Application deadline
Thursday 7 August 2025
Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships.
“The amount of support offered by the University to keep us engaged has been exemplary. Studying here has reconnected me with the joy of reading multiple sources and writing nuanced, subjective essays. My studies have helped me gain a more holistic view of organisations and how they function from an international perspective.”
- West Bengal, India
Entry requirements
- A 2.1 undergraduate Honours degree in a subject other than business or management from the UK or the equivalent international qualification. Students with a background in business or management are advised to consider the MLitt International Business, the MLitt Marketing
- If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
- English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.
The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.
Application requirements
- CV that includes your personal details with a history of your education and employment to date
- personal statement explaining why you have chosen the programme, why this subject is important to you and why you have applied to study at the University of St Andrews Business School in particular (500 words)
- one original signed academic reference
- academic transcripts and degree certificates
For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.
English language proficiency
If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. See approved English language tests and scores for this course.
Course details
The Masters in Management is a one-year taught programme run by the University of St Andrews Business School.
Highlights
- This programme is designed for students from a non-business discipline with little or no work experience.
- Teaching and programme staff in the University of St Andrews Business School will support and assist you with the transition to study in the field of business and management.
- Students gain important analytical and management skills required to obtain a professional position with managerial responsibilities or a leadership role within an organisation.
- The course provides a solid foundation in contemporary management methods and core business principals.
Students who successfully complete the programme will currently receive accreditation from the Chartered Management Institute.
Modules
The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your programme. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the module catalogue.
The modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and assessment, depending on the subject of study. Typically, each module consists of three to five contact hours per week including lectures, seminars and tutorials. Assessment is either entirely by coursework or through a combination of coursework (50%) and a two-hour end-of-semester examination (50%).
- Strategic Management: develops students' knowledge and understanding of the strategy process and develops an appreciation of organisational responses to the rapidly changing global economy.
- Marketing: Principles and Practice: offers a critical review of current theory and practice and looks at how marketing is evolving in light of changes to the business context, particularly from a managerial perspective.
- Reimagining Management and Organisation Studies: introduces the latest theoretical contributions to management and organisation studies and innovative ways of thinking, providing a roadmap for understanding the powerful socioeconomic systems that shape modern society, as well as challenging assumptions and providing a guide to navigating complexity in management and organisational life.
- Managing and Organising for Grand Challenges: develops an appreciation of the grand challenges facing economies and societies and potential responses from organisations, demonstrating the centrality of these challenges and ‘wicked problems’ to contemporary organisations and management professionals.
- Managing Human Resources: reviews the key theoretical and practical aspects involved in managing human resources.
- Corporate Finance and Accounting: introduces students to the basic principles and practices of accounting and corporate finance.
Students choose two optional modules, taking one in each semester. For the latest optional module information, see the module catalogue.
Here is a sample of optional modules that may be offered:
- Behavioural Finance
- Entrepreneurship and Business Development
- Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creativity
- Financial Systems
- International Financial Management
- International Marketing
- Leadership in Organisations
- Managing People in Global Markets
- Marketing and Society
- Managing Non-Governmental Organisations
- Risk Management
- Scenario Thinking and Strategy
Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered; some may only allow limited numbers of students (see the University's position on curriculum development).
Students attend lectures throughout Semesters 1 and 2 to prepare them for conducting the research portion of the dissertation. The dissertation is normally on a specific area of management, however, at the University of St Andrews Business School, you will have the freedom to develop a topic of your own, which is of interest to you and will contribute towards career development or further study goals.
Students are assigned a supervisor based on a research proposal submitted in the second semester. They will then research and write a 15,000-word dissertation over the summer to be submitted on a date specified in August.
If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for their Masters degree (MLitt), there are exit awards available that allow suitably qualified candidates to receive a postgraduate siploma (PGDip). By choosing an exit award, you will receive a PGDip instead of a MLitt.
Teaching
Teaching is delivered through a mixture of core and optional modules using a range of delivery methods including lectures, small group tutorials, workshops and seminars.
The average lecture size is 40 students, however, in some cases there will be seminars of 15 to 18 students or larger lectures with up to 60 students, which would normally be augmented by small group tutorials.
Over the summer months, students undertake a research project culminating in a written dissertation of 15,000 words. You will attend a weekly series of lectures and workshops focusing on research methods and other topics to provide support and help prepare you for the dissertation.
Assessment comprises a combination of coursework and examinations.
Events
The University of St Andrews Business School hosts events and guest lectures during Orientation Week and throughout the year, providing students and staff with opportunities to socialise, and to engage with visiting scholars, professionals and practitioners.
The Management Society, a student-led organisation, hosts a broad range of activities, both subject-related and social. The University also has a number of other student societies relating to the management discipline.
The Masters Extra (MX) is a programme of events focusing on careers and personal and professional development, designed specifically for taught masters students in the University of St Andrews Business School. The series of talks, workshops, networking opportunities and activities includes guest lectures from entrepreneurs, experienced managers and leading researchers.
Fees
Home
£14,850
Overseas
£29,990
Application fee
Before we can begin processing your application, a payment of an application fee of £50 is required. In some instances, you may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Details of this, along with information on our tuition fees, can be found on the postgraduate fees and funding page.
Funding and scholarships
The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.
The Jane M Klausman Women in Business Scholarship is for women pursuing a business or business-related degree.
15% Recent Graduate Discount
If you have graduated from the University within the last three academic years, you may be eligible for a 15% discount on postgraduate taught tuition fees. Terms and conditions apply.
After your degree
Careers
Alumni from the Masters in International Business, and from other Masters programmes in the University of St Andrews Business School, have secured employment in the fields of general management, management consultancy, marketing and brand management, accountancy, investment analysis, fund administration and other aspects of the financial services industry.
Graduates from the Masters in Management have taken up roles in a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sector including:
- Credit Suisse Group
- IBM
- KPMG
- Lufthansa Group
- Procter and Gamble
- Schlumberger
- Scottish Dance Theatre
- Shell
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.
Further study
Many Management graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere.
The ESRC Scottish Graduate School of Social Science offers fully funded awards for PhD students in the School of Management.
The University of St Andrews Business School often offers Management PhD studentships comprising a stipend at RCUK level and a fee waiver at home and EU level.
Postgraduate researchWhat to do next
Information sessions
Meet our staff, learn more, and ask questions about how our courses can work for you.
Contact us
- Phone
- +44 (0)1334 46 2200
- pgmgmt@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Address
- Department of Management (Business School)
The Gateway
North Haugh
St Andrews
KY16 9RJ