Leadership and Management MSc
Course code N291
What is special about this course?
The MSc Leadership and Management has been designed for those, who are seeking to enhance the knowledge and skills required for effective leadership and management in the complex, dynamic environments faced by organisations across all sectors today.
This course is aimed at those already in a management or leadership role or graduates looking to enhance their career prospects in this area. Our flexible and high quality Masters programme is delivered through a structured online learning programme that is highly flexible and delivered by experienced practitioners.
This flexible and high quality masters programme is designed to help you develop and enhance your leadership skills and knowledge through a structured online learning programme that is highly flexible and delivered by experienced practitioners.
On completion of the MSc, if you have three years’ experience in a management role, you will be able to apply for the full Assessment for Chartered Manager route of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), which will significantly enhance your career prospects.
An online induction is held in early September and mid-January each year (depending on your start date) which will introduce you to the online learning environment.
For more detailed information about the course modules, please see our Module descriptors document.
Special features
- Gives you the skills to become a more effective leader
- Enables you to work proactively, creatively and collaboratively
- You will undertake a major piece of advanced independent work within the area of leadership and management at a strategic level
- The course is available to study part time and online through the university’s virtual learning environment (VLE),
enabling you to fit your study around your personal and professional commitments - You can choose to study individual modules for continuing professional development (CPD), or work towards the PgCert, PgDip, or full masters degree
Entry requirements
- A 2:2 honours degree or above
- An ordinary degree will also be considered, along with appropriate professional experience
- Recognised international equivalent qualifications are also accepted
- Candidates with no formal qualifications, who can demonstrate their abilities and engage in continuing professional development, will be considered
*Funding support notice*
Postgraduate Loans (SAAS) (Scottish domiciled and EU students)
Loans for tuition fees are available from SAAS for eligible Scotland domiciled and EU students, and loans for living costs for eligible Scottish students.
Access routes
- PgCert Health Leadership and Management (for entry to the PgDip)
- BA (Hons) Business and Management or any other honours programme with the relevant professional experience
PgCert
Core modules are:
- Leading the contemporary workforce (S1)
- Managing in the global network (S2)
Option modules, from which you will choose one, include:
- Information decision making (S2)
- Effective communication (S1)
- Managing and developing the human resource (S1)
- Employment law (S1)
- Employee relations (S2)
PgDip
Core modules are:
- Entra- and intra-preneurial thinking (S2)
- Collaborative leadership (S2)
Option modules, from which you will choose one, include:
- Information decision making (S2)
- Effective communication (S1)
- Managing and developing the human resource (S1)
- Employment law (S1)
- Employee relations (S2)
MSc
To achieve the award of MSc Leadership and Management you will complete:
- Research for business (S1)
- Research project (dissertation) (S2)
How will I study my course?
- Part-time (structured, two modules per semester): online supported learning
- Part-time (unstructured one module per semester): online supported learning
- You will study through supported online learning using the university's virtual learning environment (VLE)
- You may participate in online discussions, forums and group exercises, which will count towards your overall performance
- You will receive support from expert staff
- Your application will be dealt with by UHI Inverness
How long will my course last?
- Part-time (structured): 2.5 years
- Part-time (unstructured): 5 years
Each module is designed to be taught within a 15 week semester. This involves 12 weeks of module material and class interaction, and 3 weeks for completing assessments. It is anticipated you will receive 20% of your module learning as online supported content and tutorials and 80% will be self directed study.
Where can I study my course?
- Inverness
Start date
- September
- January
Fees
For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
This includes
- EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
- EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
- EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
| Per module (20 credits) | £584 | £610 |
| Postgraduate certificate (3 modules, 60 credits) | £1,752 | £1,830 |
| Postgraduate diploma (6 modules, 120 credits) | £3,504 | £3,660 |
| Masters degree (6 modules + dissertation) | £5,256 | £5,490 |
Rest of UK students
For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland) or assessed as rest of the UK for fee status, the following fees apply:
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
| Per module (20 credits) | £780 | £840 |
| Postgraduate certificate (3 modules, 60 credits) | £2,340 | £2,520 |
| Postgraduate diploma (6 modules, 120 credits) | £4,680 | £5,040 |
| Masters degree (6 modules + dissertation, 180 credits) | £7,020 | £7,560 |
EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK
Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. These students will get an automatic fee scholarship.
This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| 2024-25 | With scholarship | 2025-26 | With scholarship | |
| Per module (20 credits) | £1,110 | £833 | £1,200 | £900 |
| Postgraduate certificate (3 modules, 60 credits) | £3,330 | £2,499 | £3,600 | £2,700 |
| Postgraduate diploma (6 modules, 120 credits, 180 credits) | £6,660 | £4,998 | £7,200 | £5,400 |
| Masters degree (6 modules + dissertation, 180 credits) | £9,990 | £7,497 | £10,800 | £8,100 |
International students
For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union, studying online from their home country, or assessed as international for fee status, the following fees apply:
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
| Per module (20 credits) | £1,110 | £1,200 |
| Postgraduate certificate (3 modules, 60 credits) | £3,330 | £3,600 |
| Postgraduate diploma (6 modules, 120 credits, 180 credits) | £6,660 | £7,200 |
| Masters degree (6 modules + dissertation, 180 credits) | £9,990 | £10,800 |
This course is not available to international students requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.
A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international postgraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.
Funding
Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying part-time can apply for a tuition fee loan from SAAS. You must be intending to complete the course in no longer than twice the length of time it would take for a full-time student. For example, if your course is available to full-time students as a one-year programme, you will be funded for a maximum of two years' part-time study. If your course does not have a full-time option, you must complete within three years. You can apply for a tuition fee loan up to £7,000, which will be paid pro-rata for each academic year of study.
Full details can be found on the SAAS website. Applications for loans open in April.
Students from the rest of the UK who meet the eligibility requirements may be able to apply for a loan from the Student Loan Company.
What can I do on completion of my course?
Once you have successfully completed the MSc Leadership and Management, you will have all the skills, knowledge and experience you need to seek senior management/leadership positions in the public, private and voluntary sectors.
With improved confidence, you will be better equipped to make decisions at senior level, feel comfortable taking part in high-level meetings and have increased motivation to further your career.
Is there more information available online?
You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.
I am a professor of public health in Nottingham – an academic in my own right with multiple degrees and qualifications. But as I grew more senior in my career, I wanted to undertake some formal study, and hopefully gain a qualification, in leadership and management.
After I enrolled in 2016, life soon became very difficult in 2017 when I was seconded to the Department for Health and Social Care as Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England. There wasn’t much time for study; staying on the course was getting more and more difficult by the day. I suspended my studies, then the pandemic hit us. In early 2022 I thought I would have to finally admit defeat and withdraw from the course but the brilliant staff on the Inverness campus talked me round, and I kept going, and managed to finish.
The staff in Inverness went way beyond the call of duty to encourage me to stay on and finish. The learning style online was relaxed and supportive. Without both of these things, I simply wouldn’t have made it through. To me, that makes UHI a rather special kind of university. This desire to study again, and study specifically at UHI Inverness, came late in my career so I’m winding down really. The ‘day job’ has involved a great deal of leadership and management, but knowing that I’ve actually studied this subject, and that I have some theoretical underpinnings, is very important.
Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam studied the PgCert Leadership and Management at UHI Inverness.
The course worked well with my lifestyle, and I enjoyed the flexibility of being able to work whilst studying. It’s hard studying remotely, but worth it. The tutors and lecturers were lovely and could not be more helpful. The modules I undertook were contemporary leadership, collaboration, employee relations, research for business and finally the research project. All of these modules are relevant in running a busy NHS service. The course has helped me to evolve as a manager.
My career is moving in a more leadership direction, and the course has helped me with that. I would like to expand the Maxillofacial Prosthetics Service and increase my leadership input with my profession as a whole. My advice to those considering my course would be, don’t underestimate how much hard work it requires. The more effort you put in, the more you will get out of it.
Karen studied the MSc Leadership and Management at UHI Inverness.
I enjoy the variety of the modules, there are some very good lecturers and evening delivery fits in with my full-time job. All lecturers have their own style. I like those who offer breakout groups and guest speakers.
Monica studied the MSc Leadership and Management at UHI Inverness.
Apply for Leadership and Management MSc
We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.