MSc Organisational Change and Development

Year of entry: 2024

Overview

Degree awarded
Master of Science (MSc)
Duration
1 year (full-time); 2 years (part-time)
Entry requirements

We require a UK Honours degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.

When assessing your academic record we take into account the grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.

Full entry requirements

How to apply
Apply online

Course options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
MSc Y Y N N

Course overview

  • Join a university ranked 6th in the UK and 7th in the world for development studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023).
  • Develop realistic human resources strategies that contribute to effective organisational change and development interventions.
  • Understand the academic and theoretical basis of organisational change and development.
  • Engage in specific specialist processes of organisational change and development.
  • Assess the impact of change interventions at the organisational, team and individual levels.

Open days

The University holds regular open days, where you will have the opportunity to tour the campus and find out more about our facilities and courses.

On this day, you will find out more about the School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED), and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have.

For more information, see Open days .

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MSc (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £13,500
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £28,000
  • MSc (part-time)
    UK students (per annum): £6,750
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £14,000

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for international students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit postgraduate fees

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are many internal and external funding opportunities for postgraduate study.

We offer several postgraduate taught scholarships and merit awards to outstanding applicants and international students.

We also regularly welcome students on the University's Equity and Merit scholarship scheme.

In addition, the Manchester Alumni Scholarship Scheme offers a £3,000 reduction in tuition fees to University of Manchester alumni who achieved a first-class bachelor's degree and are progressing to a postgraduate taught master's course.

Many of our students have gained British Chevening, British Council or Commonwealth scholarships, as well as country-specific awards.

For more information, see our fees and funding webpages or search the University's postgraduate funding database.

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Environment, Education and Development
Contact name
School of Environment, Education and Development +44 (0) 161 275 2814
Telephone
+44 (0) 161 275 2814
Email
Website
http://www.seed.manchester.ac.uk/
School/Faculty
See: The School .

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

We require a UK Honours degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.

When assessing your academic record we take into account the grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.

English language

For the latest information on demonstrating your English proficiency for those whose first language is not English, please see our language requirements .

This programme also accepts successful completion of the 6 and 10 Week Pre-sessional English Language course. We accept the following qualifications which must be valid on the start date of the Pre-sessional course:

6 week: IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and speaking, and 6.0 in listening and reading OR IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in writing or speaking, and 6.0 in the other sub-skills

10 week: IELTS 6.5 with no sub-skill below 6.0

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Other international entry requirements

We accept a range of qualifications from across the globe. To help international students the university provides specific information for many individual countries. Please see our country-specific information page   for guidance on the academic qualifications which may be accepted from your country.

Professional entry qualification

If you do not meet our academic entry qualification criterion, your admission may still be approved if satisfactory evidence of postgraduate study, research or substantial relevant professional experience can be provided.

Application and selection

How to apply

Advice to applicants

Please submit the following documents with your completed application form:
  • valid English Language qualification, eg IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson test score report;
  • copies of official degree certificates and transcripts of your previous study, showing the subjects taken and grades obtained. If these documents are in languages other than English please provide official translations;
  • your CV.

Ensure that you enclose all the necessary documents to avoid any delays. Applications cannot be processed without a valid English language qualification.

Deposit information

We ask for the deposit as competition for places is high and there is limited availability.

When you have been made an offer, you will be required to pay a £1,000 deposit by the deadline date stated in your offer letter before you can be accepted on this course. The deposit amount will be deducted from your tuition fees when you register on the course.

The deposit is non-refundable, except in the following situations:

•You fail to meet the conditions of your offer.

•You are refused a visa or entry clearance to enter the UK.

•Your application for government funding has been unsuccessful.

Evidence must be provided before a refund will be processed under any of the circumstances above.

If your offer specifies an English Language condition which you do not meet, the Admissions Team will require the official certificate of an English Language test taken after the date of the offer as evidence that you have attempted to meet your offer conditions. The English language test certificate provided with your application documents is not accepted as proof that you have attempted to meet your offer conditions as it will predate the offer.

