Triangle

Course overview

Our Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Management MSc will help you to harness your creativity and make your entrepreneurship goals a reality. It is ideal if you want to start your own enterprise, enter the family business or become a consultant who can drive innovations in dynamic corporate settings.

You will explore topics including launching new ventures, innovation and a variety of entrepreneurial contexts. You can also study venture capital and private equity, through a practical module that uses real life case studies and guest speakers with vast experience as venture capitalists.

For the entrepreneurship project in semester two, you will work to a brief and deliver a consultancy style report and presentation for the project sponsor - typically a founder of an entrepreneurial SME.

You will have access to the University of Nottingham’s business incubator and accelerator, the Ingenuity Lab. The Ingenuity Lab is at the at the core of an ecosystem that fosters inclusive entrepreneurship and sustainable innovations. You will be able to connect with our Entrepreneurs in Residence through their role as mentors for either new entrepreneurs or for your summer business plan.

Alongside your course you have the option to take industry-recognised digital qualifications by Microsoft and SAP, which will develop your digital skills and help you stand out to future employers.

Why choose this course?

Top 100

in the world and top 15 in the UK

Delivered by

a centre of entrepreneurial skills development, innovation and work

Triple accredited

Part of an elite group of business schools worldwide to gain ‘triple crown’ accreditation

EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB accredited

Gain digital skills

Business School students have the opportunity to gain digital skills with industry-recognised Microsoft and SAP certifications

More than 27,000

Business School alumni connect you to a powerful global network of business contacts

Course content

Across the autumn and spring semesters, you will take 120 credits of taught modules including a 20-credit entrepreneurship consultancy project. Each module typically consists of 10 two or three hour sessions.

You will complete a 60-credit 15,000-word dissertation or business plan over the summer, and will be allocated an appropriate dissertation supervisor who will oversee your progress.

Modules

Core modules

Semester one

Entrepreneurial Creativity

This module will introduce you to the latest thinking in the areas of creativity, the creative process, knowledge management practices and the nature of entrepreneurship. Having established the vital link between creativity, entrepreneurship, innovation and value creation, this module uses directed reading, case study exercises, reflective blog writing and group-based creative problem solving to illustrate entrepreneurial creativity in practice.

You will be introduced to a variety of creative problem solving techniques and learn how to apply these techniques in the context of the development, evaluation, and application of ideas and concepts with commercial potential. The course culminates in you pitching your identified entrepreneurial opportunity to peers and real-world entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurship in Context

This module covers:

  • definitions of entrepreneurship/entrepreneurial activity
  • the theoretical perspectives underpinning the study of entrepreneurship
  • understanding what shapes the practice of entrepreneurship both in different settings (for example, social entrepreneurship, technology, family business, international entrepreneurship, environmental business, social media) and due to contextual influences (for example, influence of gender, policy)
Launching New Ventures (autumn) 20 credits

This module will introduce you to the more practical elements of innovation and enterprise activity across multiple contexts, including not just new venture creation but corporate and social entrepreneurship as well.

Whereas Entrepreneurship and Creativity focuses on idea generation and entrepreneurial theory, Launching New Ventures will prepare you to recognise opportunities, and to implement innovation and enterprising ideas. The ability to make informed and timely decisions will be an important aspect of this, and the module will use a start-up business simulation to encourage this.

Semester two

Entrepreneurship Project

The project is a problem based learning experience where you will work in self-selected teams upon a company based challenge. You are introduced to a company representative and then together develop a problem statement that will be feasible for you to address during the semester and also will deliver a tangible benefit to the company. You are then responsible for managing subsequent meetings with the company, gathering primary and secondary data and keeping the company up to date with progress.

Mentoring is provided to help with project management and the projects will require the application of theoretical constructs from the core modules from semester one to company challenges within an entrepreneurship context. The outcome of the project work should demonstrate an understanding of applying entrepreneurship theories in a practical context and also provide tangible and actionable recommendations to the company.

Managing Innovation in Entrepreneurial Organisations (spring) 20 credits

This module develops a knowledge and understanding of: 

  • the dynamics of the global economy and international business and/or an awareness of cultural, legal/regulatory, political, and economic differences across countries and/or an appreciation of management issues from a global perspective
  • business innovation - creativity, intrapreneurial - and entrepreneurial behaviour and enterprise development, and the management and exploitation of intellectual property
  • leadership and management of people within organisations - leadership, organisational behaviour and motivation
  • strategic management - the development and implementation of appropriate strategies within a changing environment

Summer

Entrepreneurship Business Plan

You will be expected to develop a real business concept and take it through to a business plan. This will requires an assessment of the IP position, a marketing analysis, producing a business strategy and a financial analysis. You will be assisted in taking the plan to fruition.

Entrepreneurship Dissertation

The dissertation should focus on any aspect of entrepreneurship. You are expected to choose a topic in consultation with your supervisor. Supervisors may suggest a topic where it is appropriate. As well as the written dissertation, you will make a presentation giving an overview of your work.

Optional modules

Two from:

E-Business 10 credits

The E-Business module is aimed at future managers and business people who want to know how information and communications technologies (ICTs) can help them to be successful in their careers by understanding how companies use these technologies.

