Postgraduate Course
Leadership and Management MSc
Build the skills and expertise you need to thrive in a leadership position.
Explore the concept of leadership and engage with the latest research in business and management. Master the tools and techniques of strategic planning and learn to lead change within an organisation.
Please note: this course will not be recruiting in 2024. The next entry date will be September 2025.
York campus
- Duration – 1 year full time, 2 years part time, 2 years full time with year in industry
- Start date – September 2025
- School – York Business School
Minimum entry requirements
2:2 honours degree from a UK ENIC listed institution
Experience Evidence of relevant experience if your degree is in an unrelated subject
Tuition fees
UK 2024-25 £8,000 full time
International 2024-25 £11,300 full time
Course overview
On this course you will combine academic theory with practical application to address contemporary business and management issues. Through a demanding process of personal and professional development, you will give yourself a competitive edge to take you onto the next stage of your career. This course is designed for those who are new to management roles, who are beginning to lead teams and decision-making, or who aspire to leadership in the future.
You will learn about:
- Corporate social responsibility
- Coaching and mentoring
- Data analytics
- Strategic planning
- Sustainable and ethical business management
- Driving value through change
We encourage the sharing of knowledge and experience between students and staff with a wide range of professional backgrounds. This fosters a collaborative learning community which will provide both support and varied perspectives throughout your study.
You can choose to study this course with a Year in Industry, allowing you to apply your learning and gain valuable experience. If you choose a Year in Industry you will be studying for a total of 2 years. Your first year will be a teaching year. In your second year you will either be on placement or conducting a skills and research based module.
Course structure
How you will study
You can study this postgraduate course full time or part time. This allows you to fit your studies around other commitments.
If you choose to study full time the course will take 1 year to complete, or 2 if you choose a year in industry. You will study:
- 9 compulsory modules, including a final Capstone Project module
If you choose to study part time the course will take 2 years to complete and the modules will be split across both years.
You can find out which modules are available in each term in the Course Specifications.
Modules
Credits: 15
Compulsory module
This module lets you familiarise yourself with the research expectations of postgraduate study. You will develop a thorough understanding of the research process and advance your skills in this area. We will support you in identifying a specialist business topic which you would like to specialise in and developing a proposal for your own research investigation. We will also introduce you to many of the interconnected contemporary issues that will are essential for the study of business.
Credits: 15
Compulsory module
On this module you will explore the relationships between business and society in an uncertain world. You will expand your understanding of the theoretical and practical issues relating to sustainable business, and engage with the current debates taking place in this field. You will evaluate issues of sustainability in the context of environmental, social and economic needs, and consider how these may differ at national and global levels.
Credits: 15
Compulsory module
On this module you will explore the theory and practice of leadership at different levels in organisations. By evaluating a range of theories and perspectives on leadership, you will learn how decision making, influence and support can enable individuals and groups to work together effectively. By the end of the module you will be able to identify the leadership skills and abilities which are most appropriate in different organisational contexts.
Credits: 15
Compulsory module
On this module we will introduce you to key international business (IB) theories and concepts. You will examine:
- The process of globalisation
- The role of transnational firms (TNCs)
- The principal institutional and organisational macrostructures of the global economy
- The impact of the diverse national business systems operating within the world’s major regional groupings.
You will also develop a comprehensive appreciation of the theories, frameworks and methodologies that complement and intersect with mainstream IB thinking and challenges.
Credits: 15
Compulsory module
On this module you will learn to analyse business data. Exploring effective methods of summarising data, you will investigate the relationship between variables. This will give you practical skills in data analytics. We will also introduce you to the idea of the blockchain, and the scope of the blockchain industry. You will learn to:
- React to blockchain trends
- Investigate market disruptions caused by technology
- Assess the impact of blockchain in industries worldwide.
Credits: 15
Compulsory module
On this module you will learn about the theories and ideologies behind managing people in the workplace. You will consider the various aspects of people management within their wider cultural and managerial contexts. We will introduce you to:
- Contemporary and historical debates surrounding people management
- The dominant managerial ideologies which have influenced people management
- The practices and principles behind people management today.
Credits: 15
Compulsory module
Coaching skills are increasingly valued in management. On this module you will learn to acquire, practise and critically evaluate the skills, processes and techniques behind coaching and mentoring. You will have the opportunity to do this in a range of different organisation settings. You will critically reflect on the ethical and practical challenges of employing either coaching and mentoring approaches in the workplace. We often find that this module increases the strength of our learning community, as you build links and trust with your fellow learners.
