Leadership and Management (Top-up) MSc
MSc Leadership and Management (Top-up)
Overview
Good leaders are always in high-demand, and their skills and knowledge are highly-valued too. If you're a senior manager in the private or public sector with at least 3 years leadership and management experience – or you're currently an officer in the military – this MSc Leadership and Management (Top-up) course will teach you how to confidently manage and inspire your team.
This course has a flexible structure, so you'll be able to tailor your studies to fit your professional and personal goals. You'll also be able to continue to work while you study, so you'll be able to apply what you've learned in your current workplace, improving your performance in positions of leadership and authority.
This course offers direct entry routes for officers of the Armed Forces, based on rank and experience. For more information visit the Recognition of Prior Learning web pages. The University of Portsmouth is also an Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) approved supplier.
Please note that some research projects undertaken within the Armed Forces will need to be approved by a military ethics committee which is outside the control of the University.
Entry requirements
MSc Leadership and Management (Top-up) Master's degree entry requirements
Qualifications or experience
There are 4 recognised routes of entry:
- The award of the CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Leadership & Management obtained within the last 5 years and a minimum of 3 years appropriate management experience.
- Military applicants may apply on the basis of Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) via either their Rank or the award of ICSC and a minimum of 2 years work experience at a leadership level.
- Police applicants may apply on the basis of Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) following successful completion of the College of Policing Senior Leadership Development Programme (June 2018 or later) and a minimum of 2 years work experience at Chief Inspector level or equivalent.
- Via a Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) portfolio where the applicant can demonstrate they meet the Learning Outcomes of a number of prior units.
Please contact our admissions team for more details.
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Qualifications or experience
There are 4 recognised routes of entry:
- The award of the CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Leadership & Management obtained within the last 5 years and a minimum of 3 years appropriate management experience.
- Military applicants may apply on the basis of Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) via either their Rank or the award of ICSC and a minimum of 2 years work experience at a leadership level.
- Police applicants may apply on the basis of Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) following successful completion of the College of Policing Senior Leadership Development Programme (June 2018 or later) and a minimum of 2 years work experience at Chief Inspector level or equivalent.
- Via a Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) portfolio where the applicant can demonstrate they meet the Learning Outcomes of a number of prior units.
Please contact our admissions team for more details.
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
What you'll experience
On this course you'll:
- Gain a thorough grounding in how to effectively manage people, alongside the skills to be a confident leader
- Work through a course of learning structured around the National Occupational Management and Leadership Standards: Managing Self and Personal Skills, Providing Direction, Facilitating Change, Working with People, Using Resources, and Achieving Results
- Use what you learn to improve your workplace performance and career prospects
- Have access to all of the resources available to full-time students, including our library's vast selection of electronic resources, accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.
Find out more about this course, our facilities and generous scholarships by attending one of our regular open evenings, where you can meet teaching staff and current students.
Careers and opportunities
When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your skills to work in the industry.
Graduates have also set up successful businesses with help and support from the University.
What you'll study on this MSc Leadership and Management (Top-up) degree course
Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.
Your Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) portfolio will make up 120 credits of this course, the completion of the research methods and dissertation module will provide the remaining 60 credits needed to complete the course.
Modules currently being studied
On this course you'll complete the following units:
- Research methods
- Dissertation
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry.
Work experience and career planning
We'll help you to identify internships, voluntary roles and opportunities that will complement your studies.
When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your skills to work.
After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.
Learning support
As well as support by faculty teaching staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University’s Academic Skills Unit (ASK).
ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:
academic writingnote takingtime managementcritical thinkingpresentation skillsreferencing working in groupsrevision , memory and exam techniques
Teaching
Teaching methods on this course include:
- self-directed learning, with support from University tutors and employers
- a 3 day workshop
- presentations
Term times
The academic year runs from September to June. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter.
It's divided into 2 teaching blocks and 2 assessment periods:
- Teaching block 1 – September to December
- Assessment period 1 – January (and early February for some courses in 2020/21 only)
- Teaching block 2 – January to May (February to May for some courses in 2020/21 only)
- Assessment period 2 – May to June
How you're assessed
You'll be assessed through:
- Dissertation Proposal
- Dissertation
Course costs
Tuition fees
January 2021 start
UK/Channel Islands, EU and Isle of Man students
- Part-time: £3,500 per year (subject to annual increase)
International students
- Part-time: £5,030 per year (subject to annual increase)
September 2021 and February 2022 start
UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students
- Part-time: £3,570 per year (subject to annual increase)
EU students
- Part-time: £3,570 per year (subject to annual increase – including Transition Scholarship)
International students
- Part-time: £5,470 per year (subject to annual increase)
Additional course costs
These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.
Additional costs
Our accommodation section shows your accommodation options and highlights how much it costs to live in Portsmouth.
You’ll study up to 6 modules a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each module.
You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.
We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.
If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
Apply
Starting in February 2021
- Part-time study February 2021 start (1 year)
Starting in September 2021
- Part-time study (1 years)
Starting in January 2022
- Part-time study (1 years)
International students
If you're from outside of the UK, you can apply directly to us (above) or you can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.
If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.
- Subject area
- Business, Management and Marketing


