
• Location: United States

Harvard University

Harvard University is one of the oldest universities in the US, and it has three campuses in the locations like Cambridge, Boston, and Allston. More than 600 students from India are studying for different courses on Harvard campuses. The university offers placements for its students in the tech giants like Google, Facebook, IBM, and more.

• QS: Ranking 3
• Course Offered: Information Systems and Science
• Duration: 2 years
• Tuition Fees: US$37,200 per annum
• Location: United States

Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University’s Master of Science in Information Systems is a blend of business and technology that makes students capable of building a career in IT or becoming successful entrepreneurs. The institution also conducts extensive research in medicine, engineering, and more.

• QS Ranking: 24
• Course Offered: Master of Science in Information Systems
• Duration: 2 years
• Tuition Fees: US$71,600 per annum
• Location: United States

The University of California, Berkeley 

As one of the top universities in the world, the University of California, Berkeley offers a Master's in Information Systems for national and international students. It's well-known for its intensive research and activity-based education model. The University of California has contributed international figures,

• QS Ranking: 27
• Course Offered Masters of Information Management and Systems
• Duration 2 years
• Tuition Fees US$22,884 per annum
• Location United States

The University of Manchester

The University of Manchester is one of the top world universities. Its Management and Information Systems course combines management and information, making students capable of applying for managerial positions in tech companies.

• QS Ranking 28
• Course Offered: MSc Management and Information Systems
• Duration: 2 years
• Tuition Fees: 27,000 GBP
• Location: United Kingdom

The University of Warwick

The University of Warwick, also popular as Warwick Business School, is one of the best universities offering a Master’s in Information Systems. It gives importance to practical learning rather than theoretical learning. The university provides placements in top MNCs like Google, Deloitte, EY, and more.

• QS Ranking: 64
• Course Offered: MSc Management of Information Systems & Digital Innovation
• Duration: 1 year
• Tuition Fees: 32,250 GBP
• Location: United Kingdom

Eligibility Criteria and Admission process for MIS

Although the eligibility criteria for a Master's in Information Systems differ from one university to another, there are some standard eligibility requirements for all universities. The aspirants are required to have minimum of a bachelor's degree of three to four years from a recognized university with above 60% or a minimum GPA of 3.57. 

English Language Proficiency (ELP) is mandatory for all international students with a minimum of 7.0 (US) and 6.5 (UK) in IELTS or 90 points or above in TOEFL. Applicants should submit GMAT scores while applying for MIS in the UK and US. However, some universities in the US, like the University of Texas, demand a work experience certificate in related fields. 

When it comes to the university admission process for UK universities, you have to apply through UCAS, an admission service provider for UK universities, with all the required documents. In comparison, you have to visit the respective websites of universities to apply for a Master's in Information Systems in the US and submit all the required documents. After completing the application process, you must attend an interview scheduled by the university and apply for a student visa if you can clear the interview.

The documents required for applying for the Master's in Information Systems abroad include the following:

• Academic transcripts
• Copy of passport
• Resume
• Statement of purpose
• Recommendation letter
• ELP score
• Entrance exam results
• Financial documentation
• Proof of application fee remittance

Cost of Studying MIS

While applying for the Master's in Information Systems in the US/UK, you should deeply understand your monetary budget. There are mainly two types of costs incurred: tuition fees and cost of living.

While pursuing a Master's in Information Systems in the US, the cost of living may be between US$10,000 and US$20,000 (8 to 16 lakhs), depending on your lifestyle, and the tuition fee may be between US$5000 and US$30,000 (4 to 24 lakhs) per semester.

To pursue MIS in the UK, the cost-of-living ranges from 8,000 GBP to 15,000 GBP (8 to 15 lakhs), and the tuition fee ranges between 10,000 GBP and 30,000 GBP (10 to 30 lakhs) per year.

Scholarships Available for Indian Students

In the UK, there are several scholarships available for international students, like Chevening Scholarships, Marshall Scholarships, Commonwealth Scholarships, JN Tata Endowment, Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships, and more.

Pursuing a Master's in Information Systems in the US may not be a burden for students who are eligible for a wide range of scholarships and fellowships, including Go Clean Scholarships, Fullbright Scholarships, Brokerfish International Students Scholarships, Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships. Among them, Fullbright Scholarships and Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships cover all the expenses, including tuition fees and living costs. 

Career Opportunities for MIS Aspirants

According to BLS stats, employment opportunities for Master's in Information Systems holders are showing an increasing rate of 11% from 2020 to 2030. With a Master's in Information Systems, you can have a plethora of highly-paid jobs to choose from, including:

• Chief Information Officer
• IT Director
• Data Architect
• Information Security Manager
• Data Analyst
• Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst
• Video Game Designer
• Cloud Architect, and more.

Wrapping Up

Considering the current systems, countries like the USA and the UK offer world-class universities for students from across the world to pursue a Master's in Information Systems. Although it’s a high investment for international students, especially for Indians, the course ensures a great return on your investment by providing employment opportunities in tech giants. You will therefore never regret studying for your Master's in Information Systems