Prospective Students

Degree Information:

The MSc in Management (Strategy) is intended to enhance the knowledge, skills, and competencies of students who already have an undergraduate degree in business, but who wish to develop a deeper competency in business strategy and management at masters level. This broadly-based programme will provide you with highly sought-after skills and competencies to assess and contribute to strategic thinking, analysis, decision-making, strategy formulation, and strategy execution in organizations, as well as evaluation of their effectiveness. The drivers and enablers of strategic options are examined in the context of a complex, networked context, and the programme has a particular focus on how technology can enable strategic change.

Note: The MSc in Management (Strategy) is closely aligned with four other different programmes, MSc in Management (Cloud Computing, Digital Marketing or Business) and the MSc Electronic Commerce (Business), though some modules and programme content are shared between the five programmes, they are very different, the fundamental chosen programme will define the area of business you are interested in gaining significant knowledge and expertise.

The programme involves a high level of student interaction, and is extensively interlinked with other modules. It is a busy and intensive programme which runs for 11 ½ months from mid-September of each year to end-August of the following year.

Aims and Objectives:

• Develop an advanced knowledge of the main concepts, models, and perspectives in general business and specifically in strategic management as well as an ability to adapt and apply them appropriately to a wide range of complex and uncertain situations
• Develop a holistic view of the interrelationships between different aspects of strategy-related issues and be able to identify and critically assess those issues from a number of different perspectives
• Develop an ability to assess and contribute to strategic thinking, analysis, decision-making, strategy formulation, and strategy execution in organizations, as well as evaluation of their effectiveness
• Acquire, develop and be able to select appropriately from among a wide range of analytical, conceptual and practical tools necessary for strategy analysis, formulation, and effective implementation
• Assess the range and nature of their skills and competencies and systematically develop the skills and competencies which are necessary to lead and operate successfully in complex and ambiguous business contexts, including analytical, technical, emotional intelligence, teamworking, communication, mentoring, presentation, global awareness, report writing and communication skills

Programme Structure:

The programme commences with a compulsory Immersion Week, which takes place from 17th September - 21st September (i.e. one week before the standard University commencement date).

This one year, full-time programme enables your learning through a combination of lectures, self-assessment exercises, seminars, workshops, and a wide range of practical assignments - often for real-world clients. A core design element of this masters programme is that you will be given many opportunities to test and apply your knowledge on industry projects. As well as undertaking industry-relevant projects, you can work in a group to complete a major practical project in lieu of an individual dissertation. Projects are sourced from DCU's research centres, corporate clients, or may be based on students' own insights and ideas. The required dissertation or group practicum must be submitted by the end of July.

The M.Sc. in Management (Strategy) is part of DCU Business School's Next Generation Management initiative This starts with a pre-semester, week-long immersion course to provide students with the opportunity to develop the competencies required for successful management careers. It focuses on four key themes: personal and career development; leadership, teamwork and corporate accountability; global and societal awareness; and research, media and communication.

Year-long Modules - Next Generation Management

Semester 1 - Organization and Management in the Networked Era, Strategy and Competition, Business Process Innovation, Digital Marketing and eBusiness Management

Semester 2 - Consulting Skills, Strategic Thinking, Data Analytics and Visualisation, Technology Management, International Operations

Summer Period - Dissertation or Practicum

View the subjects currently taught on this course (2012 - 2013)

• Leading lectures in strategic thinking and organisational development strategy
• Provides business graduates with the conceptual foundation for a career with a highly sought after skill set of organisation strategy formulation and implementation
• Close ties with industry to ensure programme relevancy.
• Exposed to multiple disciplines on the programme for a holistic view of strategy
• Part of the Next Generation Management initiative devoted to providing students with critical skills in personal and career development, leadership, teamwork and accountability, global and societal awareness, and research, media and communication.
• Heavy emphasis on applied learning.
• Strong exposure and critical analysis of existing, new and emerging technologies which enable strategic change

Career Prospects:

Graduates are expected to be strong strategic thinkers and formulators of high level directional plans and thus are attractive to large organisations seeking strategy management or consultancy. Coupled with their primary degree, graduates of the M.Sc. in Management (Strategy) will part of a specialised and valuable select group of graduates with a strategic comprehension and knowledge skill set specialising in strategy.

The career path of a graduate of the programme would ideally be suited to senior management at a strategic level within an organisation or independently at a consultancy firm or as an entrepreneur.

Entry Requirements:

The minimum entry requirements for the programme are:

• A second class honours grade 1 honours egree in a Business discipline, or an equivalent international qualification.
  

If you have achieved a second class honours grade 2 honours degree in a Business discipline, you may still obtain a place. This will depend on the availability of places. You may be invited for interview.

If, as is normally the case, demand from qualified applicants exceeds available places, applicants will be ranked for admission purposes on the basis of prior academic performance and, where relevant, performance at interview. Candidates who have not received their degree results by the application closing date may receive conditional offers.

This programme accepts students who have successfully completed the DCU Pre-Masters International Foundation Programme (IFP).
All courses are delivered through the English language but applicants should have sufficient language competency to enable them to pursue their studies in their chosen host countries where English is not the native language. Evidence of an acceptable TOEFL score, or equivalent standard, is required.

International Applications
International candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to those outlined above. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language. For further information on international applications click here.

Dates for Submission of Applications 2012

EU Applicants
We have added a limited number of extra places to this programme, apply online through the Postgraduate Applications Centre (http://www.pac.ie/dcu) by 10th August 2012.

Non-EU Applicants
Apply online through the Postgraduate Applications Centre (http://www.pac.ie/dcu) by 13th July 2012.

Please note that a limited number of applications may be accepted up to 31st August by means of manual application procedures. Further details available from registry.pac@dcu.ie

Applying through the Postgraduate Applications Centre (http://www.pac.ie/dcu)
When applying for this programme use the PAC code DC514. Please submit a C.V. along with other supporting documentation to PAC.

Commencement of Programme

September 2012.

Full list of degrees >

Fee information

Indicative Timetable
(Weeks 20-31)