MSc Management for Business Excellence

Master's Programme
Management for Business Excellence

The course is all about understanding how organisations work; it takes a holistic look at organisations, the inter-relationships between departments within them, and how to optimise the use of available resources.

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Start date:
29 September 2025

Duration:
12 months, full time

Application deadline:

2 August 2025

Award:
Master of Science (MSc)

Highlights and benefits

Underpinned by the EFQM ModelLink opens in a new window - a globally recognised management framework that supports organisations in managing change and improving performance.
The 'challenge-based' learning environment not only teaches you to think critically about topics and issues that come to the fore, but also ensures you understand how to use the tools, techniques and theory to make a positive impact within the workplace.
Prepares you to become an effective leader, decision maker and manager of excellence within any industry.
Opens up a range of career options, particularly within Quality Management, Consultancy, and Strategy.

Overview

MBE is an innovative Master’s degree in management with a core focus on Quality. It is designed for those who want to become effective leaders and managers of excellence in the quality of product or service provision in their chosen industries. The course uses the EFQM Excellence Model as a framework, this was originally developed to increase the competitiveness of European businesses, particularly in the enhancement of the quality of products and services they provided in response to global competition. This model is now adopted globally and has been instrumental in the “journey to excellence” for thousands of businesses worldwide.

The course is suitable for those who want to be challenged in the way they think about effective management and improvement of processes to optimise output quality in any field of industry. This is achieved through structured problem solving as well as studying such areas as employee motivation and business culture through case studies. The course is all about understanding how organisations can work effectively towards stakeholder-based goals as well as learning from past failures to achieve this; it takes a holistic look at organisations, the inter-relationships between departments within them, and how to optimise the use of available assets and resources.

Upon graduation, you’ll be ready to improve the capabilities of your chosen organisations by making structured and informed decisions in response to improvement opportunities, backed up by proven approaches, tools and quality driven philosophies. Understanding how your decisions will potentially affect systems across departments to align with business goals will also be a feature of your learning.

This course will provide you with a distinctly different learning experience to what you will have previously been used to. The style of learning is very much active, and you will expand your skills during team-based collaboration with your international colleagues as well as from your expert tutors. This will help develop a rich global perspective to your learning. You will also make choices about what you wish to learn, and you will decide how best to achieve your learning objectives; all of this will be facilitated by our expert WMG team and selected external speakers.

Through classroom simulations, you’ll generate credible and practical solutions to real-business problems. Most importantly, you’ll learn to think critically about topics and issues that come to the fore, challenging views and growing both as an individual and as a practitioner of effective solutions to quality improvement opportunities.

This course uses blended learning approaches, including e-learning, you are provided with a rich learning environment in which you will develop a deep understanding of content. The programme is supported by tutorials and seminars to discuss and explore web-based content.

What you'll learn

This course comprises of the following modules:

Each module is 15 CATS (150 hours of learning and assessment). Students are required to study 120 CATS worth of taught modules to successfully complete the MSc course.

Please note that whilst the module catalogue shows the latest approved version of each module and what is currently being taught (academic year 2024), there may be minor updates to content or learning objectives year on year to reflect the evolving state of knowledge and the requirements of teaching best practise. Any such amends will be updated following the department 'module approvals process' and reflected in the module catalogue before the start of the next academic year in 2025.

Project

In addition to your modules, in order to gain a Master of Science qualification, you will need to undertake a dissertation project, worth 33% of your MSc credits and your final grade.

This will be a major individual project, which will develop your academic, research, and analytical skills. Your project will enable you to focus on a particular aspect of Business Excellence in order to further your personal and career interests. It will be submitted in the form of a dissertation at the end of the academic year.

You are expected to devote an appropriate portion of your time and intellectual effort to the project during the course i.e. approximately 600 hours over the course of the academic year.

How you'll learn

Learning style and assessment

This course has two components – a taught component accounting for two-thirds of your time and effort, and a research component (dissertation) accounting for one-third.

For the taught component, we blend lectures with seminars, syndicate exercises/group work, simulations, case studies, independent learning and forum activities.