Aims of the module:

  • To familiarise the strategic management issues and technology developments associated with e-business
  • To provide a solid strategic business view of the uses of web technologies and information systems
  • To help understand how and why e-businesses are successful or not, i.e. what makes them 'tick'
Managing for Sustainability 10 credits

Sustainable companies are those that are managed in socially, economically, and ecologically responsible ways. Today's managers are expected to understand the impact of management decisions and practices on the environment and society.

This module considers how sustainability principles are applied in organisations, and how to manage for sustainability. Through use of multiple learning approaches, the module enables you to practically interact with real businesses to address some sustainability challenges faced by the organisation.

The module introduces the you to frameworks and theories use to critically assess sustainability, and to integrate sustainability into the business strategy.

The module enables you to develop an understanding of the practical dilemmas facing businesses as they seek to respond to multiple, and often, conflicting stakeholders expectations. You will be expected to critically reflect upon your practical experiences and capture these using a learning journal.

Sales Management and Negotiations

The purpose of this course is to help you better understand the theory and processes of entrepreneurial sales and negotiation to develop the skills to sell and negotiate successfully in a variety of business settings.

Readings, exercises, and examples relate to the broad spectrum of negotiations that business professionals face with colleagues, employers, employees, clients, competitors, and others. These include a range of substantive issues such as purchase and sale transactions, contract negotiations, salary negotiations, workplace disputes, inter-organisational relationships, multiparty private/public negotiations, and negotiations regarding organizational change.  Sales theory and exercises build the basic understanding required to plan and successfully execute a sales revenue stream for entrepreneurial organisations.

Strategic Entrepreneurship Growth

The module combines practical and theoretical perspectives on the process of leading an entrepreneurial firm, managing growth, and developing a strategic plan.

Leading entrepreneurial growth will develop your capacity to evaluate multiple strategic options under conditions of uncertainty. Using multiple frameworks and concepts you will construct a strategic growth plan.

The module also provides insights into personal dimensions of leading entrepreneurial growth strategies across multiple types of organisations including start-ups, family owned firms, corporations and non-profits.

Technology Entrepreneurship 10 credits

This module aims to provide students with the skills, knowledge and practical experience required to respond to the challenges involved in managing, commercialising and marketing technological innovation and new business development.

Venture Capital and Private Equity

Venture capital and private equity provide risk capital to firms at various stages of their life-cycle. This involves selecting early-stage and late-stage investment opportunities, due diligence, structuring deals, valuation, managing portfolio firms, and exit.

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules. This content was last updated on Thursday 13 June 2024.

Due to timetabling availability, there may be restrictions on some module combinations.

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops

Digital professional skills certifications

We offer the opportunity for you to take industry-recognised Microsoft and SAP certifications alongside your degree programme. This will enhance your digital capability, differentiate your CV and help you stand out to future employers. Find out more on our digital professional skills website.

How you will be assessed

  • Dissertation
  • Essay
  • Examinations

You will be assessed by a combination presentations, academic blogs, business plan, videos, exams and coursework.

Contact time and study hours

10 credits modules require around 100 study hours, of which 22 hours are contact time. The Entrepreneurship Project and Dissertation are more dependent on individual study time.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Undergraduate degree2:1 (or international equivalent) in any discipline

Applying

You are required to submit a personal statement and a list of modules being studied in the final year (for applicants who have not yet completed their undergraduate degree).

Please note: this is a highly competitive course and there are a limited number of places available. The school reserves the right to close applications when capacity is reached – this may be ahead of the advertised closure date for PGT courses. Early applications are encouraged to avoid disappointment.

Our step-by-step guide covers everything you need to know about applying.

How to apply

Fees

Qualification MSc
Home / UK £15,800
International £28,200

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) .

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

As a student on this course, you should factor some additional costs into your budget, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses.

You should be able to access most of the books you'll need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies or more specific titles.

Funding

Business School MSc scholarships

There are many ways to fund your postgraduate course, from scholarships to government loans.

We also offer a range of international masters scholarships for high-achieving international scholars who can put their Nottingham degree to great use in their careers.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Postgraduate funding

Careers

We offer individual careers support for all postgraduate students.

Expert staff can help you research career options and job vacancies, build your CV or résumé, develop your interview skills and meet employers.

Each year 1,100 employers advertise graduate jobs and internships through our online vacancy service. We host regular careers fairs, including specialist fairs for different sectors.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Graduate destinations

Career destinations for our postgraduates include:

  • accountants
  • finance and investment analysts and advisers
  • marketing associate professionals
  • human resources managers
  • management consultants
  • business analysts
  • business development managers
  • financial managers
  • data analysts

Some MSc graduates have gone on to doctoral studies, others have become entrepreneurs. Our Ingenuity Lab has supported a number of our MSc graduates in starting their own company.

Career progression

86.2% of all postgraduates from Nottingham University Business School secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £31,419.*

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time within the UK.

Two masters graduates proudly holding their certificates
" The course gives you access to a large network of top academics and a link to the Ingenuity Lab. The core lecturers are fantastic, approachable, and extremely knowledgeable, and the business school has brilliant facilities. "
Tom Sproull, MSc Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Management

This content was last updated on Thursday 13 June 2024. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur given the interval between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.