Our Management and Leadership MSc is informed by Cranfield’s Management MSc – ranked 5th in the UK by The Economist WhichMBA? 2021 Masters in Management (MiM) ranking – and our Executive MBA – ranked 8th in the UK in the Financial Times ranking of Executive MBA programmes 2020. This practical management postgraduate course, delivered in partnership with Grant Thornton – one of the world’s leading organisations of independent professional services, will help you develop your leadership and management skills with a specific focus on leading-edge insights, commercial application and effective management frameworks. It offers a ‘real-world’ business education which can be applied directly back into the workplace. Students will benefit from a diverse student cohort and our faculty’s direct involvement with global businesses. On completion, graduates will have a deep understanding of contemporary business issues and a capacity to assume active leadership roles. This page is dedicated to students seeking the Management and Leadership MSc independent of Apprenticeship Levy funding. If you are looking for more information on our Apprenticeship Levy part-funded routes, please view here.
Overview
- Start date24 March 2025
- Duration26 months part-time
- DeliveryTaught modules (65%) are assessed by a combination of written assessments that relate to a wide-range of management and leadership themes, projects, presentations and one exam. The organisation-based project, or relevant research topic of interest, (35%) is assessed as part of your coursework.
- QualificationMSc
- Study typePart-time
- CampusCranfield campus, and Grant Thornton, London
Who is it for?
- Early-career professionals who want a "real-world" business education which they can apply directly back to their workplace.
- Second career professionals seeking a change into management and leadership positions.
- Self-motivated, early-career managers who are keen to improve their management skills, knowledge and abilities, and become more effective leaders.
This programme will enable you to embark on a transformative journey that will expand your management and leadership skills.
You will enhance your understanding of others, yourself, and the mechanics of leadership, enabling you to be a leader with impact. This is your opportunity to unlock your potential, develop effective decision-making abilities, foster strong communication and teamwork, and inspire innovation, all while shaping the future of management and leadership.
We've created a development programme, which truly responds the modern-day challenges of senior leaders.
The blend of Grant Thornton’s industry expertise with Cranfield’s academic excellence provides a unique learning experience for participants, enabling leaders to navigate and shape the future of their business. Its practical and applied learning that delivers real impact and business benefit to sponsoring organisations.
We've learnt so many different processes and process improvement techniques that are 100% takeaway and applicable to what we do day-to-day.
I’ve definitely been able to take some of those back into the business and have made some continuous improvement to our processes at work.
Why this course?
- Cranfield School of Management consistently performs well in international business rankings. We are ranked 8th in the UK and 37th in Europe in the Financial Times European Business School 2023 Rankings.
- The collaboration of Cranfield and Grant Thornton in the delivery of this course ensures you will be exposed to industry-leading education, incorporating teaching from current practitioners, business simulations and one-to-one leadership coaching.
- You will develop leadership capabilities in yourself and others, in order to meet today’s societal and business challenges.
- You will gain comprehensive knowledge of core business functions enabling you to progress into a variety of management areas.
- You will develop a strategic mind-set to enable the achievement of business objectives.
- You will develop the self-awareness and confidence to effectively lead, or operate as part of, a team.
- You will study with a cohort of experienced professionals, build your network and gain insights into management best practice internationally in an atmosphere that encourages camaraderie.
Informed by Industry
The University has drawn on its world leading research and connections with industry across the globe to inform the course. Many of our faculty have held senior positions in industry and continue to engage with industry through consultancy, teaching and research. They are supported by a team of international industry speakers and professors who bring the latest thinking and best practice into the classroom.
Course details
The course covers core management subjects and is delivered in two parts. The first part consists of 11 modules taken over a 15-month period through one week of teaching each quarter, and the second part consists of one module, Business Skills and Negotiations, and a thesis. For the thesis, you will propose a research project related to your organisation or a relevant subject and work closely with an academic supervisor to complete.
The course is highly interactive and student-centred with large elements of teamwork, group projects and private study.
To summarise, the structure comprises:
Months 1-15: 11 compulsory modules.
Months 16-26: Management and Leadership thesis research methods preparation, Business Skills and Negotiations module, and work-based-project or thesis.
