Overview

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Discover more about innovation research

Course overview

A one-year MSc designed to prepare you to analyse, manage and apply innovation and entrepreneurial thinking across organisations and sectors.

  • Learn how innovation processes operate in established firms, start-ups and public institutions, and how these can be applied in practice.
  • Benefit from links to the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, alongside Unit M and Masood Entrepreneurship Centre activities that support industry engagement, enterprise learning and venture development.
  • Apply innovation theories and frameworks to real-world challenges through project-based learning, applied exercises and research-informed teaching.
  • Develop practical skills to evaluate opportunities, shape new business models and contribute to the launch or scaling of ventures.
  • Understand emerging technologies, new business models and innovation-related sustainability questions, and their implications for organisations and society.

Open days

There will be opportunities to meet the team at a range of in person and online events. See if our team will be visiting a city near you.

If you are based near Manchester, visit one of our information sessions hosted at AMBS. If you would prefer to connect online, we host a series of virtual information sessions, so you can join from anywhere in the world.

Discover more about our master’s courses, get tailored advice about your eligibility and learn how to strengthen your application.

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Contact details

School/Faculty
Alliance Manchester Business School
Contact name
Master's Admissions Office
Telephone
+44 (0) 161 306 1339
Email
Website
https://www.alliancembs.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/msc-innovation-management-and-entrepreneurship/
School/Faculty overview

Alliance Manchester Business School was established in 1965 as one of the UK's first two business schools. Today, we are the UK's largest campus-based business and management school, and 'Original Thinking Applied' is at the heart of everything we do. Find out more .

Courses in related subject areas

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

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

Werequire a First or Upper Second class honours degree (2:1, with 60% average) from a UK university or the overseas equivalent .

When assessing your academic record we take into account your grade average , position in class 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 .

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 different countries. For these and general requirements see entry requirements for your country .

Fees and funding

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2026, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MSc (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £17,900
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £33,600

The fees quoted above are fully inclusive of tuition, administration and computational costs.

Fees for entry are subject to yearly review. The University reserves the right to increase your tuition fee by up to 7% each year for courses lasting more than one year, including to reflect rising costs associated with delivering our educational and wider student experience. Postgraduate fees information .

Always contact the admissions team if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

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

Scholarships are available for 2026 entry, further information can be found on our scholarships page.

Application and selection

How to apply

Apply online >>

Staged Admissions Deadlines

Staged admissions

We operate a staged admissions process for this course, see more information on how to apply and our deadlines.

Tuition fee deposits

If you are successful in receiving an offer, you will be required to pay a tuition fee deposit of £2,500 by the deadline stated in your offer letter to confirm your place. We ask for the deposit as competition for places is high and there is limited availability. The deposit amount is then deducted from your tuition fees when you register on the course.

Advice to applicants

Your statement of purpose should cover the areas outlined below: 

  • Tell us why you are interested in the MSc Innovation Management and Entrepreneur course at Alliance MBS and how the course will impact on your future
  • Describe what makes you an outstanding applicant and describe your potential to contribute to all aspects of the course.

How your application is considered

We can only process applications with the following documents:

  • valid English language qualification
  • first and second year transcript (scanned copies are accepted at the time of application)
  • statement of purpose (this is included as part of your application form, you do not need to email your statement of purpose directly to the Admissions Team)

Deferrals

To defer your offer to the following year, you must contact your admission officer to get a copy of the deferral form.  You can only defer your offer for one year.

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

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Student Insights: Supitchaya Sirithaweesit, Thailand, MSc Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship

Do you want to start your own business, be a leader of innovation within an organisation, or contribute to shaping the innovation landscape through policy? The MSc Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship at Alliance Manchester Business School equips you with the skills and perspectives to pursue these pathways, drawing on long-standing expertise in, entrepreneurship, emerging technologies, innovation policy and sustainability.

  • Learn how new, innovative products get to market, how companies introduce innovation, and how new ventures are created.
  • Explore the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, organisations of different sizes, and governments in delivering innovation.
  • Benefit from Manchester’s strong innovation ecosystem, including Unit M, the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, and the wider innovation district at Sister, supporting networking, venture-building and applied learning.
  • Gain experience working on real-world projects, such as the Global Corporate Consulting Project (GCCP).

The course is taught by experts at the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, a world-leading centre with over 50 years’ expertise in science, technology and innovation policy and management. Throughout the programme, field trips and external speakers provide opportunities to learn best practice from managers and entrepreneurs. You can take part in a dedicated employability series with activities and guest speakers to boost confidence and career planning.

