Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
The course includes modules that are focused on developing global management competencies, leadership and management and leadership for responsible change. Topics during these modules include emotional intelligence, cultural awareness and the ability to work in diverse groups and teams, as well as project management and decision making.
In the second year of this course you will have an opportunity to undertake an Industry Consultancy Project creating the opportunity for you to apply the knowledge and skills you have gained during your first year of study, to a real-life industry issue from a range of employers. This authentic learning context ensures that you experience what it feels like to work within a team on a contemporary project that has real relevance and impact. Working to a client's brief, with academic supervision, you will advance your ability to apply theoretical concepts and research skills to produce a practical recommendation to a challenging problem.*
Our graduates typically go into professional and graduate management positions and, by the end of the course, you’ll be well-equipped to follow them. You may choose to start a career within an industry that’s related to the subject that you studied during your first degree or you may prefer to take on a completely new challenge.
If you decide to start up your own business, it’s good to know that the combined turnover of our graduates’ start-up companies is higher than that of any other UK university.
The course could also lead you to a postgraduate research degree such as an MPhil, PhD and Professional Doctorate.
Whatever you decide to do, you will have the transferable skills that employers expect from a master’s graduate from Northumbria University. These include the ability to tackle complex issues through conceptualisation and undertaking research, the ability to contribute to new processes and knowledge, and the ability to formulate balanced judgements when considering incomplete or ambiguous data.
*Be aware that all Advanced Practice with investigative consultancy project routes are similar to many of our 1-Year MSc with consultancy project routes, while 2-year Advanced Practice course spends more dedicated time in the Business Clinic, reflected on the total assessment input for the two 60 credit modules.
Why choose Northumbria to study Business and Management MSc?
Newcastle Business School is accredited by the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). According to AACSB, “Approximately 6% of the world's schools offering business degree education have achieved AACSB accreditation, demonstrating a commitment to high-quality, rigorous standards, innovation, and continuous process improvement”. Read more about our 'double' AACSB Accreditation.
Please note, we also offer a distance learning Business and Management MSc. We also have similar courses available: International Business Management MSc
Level of Study
Postgraduate
Mode of Study
2 years Full Time with Advanced Practice
4 other options available
Department
Newcastle Business School
Location
City Campus, Northumbria University
City
Newcastle
Start
September 2025 or January 2026
Fees
Fee Information
Modules
Module Information
Discover more about our Business Clinic and the types of projects our students have worked on here at Newcastle Business School.
Discover the funding options available to you.
Alumni Discount
Receive up to £2,470 off your course fees.
Masters Funding and Scholarships
The Postgraduate Loan
More about the UK Government Loan.
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Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.
Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.
The University has also invested heavily in IT labs and facilities. You’ll use software such as ARIS Express Business Process Modelling, various SAS applications, Microsoft Project, specialist decision-making software, and Google Analytics.
Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) is embedded throughout the course with tools such as the ‘Blackboard’ eLearning Portal and electronic reading lists that will guide your preparation for seminars and independent research. Our use of lecture capture software will help you revise challenging material.
There will be plenty of opportunities to put your learning into practice, involving experiential learning including volunteering, internships and placements. The Business Clinic enables our students to participate in a ‘consultancy firm’ to provide advice for our region’s businesses.
Explore the outstanding facilities available at Newcastle Business School.
Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.
The NBS 2020 strategic research vision is organised into three formal and distinctive signature areas supported by a set of dynamically inclusive and academic led research interest groups.
Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.
Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.
Applicants should normally have:
A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree or equivalent, or substantial experience of working in a business organisation.
International qualifications:
If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English Language requirements:
International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications
Full UK Fee: £15,350
Full International Fee: £23,950
Scholarships and Discounts
ADDITIONAL COSTS
There are no Additional Costs
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
Please use the Apply Now button at the top of this page to submit your application.
Certain applications may need to be submitted via an external application system, such as UCAS, Lawcabs or DfE Apply.
The Apply Now button will redirect you to the relevant website if this is the case.