Credits: 15
Compulsory module
It is vital for managers to understand theories relating to change processes, and be able to apply them. The values, beliefs and repeated behaviours that make up organisational culture can impact on various aspects of an organisation’s performance. On this module you will learn about various models of national and organisational culture, and explore the interactions between them. You will also consider how culture can impact on an organisation’s ability to change quickly enough to remain competitive.
Credits: 60
Compulsory module
This module gives you the opportunity to apply everything you have learnt throughout your course to a current business issue. You will define, research and analyse a topic of your choice, identifying potential solutions and reaching evidence-based conclusions. Your capstone project can take the form of either an academic dissertation or an applied business consultancy project.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning
You will be taught using a variety of teaching methods, including:
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Tutorials
- Guest speakers
- Workshops
- Events
Each module has a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) where you and other postgraduate students will benefit from online debate and collaborative approaches to learning.
Our teaching draws on both our research and professional experience. This means your learning is informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.
Assessment
We use a wide variety of assessment types, which help you to develop skills relevant to the workplace. This includes:
- Presentations
- Critical essays
- Portfolios
- Reflective journals
- Case study work
You will receive feedback on your work throughout each module. This will help you to improve your work for your graded assessments. We will advise you on developing your skills, useful areas for research and how to extend your business knowledge further.
Optional placement year
Choosing the placement year option can give you a competitive edge in your future career. It is an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills you have learned in the workplace.
You will be on placement for a full academic year, after you have successfully completed all of the taught modules. During your placement, you will also work towards and complete your Business Consultancy Project.
Entry requirements
Qualifications
Minimum entry requirements
2:2 honours degree from a UK ENIC listed institution
Experience Evidence of relevant experience if your degree is in an unrelated subject
If your degree is in an unrelated subject, but you can provide evidence of relevant professional experience, your application may still be considered.
International students
If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.
Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.
If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent.
Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)
If you do not have traditional qualifications, you might be able to provide evidence of professional experience in the subject as an alternative way to meet the entry requirements. This is called Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Appropriate references and records of employment would need to be presented to support your case for admission.
Terms and conditions
Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.
Fees and funding
UK 2024 - 2025 entry
The tuition fee for this postgraduate course in the 2024 - 2025 academic year is:
- £8,000 for full time study
If you choose to study this course with a Year in Industry, the tuition fee for full time study would be £9,200.
These costs apply to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.
Postgraduate loans are available to help you pay for your master’s course. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.
International 2024 - 2025 entry
The tuition fee for this postgraduate course in the 2024 - 2025 academic year is £11,300 for full time study.
If you choose to study this course with a Year in Industry, the tuition fee for full time international students would be £14,900.
These costs apply to all students living outside the UK.
Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a student visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.
Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.
Tuition fees
UK 2024-25 £8,000 full time
International 2024-25 £11,300 full time
Alumni Scholarships
If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies.
Additional costs and financial support
Course-related costs
While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.
Accommodation and living costs
View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.
Career outcomes
Where could Leadership and Management MSc take you?
This course will prepare you to take on leadership and management roles within any organisation. Specialist modules such as Data Analytics and the Blockchain will give you the industry-ready, transferable skills needed for a competitive edge in the marketplace. You could go on to many different roles, including:
- Business manager
- Project manager
- Business analyst
- Supply chain manager
- Management consultant
If you are considering starting your own business, The Kickstart Programme is a wide-ranging offer of support to help you develop your entrepreneurial ideas and turn them into viable enterprises. Starting a business, becoming self-employed, freelancing or having a side-hustle: enterprise can come in many forms.
The course could also lead you to undertake further Postgraduate study through an MPhil or PhD.
Stand out from the crowd with postgraduate study.
Far fewer people have postgraduate degrees than undergraduate qualifications. This gives you something extra to set yourself apart in a competitive graduate job market. Those with a postgraduate qualification will earn an average of £6,500 a year more than those with only an undergraduate degree. (Department For Education Graduate Labour Market Report 2022).
Our careers service, LaunchPad, provides career support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:
- Employer events
- LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
- Workshops on application writing and interview skills
- Work experience and volunteering opportunities
- Personalised career advice
This support does not end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain the experience and confidence you need to succeed.