Triangle

Course overview

Our MSc Management will give you a complete set of essential management skills and will also develop you as a strategic leader with the potential to excel in global management positions.

You will analyse theoretical perspectives of management and leadership by exploring real-world case studies. With the potential to work anywhere in the world, this MSc can help you to begin a successful career with excellent earning potential in industry, commerce or the public sector.

You have the option to take industry-recognised digital qualifications by Microsoft and SAP alongside your course, which will develop your digital skills.

This MSc will enhance your CV and help to bring you to the notice of prestigious employers who are looking for the skillset you will have. As an asset to their organisation, you can put your knowledge and skills into practice, having a real impact on their business.

As the course is accredited by the CMI (Chartered Management Institute), you'll receive a Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice upon successful completion of passing the following specific modules and the MSc Management degree, which will bring you closer to achieving full Chartered Manager status:

  • Principals of Marketing
  • Strategy and Leadership
  • Management Dissertation

Why choose this course?

Top 100

in the world and top 15 in the UK

HE partner

with the only chartered professional body for management and leadership

Gain digital skills

We offer the opportunity to take industry-recognised Microsoft and SAP certifications at significant discounts from the open market rate

Triple accredited

Part of an elite group of business schools worldwide to gain ‘triple crown’ accreditation

EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB accredited

More than 27,000

Business School alumni connect you to a powerful global network of business contacts

Course content

Across the autumn and spring semesters, you will take 120 credits of taught modules. Each module typically consists of 10 two to three hour sessions.

You will complete a 60-credit dissertation over the summer, and will be allocated an appropriate dissertation supervisor who will oversee your progress.

Modules

Core modules

Semester one

Business Economics

The module covers the following:

  • Key concepts of business economics
  • Markets
  • Firms and market power
  • Market structure and government policy
  • Government intervention
  • International trade 
  • International capital and other factor flows
  • The macroeconomic environment
  • Balance of payments and Forex 
  • Macroeconomic policy
Managing People

This module explores key contemporary issues in organisational behaviour and the management of people in diverse and dynamic contexts. The topics covered will include employee motivation, leadership and working in teams, power and politics, conflict, change, culture and diversity.

Principles of Accounting

This module covers:

  • financial statement analysis
  • managerial accounting for planning and control
  • budgeting
  • discounted cash flow and valuation
  • evaluating financial proposals
Principles of Marketing

Indicative topics include:

  • What is marketing?
  • Strategic marketing planning
  • Buyer behaviour
  • Marketing research
  • Segmentation, targeting and positioning
  • Managing products
  • Pricing
  • Marketing channels
  • Marketing communications
  • Services marketing

Semester two

Research Methods for Management Studies

This modules covers the following:

Part I: Introduction qualitative analysis
This part of the module will be concerned with the collection and analysis of qualitative data.

Part II: Introduction quantitative analysis
Survey design and measurement, introduction to statistics; hypothesis testing, t-tests, ANOVA, regression analysis.

Part III: Introduction to management research
Relating to literature review, asking research questions and objectives, formulating research hypotheses, discussion of findings; quantitative and qualitative research in the dissertation relating to its application.

Strategy and Leadership 20 credits

The module will include:

  • The meaning, nature and evolution of the field of strategy
  • External and internal environmental analysis
  • Strategies for competitive advantage
  • Strategy and organisation
  • The meaning, nature and evolution of the field of leadership
  • Leadership and strategic change
  • Leadership and sustainable strategic management
  • Leadership in public sector strategy

Summer

Dissertation

The module aims to allow you to synthesise, apply and extend the knowledge you have gained in the taught component of the programme. The investigation of a current research topic will help to develop your theoretical and practical understanding of current problems in your area, as well as your research and communication skills.

Business Project

The Business Project requires students, working as groups, to undertake research in a topic which is relevant to business, management, marketing, finance, accounting, or information system. You must choose their research topic that is relevant to your named degree programme. The specific topic is subject to a formal approval process.

The module is intended for you to apply knowledge, concepts, skills, and techniques, acquired during the taught stage of your programme to real-world, business scenarios. You will be presented with real-word business problems for which you are required to review relevant literature, conduct research, analyse data, and formulate viable solutions.

Optional modules

Two from:

Business to Business Marketing

The content of this module will serve as an introduction to the main theoretical and managerial concepts and issues in the area of business-to-business marketing and will focus on aspects of strategic marketing relationships between companies and other stakeholders. Possible topics may include:

  • What is a market? A service ecosystem approach to understanding markets
  • Organisational buying behaviour and market structures
  • How do markets work? Creating and shaping new markets and maintaining market dynamics
  • Market relations and sustainable competitive advantage
  • Forming business networks: business network partnership attraction
  • Business-to-Business marketing strategies
  • Innovation in business networks
  • Managing business networks: communication, coordination and learning in business networks
  • Strategic market relations in the digital world 
  • Branding and building loyalty: value co-creation in network partnerships
Human Resource Management 20 credits

The intricacies of managing the human resources within the business context are developed in this module. It examines processes, practices, and procedures associated with HRM management and administration that an employer/manager needs to be familiar with, and analyses the current best practice in the HR function.

Launching an Entrepreneurial Business

This module aims to give you a theoretical understanding and practical experience of launching a new entrepreneurial venture. In so doing, this capstone module enables you to comprehend the role of, and conflicts and interdependencies between, different business and management disciplines; thus, it provides you with an insight into how decision-making in each area can impact on the overall performance of the firm. The module also aims to foster reflexive practice to facilitate lifelong learning.