You can find further application advice, such as what to include in your application and what happens after you apply, on our Admissions Hub Admissions | Northumbria University
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
BM9718 -
Research Methods and Analytics for Business Practice (Core,20 Credits)
In this module you will learn about a comprehensive range of research methods and business analytics techniques. This will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills necessary for you to conduct research at Masters’ level and prepare you to complete a Master’s Dissertation, Consultancy Project or Management Enquiry. By the end of the module you will know how to apply both quantitative and qualitative data collection and business analysis techniques. In quantitative techniques you will learn about sampling, questionnaire design, statistical inference, and hypothesis testing while qualitative techniques covered will include methods such as interviewing and focus groups. Analysis methods such as content analysis and thematic analysis will also be covered. In addition, you will gain some understanding of research philosophy (positivism and interpretivism) and research ethics and you will be able to write a research proposal to bring these ideas together.
Furthermore, this module will provide clear, critical, and analysis of data, you will also be able to consider the use of analytics implementation skills, where you will be introduced to analytics software such as SPSS. SPSS statistics analysis is one of the powerful solutions that is designed to help businesses and researchers to solve problems by various methods (geospatial analysis, predictive analytics and hypothesis testing).
GA7000 -
Academic Language Skills for Postgraduate Business Students (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
Studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This
module is designed to support your transition to postgraduate level study in the use and practice of subject specific skills around assessments
and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to further develop your abilities to read and study effectively
for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your
use and application of language and communications skills suitable for a postgraduate level of study.
The topics you will cover on the module include:
• Understanding postgraduate assignment briefs.
• Developing advanced academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising advanced ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring postgraduate level academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Speaking in postgraduate seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related postgraduate level academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Postgraduate level speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
HR9737 -
Leadership and Management Development (Core,20 Credits)
This module engages you in personal and professional development in order that you develop and hone your teamworking, management and leadership skills, capabilities and attributes, and in so doing, enhance your employability. On this module, you will not only prepare for your first job after you graduate but also kickstart your commitment to life-long personal and professional learningThe module you will be supported in a self-analysis by a range of activities, including the completion of self-administered diagnostic tool-kits to demonstrate an increased self-awareness and self-understanding. This will also involve applying theoretical frameworks and researching a range of literature for a more in-depth understanding of self and the nature of social interactions. A key outcome of this process is how you will be able to exploit this development in order to lead, and manage, more effectively in your future careers.
The module contains activities enables you to build on your self-analysis and explore further your strengths, weaknesses and areas for development in the context of your career development plans. You will receive guidance on how to craft professional profilesand supporting documentation to meet the needs of employer. Your understanding of self helps you to understand the key issues and specific challenges in relation toemployability prospects in your target profession/industry/sector. This will also include the development of knowledge into the global graduate market, (including routes such as self-employment and developing your career with an existing employer) drawing upon local, national and international examples.
HR9738 -
Leadership for Responsible Change (Core,20 Credits)
This module critically explores managing and leading positive and responsible change within work organisations. While the focus is on planned approaches to changes, you will also develop an appreciation of emergent change through exploration of a range of concepts, models, and theoretical frameworks. You will compare types of change and processes to participatory change and stakeholder inclusion and engagement. You will also consider impacts of change on individuals and issues of resilience and sustainability.
More informationMO9704 -
Strategy and Marketing (Core,20 Credits)
Following the historical perspectives, contemporary development, emergent areas in marketing and the cross-functional business areas, this module takes a strategic view of marketing management. The aim is to introduce marketing at an advanced strategic level, enabling you to develop theoretical understanding, in order to interpret the theoretical understanding into practical application.The purpose is to support the development of knowledge and skills required for strategic analysis of market and key stakeholders to formulate sustainable marketing strategies.
