Online course
PGCert Entrepreneurship
- Duration: 9-12 months, part-time
- Workload: Approx 20 hours per week
- Next enrolment: September 2023
- Fees: PGCert: £5,000, to support you through your studies, receive a 15% discount on course fees
Introduction
It’s time to bring your business ideas to life
Explore new opportunities, develop innovative business ideas with commercial potential and create your own future with the PGCert in Entrepreneurship.
Whether you’re developing a start-up venture, want to grow your existing enterprise, or keen to enhance your career within an organisation, we’ll provide you with the essential skills to turn your ideas and strategies into working realities.
With a proud history of innovation and partnership with industry, The University of Manchester and Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC), are here to support and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs every step of the way.
Key features
Develop your entrepreneurial mind-set
Learn the fundamental business knowledge and skills to take business ideas forwards and contribute to innovation and change in any environment.
Maximise your global business network
Develop networks to acquire advice, ideas, guidance and resources critical to the development of a venture or project.
World-class teaching and resources
Access world-class knowledge and resources from The University of Manchester, Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) and Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC).
Alex Marshall student story
I can wholeheartedly recommend studying towards The University of Manchester’s Entrepreneurship courses which give you a strong grounding to succeed in the future.
Alex Marshall
Director
Clarke Energy
Developed with Alliance Manchester Business School and Masood Entrepreneurship Centre
Benefits of our collaborative approach
- With over 20 years’ experience, MEC is recognised as one of the UK leaders in the area of practitioner-based, applied enterprise and entrepreneurial teaching, learning and support.
- Full access to MEC facilities including workshops, events, mentorship programmes, start-up competitions and drop-in support sessions.
- Access to a global network of over 60,000 alumni, spread across 176 countries.
- World-class, industry-focused education with triple accreditation from AACSB International, AMBA and EQUIS.
Key information
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Delivery
100% online - so you can fit your studies around your other commitments. Through the course, students will also have access to The University of Manchester and AMBS/MEC facilities, should they wish to attend in person events and workshops
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Duration
The course can be completed part-time from start to finish in 12 months
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Enrolment date
September 2023
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Apply
Find out how to apply and what documents to submit in the application and selection section.
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Workload
Approx 20 hours per week
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Course director
Fees and funding
September 2023 | PGCert £5,000 (UK/EU/International)
To support you through your studies, you will receive a 15% discount on your course fees.
We're also delighted to announce that we have two scholarship awards available for the course.
You can pay for your course fees in instalments. Explore your options on how to pay for your tuition fees.
Entry requirements
We usually require a UK Bachelor's Degree (minimum 2:2) or overseas equivalent, in any discipline.
Applicants without a degree who have significant professional experience may be considered on an individual basis by the Course Director.
Contact us today
Course overview
Who this course is for
This is designed for entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs who want to learn fast and develop business ideas quickly. Through this course, students will develop an understanding of business principles, entrepreneurship and innovation. Throughout your studies, as you grow in confidence, you’ll develop personal and professional skills and competences that are required for effective contribution to innovation across all organisations.
What you will learn
- You will learn the fundamental models and frameworks of entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship including how new ventures and opportunities are created and developed.
- This course will teach you the value of intellectual property and how it can be protected, as well as the fundamental economic, social, environmental and ethical aspects of business development.
- Once you've completed this PGCert, you will be able to describe the principal phases that make up the entrepreneurial process, including the development of an entrepreneurial mind-set and identifying barriers and risks in the process.
- Whether you’re looking to start a new venture or develop an idea within an existing organisation, through your studies, you’ll gain the valuable skills needed to take your project forwards.
Where and when you will study
Our flexible PGCert is delivered exclusively online, so wherever you are in the world, study at a time that suits you. The online nature of our course means you can combine a world-class Manchester education with other commitments and apply your entrepreneurial toolkit into your work and business from the outset.
Through the course, you’ll have access to the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, and its wealth of resource. From additional academic learning material and start-up competitions,to online networking events and workshops – we’re here to support you in creating your future.
How it will benefit your career
- Develop ideas with commercial potential and turn them into working realities.
- Gain fundamental business knowledge and skills relevant to enterprise and entrepreneurship.
- Develop the confidence and knowledge to start a new venture or to enhance your career within an existing organisation.
- Identify and develop opportunities whilst ensuring potential risks can be critically evaluated.
