Global blue chip company American Express gives a high priority to its investment in people. Working in partnership with the University of Sussex, the company has developed an innovative masters programme to bring exceptional new talent into its technologies organisation.

The two-year MSc Information Technology for E-Commerce and MSc Human Centred Computer Systems programmes, developed and delivered jointly by the company and the university, combine work experience at American Express with academic study based at the Sussex Innovation Centre on the University of Sussex campus.

Students benefit from a unique package of part-time postgraduate study combined with hands-on IT experience in the financial services sector.

While on the programme they work part time at American Express with senior staff, earning a competitive salary and gaining commercial experience on IT assignments and cutting-edge research projects. The students’ academic studies at the university are funded by American Express.

Catriona Hamilton, an Edinburgh University graduate in Computer Science and Management Science, is taking the MSc Information Technology for E-Commerce.

She said: “This is a very broad-ranging course, covering both technical and business aspects of e-commerce. I find that what we learn helps us in the work we do at American Express, and vice versa.”

At the end of each course American Express offers the highest performing students the chance to gain full-time employment with the company.

The effective partnership between the University of Sussex and American Express in developing these courses was highlighted in a recent Universities UK publication Higher level learning: Universities and employers working together, which features case studies from 26 universities across a range of industries.

For further details and online application go to www.americanexpress.com/campus