University of Bristol - Business, Economics and Innovation

MSc Management

Our intensive one-year MSc Management with a specialism in Leadership, Strategy and Change is for graduates from a wide range of subject backgrounds. It is not necessary to have any prior academic or practical experience in business or management. This programme is for students who aspire to management-level and leadership roles within their chosen industry.

Our MSc Management pathways provide an introduction to management, followed by a detailed exploration of a specific area of management theory and practice, in this case, leadership, strategy and change. The programme attracts students from around the globe and you will work with students with different backgrounds and interests.

You will develop an in-depth understanding of the theories and practices that underpin leading change in the contemporary organisational context, characterised by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. You will critically evaluate areas such as strategic leadership and leading complex change, including contemporary leadership challenges such as sustainability, diversity, ethical leadership and leading virtual teams.

We aim to guide, teach and develop analytical and confident critical thinkers. You will gain insight into the nature of management and leadership, strategy and change, and apply theory to practice through in-class discussions of real cases and practical methods. Group work and presentations, often based on industry case studies, allow practical application of theory and develop the teamwork and communication skills expected in today's workplace.

This programme will help you to:

• Apply management techniques drawn from a range of disciplines such as marketing, operations, organisational behaviour, strategy, finance and accounting, and marketing to management in organisations.
• Understand the nature of management, the complexity of organisations and management’s role and responsibility in addressing societal and global challenges.
• Reflect upon the wider challenges that organisations face and critically engage with ethical and sustainability issues as they arise.
• Prepare for a career in management and leadership roles in your chosen industry with expert knowledge in your specialist subject.

Graduates from this programme will benefit from studying at a university ranking 8th in the UK and 51st in the world (QS World University rankings 2026). You will be taught by leading academics whose research tackles the global societal issues facing modern management. A large percentage of our business and management research is rated as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' (REF 2021), reflecting its impact on shaping policy and practice.