A forward-thinking approach is adopted throughout the module, as you will have the opportunity to learn and discuss the theories and concepts that have been persistently influencing the evolving marketing dynamics. This module will cover three key areas of strategic marketing and business sustainability:
1) Understanding your market and developing marketing strategies:
• The transformation in marketing dynamics: Looking backward to move forward
• Marketing audit: Stakeholders as the key players in your market
• Competitive factors and strategic marketing
• A cross-cultural world: Understanding the contemporary buyers
• Customer value and new product development
• Pricing strategy
2) Implementation of strategies: Strategic marketing and sustainable competitive advantage
• Stakeholder relationship management and business sustainability
• Marketing mix and market segments
• Strategic communication: Image, reputation and brand positioning/re-positioning
• Resource-based view and sustainable competitive advantage: Outplaying competitors’ value proposition
• Influencing buyers’ decision: Implications of behavioural economics
• Digital marketing
• International marketing
3) Emerging areas in strategic marketing
• The ongoing changes in market dynamics
• Ethical consumers and green marketing
• Responsible marketing and the UN sustainable development goals
• Cross-functional implications of marketing and vice-versa
SM4022 -
Globalisation, Innovation and Sustainability (Core,20 Credits)
This 20-credit core module is delivered during the first semester of the MSc International Business Management and is aimed at you if you have prior business and management academic experience.
The aim of the module is to build on your prior academic knowledge of business management and explores the new post-recession economic and business environment. It aims to develop your academic knowledge and professional skills in evaluating sustainable strategic options for international organisations seeking competitive advantage through innovation. Contemporary but also traditional strategy formulation theoretical frameworks are presented within the module to develop you as critical thinkers and future practitioners.
The module is designed around five pillars: (i) developments in the new (post-global recession) economic and business environment; (ii) strategic options for international growth; (iii) innovation; (iv) leadership and change within an international/global business model; and (v) sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
SM9715 -
Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Core,20 Credits)
The module aims to provide you with knowledge and skills regarding the application of digital technologies in support of entrepreneurial activities, across the different stages of the entrepreneurial process (opportunity identification, start-up and scale-up). The module is delivered using interactive workshops, supported by an interactive discussion board, tutor supported, but permitting interaction with fellow students.
This module will cover the main aspects of the relationship between digital technologies and entrepreneurship:
• Opportunities and challenges of digital technologies for entrepreneurs,
• The skillset of digital entrepreneurs: entrepreneurial and digital skills,
• The impact of digital technologies on the creation and recognition of entrepreneurial opportunities,
• The start-up of digital enterprises: value creation, business models and funding strategies,
• The scale-up of digital enterprises: strategies to deal with regulation, competition and barriers to growth.
The module will lead you to the development of fundamental, contemporary skills for creating and developing digital enterprises. On completing the module, you will learn about the specific challenges of undertaking entrepreneurial activities in the context of digital markets and acquire the skills to develop effective strategies to build sustainable digital enterprises.
NX0470 -
Applied Management Work Investigation (Optional,60 Credits)
You will undertake a group consultancy project within the Business Clinic during the first semester of your second year of Masters’ study (NX0479). Through your work-based experience, you will develop ability as a problem solver with valued investigative, theoretical and practical business skills. This will last the length of the semester and involve the examination of a complex organisational problem or commercial opportunity. This second semester module will involve the development of the client oriented management report and presentation alongside an individual literature review and personal reflection.
The content of the management report will be unique. The nature and scope of the area of your investigation will be defined and agreed in collaboration with the organisation and the University supervisor. The syllabus will include:
• Conducting research in organisations.
• Identifying researchable questions.
• Consultancy and project management skills.
• Research methods and doing a literature review
• Presentation, communication and report writing skills.
• Analysing findings.
• Writing recommendations and action plans.
• Reflecting on work based experiential learning.
In undertaking this project based module, you will critically reflect and evaluate upon organisational practices and their relation with academic theory, and in doing so, provide practical and actionable recommendations through an investigative management report.
The assessment for your module consists of a Group Consultancy Report (7,000 words) and Final Client Presentation, weighted at 60%, alongside an Individual Assignment comprising a Literature Review (4000 words) and a Reflective Learning Statement (2,000 words), weighted at 40%.
NX0479 -
Business Clinic PG Group Consultancy Project (Core,60 Credits)
As a student enrolled on one of the 2-year Advanced Practice Programmes you may undertake a group consultancy project within the first semester of your second years of Masters’ study. Through your work-based experience, you will develop abilities as a problem solver with valued investigative, theoretical and practical business skills. This work-based experience will last the length of the semester and involve the examination of a complex organisational problem or commercial opportunity. By undertaking this module, you will have enhanced your individual skills, knowledge, effectiveness and employability by locating learning and development within a work-based context and will have critically reflected and evaluated upon organisational practices and the relation with academic theory.
