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Management requires organised professionals who take a passionate interest in leadership and professional development. Practical skills in business strategy, people management and organisational planning are key to succeeding as a manager in a modern organisation.
This course is designed to train you in high-level management principles and is perfect if you do not have a first degree in business, or relevant work experience in management. You can become business ready in just one year.
You will study a core spine of management and organisational issues throughout term one. In addition to this core management spine, during your second term you may choose to specialise in either the International or Marketing pathway so you’ll graduate with a perfectly tailored Masters degree in management.
MSc Management covers contemporary management issues, such as:
Supply chain management
Management strategy
Organisational behaviour
We ensure that your education in management is both theoretical and practical, allowing you to develop expertise in a chosen area of management.
At Essex Business School we champion responsible management and sustainable business. We want to change business for the better and empower our students to do this too. By using current research in our teaching, you'll explore the management issues affecting organisations across the globe right now and so you'll graduate with a Masters degree with a real-world focus.
Why we're great.
Enjoy the option to specialise in international management or marketing management once you’ve started your course.
We believe in management with a social conscience so you can champion ethical business in the workplace.
This course is perfect if you do not have a first degree in business, or relevant work experience in management, but want to become business-ready fast.
Our expert staff
Management and marketing research at Essex Business School is very diverse but can best be described as exploring business with a social conscience. For example, our research investigates workplace ethics, corporate social responsibility and the lived experience of work in the global economy.
One of the academics that you may meet during your course Dr Juneho Um is leading on a management knowledge transfer partnership (mKTP) with Laser24, a laser cutting firm, to increase the firm’s efficiency and performance .
mKTPs aim to support universities to share the expertise of their academics with businesses searching for solutions to specific organisational challenges. Dr Um has substantial experience in business strategy in a variety of commercial industries. He is putting that knowledge to effective use by supporting Laser 24 to develop a comprehensive strategy to streamline processes, increase efficiency and upskill staff. This will enable the business to meet the increasing demand for its products, expand the product range and reduce waste.
The research activities of academics in our management and marketing group is supported by the Centre for Work, Organisation and Society (CWOS) which brings together interdisciplinary research on work, society and organisational life. The Centre’s research draws on the humanities and social sciences, bringing in perspectives from disciplines such as cultural studies, history, literary theory, philosophy, psychology, sociology and political economy.
You’ll be studying at Essex Business School, home to the first zero carbon business school in the UK – demonstrating our sustainable approach to business first-hand. Set around a lush winter garden, with shared spaces to encourage collaborative working, you’ll find a wealth of inspiring teaching and study zones:
learn in modern lecture theatres with ‘listen again’ recording to aid your study
access to Mintel Academic for consumer and market intelligence reports and data and UK Data Service to access high-quality social and economic data
utilise study booths in our winter garden and versatile break out areas for group working throughout the building
dynamic blended learning provision for uninterrupted study and engaging online lectures virtual guest speakers
networking opportunities with visiting businesses and careers events
Bonds café and adjacent foyer to enjoy on-site fresh food and drink
You'll also benefit from fantastic University facilities located close by, including our state-of-the-art Silberrad Student Centre, complete with an open-access 24-hour Learning Hub and a cutting-edge media centre.
Our building is located on the Knowledge Gateway, home to some of the region’s most exciting enterprises in the science, technology and creative sectors. The Knowledge Gateway provides potential networking and career opportunities for students directly on campus.
Your future
With a degree from Essex Business School, you will be an attractive candidate to high-profile employers and can target roles including global CSR consultant, public administrator and management accountant. 90% of University of Essex’s postgraduate graduates are in employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2021). Our graduates have entered high-profile organisations and exciting SMEs, such as:
HM Treasury
Groupon
HP
KPMG
fast-growing digital agency, Footprint Digital
We encourage you to be creative, innovative and consider the ethical implications of business, so you also have an excellent foundation to start your own business, should you wish.
Our Student Support team work closely with the University’s Employability and Careers service to help you with careers information and advice and CV support. They will help you find work experience, internships, placements and voluntary opportunities and provide access to employer talks on campus. We also work closely with the Essex Startups team to support our budding entrepreneurs get their business ideas off the ground.
"I chose MSc Management because I wanted to improve my business acumen; I’m now confident I can responsibly manage any team or project after I graduate. I’ve enjoyed learning about the theories and practices involved in managing organisations and how the actions of poor-quality managers can negatively impact society. I’ve learned from experienced researchers and approachable lecturers in the company of students from all over the world. Particular highlights were receiving the Big Essex Award and becoming Vice-President of the Yoga and Meditation Society."
Troy Norbert, MSc Management (2016)
"While I was at Essex I developed an interest in academic work and I am pursuing a PhD now. Before I did my Master's the plan was to go straight to industry. At Essex, the lecturers fostered my interest for science and I decided to follow the next step for an academic career and I am very happy with my decision."
"I would advise student to be open about your further career plans. Even though you are at a Business School, it does not mean you have to go straight into " a business" afterwards. Research can be done everywhere and also in Management Sciences it is important to do research and thereby foster innovation."
Carolin Welser, MSc Management (2019)
Entry requirements
UK entry requirements
A 2:2 degree, or international equivalent, in any discipline.
International & EU entry requirements
We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.
Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please select
your country page
where you'll find this information.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, we require IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in all other components
Additional Notes
The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.
Structure
Course structure
We offer a flexible course structure with a mixture of core/compulsory modules, and optional modules chosen from lists.
Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The course content is therefore reviewed on an annual basis to ensure our courses remain up-to-date so modules listed are subject to change.
Teaching and learning disclaimer
Following the impact of the pandemic, we made changes to our teaching and assessment to ensure our current students could continue with their studies uninterrupted and safely. These changes included courses being taught through blended delivery, normally including some face-to-face teaching, online provision, or a combination of both across the year.
The teaching and assessment methods listed show what is currently approved for 2022 entry; changes may be necessary if, by the beginning of this course, we need to adapt the way we’re delivering them due to the external environment, and to allow you to continue to receive the best education possible safely and seamlessly.
Components and modules explained
Components
Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.
Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.
Status
What this means
Core
You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory
You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.
Modules
Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.
In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.
Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:
HR
100
4
FY
The department or school the module will be taught by.
In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.
Your dissertation is the culmination of your course, where you apply knowledge gained to produce an extended independent piece of work. You generate an original idea, analyse literature and current knowledge and produce a coherent argument that shows your ability to relate theory to practice. Your dissertation/research project will help you develop vital skills for the workplace, as well as the ability to analyse real problems through an academic lens. You are assigned a supervisor for the duration of your project.
This module is designed to encourage students to reflect on a variety of issues relating to management and business strategy. It will introduce students to the basics of management such as dealing with teams, culture and organisational management structures. It will then introduce students to managing strategically, covering topics that involve the analysis of the external and internal environments of the business as well as avenues for implementation.
Consequently, the module offers an insight into a range of current business issues, management dilemmas, ethical considerations, and general governance issues relating to the strategic direction of organisations. Overall, the module provides an introduction to management and strategy and a critical examination of its application in practice.
Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management
(20 CREDITS)
This module is designed to encourage students to think and reflect upon the nature of managing people and organisations. In particular, it encourages students to consider the main topics of Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management. Throughout the sessions, the core issues affecting organisational behaviour and outcomes will be discussed and critically analysed. Therefore, it invites participants to consider the tensions emerging from competing views and perspectives. In so doing, the module challenges many of the taken-for-granted assumptions about people management, and provides tools to analyse organisations and to explore the realities of organisational life.
It is essential for any manager to be able to analyse the performance of companies and take financial decisions. This module will start by examining how publicly available information can aid in analysing the performance of companies, and critically evaluating the limitations of financial performance measures. This part of the module will cover the contents of the annual report, preparation of main financial statements and evaluating the financial performance of companies based on publicly available information. The second part of the module will critically examine a range of issues that relate to financial and managerial decision-making, including cost behaviour, capital investment decisions, cost volume profit analysis and budgeting.
Research Methods in Management and Marketing Studies
(20 CREDITS)
This module introduces students to the methodology and methods of research in the field of Management and Marketing. Students are acquainted with the nature of the philosophical assumptions that underpin the choice of research design, in particular case studies for data collection and analysis. The module explores a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods to illustrate the suitability of these methods for designing research projects. The ethical, practical and legal questions raised by research are explored. Practical aspects of the research process are examined including the skills required to evaluate published research, organise and undertake a research project within the body of relevant knowledge, and make practical and actionable recommendations.
Operations management is how organisations create and deliver goods and services. And since the production of goods and/or services is the reason why organisations exist, it is clear that the effective and efficient management of operations is a central concern for all managers, regardless of the size or sector location of their organisation. Managers should be able to create and maintain the necessary conditions for productive work, often in a climate of resource constraints and increasingly in a global context. This module will also introduce supply chain management – that is, the management of the relationships and flows between different operations processes, both 'locally' and at regional and global scales. The Operations and Supply Chain Management module aims to engage the students in a critical evaluation of the various models of operations and supply chain management and an analysis of the range of processes, skills and competencies required for the successful management of both.
The aim of this module is to introduce students to the theory and practice of marketing. It will present some of the key principles of marketing, particularly useful for those not previously familiar with the subject area. In addition, it will cover some topics important to the contemporary marketing context including consumer behaviour, relationship marketing, and digital marketing. It introduces marketing theories and models while also providing a critical perspective on the effects of these to political, social, and cultural life. Further, the module focuses on the management of innovation activities within a marketing context. It introduces the management of innovation and technology as a multiple perspective approach, which incorporates the key areas of the business and management including innovation and marketing together.
We aim to respond to applications within two weeks. If we are able to offer you a place, you will be contacted via email.
For information on our deadline to apply for this course, please see our ‘how to apply’ information.
Visit Colchester Campus
Home to 15,000 students from more than 130 countries, our Colchester Campus is the largest of our three sites, making us one of the most internationally diverse campuses on the planet - we like to think of ourselves as the world in one place.
The Campus is set within 200 acres of beautiful parkland, located two miles from the historic town centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded town. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.
If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360 degree virtual tour allows you to explore the Colchester Campus from the comfort of your home. Check out our accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.
Exhibitions
Our staff travel the world to speak to people about the courses on offer at Essex. Take a look at our list of exhibition dates to see if we’ll be near you in the future.
At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.
The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and
Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.
