Plymouth Business School

MSc Entrepreneurship and International Development

Do you want to work for an international or local charity or NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation), and help people change their lives? Or perhaps work with local or central government to create policies and environments that support and enhance entrepreneurship? By completing this programme, you will cultivate the necessary skills to shape and deliver sustainable entrepreneurship programs, and help a new generation of entrepreneurs transform lives and empower communities.

Key features

  • " Allow your entrepreneurial skills to shine as you close the gap between ideas and innovation and identify viable market opportunities that have the potential to transform lives.
  • " Develop the skills to help you access a variety of career paths such as consulting or working in an established development focused, local or global organisation, or starting and running your own social enterprise or development agency.
  • " Learn with an internationally diverse and culturally rich group of talented and motivated students and professionals.
  • " Engage with entrepreneurial activities and Entrepreneurs in Residence through the Futures Entrepreneurship Centre

Course details

  • Year 1
  • Core modules

    • ENT700 Entrepreneurship and Business Strategy

      The module will focus on three key aspects of entrepreneurship: the environment for entrepreneurship, the entrepreneurial person, and the business strategies required to create an entrepreneurial organisation. The module will enable the students to consider their entrepreneurial capabilities and suitability for such a career path. The module will also consider business strategy in an entrepreneurial context.

    • ENT701 Project Management: Diversity in Entrepreneurship

      The purpose of this module is to enable students to identify and manage diversity issues with specific reference to gender, youth and the informal sector. This module equips students with an understanding of critical diversity issues that are crucial to successfully conduct business in various countries and to efficiently target different (foreign) markets. The module will introduce concepts of diversity for different countries and relate them directly to small business start-ups. Moreover, the module will allow students to identify potential countries of interest in relation to their business venture/project.

    • ENT702 Entrepreneurship in Developing and Emerging Economies

      This module will consider entrepreneurship in developing and emerging economies. The importance of developing entrepreneurial activity in the developing world/emerging economies is identified. Case histories of successful entrepreneurial practice are identified in the context of the developing world/emerging economies.

    • ENT703 Futures Perspectives in Entrepreneurship

      The purpose of this module is to enable students to create a deeper understanding of contemporary and futuristic global challenges within the broader field of entrepreneurship development.

    • ENT705SU Entrepreneurship and Small Business Growth

      This module will develop a critical understanding of the methods of analysing growth strategies for the small business sector to determine the optimum way business ideas and projects can be taken to a higher level of growth, and in that way make a more substantial contribution to socio-economic growth in their regions

    • HRL710A Leadership and Management Essentials

      This module will provide learners with a rigorous framework of knowledge, skills and understanding concerning leadership and management that they will need whatever the degree of specialisation they later elect to follow.

    • STO700A International Business Environment

      This module provides a broad overview of the environment in which contemporary business organisations operate. It presents data sources and analytical approaches that can be applied to any specific sectors, industries and a range of locations through the world. Understanding the international business environment is a key aspect of organisational decision making and is critical to business success.

    • STO701 Knowledge Management and Decision Making

      Evidence has clearly shown that excellent business performance can only be achieved based on the right decisions underpinned by the effective management of knowledge. The ability to make good decisions is the mark of successful and promotable managers. This module introduces the major themes of integrated knowledge management and decision making (core concepts, processes, models), describing the key challenges of knowledge management and decision making under current business environment. It further develops an appreciation of knowledge management responses to decision requirements which need to meet the key challenges, and the important methods and technologies which can be used to support knowledge-based decision making. It will provide students with opportunities to develop key research, analytical and evaluation skills that would enhance decision makers¿ confidence in rational, evidence-based decision making to solve complex business decision problems.

    Optional modules

    • ACF716SU International Environmental Economics

      Economic activities depend on natural resources and affect the natural environment. This module develops and applies economic theories and concepts relevant to the analysis of environmental problems. It explores policy options for dealing with environmental challenges at the national and international stage.

    • MKT708SU International Marketing

      The module provides insights into the key theoretical principles and contemporary practice of international marketing. It delivers a comprehensive understanding of the environmental factors, marketing strategies and the marketing planning process associated with marketing in an international context.

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

MSc Entrepreneurship and International Development programme specification 5342

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.

Entry requirements

A good honours degree, first or second class, or equivalent, in any discipline.

If English is not your mother tongue 6.5 IELTS with a minimum of 5.5 in any element in a secure English language test.

Plymouth University offers pre-sessional English language courses if you do not have this.

We welcome students from a broad range of disciplines who are keen to place their undergraduate discipline knowledge into the context of entrepreneurship and international development.

Fees, costs and funding

New Student 2018 2019
Home/EU £9,500 £9,500
International £14,000 To be confirmed
Part time (Home/EU) £500 To be confirmed
Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per 10 credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances.

How to apply

Applying for postgraduate taught study

The University aims to make the application procedure as simple and efficient as possible. Our Postgraduate Admissions and Enquiries team are on hand to offer help and can put you in touch with the appropriate faculty if you wish to discuss any programme in detail. If you have a disability and would like further information about the support provided by University of Plymouth, please visit our Disability Services website. Support is also available to overseas students applying to the University from our International Office via our how to apply webpage or email international-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

If you would like any further information please contact the Postgraduate and Enquiries team:

Telephone: +44 (0)1752 585858

Email: admissions@plymouth.ac.uk 

Submitting an application

Apply for postgraduate study using our online postgraduate application form.