- Widen your knowledge and create a broad network of future business contacts and partners.
- Connect with industry leading academics and benefit from the support and resource of MEC and The University of Manchester.
Ian Kennedy student story
My time at the MEC was a turning point for me, I learned so much about self-starting and how to harness opportunities in and around the communities I was introduced to.
Ian Kennedy
Global Head of Digital Experience, E-Commerce
PUMA Group
Course units
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Shaping Business Ideas
- Understand the principles of innovation and how to start getting your business ideas ready for the world.
- Develop a viable business model that demonstrates how value is to be created, delivered and captured for stakeholders.
- Explore practical methods for shaping your business considering the market and competition.
Overview
This unit addresses how to start shaping and contextualising an idea for a new business, as a start-up or within an existing organisation. You’ll look in detail at the identification of opportunities and the subsequent shaping and development of the idea. Guest speakers and case studies are included throughout as real-life examples.
The learning is split into three phases as follows:
Phase 1: Innovation and Theory
- Innovation theory, business opportunity, the problem, creativity tools, entrepreneurial management
Phase 2: Practical methods for shaping ideas
- Positioning, horizon scanning, analysis, PESTEL, market evaluation, data collection
Phase 3: Entrepreneurship and Theory
- Entrepreneurship theory, strategic analysis, ecosystems, effectuation theory, causation, blue and red ocean, business tools and models, intellectual property
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Exploring Entrepreneurial Mind-sets
- Gain a strong understanding of the theory and practice, to ‘who and what are entrepreneurs’
- Learn key skills and support mechanisms that entrepreneurs need to enhance personal development and foster the development of an entrepreneurial mind-set.
- Plan your own entrepreneurial development journey through the application of personal developmental tools and frameworks in order to create a practical roadmap, for future career success.
Overview
Through this unit you will be able to identify, understand and practically apply a range of theoretical models and frameworks to identify key characteristics that form part of the entrepreneur’s make-up and development. Using self-development tools and models, you will identify and understand your own entrepreneurial/intrapreneurial aspirations and create a self-development roadmap, with a clear vision of what you want to achieve.
- Analytical and planning skills: Reflection and research skills required to gather and analyse the information
- Entrepreneurial skills: To be able to apply original thinking, in problem solving, leadership and value creation
- Personal Development skills: To understand and deploy a range of tools to facilitate personal development both in and outside of the working environment
- Presentation skills: To know how to develop and present information in a clear and precise manner
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Implementing Business Ideas
- Explore processes and activities involved to establish a successful business development plan.
- Consider the use of analytical tools and techniques to support your business plan.
- Understand the need to identify any barriers, risks or constraints using real life examples.
Overview
Through this unit you will work on researching and creating a business development plan and set of recommendations for an early-stage venture. Having moved past the critical start-up phase, early-stage ventures often find themselves at a similarly risky stage where critical decisions need to be taken on how to maintain operational performance whilst committing more time on strategic planning. This includes important decisions around investment, recruitment, supply chains, marketing, innovation, and financing.
The learning is split into three phases:
Phase 1: Problem Identification
- Business plans and planning
- Business models
- Running business diagnostics and identifying business contexts
Phase 2: Approach and Methods
- Strategic analysis tools and techniques
- Business ecosystems
- Data collection
- Scenario creation and visioning methods
- Hypothesis testing
- Project planning techniques
Phase 3: Analysis and Developing Proposals/Action Plans
- Presenting and reporting data
- Setting objectives, developing strategy and creating action plans
- Lean approach to business development
- Risk identification and management
- Financing and resourcing the business plan
Course structure
The PGCert in Entrepreneurship is a part-time online programme and can be completed flexibly in 12 months. The programme consists of three 20-credit course units, each delivered over a 10 week period.
Supported by a team of leading academic experts in entrepreneurship and enterprise, you’ll develop a powerful entrepreneurial mind-set and gain the knowledge and confidence to implement successful and innovative business strategies with commercial potential.
As a student at The University of Manchester, you’ll benefit from international networking opportunities, and have access to the renowned Masood Entrepreneurship Centre.
Course learning aims
This course is suitable for anyone who has a passion to develop a business and work for themselves or implement innovation in an existing workplace. The course will provide you with fundamental business knowledge and skills, teach you to effectively identify, create, develop and exploit commercial opportunities.
