Overview
Our MSc Business and Management course gives you the knowledge and skills you need to be an inspiring, effective and resilient manager. We combine management theory with development of practical skills, and our course is taught by internationally recognised subject experts. It can be taken on a 12-month full-time basis or part-time over 24 months.
The course focuses on key areas of business and management activity. You will explore the need for managing limited resources effectively, with maximum business impact. This is the ideal Masters if you're looking to take your first steps into management. We cover the major functions of organisations – accounting, marketing, operations, people management and strategy. Finance and economics are integrated through our strategic orientation.
We aim to create industry leaders, managers and entrepreneurs, who are confident in the use of business analytics tools and critical thinking abilities. This allows for better and more informed decision-making in your management career. There’s an emphasis on entrepreneurship, innovation and strategic management. You’ll also develop an appreciation of corporate social responsibility, ethical decision making and managing change.
We are AACSB accredited
The University of Stirling is accredited by AACSB International in recognition of our excellence in business education. This puts the University of Stirling Management School among the top 6% of business schools globally.
Dual Degree – University of Porto
Students studying this course are offered the opportunity to gain two Masters degrees by undertaking additional study in Portugal with our partner Porto Business School. Further information will be shared with students when they join Stirling. There are scholarships available for students studying at Porto to reduce course fees.
Enhance your employability
You’ll have the chance to take part in industry visits, as well as undertaking consultancy projects with businesses across the public, private and non-profit sectors. This allows you to integrate the knowledge and skills from your Masters course to solve a real company's business challenge. Your best-practice knowledge will put you in the perfect position to help a business looking for a solution to a problem or a new perspective on a strategy. Places on these projects are competitive and involve interviews with the host company. At the end of the project, you will be able to present your recommendations and a high-quality piece of research or consultancy.
Learn from the experts
You’ll be taught by internationally recognised subject experts, who also teach Stirling’s prestigious MBA. Throughout the course, you will also be able to engage with senior executives from the private, public and third sectors, as well as entrepreneurs. This provides you with a practical perspective on contemporary business topics. We have a series of guest lectures and workshops, giving you many networking opportunities with potential employers.
Developing business leaders of the future
Postgraduate education at the University of Stirling Management School goes beyond textbooks and lectures. We understand the importance of your postgraduate degree to help you with your career choices. We know the skills and personal qualities that recruiters look for in an individual so we focus on your personal and professional development to foster your team management, organisational analysis as well as communications and influencing skills.
Our unique Flying Start Leadership Programme equips you with the awareness, knowledge and techniques essential for building a successful career. These range from practical skills, like effective public speaking, to developing ways to work under pressure in difficult situations and manage conflict.
Top reasons to study with us
Course objectives
The course provides you with key skills and experience through:
- examining the functional areas of management and their inter-relationship in organisations,
- exploring topical issues in management and comparing different management techniques to understand work issues,
- cultivating expertise in the use of key management tools, such as techniques for operations management, strategic and marketing analysis and financial analysis,
- developing personal skills and capabilities relevant to management, such as critical thinking, report writing, presentation, negotiation, networking, problem-solving and group working skills, and
- an emphasis on personal and professional development to help you with group and team management, organisational analysis and communications and influencing skills.
Work placements
There is a limited number of internships offered to students on a competitive basis with organisations in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors based in the UK and internationally. Internships outside the UK include basic accommodation with support from a local mentor and a range of cultural activities.
Research overview
In REF 2021, 80% of our research impact in Business and Management Studies was classed as world leading or internationally excellent.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
A minimum of a second-class Honours degree or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.
Other routes of entry
If you don't currently meet our academic requirements, INTO University of Stirling offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore INTO University of Stirling to see the pathway and pre-masters routes available.
International entry requirements
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.
Course details
The MSc Business and Management consists of two 11-week semesters of taught modules and a three-month dissertation period.
When you successfully complete (pass) one semester of the taught element of the course, you are eligible for the Postgraduate Certificate. After completing two semesters of the taught element of the course, you are eligible for the Postgraduate Diploma. You can then continue for the award of the MSc by completing a dissertation or undertaking a consultancy project with a business.
Modules
Course Details
Teaching
Teaching is carried out through lectures, seminars, guest speakers, article discussion groups, and presentations. Teaching delivery is via face-to-face and ‘live’ or recorded online sessions. You’ll go on insightful industry visits as well as having the change to work on consultancy projects developed in collaboration with businesses across the public, private and non-profit sector.
Senior executives from the private, public and third sectors, as well as entrepreneurs, engage throughout the year with our postgraduate students. There’s also a series of guest lectures and workshops which provide many networking opportunities.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed by a combination of exams/class tests and coursework, including written assignments and presentations.
Classroom hours
The MSc Business and Management is taught on a block-teaching basis to allow deep immersion in the academic subject.
Course director
Dr Umair Choksy, Course Director
Key staff
Other staff involved with the course are:
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
| 2024/25 | 2025/26 | |
|---|---|---|
| Students from the UK and Republic of Ireland | £10,900 | £10,900 |
| International (including EU) students | £20,600 | £22,900 |
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
Fees shown are for a full-time, one-year Masters course.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
Fees shown are for a full-time, one-year Masters course.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Scholarships and funding
Funding
Eligible international students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.
Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
Building your employability skills is a key focus of our Business and Management course:
- Our unique Flying Start Leadership programme equips you with the awareness, knowledge and techniques essential for building a successful career.
Since the introduction of the course in 2008, our graduates have forged careers across many sectors such as management, marketing and advertising, government administration, banking and finance. Their job roles have included:
- research analyst
- relationship manager
- salesforce developer
- strategic planning manager
- commercial account manager
Our graduates are working in a range of organisations including IKEA Trading, Parabola Ltd (Consultancy), and BDO International as well as central government offices and public sector bodies such as the NHS and universities.
The University of Stirling Management School has a dedicated Employability Manager and from the very beginning of the course your career is our focus.
Employability skills
Advance your career with work experience
On our Business and Management course you’ll have the opportunity to enhance your career prospects by taking part in work based projects, designed to prepare you for your first steps into management and an 8-week internship programme, subject to business availability.
Before you start your Masters, you will also take part in our Flying Start Leadership Programme. Throughout our one-week programme, we'll challenge your perspective of culture and develop your self-awareness, as well as team-working, problem-solving and presentation skills.
Consultancy projects
If you’re seeking to enhance your employability and add value to a business client you’ll have the opportunity to undertake a three-month consultancy project over the summer, as an alternative to the traditional dissertation.
Consultancy projects allow you to work with an organisation to investigate a ‘real-world’ issue, enhance your transferable business skills and make professional connections that may lead to a job offer in the future. Current clients range from start-up businesses to international organisations in public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
Participation in the consultancy projects is subject to business availability.
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