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Business Strategy, Leadership and Change at Heriot-Watt University - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

This degree, Business Strategy, Leadership and Change, has been developed by leading academics within the Edinburgh Business School to provide a forward-thinking, cutting-edge programme of study that focuses on key challenges that leaders and managers face in the modern business environment. You’ll learn to develop a critical understanding of the principal theories, concepts and techniques of business strategy, leadership, and change. You’ll understand the techniques and practices at the forefront of business and be able to apply theories, concepts, and techniques in a practical context. This will develop your skills in evaluating alternative strategies and adopting different change management programmes and leadership styles. This is a conversion degree, meaning previous knowledge or study of the subject is not essential. This offers aspiring and less experienced future business leaders the opportunity to gain essential management skills. We work closely with our industry advisory board of business leaders to identify current skill gaps faced by organisations and ensure that our course content and teaching are aligned with industry needs. As a result, you’ll develop key skills in highly employable areas of management including business strategy, leadership, project management, change management, quality management and inventory planning. Expertise Your learning will be informed by the expertise of our research-active academics whose work covers four key areas:

  • Employment, Work and the Professions
  • Logistics and Sustainability
  • Networks and Enterprise Excellence
  • Social and Economic Data Analysis
Your learning environment This degree is taught through a combination of lectures and seminar activity involving multiple modes of learning (case studies, workshops, and research papers) and all lectures will be available to download online. You’ll be assessed by a combination of presentations, written reports and classroom exercises that may be undertaken individually or in groups. There will be a blend of coursework and examinations for summative assessment. During your studies, you’ll benefit from and have access to our state-of-the-art facilities including our Global Incubator which offers new-start firms support to take their business ideas to the next stage. Here you’ll find all types of industries from a wide range of backgrounds and knowledge working with professional and investor networks to achieve meaningful outcomes. Outside of the classroom, you can join Heriot-Watt’s Business Society which holds regular social events and provides networking opportunities and insights into career prospects in business and other relevant industries. Customise your learning You’ll have the opportunity to focus on the areas of business strategy that interest you the most. You can customise your degree to match your specific interests or career pathway by selecting four specialist course options. Near the end of our study, you’ll ‘deep dive’ into your chosen area of business strategy, leadership and change in your dissertation. You will be required to demonstrate your mastery of the subject area by developing new insight from the analysis of valuable primary research. You can choose whether to study the programme full-time or part-time. This flexibility allows you to fit your postgraduate studies around your lifestyle. Accreditation This MSc in Business Strategy, Leadership and Change is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute and successful candidates will be awarded a Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership from the Chartered Management Institute.

Modules

September Intake Year 1 Mandatory September -Competitive Strategy -Strategic Innovation Management -Leadership -Strategic Change Mandatory January -Research Philosophy and Practice Optional January -Managing Diversity in Business -Teamcraft -Quality Management -Project Management -Systems Thinking and Analysis -Business Start-up -Business Economics Mandatory May -Strategy Dissertation January Intake Year 1 January Mandatory -Research Philosophy and Practice January Optional -Teamcraft -Business Start-up -Systems Thinking and Analysis -Managing Diversity in Business -Project Management -Quality Management -Business Economics September mandatory -Strategic Change -Competitive Strategy -Leadership -Strategic Innovation Management Second January Mandatory -Strategy Dissertation

Assessment method

You will be assessed by coursework, exams, and your research project, and will receive support and feedback throughout the programme.

How to apply

International applicants

If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability. The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5 except for writing which must be at 6.0 minimum.

Entry requirements

A minimum of honours degree at 2:2 or non-UK equivalent in any academic subject provided that it includes evidence of essay writing and use of critical thinking. We welcome applications from international students and accept qualifications from around the world. Please refer to the entry requirements for your country for more details. English language requirements If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability. The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5 except for writing which must be at 6.0 minimum. If you do not have IELTS 6.0, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies.

English language requirements

Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not been educated previously in the English language must provide evidence of their English language ability to ensure they can cope with the demands of a Heriot-Watt programme taught and assessed in English. Further information about the English Language tests that we currently accept as proof of English Language ability including our own English Language programmes, can be viewed on our website.

HWU English Language Requirements

https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/entry/english-language-requirements.htm

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £10528 Whole course
Northern Ireland £10528 Whole course
Scotland £10528 Whole course
Wales £10528 Whole course
International £21192 Whole course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

For part-time, the tuition fee is: £5,264 for UK Nationals and £10,596 for International Applicants.

Sponsorship information

Postgraduate scholarships and bursaries We aim to encourage well-qualified, ambitious students to study with us and we offer a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries to achieve this. Over £6 million worth of opportunities are available in fee and stipend scholarships, and more than 400 students benefit from this support.

Business Strategy, Leadership and Change at Heriot-Watt University - UCAS