Managing for Sustainability 10 credits

Sustainable companies are those that are managed in socially, economically, and ecologically responsible ways. Today's managers are expected to understand the impact of management decisions and practices on the environment and society.

This module considers how sustainability principles are applied in organisations, and how to manage for sustainability. Through use of multiple learning approaches, the module enables you to practically interact with real businesses to address some sustainability challenges faced by the organisation.

The module introduces the you to frameworks and theories use to critically assess sustainability, and to integrate sustainability into the business strategy.

The module enables you to develop an understanding of the practical dilemmas facing businesses as they seek to respond to multiple, and often, conflicting stakeholders expectations. You will be expected to critically reflect upon your practical experiences and capture these using a learning journal.

Sustainable Tourism Management

This module is concerned with providing an understanding of the theoretical and practical issues relating to environmental, economic and socio-cultural sustainability in tourism. A day-long compulsory field trip forms an integral part of the teaching of this module.

Topics covered may include:

  • tourism management for natural resources
  • ecotourism and nature-based tourism
  • ethics
  • socio-cultural sustainability
  • stakeholder engagement
  • community wellbeing
  • economics of sustainable tourism
  • social impact of tourism
The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules. This content was last updated on Tuesday 01 August 2023.

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops

The learning that you accumulate via your modules will be driven by the understanding of cutting-edge theory delivered using lectures and critical discussions about theory and practice in class.

Digital professional skills certifications

We offer the opportunity for you to take industry-recognised Microsoft and SAP certifications alongside your degree programme at significant discounts from the open market rate. This will enhance your digital capability, differentiate your CV and help you stand out to future employers. Find out more on our digital professional skills website.

How you will be assessed

  • Dissertation
  • Examinations
  • Essay

Some modules will have individual assignments in which, for example, you examine businesses of your choice in depth, and will test your understanding of management theory and its application.

Other modules will consist of group assessment and will give you the chance to work together with your peers and develop your skills in teams. Furthermore, an exam may be the main form of assessment for modules and some modules will entail a mix of assessment methods.

Finally, the course will conclude with the completion of an individual management dissertation.

Contact time and study hours

10-credit modules will consist of 100 student learning hours, of which around 20-22 hours are associated with lectures and seminars. The rest of the time will consist of assessment preparation, class preparation, and private study.

20-credit modules will consist of double this time.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.

Undergraduate degree2:1 (or international equivalent) in any discipline, excluding business and/or management

Applying

You are required to submit a personal statement and a list of modules being studied in the final year (for applicants who have not yet completed their undergraduate degree).

This is a conversion course which is not designed for students with an extensive background in business and management. If your previous degree study contains modules with a business and management focus, please be aware that it is highly likely there will be overlap with your prior study. This should be considered carefully before applying as you may qualify for our MSc Business and Management instead.

Please note: this is a highly competitive course and there are a limited number of places available. The school reserves the right to close applications when capacity is reached – this may be ahead of the advertised closure date for PGT courses. Early applications are encouraged to avoid disappointment.

Our step-by-step guide covers everything you need to know about applying.

How to apply

Fees

Qualification MSc
Home / UK £14,700
International £28,600

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) .

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

As a student on this course, you should factor some additional costs into your budget, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses.

You should be able to access most of the books you'll need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies or more specific titles.

Funding

Business School MSc scholarships

There are many ways to fund your postgraduate course, from scholarships to government loans.

We also offer a range of international masters scholarships for high-achieving international scholars who can put their Nottingham degree to great use in their careers.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Postgraduate funding

Careers

We offer individual careers support for all postgraduate students.

Expert staff can help you research career options and job vacancies, build your CV or résumé, develop your interview skills and meet employers.

Each year 1,100 employers advertise graduate jobs and internships through our online vacancy service. We host regular careers fairs, including specialist fairs for different sectors.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Graduate destinations

Our in-house Postgraduate Careers Team provides expert advice and guidance so that you can make an informed decision about the right career path for you.

Prior to commencing your course you can take part in pre-entry careers discussions and once on programme our MSc Accelerated Career Leader Programme is complemented by one to one career coaching.

Increasingly, graduates are required to be cloud and data-ready for the workplace with 66% of employers wanting to see graduates achieve professional qualifications as well as their main degree (CMI 21st Century leaders report). The school works with some of the world’s leading business software providers including SAP and Microsoft, offering the option to take their globally recognised professional digital qualifications alongside your course. Our Digital Centre of Excellence will support you so that you can develop the digital skills necessary to pursue your chosen career and stand out to future employers.

Our support continues throughout your time at Nottingham and after you graduate. Business School postgraduates also have access to events and resources provided by the Careers and Employability Service.

Career destinations for our postgraduates include:

  • accountants
  • finance and investment analysts
  • higher education teaching professionals
  • investment bankers
  • IT business analysts
  • management consultants
  • marketing professionals
  • public relations professionals
  • university researchers

Some MSc graduates have gone on to doctoral studies, others have become entrepreneurs. Our Ingenuity Lab has supported a number of our MSc graduates in starting their own company.

Career progression

86.2% of all postgraduates from Nottingham University Business School secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £31,419.*

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time within the UK.

Chartered Management Institute

The Chartered Management Institute have awarded HE partner status for MSc Management.

Two masters graduates proudly holding their certificates

This content was last updated on Tuesday 01 August 2023. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur given the interval between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.