About the course

Alongside lectures and seminars we have developed a study trip. This brings a chance to explore your personal and team building skills and to undertake a consultancy study of an international enterprise. There is also an opportunity to undertake an Applied Company Research project where you will learn ‘on the job’ in real life businesses.

We welcome applications from both home and overseas students.  We have a range of support services available for all students and further information specifically for international students can be found by clicking on the International Applications Information link above.

Enhancing your Career

The qualification will give you an edge in the job market enabling you to compete more effectively with traditional graduates with a first degree and enabling you to enter management at a higher level than you would have been able to with only a first degree. For those interested in pursuing academic research these programmes are an invaluable stepping stone to a doctorate or other research degree.

Management skills are needed in all types of jobs and industries, from sport & leisure, the arts and entertainment, to social work, engineering and the natural sciences. Because of this, we welcome applicants from a wide range of undergraduate disciplines. Past MA Management students have studied subjects as different as music, engineering, law or business at undergraduate level. 

Aims of the course

The MA Management seeks to develop well-rounded, thoughtful, reflective, and active professionals with excellent skills that will enhance career prospects. The programme adopts a critical management studies perspective, contributing to (and pre-dating) the current debates regarding the future of capitalism and the often problematic relationship between globalisation, organisation and the wider social environment. Our teaching and learning strategy is wide-ranging and innovative, seeking to give students a rich learning environment that draws actively on both academic research and business practice.

In the first semester, if you have a business and management background at first degree level, you will add to this knowledge by taking advanced modules. If you have a degree in another discipline you will be able to draw on the generic knowledge and skills you have gained from that discipline. You will follow the same advanced course material with structured reading to allow you to become quickly acquainted with business and management concepts.

In the second semester you select one of two pathways and specialise in either Management or International Business. Here you will be able to move to a deeper knowledge and understanding of business and management, either concentrating on the strategic and operational aspects of business management or specialising in the study of business behaviour in the global economy. Each pathway has its core offering but you can choose your options from either subject area or from the option choices. The options allow you to focus on particular areas of interest. You will also start preparatory work towards your dissertation or applied company research project with a series of research methods seminars.

Entry Requirements

You will need at least a second class honours degree or overseas equivalent qualification in order to apply to study the programmes. If you have appropriate professional qualifications or relevant work experience you may also be considered. Anyone applying from a country where English is not the first language is required to take an official test of English language obtaining at least IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each subtest.

Pre-Master’s programme for international students

International students who do not meet all direct entry requirements for this course have the opportunity to study a Pre-Master’s programme at the Keele University International Study Centre.

Upon successful completion of this course, students are able to progress onto this postgraduate course at Keele University.

If you need to raise your level of English before you start Keele ISC Pre-Master’s programme, you can first study English for Pre-master's (EPM), also taught at the International Study Centre. EPM is designed to develop your English language reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, so that you can meet the entry requirements for the Pre-master's programme.

Course content

During the first semester (September to January) you will take four modules (three core, one elective):

Semester 1:

Core Modules:

• Critical Management Studies
• Accounting for Decision Making
• Operations Management and Supply
• Globalisation and International Management
• Introduction to Research

 During the second semester (January to May) you will take four modules :

You must also choose two of the following options:

Electives Modules:

• Entrepreneurship
• Strategic Human Resource Management
• Strategy and Information Management

The availability of elective modules will be determined by demand and staff availability.

Semester 3: 

Students who satisfy the requirements of the taught part of the course can proceed to do either a dissertation or a company project.

• Dissertation
• Applied Company Research Project

Exit Routes from the Award: 

The MA can be awarded 'with distinction'. The final award achieved will depend on the credits achieved and the modules taken;

Masters

• 8 module passes plus dissertation or project (180 credits)

Postgraduate Diploma

• 8 module passes (120 credits)

Postgraduate Certificate

• 4 module passes (60 credits)

Teaching and assessment

The Course Director is responsible for running the programme and providing support and information for students. Modules are taught in lectures, tutorials and seminars.  Taught modules are usually assessed by a mixed diet of examinations and coursework, the latter including essays, practical projects, reports and presentations.

Guidance is provided on dissertation topics and each student will be assigned a supervisor. Guidance is also provided for the applied companyrResearch project and each student will be assigned an academic mentor.

From May to September students are required to write a research-based dissertation in an area of choice on an approved topic related to the pathway they have chosen, or write a report based on an in-company consultancy project. Aspiring applicants for the applied company research project must meet the required selection criteria demanded by both School and facilitating organisation.

The research project will be available for Masters students during the period June-September. The student will be able to apply to take on a real commercially relevant, University agreed project, for a local organisation. This is a remarkable opportunity to learn to manage a discreet project from start to finish or to work as part of a wider group on larger strategically important projects.

Additional costs

Apart from additional costs for text books, inter-library loans and potential overdue library fines, we do not anticipate any additional costs for this postgraduate course.

Graduate attributes

The Graduate Attributes Statement is designed to raise awareness of the attributes that will be developed whilst you are a student at Keele University. It explains each of the attributes in detail, tips on how to achieve them and how they relate to your chosen programme of study.

The Graduate Attributes Statement for MA Management can be downloaded here.