Aims

This course will:

  • Give you a strong foundation in innovation management and entrepreneurship, including how new products get to market, how companies introduce innovation, and how new ventures are created.
  • Develop your critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills, and help you apply theory to real-world innovation challenges in business, government and society.
  • Build practical skills in entrepreneurship techniques, research methods, communication and teamwork, preparing you for a range of career paths.
  • Enable you to apply your learning to a chosen innovation management and entrepreneurship topic through course units and a dissertation.

Special features

Studying this MSc in Manchester places you at the heart of one of the UK’s most vibrant innovation ecosystems. Sister, a £1.7bn innovation district on UoM’s former North Campus, brings together science, technology and business in a 4 million sq. ft collaborative hub with coworking spaces, event venues, and innovation facilities.

Students also have the opportunity to participate in an organised visit to Manchester’s digital incubators, experiencing real-life applications of course concepts. You’ll benefit from Unit M, which connects students, researchers and industry partners, and from Masood Entrepreneurship Centre activities that support networking, venture-building and innovation practice.

Coursework and assessment

Units are typically assessed by a combination of:

  • Written work (essay, report or blog)
  • Presentation
  • Group project assessment
  • Examination

The last third of the programme is spent researching and writing a dissertation, the choice of topic reflecting the student's interests and the expertise of the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (MIOIR) .

Course unit details

You will study for 180 credits in total.

  • 8 core and optional units = 120 credits
  • Dissertation = 60 credits  

Students will complete four core units in semester 1 that provide theoretical and practical foundations in innovation management and entrepreneurship. In semester 2 students elect three units from the list of optional courses to suit their interests, with options in three core areas:

  • firm innovation and strategy
  • entrepreneurship and business creation, and
  • innovation and society, focussing on e.g. global challenge, regional factors, and emerging technologies.

Over the summer period, you will carry out your Research Dissertation on an innovation management and entrepreneurship topic of your choice. Students’ dissertation topics reflect the diverse interests and expertise of research and teaching staff in the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (MIOIR) and Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC). There are limited opportunities to undertake a dissertation project related to a new venture/start-up idea, or in collaboration with external partners.

Recent dissertation project topics include:

  • Business model innovation for sustainability in the fashion industry
  • Studying user involvement in medical device innovation processes in the UK
  • The potential of Fintech as a disruptive innovation in Colombia
  • Understanding women entrepreneurs of Pakistan
  • Value Co-creation in the sharing economy

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
BMAN61001 15 Mandatory
BMAN71471 15 Mandatory
BMAN71721 15 Mandatory
BMAN71751 15 Mandatory
BMAN72352 15 Mandatory
BMAN62042 15 Optional
BMAN62062 15 Optional
BMAN70372 15 Optional
BMAN71662 15 Optional
MCEL60032 15 Optional
MCEL60142 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 11 course units
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What our students say

Watch Sarah Novianti talk about her experience at Alliance MBS.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

Graduates from this MSc go on to build, lead and influence innovation across organisations and sectors, creating value through strategic thinking and entrepreneurial action.

Alumni work in areas such as business development, innovation management, strategy, product management, consulting and marketing, and many also found or lead new ventures. Recent graduates have taken roles in consulting, technology, professional services and digital organisations, applying their skills to drive innovation and change.

Career destinations span multiple countries including the UK, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Chile, across Europe and North America, reflecting the programme’s global reach and networks.

Recent recruiters
Accenture, Cisco Systems, Deloitte, JP Morgan, KPMG, Meta, McKinsey, Amazon, Worldpay, Huawei, UN Climate Change, Fidelity Canada, EY, Telkom, Corfo, Invest India, Krungsri, Cap Gemini, Protiviti, Digital Catapult, GoCardless, Stäubli, Sony Online Store, Vola Finance.

Alumni roles include
Senior Policy Analyst, Senior Executive (Marketing), Vice President, Business Development Manager, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Consultant, Associate Human Resources Officer, Innovation Manager, Digital Product Manager, Venture Capital Executive.

Hear how an alumnus went on to found Legalnova after the programme: A Lawyer's leap

Careers support
AMBS Master’s students receive dedicated careers support to build employability and connect with employers. You’ll have access to sessions on applications, CVs, interviews and LinkedIn, plus tailored workshops and one-to-one careers consultant support. You can also engage with employer and alumni insights through guest speaker events and track opportunities through the online careers platform. AMBS careers support works closely with the University Careers Service , giving access to careers fairs, employer presentations and advertised vacancies.

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.