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Introduction
Why choose this course?
During your studies you’ll complete a range of taught modules that explore key aspects of cross-cultural management. We’ll cover everything from leadership and employability to performance and coaching.
We also arrange guest lectures from top managers to give you an insight into the organisation and operation of companies. The CEO of Taylor Wimpey, and the managing directors of Barclays and Harley Davidson have previously given lectures to students.
A key part of this course is building your applicable skills that are underpinned by accepted management theory. You’ll explore areas of management learning and develop the skills that can be applied in ‘real life’.
You’ll also have the option of a work placement, where you’ll gain first-hand understanding of how businesses work. You’ll be able to apply the learning gained from your taught modules within a real working environment.
Learning and teaching
Most of the teaching on this course takes the form of interactive workshops and lectures from staff and visiting speakers.
You will strengthen your practical analysis and decision-making skills with:
 lectures
 discussions
 role-play exercises
 These are linked with selected case studies and assessments.
Structured group assignments allow you to develop your skills in working as part of a team.
Our teaching staff have a combination of both academic and practitioner experience. They have in-depth practical insight into business and management issues.
You will also learn from visiting speakers from:
 business
 industries
 consultancies
 research bodies.
Overview
Are you keen to lead a profit-driven enterprise or make a difference in the not-for-profit sector? Our industry accredited MSc Management is tailor-made for students like you. During your studies you'll grasp the foundations of how businesses operate, while developing your skills in cross-cultural management. You'll unleash your potential in the world of management.
Our aim is to equip you with the knowledge and abilities to thrive in various management roles. We understand today's fast moving workplace, where 'soft skills' in management have gained importance. You'll develop your self-awareness and competencies to lead and manage people within cross-cultural contexts. Also we can help you prepare for further study if you choose that path.
So take this opportunity to build your management skills, and develop insight into cross-cultural workplaces. You’ll finish the course ready to take your first managerial step into the corporate world.
Modules
Compulsory modules
Employee Engagement, Performance and Reward
This module provides a critical understanding of how contemporary organisations can elicit employee engagement and performance, and the challenges associated with doing so. It presents theoretical perspectives on individual and collective employment relationships. You’ll develop an understanding of the challenges of managing employees, by drawing on key themes of authority, power, and control and reward and performance management. You’ll also explore dysfunction and conflict in the employment relationship from both theoretical and practical standpoints, and the role of the HR professional in managing the relationship between stakeholders.
Developing Skills for Leadership and Employability
This module will encourage you to develop a strong sense of self-awareness of your own strengths and weaknesses as effective leaders and team players. It will help you to develop and improve a range of definable skills which are pivotal to successful management practice and to effective leadership in particular. You’ll develop essential skills such as the confidence and ability to articulate your skills and attributes that are required for professional development, lifelong learning and employment. This module will also provide you with an opportunity to explore different leadership perspectives on ethics, EDI, sustainability, technology and change.
Learning, Development and Coaching
This module provides you with a critical understanding of the contribution that learning and development can make to individuals and organisations. You'll develop the practical skills needed to design and implement leading edge learning and development programmes. You'll also gain the critical understanding required to develop a coaching programme in the workplace and to participate in a coaching style of management.
Organisational Behaviour, Leadership and Change
Management is the activity of getting things done with the aid of people and other resources. Working with human resources is a key element of this. And on this module, you'll develop a deep understanding of the practical art of managing change based on a theoretical understanding of organisational behaviour and leadership. Using theoretical concepts, this module enables you to build a comprehensive understanding of the emergent properties of organisations such as culture, politics and leadership. You'll also build practical skills to address the issues facing leaders and managers in contemporary, typically international, organisations.
Project Management
This module will define the term ‘project’, and will seek to analyse the many different environments in which projects take place. You’ll assess the approaches that may be taken towards the management of projects, and you’ll practise a range of techniques used by professional project managers to plan, control and deliver projects successfully. As projects drive change, an important element of project management is ensuring the support of stakeholders so that the change can be effectively managed, all of which you’ll explore in depth throughout this module.
Managing International Organisations
This module examines a range of international organisations and their different purposes. Your studies will focus on multinational companies, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the European Union and other similar organisations such as the UN. These institutions influence and relate to the operations of global businesses. You will also explore the political, economic and social environments in which international organisations function and the challenges they face. Leading business executives and subject experts will be invited to speak to you.
Research Methods
This module prepares you for completing high quality, systematic business and management research, and equips you to be successful in your Final Research Project. You will learn how to undertake effective research, drawing upon a range of secondary and primary data sources, and will be introduced to a range of tools required for research including methodological issues, data collection techniques and study skills.
Compulsory modules
Final Research Project
The final research project module is a 50 credit module and runs over two semesters. This module will provide an opportunity for you to undertake a substantial independent research project by applying and extending the streams of study, knowledge and practical skills gained in other modules. It’ll allow you to demonstrate a wide range of skills such as research, critical thinking, project planning, problem-solving and writing/oral skills. You’ll be able to choose from different research project options, providing you with the opportunity to explore in detail an area of particular interest or relevance. These options currently are Dissertation, Client Project, Integrated Business Research Project, and Business/Concept Development.
Optional modules
Work placement
This supervised work experience module is part of the two-year sandwich mode for students who join the Programme in September. The module supports and assesses students who are engaging in paid supervised work experience (a placement) in a role relevant to their programme. It provides students with the opportunity to understand first-hand how businesses work and to apply the learning gained from the taught element of their programme within a real working environment.
We will provide support to help you find a placement - our team has a database of opportunities and runs events where you can meet potential employers. A placement will provide you with valuable experience, although securing one takes a lot of effort and success is not guaranteed. You would need to cover your own living and travel costs throughout the duration of your placement.
Research
Studying for your MSc Management degree at Oxford Brookes Business School also offers you the opportunity to engage with our excellent research. Our academics investigate core challenges facing contemporary societies, ranging from refugee entrepreneurship and internationalisation to sustainable tourism, security and the changing world of work and organisations - including the impact of artificial intelligence.
We address questions such as:
 How can social media address well-being and social isolation?
 How can individuals be happier and how to navigate the increasingly complex world of work?
 How can technologies be used to map movements, reduce congestion and improve the quality of life?
Entry Criteria
ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.
IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.
Specific entry requirements
A minimum of a second class honours degree (2:2) in any academic discipline, or equivalent overseas degree from a recognised institution or equivalent professional or other qualification.
Applicants who possess a diploma rather than a good degree may be eligible for entry provided they have compensatory work experience and can demonstrate career development.
This course attracts students from a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities. Applications are welcome from those in work and seeking continuing professional development.
Entry will also be subject to two satisfactory references (one of these must be an academic reference).
Our standard entry requirement is three A-levels or equivalent qualifications. In some cases, courses have specific required subjects and additional GCSE requirements. In addition to A-levels, we accept a wide range of other qualifications including:
 the Welsh Baccalaureate
 the Access to Higher Education Diploma
 a BTEC National Certificate, Diploma or Extended Diploma at a good standard and in a relevant subject
 the International Baccalaureate Diploma
 the European Baccalaureate Diploma
 Scottish qualifications – five subjects in SCE with two at Higher level or one at Advanced Higher level, or three subjects in Scottish Highers or two at Advanced Higher level
 a recognised foundation course
 T-levels*.
 * T-levels are a relatively new qualification but are already included in the UCAS tariff. We welcome prospective students who are taking this qualification to apply. For some programmes with specific required subjects, particular subject areas or occupational specialisms may be required.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you will need to satisfy the university's English language requirements:
 IELTS minimum 6.0 (with a minimum of 6.0 in reading and writing and 5.5 in listening and speaking)
 if you have completed your undergraduate degree in the UK (at least one full year of study) you will automatically meet our English language requirements
The entry requirement for your course will be expressed as an IELTS level and refers to the IELTS Academic version of this test. We are now also accepting the IELTS Indicator test, you can find out more about the test on the IELTS Indication site. The University however does accept a wide range of additional English language qualifications, which can be found below.
The university’s English language requirements in IELTS levels are as follows:
Course IELTS level
All other undergraduate courses 6.0 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Law, Architecture, Interior Architecture, English Literature (including combined honours), English Literature and Creative Writing 6.5 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Health and Social Care courses 6.5 or 7.0 overall with 6.5 or 7.0 in all components (see individual entries for course details)
Nutrition BSc (Hons) 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Built Environment Foundation,
Computing Foundation,
Engineering Foundation 6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
International Foundation Business and Technology,
International Foundation Arts, Humanities and Law 5.5 overall with 5.5 in all skills
International Foundation Diploma 5.0 overall with 5.0 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
International Foundation Diploma (Extended pathway) 4.5 overall with 4.5 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
Assessment
ASSESSMENT METHODS
1. INTERNAL ENGLISH TEST if you don't have an English accredited certificate
2. Academic Interview
Assessment
We use a range of assessment methods including:
 assignments
 individual or group reports
 group presentations
 oral examinations.
This range of assessments will help you develop the analytical and presentation skills employers look for.
Career Opportunities
By the end of this Chartered Management Institute (CMI) accredited course, you’ll be ready for a range of careers. Our alumni have forged successful paths with prestigious commercial powerhouses and inspiring not-for-profit organizations across the globe. Others join management consultancies or go on to study for a PhD.
A few examples of graduate roles include:
 business change manager at DSV - Global Transport and Logistics
 finance business controller at Informa
 managing director at Miyabi Consulting Group
 account director at Revere Agency
 senior consultant at Amadeus FiRe AG.
You’ll also find our past students working at big names including:
 PricewaterhouseCoopers
 Oxfam
 Google
 Sainsbury's
 Nestlé
 Unilever.
We work closely with Brookes Enterprise Support and their suite of start-up leadership workshops and mentoring. There are plenty of opportunities for networking throughout the course, so you may even find a future employer before you graduate.
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