Course delivery
Taught modules (65%) are assessed by a combination of written assessments that relate to a wide-range of management and leadership themes, projects, presentations and one exam. The organisation-based project, or relevant research topic of interest, (35%) is assessed as part of your coursework.
Course modules
Compulsory modules
All the modules in the following list need to be taken as part of this course.
Economics for Managers
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Aim |
To introduce the concepts and techniques associated with Managerial Economics, i.e., Microeconomics (e.g. market analysis, price theory, rationality) and Macroeconomics (e.g. inflation, exchange rates and interest rates). |
Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Leading with Impact: Organisational Behaviour
Module Leader |
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Aim |
Introduction: success in management, particularly at senior levels in organisations, depends on understanding organisations, the people in them and the relationship between the internal and external environments within which they exist; and in ensuring that they work effectively. Organisations are run by and for people, and the success or failure of an organisation depends on the people in that organisation. It is rarely an absence of planning that causes organisational difficulties; it is often the failure of management in understanding and managing complex personal, interpersonal and organisational systems that can lead to significant problems. Similarly, an acute and critical understanding of these dynamics can lead to profound and enduring success and benefit for the individual, the team, the organisation and, indeed, wider society. In this module students will be introduced to various aspects of people and organisations. This module combines models, theories and ideas from organisational behaviour, psychology, sociology and international human resource management, in order to provide students with an understanding in recognising, understanding and utilising what has been termed the "human factor" in organisations; including ways of conceptualising organisations and how people behave within them. We shall consider the impact of the external environment; and begin to address notions of organisational change. Uniquely this module will also focus on application and will allow students to reflect on and apply theories and techniques in their own real-world context, utilising a structured journal approach in order to enhance their own Leadership behaviours. It may also be that students will wish to undertake an in-company project in this area; several of the faculty involved will be pleased to discuss this with you. |
Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:
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Leading Strategic Operations
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Aim |
To develop a theoretical and practical skill base of Leading Strategic Operations. This module provides students with an understanding of the Operations Management task and its contribution to organisational competitiveness. |
Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:
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Strategic Marketing
Module Leader |
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Aim |
A crucial competence for general managers is an understanding of marketing strategy: in simple terms, analysing how a marketplace of customers can be divided into segments, which of these segments are key targets for the firm, determining the firm’s optimal value proposition for each segment, and what financial and non-financial results can be expected over a planning period of typically 1-3 years. This module teaches Cranfield’s world-leading step-by-step process for developing such a marketing strategy and documenting it in a marketing plan. This process has been developed with hundreds of blue-chip companies worldwide over the last 30 years, informed by several Cranfield PhDs on the topic which have studied what works in practice. This planning process is documented in a leading textbook on the topic, McDonald & Wilson’s Marketing Plans, which has sold over half a million copies. This book is used as the course text. Students may wish to acquire a copy from the library or through purchase to help bridge from the course to planning for real in their subsequent management roles. |
Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:
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Leading Corporate Sustainability
Aim |
Global sustainability challenges are shaping the way business operates in the 21st century. Businesses are under increasing pressure from multiple stakeholders (for e.g. shareholders, customers, employees, society) to manage their positive and negative impacts with clear responsibility and strategic intent. Leading firms are choosing to respond to these challenges by generating sustainable value propositions to ultimately drive competitive advantage. For many this has meant re-engaging at the level of purpose and re-addressing their role in wider society and for human well-being. This module outlines the major sustainability challenges and explores the capabilities organisations require to respond positively to them. It will engage you in gaining a better understanding of how corporate action can be best configured to promote responsible and sustainable business strategies. In doing so, it will demand management students (as future business managers and leaders) to reflect on the long-standing debate about whether or not ‘the business of business, is still business? Watch video: An introduction to the Leading Corporate Sustainability module |
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Syllabus |
The content is organised around the sustainability management ‘compass’ below:
The course content is structured as follows: Part 1: Setting the context Context setting The role of business Exploring possible futures Part 2: Developing the capabilities |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Accounting