The course also makes widespread use of e-learning to provide a rich learning environment, stimulate teamwork, and develop a deep understanding of content. Through tutorials and seminars you will join together with tutors and peers to discuss and explore the themes, tools and techniques introduced by the web-based content. This will help you to understand contexts and real-world application of theories, principles and techniques alike.

The course takes a 'challenge-based' learning approach, with the aim of helping you to develop critical autonomy and deep learning, and to help you understand contexts and real-world application of theories, principles and techniques alike. It is rich in applied exercises guided by the MBE tutor team who are acknowledged leaders are experts in their fields.

Each module encompasses 150 hours of learning which is delivered over a four-week learning block, allowing you to focus on one module at a time and engage deeply with the subject material.

Your modules will predominantly be assessed by way of a substantial written assignment, but assessment can also be in other formats. In addition to the main assessment, there may be assessed presentations, online tests, self-reflection, and a range of other assessment methods.

Entry requirements

In order to meet our academic entry requirement, you should have obtained the minimum of a UK 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalentLink opens in a new window).

Candidates with a UK 2:2 (or equivalentLink opens in a new window) may be accepted upon demonstration of relevant professional experience.

MBE is designed for graduates who want to be challenged in their approach to organisational management and excellence. You should also have a strong interest in understanding how companies drive quality into their processes. It is suited to students with a wide range of backgrounds including engineering, science, business and management.

English language

If you are a non-native English speaker, we need to confirm that your English language competency is sufficiently good for you to get the most out of your Master's study. You therefore require you to take a SELT (Secure English Language Test) and submit your results as one of your academic requirements. If you are taking an IELTS test, we require a score of 6.5 (with no less than 6.0 in any one component). Please view our web page here for a full list of accepted tests, together with the grades required.

How to apply

Application is through the University’s online form and is currently open. The course code for MSc Management for Business Excellence is P-H1S9

What to include with your application:

A completed application form and £75 application fee.
A Personal Statement which can be included in the online application.
A scan of your transcript (marksheet). If you are still studying, please send us your transcripts to date. NB: if you are made an offer, we will then require you to upload your degree transcripts and certificate in order to clear your conditions.
English language test result (if applicable) - this can be submitted after you have an offer.
One reference. If you completed studies less than 2 years ago, this should be an academic reference. If you graduated more than 2 years ago, we will require a professional reference. We contact your referee directly, so please include their valid professional email address on your application form.
Candidates with professional experience should include their CV with their application.

You can read more about the application process, and access a link to the application form, on our how to apply web page.

Application Deadline

Our official application deadline is 2 August 2025, however please note that this course will close early if capacity is reached ahead of that deadline. We strongly recommend you apply as soon as you are ready in order to avoid disappointment.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

For 2025 entry, the tuition fees are as follows:

Home students: £12,300
Overseas students: £35,340

If you are successful in receiving an offer, a deposit payment is required in order to secure your place on the course. Please note that sponsored students can apply for a deposit waiver. For further information, please see our tuition fee deposits pageLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.

Your remaining tuition fee is then payable at the start of the academic year, or in three instalments. For information about how to pay your tuition fees, please review the University's finance web pagesLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.

WMG Excellence Scholarships

At WMG, we invest more than £1.5 million per year into supporting our talented students and creating a diverse and inspiring learning environment.
Our funding opportunities range from the competitive merit-based WMG Excellence Scholarship open to all offer-holders, through to guaranteed bursaries for specific countries and partnership awards with third-party funders.

WMG Excellence Scholarships are merit-based awards, available on a competitive basis. Awards range from £5,000 to £15,000 tuition fee discount.

Applications will be judged on past academic achievement, professional experience, reasons for study, and your vision for the future. View our WMG Excellence Scholarship pageLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window for full details on how to apply for this award.

Additional Scholarship opportunities

You might also be eligible to apply for other scholarships from the University of Warwick, such as the Warwick Taught Masters Scholarship Scheme; as well as awards from external funding bodies, including Chevening Scholarships. For additional funding opportunities and eligibility details, please visit our Funding web pageLink opens in a new window

Careers

As an MBE graduate, you will learn to successfully drive change within an organisation and deliver business excellence from a whole-company perspective. The broad skillset gained will allow you to become an effective leader, able to make key decisions on business improvement by optimising resources and assessing the impact of your decisions across an organisation.

