Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

The programme aims to:

• Add value to holders of a wide range of first degrees by developing in individuals an integrated and critically aware understanding of  marketing, management and organisations;

• Provide a relevant, practical, applied and integrated curriculum through close links with business and commercial organisations and appropriate academic research;

• Develop appropriate skills to apply knowledge and understanding of marketing and management to complex marketing issues, both systematically and creatively, to improve business and management practice;

• Enhance students’ lifelong learning skills, personal development and employability to enable them to work with self-direction and originality and to contribute to and take effective roles within business and society.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

QAA Master’s awards in business and management

The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications 

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and holistic understanding of:

• the internal aspects, functions and processes of organisations - including their diverse nature, purposes, structures, governance, operations and management, together with the individual and corporate behaviours and cultures which exist within and between organisations and their influence on the external context they operate in;
• the external context in which organisations operate - including economic, environmental, ethical, legal, political, sociological and technological factors, together with their effects at local, national and international levels upon the strategy, behaviour and management of organisations;
• how organisations are managed - including the various processes, procedures and practices for effective leadership and management of organisations with regard to relevant theories, models, frameworks, tasks and roles of management together with rational analysis and other processes of decision making within organisations and in relation to the external context.

• The concepts, methods, processes, management and institutions involved in marketing goods and services

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme students should be able to:

• use critical thinking, analysis and synthesis to evaluate and apply concepts and insights from business disciplines, including comprehension of complex scenarios;
• analyse and appraise theoretical and practical issues and problems in business, marketing and management by using the theories and models appropriate to those disciplines;
• collect relevant information across a range of areas pertaining to a current marketing or management situation, analyse that information using relevant techniques and synthesise it into an appropriate form in order to evaluate decision alternatives.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of the programme students should be able to:

• make effective use of information and communication technologies in a business and marketing context including word processing, storage and manipulation of data, generation of presentations, use of the internet and e-mail using appropriate software;
• conduct research effectively and efficiently using a range of sources of marketing and management related materials including books, journals, trade and financial press, official statistics and the internet;
• use effective team-working skills, including team-building and project management in group work situations.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of the programme students should be able to:

• display effective interpersonal skills including effective communication, listening, influencing and conflict resolution;
• be open to new ideas and be aware that in many situations there is a range of possible interpretations and/or solutions;
• apply critical thinking and creativity to resolve practical problems;
• solve problems using relevant decision making processes and techniques;
• scan and organise data, abstract meaning from information and share knowledge;
• make effective use of Communication and Information Technology (CIT);
• recognise and utilise individuals’ contributions in group processes;
• recognise ethical situations, applying ethical and organisational values to situations and choices;
• use effective personal organisation including time management, self-direction, self-motivation, tenacity and pro-activeness;
• learn through reflection on practice and experience.

4. Programme structure

4.1 Module Structure

Compulsory Modules  (total modular weight 150)

Semester 2 Optional Modules

In addition to the listed compulsory modules, students will choose TWO Modules (total modular weight 30) to be chosen from the list below.

*Option choices will require approval of the Programme Director.

4.1.1     For full details of when the modules are taught and the specific assessment procedures see Module Specifications. 

4.2 Guidance will be given to candidates concerning the selection of optional components.  However, the School reserves the right to offer or withdraw any optional module. 

4.3  The School reserves the right to regulate the numbers of students studying a particular module.

4.4  Students who are deemed to have significant knowledge of a compulsory module may be authorised by the Programme Director to undertake an alternative module, provided that the ILOs of the programme are still met.

4.5   Alongside their MSc Marketing programme, students with business background will have the opportunity to study for a Professional Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1 In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI.

5.2 In accordance with regulation XXI, candidates who have a right of re-assessment in a module may choose to be re-assessed in the University’s special assessment period.

5.3 In addition  students  may choose  to be reassessed in BSP028 Global Strategic Management and BSP069  Strategic Marketing Solutions in January of the next academic year.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification