Management (Consulting)

Entry requirements

The equivalent of a UK first or upper second class honours degree.

Masters in Management programmes are intended for graduates in any subject or discipline; no previous study in business or management is necessary. For example, in the past we have had graduates from a diverse range of degrees such as Music, Anthropology, Medicine and Geography. Business and Management undergraduate students may find some content overlaps with their first degree.

Months of entry

September

Course content

The MSc Management (Consulting) programme will enable you to develop your consulting capabilities for working across the globe. The programme will equip you with the essential knowledge, skills, and ethical grounding necessary to excel in various consulting roles. This comprehensive programme blends rigorous academic grounding with real-world applications to prepare you for high-impact roles across global industries.

Choosing from a selection of elective modules will allow you to specialise in areas of management such as consulting in international environment through our international study trip, where you will explore global markets, or Digital Transformation, which delves into the impact of AI and modern technologies on business strategies. Modules like Thinking Entrepreneurially and Advanced HRM strategies offer additional dimensions to your expertise, aligning with your career aspirations.

The programme culminates in either a traditional dissertation or a hands-on business project. Opt for the dissertation route to conduct extensive research under the guidance of experienced academics, or choose the business project to engage directly with external organizations. This capstone experience is your opportunity to apply your learning in real-world settings, honing skills like problem-solving, project management, and client relations. This applied fieldwork is not just an academic exercise but a critical career stepping stone, offering practical insights and networking opportunities that are invaluable in the consulting domain.

At the heart of the programme are core modules that lay a solid foundation in management consulting, where you will explore the essential theories, current practices, and emerging trends in consultancy. The curriculum covers a number of current and relevant topics including consulting frameworks, leading and managing change and the ethical dimensions of consulting. This ensures that you develop a well-rounded understanding of the consulting landscape and are well-prepared to tackle the complex challenges faced by today’s businesses. The programme culminates in either a traditional dissertation or a hands-on business project.

Course structure

Year 1 modules

Core modules:

Strategy

aims to explain business success or lack of success by looking at a firm’s resources and capabilities in relation to the commercial opportunities that arise. This module considers both the relationship between a firm’s strategy and the external environment and with its own internal set-up.

Organisational Behaviour

focuses on key issues concerning the behaviour of individuals in organisations and will include subjects such as personal and mental ability, management of attitudes and work motivation, leading others and corporate social responsibility .

Business Analytics

will develop critical insights into the decision-making processes essential for contemporary business and management. This module is designed to develop your capabilities in data analytics, covering descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive methods, and provides hands-on experience with real-world business challenges. You will dive deep into the essential role of data within organizations, exploring the technical infrastructure, governance, and ethical practices that support effective data management.

Leading and Managing Change

will develop your capabilities to lead change with the increasing complex and volatile global environment. The module focuses on theoretical frameworks and models and importantly how you can apply them in practices. The focus is on engaging people with change to ensure that benefits are realized and the change is successful.

Consulting

focuses on the knowledge, skills and attitudes you need to be an effective consultant. The different types of consultants and their responsibilities are explored, along with the impact of AI on the role of consulting. The focus is the application of the Consulting Cycle which you will have the opportunity to apply to a real-life business challenge.

Consultants, Consultancies and Ethics

will provides an in-depth understanding of the consulting profession, including the organisation of consultancies and their societal responsibilities. You will critically explore the roles and rhetoric of consultants, the dynamics of consultant-client relationships, and the broader ethical and professional impacts of consultancies.

Research Methods and Dissertation (General Management or International or Business Project route)

provides the necessary training to undertake advanced-level research. You will investigate a relevant topic, and, using material from core and optional modules, complete a dissertation or business project. Dissertation can be undertaken here at Durham or abroad at a partner university.

You have the option to choose between a traditional dissertation format or a business project. The business project involves working with an external organisation to carry out a business issue-led investigation, addressing specific management challenges across a range of organizations. This practical approach allows you to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems, gaining invaluable experience and insights.

This module will introduce you to a variety of research methods in the social sciences, including both quantitative and qualitative methods. You will learn to review research studies, understand their theoretical principles, and evaluate their methods and findings, equipping you with the skills necessary for conducting rigorous academic or applied research.

Optional modules:

In recent years, optional modules have included:

• East Asian Business and Management
• Employee Reward Strategy
• Global Business
• Global Sport Business
• International Study Tour
• The Science of Leadership
• Competitive Strategies and Organisational Fitness
• Human Resource Development
• Thinking Entrepreneurially
• Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation
• Digital Marketing

Information for international students

International students who do not meet direct entry requirements for this degree might have the option to complete an International Foundation Year.

Fees and funding

More information is available here: Tuition fees - how much are they - Durham University