Risk Management MSc

Course modules

Project Management - considers the scope and definition of a project, its significance as an instrument of change and the roles and responsibilities of people within it. Organisational issues are explored and the application of a range of project management tools is critically evaluated for the execution, management and control of project management throughout all its phases.

Risk Management 1 - Provides you with a thematic study of risk management within an interdisciplinary context. You will evaluate the influences on the risk management process, including identification of risk in different scenarios.

Risk Management 2 – is an extension of Risk Management 1, and builds upon your work covered in that module. It provides you with an overview of risk analysis / assessment, including risk management strategies and containment. It covers a broad-spectrum of corporate governance and risk regulations.

Business Continuity and Crisis Management – exposes participants to a historical and contemporary understanding of business continuity management and crisis management theory and practice that fit within broader strategic imperatives.

Enhancing Business, Management and Employability Skills – is designed to develop your employability skills and introduce you to postgraduate study skills, such as academic writing, referencing, critical and reflective thinking. It’s designed to enhance your professional development and identity, and transferable skills such as: self-management, building and leading teams, negotiation, power and organisational politics skills, and problem-solving. During the module, you’ll focus on the change and development in organisations, people skills, and managing change. You’ll also be introduced to key skills required for interpreting financial information and handling statistical data. 

Research Methodology – gain a broad understanding of research methods used in business and management, especially the main epistemological issues and debates related to research in the field. This module is designed to help prepare you for a Dissertation or Business Research Project. You’ll review research design, paradigms and ethics, including the broader ethical impact of research. You’ll also learn about the wide range of quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection and analysis that are commonly used both in academic research and in the practical business environment.

Assurance and Risk – introduces you to the nature, purpose and scope of internal control audit processes within business organisations as tools to reduce business risks. You’ll analyse accounting and internal control risks and systems. As well as evaluating control risks and procedures necessary to mitigate such risks.

Elective taught modules may include:

• International Finance

• Global Supply Chain Management

• Strategic and Financial Decision Making

• Governance and Social Responsibility

During the final semester you will complete a:

Dissertation: provides an invaluable opportunity to work in depth on a particular aspect of an international business and entrepreneurship topic of your choice. The topics of the dissertation are chosen in line with your interests and preferences, but mainly look at application of management theory to small firms.

OR

Business Research Project (BRP): is an individual enterprise consultancy project that serves as a commercially and employability relevant experience. The BRP is a live project where you gain a guaranteed business consultancy experience and are able to use your learned skills to make a genuine impact and benefit for a company.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching will be delivered through formal lectures, informal seminars, tutorials, workshops, discussions, visiting speakers and e-learning resources. Assessment is usually a combination of individual and group work, presentations, essays, reports and projects.

You will also take part in a business simulation exercise throughout your first semester, which will integrate the different elements of the programme.

Teaching contact hours

Full-time option

For the full time option you should be prepared to devote approximately 38 hours a week to your studies. You will typically have up to 14 hours contact hours of teaching most weeks for semester 1 and 2. Teaching is through a mix of lecturers, tutorials, seminars and lab sessions and the breakdown of these activities is shown in each module description.

In addition each module provides a 2 hour surgery each week available for individual consultation with the lecturer. You may also have some scheduled meetings with your programme leader, personal tutor, and/or careers throughout the year to discuss your academic progress and personal development.

Self-directed study: In order to prepare for, and assimilate, the work in lectures and seminars you will be expected to make regular use of our on-line resources, participate in classroom discussions including on our virtual learning environment (VLE) and engage in personal study, revision and reflection for approximately 24 hours per work during semester 1 and 2.

In semester 3, you will undertake independent research for your dissertation (or In-company project), and again should typically allow around 38 hours per week for this. You will be allocated a dedicated academic supervisor to support you, who you will be able to contact on a regular basis.

Part-time option

For the part time option you should be prepared to devote approximately 19 hours a week to your studies. You will typically have up to 7 hours contact hours of teaching most weeks. Teaching is through a mix of lecturers, tutorials, seminars and lab sessions and the breakdown of these activities is shown in each module description.

In addition each module provides a surgery hour each week available for individual consultation with the lecturer. You may also have some scheduled meetings with your programme leader, personal tutor, and/or careers throughout the year to discuss your academic progress and personal development.

Self-directed study: In order to prepare for, and assimilate, the work in lectures and seminars you will be expected to make regular use of our on-line resources, participate in classroom discussions including on our virtual learning environment (VLE) and engage in personal study, revision and reflection for approximately 12 hours per work during teaching weeks

Once you have completed all the taught modules, you will then undertake independent research for your dissertation (or In-company project), and should typically allow around 19 hours per week for this. You will be allocated a dedicated academic supervisor to support you, who you will be able to contact on a regular basis.

Accreditation

The course is accredited by the Institute of Risk Management and you can also earn full exemptions from all six papers of their Diploma level professional examinations. This will allow you to apply for full GradIRM status, one of only four such university programmes in the UK. In addition, after three years of work experience, you can apply for full Chartered membership.