5 master’s in entrepreneurship programmes in the UK

Building a business from the ground up might seem like a pipe dream for some, but entrepreneurship isn’t only a field for business graduates or those with similar educational backgrounds. A master’s in entrepreneurship can equip professionals with an arsenal of skills that are applicable across a wide range of fields.

The UK is a bastion for education and home to some of the world’s top universities that offer programmes in the field. These universities are part of the top 100 universities featured in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022.

University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s Business School boasts of a triple accreditation from coveted international accreditations: AACSB, EQUIS, and the AMBA. 

Its Masters in Entrepreneurship and Innovation is a year-long master’s in entrepreneurship programme and prepares students for a wide range of careers in business including business development and running a start-up.

Students will study six core courses in their first semester, and choose courses depending on their interests and career aspirations in their second semester. The programme culminates with a dissertation. Students will have the option to pursue a research dissertation or to engage in a business-focused dissertation such as a business plan or business project.

King’s College London

The university’s MSc Strategic Entrepreneurship and Innovation programme aim to provide students with the tools and techniques to understand and manage entrepreneurship and innovation and to lead innovative teams and organisations around the world.

Students will discover key issues of innovative entrepreneurship, from how companies identify and exploit both market and technological opportunities, to how they grow and secure finance. 

Students will also gain an understanding of how both small and large entrepreneurial companies can be organised to take advantage of multiple sources of innovation to compete in dynamic environments.

Studying at King’s College entails learning from staff who are recognised leaders in their fields and have developed unique and stimulating modules for their entrepreneurship programme. The university boasts of strong links with incubators, experienced entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists, who will provide students with novel insights on the subject.

University of Manchester

Manchester’s MSc Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship programme can be completed within one year on a full-time basis, or 24 months part-time. 

Students will learn how to successfully manage both technology and organisational innovation, gain an understanding of how the innovation process works, how companies organise to take advantage of internal and external sources of innovation, how to carry out technology investment appraisal and forecast future innovation trends and focus on developing analytical and critical skills, research training, personal communication skills, and effective team-working, among others.

University of Warwick

Warwick’s MSc Innovation and Entrepreneurship programme is designed for entrepreneurs, or graduates with entrepreneurial flair who are looking to establish their own business.

The practical course covers areas such as generating new business ideas, developing and refining ideas, and designing the infrastructure, right through to launching the business. Students will also focus on how innovation can be exploited in technological and business contexts, to increase success for new products or services based businesses. 

University of Bristol

Another top 100 university is Bristol. Its MSc Management (Entrepreneurship) programme is an intensive one-year programme for graduates from a wide range of subject backgrounds.

“It is not necessary to have any prior academic or practical experience in business or management. This programme is for students who aspire to start their own business or join start-ups within their chosen industry,” notes its website.

“Students will develop an in-depth understanding of the theory and practice of setting up enterprises. You will critically evaluate areas including entrepreneurial strategies, business innovation, sustainable enterprise, and the selection of technology.”