Master of Science in Business Strategy and Innovation Management
Southampton, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
12 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2027
TUITION FEES
GBP 32,500 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* EU and international students pay
Key Summary
About: This one-year MSc in Business Strategy and Innovation Management at The University of Southampton trains you to develop and manage new products, services and business models. The course covers strategy, digital, service and disruptive innovation, the sharing economy, and sustainability. You’ll tackle real strategic challenges, choose optional modules in digital retail or entrepreneurship, and engage with industry through Sainsbury's and Rolls-Royce. The university offers a wide range of merit and competitive scholarships.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can work across technology, retail, manufacturing, services and global startups in roles such as strategic management, innovation management, product development, entrepreneurship and technology transfer.
This one-year Master of Science in Business Strategy and Innovation Management equips you with the knowledge and practical skills to develop and manage new products, services, and business models in any organisation. You'll gain an in-depth understanding of the latest concepts in strategy and innovation, with a particular focus on driving business growth and addressing sustainability challenges. The course explores how strategic thinking and innovation can make companies more competitive, transform industries, and create entirely new business opportunities. You'll tackle real strategic and management challenges involved in developing, implementing, and marketing new products and services. Throughout your studies, you'll engage with contemporary topics including the sharing economy, disruptive technologies, service innovation, and social and environmental sustainability. The curriculum is informed by active research in digital innovation, new business models, and inclusive entrepreneurship. You'll benefit from strong links with major businesses like Sainsbury's and Rolls-Royce, including company visits and guest lectures from industry partners. By choosing optional modules in marketing, digital retail, or entrepreneurship, you can tailor the degree to your career goals.
This is a 12-month full-time programme. For the first 8 months (semesters 1 and 2), you study taught modules: some compulsory, others optional from a list. You sit exams at the end of each semester. For the remaining 4 months, you complete an independent 15,000-word dissertation with one-to-one supervisor meetings. Compulsory modules include: Current Trends in Strategy and Innovation Management, Strategic Management, Innovation and Technology Transfer, Service Innovation Management, Sustainable and Responsible Innovation, and Dissertation (DSIE). Optional modules allow you to specialise in areas such as marketing, retailing in the digital age, and entrepreneurship. Modules cover topics including the sharing economy, disruptive technologies, service innovation, and social and environmental sustainability.
What graduates are qualified to do
Upon graduation, you are qualified to work in any organisation interested in developing new products or business models. You can pursue roles in strategic management, innovation management, product development, business strategy, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer. The programme prepares you to help companies become more competitive, drive industry change, and create new business opportunities. You'll be equipped to understand and implement strategies for service innovation, sustainability, and growth in sectors ranging from technology and retail to manufacturing and startups.
Career paths and typical employers
Graduates can pursue careers in strategic management, innovation management, product development, business strategy, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer roles. The programme specifically mentions that you can go into any organisation developing new products or business models. Named employers with strong links to the programme include Sainsbury's and Rolls-Royce. Career paths span sectors including technology, retail, manufacturing, professional services, and startups.
You're ideal for this program if you hold a 2:1 degree in engineering, humanities, mathematics, physical sciences, information systems, management, social sciences, or languages, and you're interested in driving innovation and strategy in business. You may have some work experience in business or technology sectors. You're curious about how companies develop new products and business models, and you want to understand sustainability and competitive advantage. This course suits you if you aspire to roles in product development, strategic management, innovation, or entrepreneurship across sectors like technology, retail, manufacturing, or startups.
Full-time on-campus delivery at Highfield campus, University of Southampton. The programme runs from September to the following September over 12 months. Semesters 1 and 2 (8 months) involve taught modules with exams at the end of each semester. The final 4 months involve independent dissertation work with scheduled one-to-one supervisor meetings. Teaching is informed by research-led approaches and industry partnerships.