MSc Business Analysis and Strategic Management

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

• Business and Management

We require 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.

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

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.

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements see entry requirements for your country .

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

• MSc (full-time)
  UK students (per annum): £20,500
  International, including EU, students (per annum): £30,500

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.

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 will be available for 2026 entry, information will be updated on our scholarships pages.

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.

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)

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 place for one year.

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.

During the course you will take 180 credits in total.

• 8x taught units = 120 credits
• Dissertation project = 60 credits

Compulsory units focus on key challenges in strategic management, multinational enterprise operations, comparative business analysis, and essential research skills. Optional courses let you tailor your studies by specialising in specific areas of strategic management and business analysis.

The dissertation project has two pathways.

• Traditional academic dissertations (maximum 8,000 words)

Academic dissertation is a piece of original scholarship work written under the direction of a supervisor. Under the mentorship of leading experts, students will dive deep into a topic of their choice, applying rigorous methodologies to uncover fresh insights and advance their field. This unit is designed to sharpen their analytical, critical thinking, and independent research skills – while building a portfolio that sets them apart in both academic and professional arenas.

• Consultancy projects (a group project report maximum 10,000 words; and an individual professional reflective report maximum 2,000 words)

During the summer period, you will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learnt during the first two semesters, enhance your skills while working with a major real-life client and work as part of a team. The result of this project is presented as a research report/dissertation. This part of the course is closely related to the Manchester Method that enables you to experience experiential learning and helps you to become a reflective practitioner or manager.

Examples of recent projects include:

• Exploring the strategic expansion of the volunteer tourism industry into the academic market
• An in-depth analysis of the wholesale market and changing trends towards online shopping
• Strategic positioning in relation to the offshore wind turbine market in northern Europe
• Identification of venture capitalist acquisition targets in the UK software industry

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

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