Whatever your initial degree subject, the MSc in Business and Management (MBM) will give you a broad base of knowledge and skills in business and management that will enable you to develop a successful career as a manager.
The overall aim of the MBM is to bring graduates of any discipline up to speed in the terminology, techniques and skills required to become a business leader. This programme is a masters programme fully qualified by the UK Government and is recognised around the globe as a leading educational qualification.
Programme highlights
Designed for new or recent graduates
Specialist options available
Gives a broad perspective on the nature of management
Combines all the advantages of studies in Venlo and Plymouth (UK)
This is a conversion course for graduates of any discipline, which prepares you for the world of business. No prior work experience is required. The first half of the course introduces you to all the key business functional areas, after which you develop the areas of interest for your future career by taking relevant electives and a project of your choice.
The typical class size is 20 to 30 students in Venlo and ca. 50 in Plymouth.
Further study, research and employment opportunities
The average annual starting salary for an MBM graduate in the UK last year was £27,000. Students are working all over the world, from family owned businesses to the biggest multinationals. Some examples are: Kraft Foods, IBM, Government of Bermuda, Philips, National Health Service (UK), Jet Airways (India), WS Atkins (Engineers), PriceWaterhouse Coopers, Nike (South America).
We offer a one-to-one careers support service to all students from experienced careers advisors.
Entry requirements
A bachelor degree obtained in the Netherlands, a UK degree or equivalent qualification. Alternatively, qualifications and experience that demonstrate you can meet the challenges of the programme. For non UK students, an IELTS score of at least 6.5 with a minimum score of 5.5 for any part of the test is required. We also accept a TOEFL iBT score of 90 with the following minimum scores: listening 21, reading 22, speaking 23 and writing 22.
Fontys students taking the autumn term at Fontys International Business School receive an exemption.
Duration
1 year full time - starting in September. Lessons during the autumn term (mid September - mid December) are conducted in Venlo. Lessons during the spring term (mid January - beginning of April in the following year) will be conducted in Plymouth. During the third period of your studies (April - August) you will be working on a practically relevant project which will be guided by a project supervisor.
This programme is designed for new or recent graduates from any discipline with little or no work experience who wish to gain a business and management qualification in order to pursue a career in management.
The programme will enable you to develop knowledge and understanding in the disciplines and functional areas of business and management. The core part of the programme will provide you with a comprehensive grounding in the principles that apply to the management of organisations, covering the main functional areas of a business and management theories and practices at a strategic level.
The programme is very flexible and you can shape more than half of the programme to meet your career aspirations. This is by choosing two electives and a project. If both electives plus the project are taken from a particular subject grouping (subject to availability), the degree awarded will be a specialist MBM. The number of specialisms available will depend on demand and may include:
· MBM (Finance)
· MBM (Operations and Logistics)
· MBM (Operations and International Supply Chain Systems)
· MBM (International Business)
· MBM (Marketing)
· MBM (Tourism and Hospitality)
* Please note that the list of electives which actually run will depend on the level of student demand. If there is very low demand the Plymouth Graduate Business School will not commit to running any given elective(s), and it is possible that a specialism might not run.
Finally, you will carry out a project which is a substantial piece of work enabling you to pursue a topic in depth.
Business context
Contextual issues as economic factors; legal and regulatory constraints;
environmental and social trends; cultural and ethical attitudes, and their
varying impacts on organisations.
Accounting and finance
Accounting concepts for the provision of information for stakeholders and management decisions; interpretation of accounting statements; sources of finance and financial management.
Analysis and management of information
Information for decision making; use of communications and information technology in organisations; information systems and systems design; implications of and for e-business. Sources and uses of data; statistical data analysis techniques; applications to management decision problems; business research methods. Please note that capability in the basic skills of numeracy and computing will be assumed.
Management in organisations
Organisational behaviour; management and motivation of people in organisations; personnel management processes including recruitment, appraisal, staff development, grievances and discipline, employee representation.
Marketing management
The marketing concept; the influence of environmental factors on market behaviour; marketing information; marketing mix; marketing planning.
Operations
Operational management of organisations in service and non-service sectors: performance measurements; quality management; capacity management; resource planning; project management; operations strategy.
Strategic development of enterprises
Meaning of enterprise; entrepreneurial behaviour; conditions for enterprise culture. Economic factors and their effect on enterprises; economics of innovation and risk taking; government policy towards enterprise and innovation. Nature and purpose of strategic management in enterprises; analytic frameworks/techniques; development of enterprising strategies.
Electives
You will choose any two from a range of around 15. The number of specialisms available will depend on demand.
Project
Business research methods leading to a practical project with a 15,000 word report.