Alternatively you can download a copy of the application form to be submitted by hand, by post or via email with accompanying attachments.

Additional guidance information can also be downloaded on how to fill in the postgraduate application form.

Applying for postgraduate research study

The University aims to make the application procedure as simple and efficient as possible. The Doctoral College is available to answer any queries on our postgraduate research degrees.  If  you have a disability and would like further information about the support provided by University of Plymouth, please visit our Disability Services website. Support is also available to overseas students applying to the University from our International Office via international-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk

If you would like any further information please contact the Doctoral College:

Telephone: +44 (0)1752 587640

Email: doctoralcollege@plymouth.ac.uk

Submitting an application

Apply for postgraduate study using our online postgraduate application form.

Alternatively you can download a copy of the application form to be submitted by hand, by post or via email with accompanying attachments.

Additional guidance information can also be downloaded on how to fill in the postgraduate application form.

Entrepreneurship with the University of Plymouth

Have you always been interested in finding the gaps in the market? Discovering opportunities to launch creative new products? Do you want to work for a charity at local or international level to help people change their lives? Or perhaps work with the government to support and enhance entrepreneurship?

Our programmes in the Entrepreneurship Suite can help you achieve any of these.

Find out more about MSc Entrepreneurship or MSc Entrepreneurship with International Development

Dr Nikolaos Apostolopoulos – MSc Entrepreneurship and International Development programme lead

"This is a unique programme where graduates will gain a deep understanding and appreciation of the relationship between entrepreneurship and sustainable development in international contexts. This will help the graduates and their employers to develop and deliver innovative, effective and impactful entrepreneurship programmes that can transform lives and empower communities."

#entrepreneurship

Gain the skills and knowledge for your future

Competition for jobs around the world is tough. However, the combination of academic excellence and practical knowledge encouraged on this programme will enhance your prospects of securing your desired job, or perhaps more excitingly setting up and running your own enterprise successfully. Being a graduate of this programme will help you stand out when entering the world of work.

This programme will help you develop a number of skills which are useful to a variety of careers in sustainable and international development as well as business.

Lisa Fleming – MSc Entrepreneurship and International Development

I graduated with a merit grade which was far beyond my expectations and was also delighted to have won the Federation for Small Business prize for ‘Outstanding Postgraduate Taught Student 16/17’ which was awarded to me at the Graduation ceremony.

Read more about Lisa's experience of the programme

Entrepreneurial project work

Students are encouraged to create and develop innovative proposals for responsible entrepreneurship and poverty alleviation around the world.

Previous projects have included the design of 'farm shop' and another did a 'credit bank' so that farming communities could access low interest loans for their farming businesses. This links to a collaborative £1.2 million project funded by Comic Relief in Kenya led by Plymouth Business School.

Find out more about the Comic Relief funded project

Expert guest speakers

We see the value of bringing high level guest speakers into our programme – they help provide some great life context of the business and entrepreneurial world. Last year’s students had the opportunity to meet with Andrew G Haldane – Chief Economist at the Bank of England and Executive Director for Monetary Analysis, Research and Statistics. 

 As part of our collaboration with Devon and Cornwall Business Council the students were invited to meet with Andrew and discussed the global economy and the role of responsible entrepreneurship and social innovation.

Babson College entrepreneurial experience

“It was an amazing opportunity that reinforced a lot of things I learnt during my studies”.

Two students were awarded the opportunity to attend the fully funded five day entrepreneurship boot camp delivered by Babson College in Boston, Massachusetts. A development opportunity for design thinking, market testing and negotiation.

Read more about one of the students who was awarded a place in 2017


Responsible Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation (RESI)

iSPER's Responsible Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation Themed Research Group (RESI) encompasses diverse strands of academic and applied responsible entrepreneurship and social innovation research. By addressing contemporary and emergent issues in entrepreneurship research it aims to impact on policy and practice, with a particular focus on three key areas:

  • Entrepreneurship education (in the adult and higher education landscape).
  • Entrepreneurship and social development (ethnic minority entrepreneurship, gender and entrepreneurship, lifestyle entrepreneurship, refugee entrepreneurship). 
  • Entrepreneurship and social innovation (creative entrepreneurship, entrepreneur displacement and resilience, social entrepreneurship).

Find out more about research opportunities

People

Master Your Future – Faculty of Business Professoriate Scholarships

The Faculty of Business Professoriate Scholarships of £1,000 are awarded to selected students undertaking postgraduate study each year.

The opportunity to apply for a professoriate scholarship is available to applicants currently in receipt of an offer for postgraduate study.

Find out more and how to apply

Postgraduate loans

You may now be eligible for a government loan of over £10,000 to help towards the cost of your masters degree.

The loans will be available for both taught and research masters programmes across all disciplines and subject areas.

Find out more about your eligibility for a postgraduate loan

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Guide to student life
International students
Additional information for international students

Postgraduate students

Postgraduate study in the Faculty of Business can help you realise your ambitions and develop your potential as a manager and leader of the future. Whether you come to us as a newly qualified graduate or after a successful track record in industry we provide high quality, professionally accredited postgraduate programmes, and PhD and professional doctorate supervision.

International community

Play your part in out thriving international community of 3,000 students from over 100 countries studying full and part time programmes at the University.

We'll help you at every step of your journey from applying to settling in, during and after your postgraduate studies.