The content of the work-based experience will be unique to you as a group of participants. The nature and scope of the area of student investigation will be defined and agreed in collaboration with the organisation and the University supervisor. The syllabus will include:
• Conducting research in organisations.
• Identifying researchable questions.
• Consultancy and project management skills.
• Research methods and doing a literature review
• Presentation, communication and report writing skills.
• Analysing findings.
• Writing recommendations and action plans.
• Reflecting on work based experiential learning.
Assessment will be both formative and summative and incorporate self, peer, and tutor evaluation. You will present your work-based findings to academic mentors (oral presentation) and an interim report written on behalf of the host organisation or sponsoring project client. In the follow-up module (NX0470), you will provide a substantial management investigation report on the business related issue emerging from this consultancy, alongside a personal reflective statement.
*Those students who do not achieve a mark 80% or more will not progress to NX0470 but will progress to the Masters Dissertation or Management Enquiry Module.
NX0480 -
The Newcastle Business School Masters Dissertation (Optional,60 Credits)
In this module you will gain an understanding of the academic skills that are required to produce a Masters Dissertation. By the end of the module you will have written a 15000 word Masters dissertation. The areas included are:
• Justification for the choice of topic
• Appropriate understanding, awareness and critical analysis of existing and up to date literature evidenced by a comprehensive and well-referenced literature review with an extensive reference list
• Selection, justification and application of an appropriately rigorous methodology - including limitations of the approach selected
• Clear statement of the findings of the research
• Critical analysis of the findings
• Explicit links between the analysis and the conclusions supported by critical argument
• Evidence of original work or thought for example in the form or context of the data collected, analytical process or application of findings
NX9734 -
Masters' Management Enquiry (Optional,60 Credits)
The Masters’ Management Enquiry module is a student-led individual project that enables you to undertake a significant piece of assessed
work commensurate with a capstone module and is offered as an alternative to the Masters’ Dissertation and Masters’ Consultancy Project.
The module aims to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate an authentic engagement with managers and/or professionals in your
discipline (this enquiry has to be discipline specific), and to integrate the knowledge you have developed during your programme to explore
the theory in practice. The learning on this module is experiential and problem based, where the focus is upon you discovering, probing and
questioning key practice-based issues. Through the module you will be offered the opportunity to develop and enhance key transferable
employability skills including; time management, project management, communication (written, aural and verbal), negotiation, persuasion and
influence, discovery, initiative, problem-solving and analysis.
The module has five thematic areas; explore, review, engage, reflect and connect. These form the key elements of the assessed submission
which is a single 15,000 word report.
Part A (35%, 5,000-5,500 words)
Explore: Interviewing a manager and/or professional in your discipline. In this interview you will either explore a key issue which you feel the
discipline is facing or, alternatively, explore with the manager or professional the key issues that they feel they are facing in practice. It is
expected that you will apply non-verbatim documented conversation and provide evidence of the key ideas emerging within the submitted
enquiry report (e.g. within the appendices).
Review: Critically examining the academic and practitioner literature to support the exploration, displaying an ability to critically assess and
appraise the knowledge of your discipline related to a specific key issue arising from your exploration.
Part B (65%, 9,500-10,000 words)
Engage: Displaying an authentic engagement with the discipline problem/issue identified in Part A, by collecting/generating and analysing
further live data (beyond the initial interview) regarding the discipline problem/issue. This live data may be primary data (e.g. further interviews
with, or questionnaire to, managers and/or professionals in practice) or secondary data (e.g. industry data). Application of appropriate,
ethically-considered, research methods and appropriate qualitative or quantitative data analysis.
Reflect and Connect: Demonstrating an ability to critically evaluate and reflect on the issues arising from the Management Enquiry.
Demonstrating how you have connected and fed-back to the participants of the Enquiry (usually the manager and/or participants) your key
findings to provide clear prioritised, well-justified, practical and actionable recommendations for change/enhancement/improvement to existing
practice to show how the recommendations would potentially affect workplace professional decision making.
The following alternative study options are available for this course:
Sep, Jan start
Sep start
Jan start
Jan, Apr, Jul start
To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.
Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help. They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
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