If your offer specifies an academic condition, the Admissions Team will require official university documentation showing that you have not met the condition from the institution at which you studied as evidence.

The Admissions Team reserves the right to refuse a refund of your deposit that does not meet with the requirements outlined above. 

How your application is considered

Due to the high demand for the programme, we operate a staged admissions process with a number of deadlines throughout the year. 

As the competition for places is high, we give preference to students from high-ranking institutions and with grades above our minimum entry requirements.

Please, ensure you submit all supporting documentation with your application before the application deadline to avoid a delay in processing. 

* Stage 1: Application received by 08 December 2023 - Application update by 22 February 2024

* Stage 2: Application received by 03 March 2024 - Application update by 25 April 2024

* Stage 3: Application received by 05 May 2024 - Application update by 08 June 2024

* Stage 4: Application received by 01 July 2024 - Application update by 25 July 2024

While we aim to give you a decision on your application by the deadline date, in some instances due to the competition for places and the volume of applications received, it may be necessary to roll your application forward to the next deadline date.

Applications received after our final application deadline will be considered at our discretion if places are still available.

Please, note, all places are subject to availability and if you apply at one of the later stages, some courses may already be reaching capacity or be closed to further applications. We, therefore, recommend that you apply early in the cycle to avoid disappointment.    

Deferrals

Applications for deferred entry are not accepted for this course. If you receive an offer and wish to be considered for the following year of entry, you will need to place a new application. Please be aware, there is no guarantee of receiving another offer, and offer conditions are subject to change in line with entry requirements.  

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. 

In your new application, you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

Course details

Course description

MSc Organisational Change and Development aims to develop graduates who can contribute to organisational change, and development initiatives/activities, in low- and middle-income countries.

It will equip you with the skills to contribute positively to organisationally based initiatives through effective diagnosis, planning, management and implementation of organisational change and development interventions.

Drivers including economic crisis, structural adjustment, competition, and technical innovation require organisations in developing and transitional economies to change and develop on an ongoing basis.

This course satisfies the growing need for staff that can make a difference in this area.

Aims

The aim of this course is to develop you into a more effective agent of organisational change and development, by providing you with new analytical capacities, skills and knowledge. By the end of the course, you should be able to:

  • understand the academic and theoretical basis of organisational change and development;
  • develop realistic HR strategies that contribute to effective organisational change and development interventions;
  • contribute positively to organisationally based initiatives through the effective diagnosis, planning, management and implementation of organisational change and development interventions;
  • engage in specific specialist processes of organisational change and development;
  • synthesise new and existing knowledge by undertaking academic or specialist organisational change and development research.

Special features

  • We're Europe's largest dedicated development research and teaching institute and have been at the forefront of development studies for over 60 years .
  • We're ranked 7th in the UK and 11th in the world for development studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021).
  • Our research was ranked first in the UK for impact and second in the UK for quality in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014).
  • We have numerous scholarship opportunities for outstanding applicants.
  • The combined field experience of our staff covers 60 countries, and we've trained almost 10,000 individuals from more than 170 countries.
  • This course has normally included fieldwork, giving you the opportunity to observe development interventions in situ and to reflect on how theoretical explorations of development are operationalised in the real world.

Teaching and learning

This course has normally included a field trip.

Please note that field trips may be scheduled at any point during the course, including during University vacations.

You are expected to be available to attend.

Part-time students

Part-time students complete the course over 24 months.

There are no evening or weekend course units available; you should, therefore, discuss course requirements with the Programme Director and seek approval from your employer.

Timetabling information is usually available from late August.

You can discuss course unit choices during induction week with the Programme Director.

Important notice

The School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) recognises the value of fieldwork. However, the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff remains our priority. The School will assess on a regular basis the viability of any travel and fieldwork and communicate any significant changes to our students at the earliest possible opportunity.

The ability of fieldwork and travel to proceed, and whether any changes to proposed fieldwork and travel might be necessary, will remain subject to factors such as the: 

  • rules and guidance on travel and activities implemented and published by the UK and overseas governments;
  • outcome of any risk assessments conducted by the University;
  • educational value and student experience of the fieldwork, if significant changes to the proposed fieldwork would be necessary;
  • availability of appropriate insurance cover;
  • availability of appropriate travel and accommodation and any significant changes to their financial costs.