Module Leader |
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Aim |
Financial Accounting: to give students a thorough understanding of company accounts, how they are constructed and how to interpret them. Management Accounting: to look at and understand the key issues in the subject from the point of view of business leaders needing to make practical decisions in their organisation. |
Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:
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Strategic Management and Leadership
Module Leader |
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Aim |
Strategic Management and Leadership is concerned with the direction and scope of the organisation. This involves determining the purpose of the organisation, establishing objectives and formulating strategies to achieve the objectives. It predominantly explores how an organisation positions itself with regard to its changing environment, and in particular its competitors, in order to gain and sustain competitive advantage. This means that strategic management and leadership considers how an organisation’s internal resources and capabilities can be developed to meet the changing demands of customers, in such a way as to achieve the expectations and objectives of its stakeholders. |
Syllabus |
We begin by examining the different levels of strategy and the joint importance of strategy content and strategy process by discussing generic strategies. We then explore strategic management at the business unit level, introducing the notions of industry analysis, resources and capabilities, and sustainable competitive advantage. In so doing, we explore various strategic tools and techniques for internal and external analyses. Finally, we address the challenge of how strategies can be turned into action and the particular role of strategic leadership within this. |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:
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People Management and Leadership
Module Leader |
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Aim |
This module is concerned with managing the organisation’s key resource – the people who work for it. It aims to help learners understand how effective people management can contribute to develop and sustain organisations. The module aims to develop an insight into the complexities of managing people in a changing environment. The focus of the module is to help learners understand the relationship between people management and organisational performance, including managerial roles and responsibilities, especially the crucial role of line managers. The module will provide an introduction to the main activities associated with resourcing, developing and day–to-day management of people in organisations. It is not the intention of the module to develop human resource management specialist, but rather to provide a general introduction to the people management issues that concern all managers.The module will draw on key academic contributions in the broad field of people management, including current research being carried out by faculty in the School of Management. Throughout the module, sessions will be highly interactive in order to develop critical insight and core skills in the people management field. |
Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:
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Supply Chain Management
Aim |
The aim of the module is to provide theoretical and practical knowledge about: |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
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Management Consulting
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Aim |
This is an integrative module allowing students to develop management consulting skills and apply their learning in a practical manner. It will use the insights generated through the Effective Cross-Cultural Management module to explore the cultural nuances of the company/national culture relevant to the case company. Students will work in their consulting teams and will role-play as a management consulting team, competing against the other teams. All teams will address the same business challenge: a genuine business issue in a particular company. Students will have a set of taught sessions on the ‘art and craft’ of management consulting. In parallel, they will work with their consulting teams to address the case company business challenge. They will engage with the problem; gather the relevant data; use appropriate tools/frameworks and propose innovative, pragmatic and achievable solutions. |
Syllabus |
This module comprises conceptual knowledge about the foundations of management consulting and practical knowledge developed through a consulting project for a real organization which every year is chosen by the module leader. The module includes teaching and feedback sessions focused on the following: Consulting skills Consulting process |
Intended learning outcomes |
This module is intended to enable students to develop critical management consulting skills and apply them in the context of a real-life business problem. By the end of this module students should be able to:
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Programme and Project Management
Module Leader |
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Aim |
This is an introduction to the subject. However, it is our contention that projects are the building blocks of strategy. Also, the module provides a logical and simple process by which you may approach their own modules and objectives, and may well be a valuable source of confidence for taking on major elective projects later in the year. Project Management Introduction (PMI) demonstrates how management respects no boundaries (either in terms of functional silos – departments, etc. or theoretical disciplines). PMI provides additional opportunities to practice personal communication skills, and generally the module provides a basis for personal development and increased confidence and self-awareness.