We want our graduates to lead enterprises, pioneer new businesses and succeed in commercial spaces domestically and internationally.
Teaching and learning
The programme is fully online and the e-learning design has been developed to maximise opportunities to access the learning materials and activities as flexibly as possible.
Each unit is supported by a virtual learning environment (VLE) where you can access all course materials including videos, webinars and other online learning exercises.
Through discussion boards and tutorials, you'll take part in guided discussions around issues related to entrepreneurship. This will establish the links between theory and practice, helping you to create practical strategies to deal with real-world scenarios.
There will be opportunities to discuss your personal goals and progress with your tutor, and you’ll be encouraged to set personal development targets and strategies for meeting these.
You will have the opportunity to interact with academics and professionals from a diversity of backgrounds and experiences related to innovation, enterprise, entrepreneurship and management, providing a rich learning environment.
Our Student Support Team will be your first point for any queries that aren't directly related to course content.
You'll take an active role in your learning, committing to approximately 20 hours per week.
Coursework and assessment
This course has no exams.
Each unit on this PGCert in Entrepreneurship is assessed through a number of methods including presentations, reports and other coursework, both individually and in groups. Coursework and assessments are tailored to the specific learning objectives of each unit.
Throughout the course, you will be able to take online quizzes and self-assessment tests to gauge your progress and potential areas for improvement.
You will need to dedicate approximately 20 hours per week.
Admissions information
From your initial expression of interest right through to graduation, you’ll receive all the support you need. We can support you with enrolment and subject assistance, administrative logistics, online learning skills, workload management and special circumstances including a possible professional entry route.
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
We usually require a UK Bachelor's Degree (minimum 2:2) or overseas equivalent, in any discipline.
When assessing the academic record we will take into account the grades achieved, academic references and the standing of the institution.
Applicants without a degree but who have significant relevant professional experience may be considered on an individual basis by the Course Director. Candidates will be expected to show a minimum of three years post study experience and have a potentially viable business or social impact start-up idea.
To discuss your eligibility for the course, please email studyonline@manchester.ac.uk
English language
All applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency. The minimum English Language requirement for this course is:
- IELTS test score of 6.5 overall minimum sub-component 6 in writing (or equivalent). Discover more about English Language requirements.
English language test validity
Application and selection
How to apply
To speed up the application process, please submit the following documentation with your online application form:
- Copies of official degree certificates and transcripts/Professional qualification documents (with an official English translation if the original is not in English)
- English language score report (if applicable) or alternative evidence to demonstrate your English language competency
- A copy of your CV detailing your full work experience
- A personal statement of up to 500 words
- As part of the application process you will be asked to provide contact details for one referee, professional or academic. The University will contact your referee directly after you submit your application and direct them to complete our online reference form.
Scholarships and bursaries
We’re delighted to announce, we have two scholarship awards available for September 2023.
Women Making a Difference
One scholarship: 50% of the tuition fee (£2,500)
Are you a woman with a commitment to make a difference in the world?
How to apply: Please submit a 4-5 page presentation to tell us about your commitment and aspiration as a woman to make a difference in the world and how the PGCert in Entrepreneurship will help you on that journey.
Startup / Innovation
One scholarship: 50% of the tuition fee (£2,500)
Ready to make your business idea a reality? Do you a have an idea for a startup but need some structure, knowledge and tools to focus your entrepreneurial spirit and bring your idea to life? We want to hear more - tell us all about it.
How to apply: Please submit a 4-5 page presentation telling us about your idea(s) and how the PGCert in Entrepreneurship will help you with your aspirations.
Scholarship Deadline: 22nd May 2023
To find out more and arrange a personal consultation, please email studyonline@manchester.ac.uk
One Discount Policy : Please note that we operate a one discount policy; discounts and scholarship are not accumulative. If you qualify for more than one discount or scholarship, you will be awarded the one that is the highest amount.
PGCert Entrepreneurship scholarships are open to all self-funding candidates.
Fees and funding
September 2023 | PGCert | £5,000 (UK/IRE/EU/International)
Apply now for September 2023 and get 15% off your tuition fees.
We also offer payment by instalments , so you can spread the cost of studying with us. Find out more.
To secure your place on the course, a deposit is required, this will then be deducted from your first instalment.
For additional information and to discuss your application, please email: studyonline@manchester.ac.uk
Additional cost information
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).
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.