PGT programme aims and requirements

Your chosen programme of study is one of a number of taught postgraduate (PGT) programmes offered.

All programmes share a common philosophy in that they aim to provide students with a critical understanding of the nature of strategic management and business activity and the wider contexts within which such activity takes place. This is achieved through the provision of programmes whose content is relevant to the specialist area of study chosen and which:

is rooted in sound research into the nature of business and managerial work
offers an integrated theoretical and empirical framework within which to study the subject
provides for a balance in the learning of useful concepts and techniques and the development of analytical, critical, and evaluative skills that are transferable and that will support the student's needs for lifelong learning
helps to prepare students who can be expected to operate in often diverse cultural settings and within a global organisational environment
examines the meaning and nature of responsible enterprise and within that the ethical dimensions of business and organisations
gives you the opportunity to work in intercultural teams, present, debate and analyse with fellow students and staff contemporary issues in business and management
emphasises the process of learning as well as the content of learning
through the provision of option modules, offers the opportunity for students to tailor their studies to reflect their particular interests
provides a variety of activities, such as guest lectures and organisation visits, to complement your studies and enable you to develop further your knowledge of, and skills in, the subject of business and management.

The modules offered aim to develop both the knowledge base and the skills of students. In each of these aims, there is an important role for the concept of student-centred learning. In practical terms, this involves a co-operative arrangement between staff and students, with staff responsible for organising and guiding students towards a variety of learning resources and students making the fullest use of these resources on their individual initiative.

In the School, there is a strong belief that, as well as encouraging academic excellence, the School should take a positive role in developing the types of skills which are essential to effective leadership. Such skills include:

analysis – learning to use methods of careful and logical reasoning
synthesis – recognising patterns of development in diverse material
oral presentations to small and large audiences of peers
the ability to work in groups or teams, with the associated organisational, leadership and delegation skills
the capacity for constructive self-evaluation
the ability to communicate with representatives of business and to understand and use with confidence the vocabulary and conceptual frameworks employed in business
the capacity for research and investigation.

PGT programme award

The 'programme award' refers to the academic qualification you are entitled to receive based upon the results you have achieved in the modules that comprise your programme of study. For the award of the Masters in your chosen programme you are required to pass the taught modules in your programme and the dissertation module with a minimum credit weighted average of 7.0.

Classification of PGT Masters degrees is on the basis of the award of Pass, Merit, and Distinction where:

Pass is awarded on the basis of acquiring 180 credits (of which at least 150 are 5000 level, depending on programme requirements).
Merit is awarded on the basis of both fulfilling the criteria for a Pass, as well as achieving a credit weighted mean ranging 13.5 – 16.4 across all taught and dissertation credits.
Distinction is awarded on the basis of fulfilling the criteria for a Pass, as well as achieving a credit weight mean ranging 16.5 – 20.0 across all taught and dissertation credits.

See more information on the classification of taught postgraduate Masters degrees.