Postgraduate Prospectus

Global Product Development and Management MSc/PgDip/PgCert

Suitable for mid-career professionals and ambitious international students wishing to boost their career prospects in the global market.

Takes you on to a range of international leadership positions in globalised organisations. Graduates will be equipped to manage integrated international projects and teams to successfully address the challenges of global product development and management.

You will be taught by experts from Cranfield University supported by international lecturers from leading universities such as Stanford (US), KAIST (Korea), TU Berlin (Germany), NUS (Singapore), with a strong background in distributed product development.

Course description

The world is becoming increasingly connected, raising many challenges in terms of organisational management, product development and cross-border collaboration. Global product development is a new way of thinking that aims to utilise and manage the power of the global market to design and manufacture intelligent, sustainable and internationally competitive products.

This prestigious course develops highly employable leaders able to respond to the challenges and demands of modern globalised markets. Students are introduced to cutting-edge technologies for worldwide product development and management, including concept creation and creativity for practical product engineering. 

The course has been developed in conjunction with Factura, a leader in senior executive search and selection, which ensures it is aligned to industry needs and is well positioned to enable successful graduates to gain high profile careers.

Students benefit from use of state-of-the-art software and technical equipment such as a rapid prototyping machine, and access to a real-world global production environment through supporting industrial partners. Students are able to apply their skills in a hands-on mini project that culminates in the physical generation of a real industrial product.

The course comprises a carefully integrated and structured series of eight one-week assessed modules, a group project and an individual project.

Group project

The major learning experience for full-time students is the group project. This involves students working in teams to fulfil demanding objectives within a tight timescale, applying state-of-the-art technologies and approaches and delivering results to a high professional standard. Projects are industrially orientated and have the support of external organisations. Experience gained is highly valued by both students and prospective employers. For part-time students a dissertation usually replaces the group project.

Individual project

Either industrially or academically driven, students select the individual project in consultation with the Course Director. It provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to carry out independent research, think and work in an original way, contribute to knowledge and overcome genuine manufacturing problems. Many of the projects are supported by external organisations.

Modules:

Core modules
  • Enterprise Systems
  • Concept Development and Prototyping
  • General Management
  • Use of Novel Materials and Manufacturing Technologies
  • Cost Engineering
  • Product Development
Elective modules (choose two)
  • Product Lifecycle Management
  • Product Quality Control and Optimisation
  • Design-driven Innovation
  • Information Management

Course website - Click for further details

Entry requirements

Candidates must possess, or be expected to achieve, a 1st or 2nd class UK Honours degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline. Other relevant qualifications, together with significant experience, may be considered.

Duration

1 year full-time, 2-5 years part-time.

Start date

Full-time: October. Part-time: throughout the year.

Number of places

20.

Assessment

Taught modules 40%, group project 20% (dissertation for part-time students), individual project 40%.

Funding


Other Funding opportunities exist, such as industrial sponsorship. For the majority of part-time students sponsorship is organised by their employers. Please note that a formal offer of a place on this course must have been received before consideration can be given for funding. For information on funding opportunities please see: Finance and funding

Further details & applications

Further information

Course website

Open day - 5 July 2012

Contact

School of Applied Sciences Enquiries
T: +44 (0)1234 754086
E: appliedsciences@cranfield.ac.uk

Application process

Application form. UK students are normally expected to attend an interview and financial support is best discussed at that time. Overseas and EU students may be interviewed by telephone.

Online application

Global Product Development and Management

Teaching location

Cranfield campus, School of Applied Sciences.

Additional files

Global Product Development and Management Course Brochure