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Engineering Leadership and Management MSc

A leadership and management masters tailored to those within engineering, science and technology research

A flexible masters degree with no tuition fees through the Apprenticeship Levy

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Register your interest here

Offered at NSIRC in Cambridge and awarded by Aston University, this part-time MSc can be funded from the apprenticeship levy so there are no tuition fees to pay.

Aston University is ranked in the top 30 UK universities by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, with the Aston Business School ranking 22nd out of 78 for Economics.

This senior leader apprenticeship has been designed specifically to meet the needs of businesses and to develop future leaders. The ‘how’ of leadership and experiential learning is emphasised, and the demand-led approach allows the content to be shaped according to both the employee and employer's interests.

Additional benefits of this MSc include:

  • Hands-on, project oriented learning that directly relates to business 
  • The course attracts employees from a wide range of professional backgrounds which enables peer-to-peer knowledge transfer 
  • The teaching is delivered by lecturers with strong industrial and academic credibility 
  • There are only assignments for each module – no exams


 


Overview

Course outline

Teaching and fees

Entry requirements

FAQs

Case studies

How to apply


 

Overview

Course Aims

This masters apprenticeship in leadership and management is focused on developing future leaders through the development of management and leadership knowledge, skills and behaviours.   

With a focus on decision making, strategic thinking and leading people, this course covers essential management and leadership theory and explores this through an experiential learning approach within the context of an engineering business or function. 

Students learn in small groups led by industrially experienced teaching staff and will have the opportunity to learn and network with emerging talent from other organisations as well as to apply their learning within the workplace.

Programme presentation

Qualifications

By successfully completing this programme, students will be awarded an MSc in Engineering Leadership and Management, and may also receive an Institute of Leadership and Management Level 7 Award.  

On completion of an external end point assessment, students will also achieve a Level 7 Senior Leader Master’s Degree Apprenticeship.

Reviews

Feedback about previous Engineering and Leadership courses at NSIRC includes:  

  • ‘The content was wholly relevant and has had an immediate effect on my confidence and performance.’ 

  • ‘The tutors are hugely passionate which ensures they get the learning across. I have been able to apply my new knowledge to situations I encounter every day at work.’ 

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Course outline

Course Content

Modules are taught at postgraduate level and have been structured to contribute towards an MSc, Level 7 ILM Award and the Senior Leader Master’s Degree Apprenticeship Standard. Students' knowledge and skills will be enhanced and employers will benefit from their increased capability to perform more challenging work.

Students will study six core modules plus two electives over a 24 month period. The course concludes with a major employer project undertaken over a further six months of study.

Core modules

Topics on offer include:

  • Mastering strategy
  • Strategic financial management
  • Developing leadership and management capability through enquiry
  • Engineering programme management
  • The business landscape
  • Research methods

Elective modules

Students will also select two elective modules to deepen their knowledge of a specialist area:

  • Operational effectiveness
  • Customer engagement
  • Supply chain management
  • Sustainable engineering
  • Human resource management

Employer project

The course concludes with a major project focused on a particular area of the employer's business. The output is a workable solution or approach to a current issue the employer is facing.

Duration

The course commences in January and September cohorts, and runs for 2½ years.

The first two years of the course are taught in blocks over 8 weekends per year (Friday-Sunday). The final six months are spent working on a major project in the workplace.

To meet the apprenticeship requirements each employee should spend 20% of their ‘normal working hours’ working on their MSc. Some of this will be taught time – 8 hours per day of teaching – but the remainder should be ‘off-the-job’ training time.

Visit the Department of Education and Education and Skills Funding Agency websites for more information about ‘normal working hours’ and ‘off-the-job' training time.

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Teaching and fees

Teaching arrangements

Employees will continue to work full-time for their employers and will complete the MSc on a part-time basis.

The first two years of the course are taught in short, intensive blocks of two weekends per module (Friday-Sunday). Employees will study four modules per year.

The teaching is delivered by Aston University staff with extensive business and industry experience. Employees will study in small groups using a blend of methods including formal lectures, tutorials, interactive workshops and group discussions. The small cohorts will enable employees to study with fellow specialist, network with emerging talent from other engineering organisations and discuss current industry issues.

Employees will also spend additional ‘off the job’ time applying their new skills and knowledge within their workplaces and studying independently.

For the final six months of the course, employees will undertake a major project based on a current challenge in their workplace.

Teaching will be supported through a virtual learning environment where employees can engage with module content, participate in live seminars and communicate with their peers. There is also an extensive online library of content to support their studies.

Assessment

Modules will be assessed by Aston University through individual assignments for each module and the major employer project. Assessments have an emphasis on application of taught material within the workplace setting to deepen learning.

Throughout the course, employees will amass a portfolio designed to evidence development of their skills, knowledge and behaviours. On achievement of the MSc award they will undergo an end-point assessment with an external assessment organisation to demonstrate achievement of the Institute for Apprenticeships approved Standard for a Senior Leader Master’s Degree Apprenticeship.

Fees

There are no tuition fees to pay.

The total fee of £18,000 per employee (for the whole 2½ year course) will be met by the UK government and the employer through the apprenticeship levy.

You can find out more about how apprenticeship funding works on the Department for Education website.

Location

The course is taught entirely at NSIRC in Cambridge, which is based at TWI Ltd’s headquarters. NSIRC (National Structural Integrity Research Centre) was founded by TWI, Lloyd's Register Foundation and BP.

Seminars and tutorials will take place in a purpose built conference centre with ample free parking, free wifi and on-site catering.

Transport information can be found on the TWI and Granta Conference Centre websites.

There are several hotels nearby. For information please email Alison Dodd via enquiries@nsirc.co.uk

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Entry requirements

Background

The course is suitable for employees working in an engineering role or business with the desire to further their knowledge, develop their careers and progress to leadership positions. Employees may have experience of leading people, projects, operations or services to deliver long-term results. This could include, but is not limited to:   

  • Team leaders and supervisors 
  • Senior managers, project managers 
  • Business support staff including HR, accounting, quality, safety, procurement, marketing, IT 
  • Engineers e.g. general, electrical, mechanical, civil, chemical 
  • Technologists and researchers 

Qualifications and experience

Employees should have:   

  • A good UK honours degree (or equivalent)
  • Five years' relevant work experience 

Alternatively, be an employee with extensive work experience equivalent to a graduate qualification.

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FAQs

Coming soon

 

In the meantime, please email Alison Dodd if you have any questions via the enquiries@nsirc.co.uk

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Case studies

Read the in-depth experiences of three students within the first cohort of our leadership and management programme.

Engineering Leadership & Management Case Studies

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How to apply

To register your interest in this MSc programme, please email enquiries@nsirc.co.uk.

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