All fieldwork and travel will be subject to a rigorous risk assessment process and the implementation of any protective measures identified by the risk assessment to ensure the health and safety of all our students and staff.

In some circumstances, it may become necessary to make changes to fieldwork or programme related travel. The University will notify you of those changes at the earliest opportunity. If any fieldwork does not go ahead as planned, then the School's focus will be on seeking to offer a suitable alternative and ensure that the Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) of the programme are met.

Please note that Countries may change their immigration and visa regulations at short notice. The School cannot guarantee that where visas are required for fieldwork, they will be granted but we will take steps so that if a visa is refused, affected students are not academically disadvantaged.

Coursework and assessment

The taught elements of the course, carrying 120 credits overall, is continuously assessed by a variety of methods (e.g., project-based reports, essays), involving largely individual submissions, but also elements of group work.

You must also complete a 12,000-15,000-word dissertation on a topic of your choice approved by the Programme Directors.

You are encouraged to base your dissertation on topics of direct professional concern.

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Organizational Psychology, Management and Change MGDI70081 15 Mandatory
Organisation Development MGDI70461 15 Mandatory
Organisational Change Strategies MGDI70882 15 Mandatory
Research Methods and Skills in Organisational Contexts MGDI77770 15 Mandatory
Introducing Information Systems in Organisations MGDI60012 15 Optional
Public Sector Reform and Management MGDI60081 15 Optional
International Management MGDI60101 15 Optional
Human Resource Development: Key Concepts MGDI60151 15 Optional
Human Resource Development & Leadership MGDI60162 15 Optional
Managing Quality in Development MGDI70472 15 Optional
Human Resource Practice 1 MGDI70661 15 Optional
Gender & Development MGDI70802 15 Optional
Planning and Managing Development MGDI70992 15 Optional
Learning, Training and Development MGDI71441 15 Optional
Development Practice: International Contexts and Worlds of Action MGDI71981 15 Optional
Characteristics and Skills of Development Practice MGDI71992 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 16 course units

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service.

For more information, email  dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

The MSc in Organisational Change and Development is likely to be of interest to applicants who have strong career interests in the area of people management.

Past participants have included managers, administrators, consultants and professional practitioners as well as those who have gained work experience through internships and voluntary positions.

Graduates have obtained employment in the private, public, and NGO sectors.

NGOs and third sector organisations

Our teaching and research aims are suited to work in non-government and civil society organisations where you take on a range of roles from policy advisors, project managers, HR and communications staff.

Our alumni can be found at large international NGOs like Oxfam as well as in many smaller organisations.

Government and policy

Graduates can be found in national governments, multilateral organisations and policy influencing positions around the world, in organisations including DFID, the World Bank, African Union, United Nations and as civil servants around the world.

Private sector

Our focus on how businesses and the private sector can play a role in development enables you to gain employment in multinational organisations, private sector firms or to start your own organisations addressing some of the biggest global challenges.

Research and teaching

Our master's courses provide you with a strong theoretical foundation for further study.

Alumni find employment in research and teaching positions at universities and research institutes around the world. Top employers include:

  • African Union;
  • Oxfam;
  • Inter-American Development Bank;
  • Care;
  • Mercy Corps;
  • The British Council;
  • the World Bank;
  • the Department for International Development;
  • United Nations;
  • USAID.

Find out more about our alumni and some of our notable former students .

Careers support

The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate.

At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .

Careers support for international students

The Careers Service provides specialist resources, advice and events to help with career planning and making the most of your time while studying in Manchester.

Global networks

The University of Manchester is proud to have the largest global alumni community of any campus-based university in the UK.

After your course, you'll join our 10,000 strong alumni network .

We'll keep you up to date with all the new insights and implications from our research.

International alumni groups are a great way to keep in touch with fellow Manchester graduates in your country.

It is an opportunity to build professional and social networks.

You can view the alumni networks already operating across the globe, here .