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Syllabus |
The central aims of this module are to develop an introductory understanding of: |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Business Skills and Negotiations (MSc route only)
Aim |
The aim of this module is twofold. Firstly, it aims to help participants develop business skills and confidence in managing in multinational organizations. The module explores management and leadership issues arising from working within culturally diverse organisations and enables students to more successfully lead change leadership challenges. Secondly, it aids in the understanding of the principles of business-to-business negotiation, taking the opportunity to practice learned skills and obtaining feedback on their performance. It will provide participants with an understanding of how to manage commercial relationships through negotiation throughout the procurement cycle. |
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Syllabus |
This module has the following elements: Throughout, the interface between individuals and national/organisational culture will be explored. Participants will be encouraged to reflect personally on the cross-cultural context they are embedded in, on adjustment required to develop effective supranational skills, knowledge and behaviours as well as how to build social networks. Individuals will also be encouraged to reflect on the B2B skills they have learned and how they can put it into practice in the workplace. |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
Throughout, the interface between individuals and organisations will be explored. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on their own global working preferences and experiences as well as their skills, knowledge and behaviours in change management. Individuals will also be encouraged to reflect on the B2B negotiation skills they have learned and how they can put them into practice in the workplace. |
Evidence-based Management
Module Leader |
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Aim |
The module is primarily designed to provide students with an understanding of what is required to conduct research in business contexts considering that todays’ managers Therefore, understanding the process of producing evidence will ensure students to have the core skills to inform management decisions. |
Syllabus |
Introduction to evidence-based management Conducting research in management Using qualitative research methods Using quantitative research methods Presenting research evidence |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Keeping our courses up-to-date and current requires constant innovation and change. The modules we offer reflect the needs of business and industry and the research interests of our staff. As a result, they may change or be withdrawn due to research developments, legislation changes or for a variety of other reasons. Changes may also be designed to improve the student learning experience or to respond to feedback from students, external examiners, accreditation bodies and industrial advisory panels.
To give you a taster, we have detailed the compulsory and elective (where applicable) modules which are currently affiliated with this course. All modules are indicative only and may be subject to change for your year of entry.
Teaching team
Our faculty are passionately committed to improving the practice of management. As leaders in their field with hands-on business experience, they understand the challenges of putting theory into practice. Their experience is reinforced by close links with organisations through consultancy projects, teaching on executive development programmes and sponsored research. This ensures that what you learn at Cranfield is always current and cutting edge. The Course Director for this course is Dr Lyn Lanka.
Accreditation
The Cranfield Management and Leadership MSc is a Chartered Management Institute (CMI) dual accreditation degree. This provides the opportunity to stand out from other management graduates by achieving the CMI’s professional management qualification alongside your Cranfield degree.
The CMI is the only chartered professional body in the UK dedicated to promoting the highest standards in management and leadership excellence. It is the only organisation awarding Chartered Manager status, and has a 100,000+ membership.
Cranfield School of Management is one of an elite group of business schools worldwide to hold triple accreditations from Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Association of Master of Business Administration (AMBA) and European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).
Your career
Our Management and Leadership MSc will enable you to develop your knowledge, skills and abilities while applying what you learn directly in your workplace. The programme will support your career progression, preparing you to successfully carry out senior leadership roles in the future.
You will work with accredited coaches, members of faculty and careers advisors throughout the course enabling you to:
- Discover and develop your leadership and team-working style
- Identify how to enhance your personal effectiveness
- Work out where you want to go professionally
- Learn the techniques of effective team leadership
- Become more sensitive to situations, cultures and contexts
- Prepare to lead change and face future challenges.
Our Career services team offer: individual career consultations, speaker events, alumni networking, networking workshop, personal and executive career coaching, leadership assessment centre, and more practical skills-based workshops on writing CVs and cover letters, and interview skills.
How to apply
Our students do not always fit traditional academic or career paths. We consider this to be a positive aspect of diversity, not a hurdle. We are looking for a body of professional learners who have a wide range of experiences to share. If you are unsure of your suitability for our Management and Leadership MSc, we are happy to review your details and give feedback before you make a formal application. You can also contact Dr Lyn Lanka, Course Director, for more information about the course and your application: Lyn.Lanka@cranfield.ac.uk
To apply you will need to register to use our online system. Once you have set up an account you will be able to create, save and amend your application form before submitting it.
Once your online application has been submitted together with your supporting documentation, it will be processed by our admissions team. You will then be advised by email if you are successful, unsuccessful, or whether the course director would like to interview you before a decision is made. Applicants based outside of the UK may be interviewed either by telephone or video conference.
Read our Application Guide for a step-by-step explanation of the application process from pre-application through to joining us at Cranfield.
Applications for apprenticeship routes have to come via the Expression of Interest form. Apprenticeship applications received via the application button on this page will not be processed.
Application deadline
March 2025 start: 24 February 2025