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MSc
Enterprise (by Learning Contract)

Location
Southwark

Duration
1 year (full-time)
2 years (part-time)
3 semesters (mixed mode)

Start date
September

Number of places
10

Simple timetable information
Dependent on the learning contract arrangements negotiated. Some units are by class study and others may be by workplace learning.

How to apply
Direct to LSBU

Course contacts
Chris Dowlen
chris.dowlen@lsbu.ac.uk – 020 7815 7609

Dr Lee Rose
roselg@lsbu.ac.uk – 020 7815 7415

Non-standard entry requirements

Entry to the course is by interview: potential students are expected to be graduates of relevant courses and to be able to present their enterprise project ideas to an interview panel before being admitted to the course. HEIF funding is currently available for a limited number of candidates.

Course units

Mandatory units:

– Learning Contract Development

– Technology, Evaluation and Commercialisation

– Enterprise Project: this will be started early in the course, with the main project research proposal being developed during the first semester (possibly in a Research Methods unit if this is being taken) and will continue to the final report submission at the end of the course period.

Typical units may be:

– Project Management

– Research Methods

– Operationalising Marketing

– Marketing and Meeting Customer Requirements

– Management Accounting and Analysis

– Human Resources and Quality Management

Strategic change and marketing units:

– Quality Engineering Management

– Product Development for Quality

– Research Planning and Management

Work-based units:

– Intellectual Property Development

– Implementing Technology Commercialisation

– Prototype Development

– Testing and Validation

– Technical Conference


Course description

The major aim of this course is for entrepreneurs to gain the benefit of a Masters level qualification at the same time as they are setting up and running their enterprise. Students normally enter the course with a feasibility study for an enterprise, explaining why the enterprise is worthy of being developed and what they feel that the course will do for them.

The course is the archetypal do-ityourself course in that not only are the students expecting to develop their own enterprises, but they are expected to develop their own course to back up that enterprise. The course is built round an Enterprise Project which is normally the development of the student’s own enterprise, and this is backed up by two compulsory units: Learning Contract Negotiation, where students develop their own learning plans, and Technology Evaluation and Commercialisation, where the feasibility of the students’ enterprise plans are scrutinised and evaluated using an algorithm developed by North Carolina University. The other optional units may be selected from any other nonoverlapping Masters level units in the Faculty of ESBE or the Faculty of BCIM, or from a selection of work-based units developed for the programme, or, possibly, a unit developed by the student themselves.

Career opportunities

Students taking this course are expected to be developing skills as self-employed individuals running their own companies. The course is designed to set them up as entrepreneurs and develop their skills in this area. Whilst this is the intended outcome, the skills set developed on the course will also make graduates suitable for executive management positions in other enterprises.

Typical background of applicant

It is likely that candidates for the course will have a background in areas such as product design, engineering, business studies or computing but with a crucial desire to run their own enterprise and exploit the possibilities of their own intellectual abilities in some shape or form.

Professional contacts/industry links

There are links with entrepreneurs’ forums in South London and with Venture Capital providers. Students tend to forge their own links with material suppliers with contract providers and with marketing and sales organisations as necessary. Course alumni form a vital experiential link.

Additional notes

Optional units to make up the total of 180 CATS points, including the Enterprise Project. Typical units will be of 15 CATS points, but on occasion students may wish to negotiate the inclusion of 30 CATS point units. Acceptance of this depends on agreement being the student and their Enterprise Project tutor.

Some of these units will be drawn from existing validated Masters level units available either in the BCIM or the ESBE portfolios.