Study information science abroad

Information science is a far-reaching subject area that studies how humans interact with information.

As an information science student, you’ll examine the design and use of information systems. You’ll learn how to lawfully collect, analyze, organize, store, protect, and distribute information. You’ll study the principles behind information management, and will put theory into practice by developing your own information systems.

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, people and organizations have access to more information than ever before. By studying abroad, you’ll see how different countries and multinational businesses are handling information daily. Not only will the experience make you a stand-out candidate for graduate jobs, but it’ll allow you to travel the world and make lifelong friends.

You can study information science as a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degree. A three or four-year BSc is the most popular course of study amongst students. It’ll equip you with the detailed knowledge and practical skills that you’ll need to begin a successful career in the field.

If you choose to study in the US, you’ll opt to study information systems as your major or minor. This means that you’ll dedicate a certain amount of time and credits to specialist information systems modules, alongside working on your general education.

Once you’ve completed your bachelor’s, you can go on to pursue a postgraduate qualification. An MSc usually requires one year of full-time study, or two years if you study part-time. If you decide to pursue a PhD after your master’s, you can expect to study for an average of five years.

Information science programs are typically taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical workshops, and computer labs. Assessment methods will vary depending on the content of your modules, but you’ll probably be tasked with a range of exams, written assignments, presentations, practical assessments, and individual projects.

Each university offers different elective modules in information science, so programs around the world won’t cover exactly the same content. Nevertheless, most will cover these core areas:

• History of information science
• Society and information science
• Information technologies and applications
• Information organization
• Information retrieval
• Information policy and legislation
• Information ethics
• Information management

Since most organizations around the world need to collect, analyze, and process information, you’ll be met with career opportunities across a wide range of sectors. Here are some of the roles most frequently pursued by information science graduates:

• Systems analyst
• Librarian
• Data analyst
• Digital archivist
• Data scientist
• Technology analyst
• Application developer
• UX designer

If you’re not sure what you’d like to do after you graduate, organize an appointment with your university’s career service. Their expert advice might help you narrow down your options.