Following graduation, you can expect to develop your career within consultancy, management, or business development. A lot of our MBE graduates have been employed in roles such as:

Management Consultant
Quality Manager
Business Development Manager
New Product Development Manager
Process Improvement Engineer
Quality Assurance Manager
HR Manager
Customer Service Manager
Senior Planner

With further experience, you can then expect to obtain a key executive role and be responsible for leading strategy and policy. Many of our alumni now have well-established careers, which they attribute to their foundation in MBE:

Head of Strategy and Performance Development
Corporate Finance Executive
Director of Management Consulting
Head of Budget and International Fundraising
Business Solutions Architect

As the set of skills learned on this course can be applied to businesses across sectors, our MBE graduates have secured positions with a very diverse set of employers, some examples of which you can find below:

Banking (World Bank Group, Bank of China, Worldpay, HSBC, CitiBank Brazil)
Consultancy (Ernst & Young, KPMG)
Consumer goods (Proctor & Gamble, Unilever, L’Oréal)
Food and drink (Nestlé, Danone)
Higher Education (DePaul University, The American University in Cairo)
IT (Google)
Logistics (UPS, Kuehne & Nagel)
Oil and gas (Petrobras, SOCAR)
Pharmaceuticals (AstraZeneca, Pfizer)
Technology and manufacturing (Siemens, Philips, Rolls-Royce)
Transport (Emirates, Network Rail, EasyJet)

On a daily basis, MBE graduate Ewa Grzesiuk is applying the management, leadership, and problem-solving skills she developed on the course in her role as a Senior Planner with Jaguar Land Rover.

“My challenge is to enable the complex system of engineering work-streams, supplier interaction, prototypes builds, and testing to be delivered on time. I ensure each piece of the puzzle is compatible, complete and synchronised to be at the right place at the right time, as any minor deviation will impact the smoothness of delivery, quality of event and ultimately cost. Keeping the team aligned to the plan and committed to delivering is the ultimate challenge.”

You can read more about Ewa's role in her alumni story.

WMG: a department embedded in industry

You'll be studying in an environment surrounded by professionals from a range of industries and sectors; including hearing directly from industry experts and guest speakers in many of our modules.

Throughout the year, we also host activities and events that will help you to understand potential career pathways including; seminars; external speakers; industrial visits; alumni talks and more. We encourage our students to make the most of the opportunities available to learn about career options for the future.

Warwick Careers Service

The University of Warwick's Careers ServiceLink opens in a new window offers specific careers support to WMG students, through a dedicated Careers Advisor, Siobhan Qadir. The service provides practical workshops and 1-1 appointments for our students covering many aspects of career choice and development, including: how to build a strong CV and write job applications; effective career planning and guidance; and how to enhance your interview and networking skills.

Additionally, each year, employers have a presence on campus, with careers fairs, presentations and guest lectures happening on a regular basis; meaning you'll have lots of exposure to potential employers.

There are also various events run throughout the year to develop your skillset and teach you how to market this to employers. Individual workshops are hosted on a variety of topics, such as networking and time management. Or for those interested in a more complete programme, you can partake in awards such as WMG Skills+ to develop your core employability skills, or the Intercultural Training Programme to strengthen your intercultural awareness. In addition, there is a wealth of online material available to help strengthen your industrial knowledge and build on employability skills, such as the WMG Virtual Careers Programme. Find out more about the support available to you by visiting our Careers and Employability page.

Alumni

We hope that your relationship with WMG and the University of Warwick will continue long after your graduate. The university and the department both have vast alumni networks and, upon graduation, you'll be a member of this ever-growing community of professionals working in countries around the world. You'll have access to our alumni support; events; e-mentoring scheme; amongst many other opportunities.

You can read about more about the careers and experiences of our alumni on our alumni profiles web pages.Link opens in a new window

Scholarships and Bursaries

WMG will be awarding over £1.5 million in scholarships and bursaries to students commencing study on any of our full-time MSc programmes beginning in September 2025.

Explore funding opportunities

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Ready to study at WMG?

We look forward to receiving your MSc application. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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