Online course
PGCert Entrepreneurship
- Duration: 9-12 months, part-time
- Workload: Approx 20 hours per week
- Next enrolment: September 2023
- Fees: PGCert: £5,000
Introduction
It’s time to bring your business ideas to life
Develop a powerful entrepreneurial mind-set and critical business implementation skills which will lead you to a successful future. This online Postgraduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship allows you to study part-time alongside your working life and learn how to take your business ideas into practice. Whether you already have an established enterprise or have an idea, we will support you in developing and implementing a successful growth plan.
Key features
Learn effective business methodology
Develop a toolkit and learn effective techniques to take business ideas forward successfully.
Maximise your global network
By working alongside international peers from diverse disciplines you will build a global network. You will also learn how to maximise your network from successful entrepreneurs.
World-class teaching and resources
Access world-class knowledge and resources from the Alliance Manchester Business School and The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre.
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 The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre
Benefits of our collaborative approach
- Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) was founded in 1965 as one of the UK’s first two business schools.
- The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC), Alliance MBS, is one of the UK leaders in the area of practitioner-based entrepreneurship education.
- 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
Online course developed to fit around your lifestyle and circumstances.
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Duration
9-12 months, part-time
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Enrolment date
September 2023
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Apply
Applications are now open. For more information on how to apply and what documents to submit with your application, please visit our application and selection section.
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Workload
Approx 20 hours per week
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Course director
Fees and funding
UK students: £5,000
EU/International students: £5,000
Entry requirements
Contact us today
Course overview
Who this course is for
“The course is aimed at anyone with an interest in developing the skills, knowledge and confidence to be a successful business entrepreneur, whether looking to transform their own business idea into a reality or gain a career advantage in an existing work place.” – Lynn Sheppard, Course Director, PGCert Entrepreneurship
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 in order to realise potential opportunities and add value. This course will also 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. This course will ensure that you understand how to identify and develop opportunities to a point where potential value and risks can be critically evaluated.
Where and when you will study
Our flexible PGCert is delivered exclusively online to enhance your skills while you continue to work. This will empower you to apply your entrepreneurial toolkit into your work and business from the outset. Through extensive online materials, as well as opportunities for peer discussion and tutorials from our world-class experts, we’ll support you.
How it will benefit your career
Through this PGCert, you will gain fundamental business knowledge and skills relevant to enterprise and entrepreneurship, enabling you to contribute to innovation and change in any environment. You'll develop an appreciation of potential value, including personal, social, environmental and economic aspects, from effectively identifying, creating, developing and exploiting opportunities. By studying alongside peers from varied backgrounds, you will widen your knowledge and create a broad network of future business contacts and partners. As a result of this course, you will understand how to leverage your creativity, understanding and skills to apply an enterprising and entrepreneurial attitude to manage change and develop new initiatives and ventures.
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
Head of Digital and Performance Marketing
Chelsea Football Club
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
- Use real-life examples to understand how to make business ideas successful
- Explore practical methods for shaping your business considering the market and competition
Overview
The unit addresses how to start shaping and contextualising an idea for a new business, as a new start-up or within an existing business. You will look 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 develop to solve business challenges
- Foster your entrepreneurial mind-set by understanding self-development tools and techniques
Overview
You will be able to identify, understand and practically apply a range of theoretical models and frameworks from within the literature of entrepreneurship to identify key characteristics that form part of the entrepreneur’s make-up and development. You will also be able to identify and understand your own entrepreneurial/intrapreneurial aspirations through the application of self-development tools.
- 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 implementation plan
- Consider the use of analytical techniques and tools which will support your business plan
- Understand the need to identify any barriers, risks or constraints using real life examples
Overview
The unit will provide you with the opportunity to explore the processes and activities involved in establishing and developing a business implementation plan for a new venture. The application of analytical tools and techniques to real scenarios will allow you to critically evaluate and propose creative solutions to challenging and complex problems. You will need to take account of stakeholder requirements, resource constraints and availability, and external barriers, risks and threats.
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
Our course is aimed at those who want to further develop a powerful entrepreneurial mind-set which will give them the knowledge and confidence to implement successful and innovative business solutions. You will benefit from ultimate international networking experiences through world-class teaching and global peer to peer interactions. This course is designed to be completed alongside work commitments.
There are three units in this PGCert in Entrepreneurship. You will begin in September 2022 will start with ‘Shaping Business Ideas’, then study ‘Exploring Entrepreneurial Mind-sets’ in November 2022, and then the final unit ‘Implementing Business Ideas' in February 2023.
Course learning aims
Teaching and learning
Your dedicated Course Director is Lynn Sheppard.
Find out more about Lynn here .
This course is 100% online and delivered flexibly to suit your lifestyle, specifically designed to help you learn alongside your career.
Each 20-credit unit lasts 10 weeks.
Our teaching and learning methods include videos, webinars and other online learning exercises. These provide insights into key concepts and guide you towards where to focus directed study.
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 these real-world problems.
There will be opportunities to discuss your personal goals and progress. Reflective activities will allow you to consider your own skill and project development.
Our Student Support Team will be your first point of contact by phone or email 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
Workload: You will need to dedicate approximately 20 hours per week
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.
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
Entry requirements
We require a UK bachelor's degree, or overseas equivalent, in any discipline; this will normally be at a minimum level of honours class 2, division 2. When assessing the academic record we will take into account the grades achieved, academic references and the standing of the institution. Those not meeting the academic entry requirements 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. Non-standard applicants who have significant relevant professional experience may be considered on an individual basis by the Course Director. You'll also need to meet the required standard of English.
English language
English Language Proficiency
All applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements as described by the University's Student Recruitment Selection and Admissions. Those applicants for whom English is not their first language must satisfy the language requirement of IELTS (Academic) test score of 6.5 overall minimum sub-component 6 in writing, or TOEFL internet based test 90 overall, PTE Academic of 59-65 overall, CPE or CAE (Cambridge) minimum grade 176-184.
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.
English language test validity
Application and selection
How to apply
Your application can only be considered when the application form is complete and your supporting documentation has been received.
- Application form
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One Reference: As part of the application process you will be asked to provide contact details for at least one referee, professional and/or academic. The University will contact your referees directly after you submit your application and direct them to complete our online reference form.
- Degree certificate 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
- A personal statement of maximum 500 words
For support and advice, please contact our dedicated Course Advisor: Hazel Craven
Advice to applicants
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.