Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainability MSc
Our Master's programme will give you a solid grounding in entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability practice and policy. This will allow you to respond to the growing cross-industry demand for skills and knowledge in these key areas.
You are currently viewing course information for entry year:
Start date(s):
- September 2023
Overview
The Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainability MSc builds on the School’s extensive experience and track record in driving entrepreneurship and innovation.
Businesses across the globe are increasingly focused on these areas. Sustainability is of particular interest as business practices must remain sustainable for a better and just future.
This programme will allow you to critically understand:
- entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability over time
- the key topics in terms of theory, policy, process and practice
- the role of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainability in society and a variety of contextual settings
Important information
We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2022-23.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
What you'll learn
The programme will give you advanced knowledge and skills in a range of topics, including:
- entrepreneurship and enterprise
- innovation management
- sustainable new venture creation
- creativity
- technology and entrepreneurship
- sustainable innovation consultancy
- entrepreneurial consultancy
- business enterprise policy
- open innovation management
- business growth and society
Three core pillars of the programme focus on:
- the entrepreneur / innovator
- process
- praxis and context
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Compulsory modules
- NBS8062 Research Methods (20 credits)
- NBS8134 Business Enterprise Policy (10 credits)
- NBS8214 Innovation Management (10 credits)
- NBS8606 Technology and Entrepreneurship (10 credits)
- NBS8617 Theorising Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (10 credits)
- NBS8618 Sustainable Venture Creation (20 credits)
- NBS8623 Open Innovation Management (10 credits)
- NBS8624 Business Growth & Society (10 credits)
- NBS8635 Creativity (10 credits)
Optional modules
You take one of the following modules:
- NBS8621 Sustainable Innovation Consultancy Project (10 credits)
- NBS8622 Entrepreneurial Consultancy* (10 credits)
- NBS8628 Digital Transformation and Social Good* (10 credits)
You also take one of the following modules:
- NBS8625 Dissertation
- NBS8627 New Venture Creation Plan*
*All optional modules are offered subject to the constraints of the timetable and to any restrictions on the number of students who may be taught on a particular module. Not all modules may be offered in all years and they are listed subject to availability.
How you'll learn
You'll be taught through a variety of methods, including:
- workshops
- small group activities
- lectures
- fieldwork
- formative coursework
You'll have opportunities to work in groups on live entrepreneurship and innovation projects for external organisations.
You can also enhance your learning through our Entrepreneurs and Innovators in Residence programme.
Teaching methods
This course is modular, comprising 180 credits. The taught component of the course comprises:
- 110 credits via compulsory module
- 10 credits via elective modules
- 60 credits via a capstone module. You can undertake either a dissertation or a new venture creation plan.
Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:
- Dissertation
- Essay
- Oral presentation
- Report
- Reflective log
You will have the opportunity to undertake a consultancy report. You can also work on a new venture creation plan.
The programme will develop your practical skills and give you hands-on experience.
You will:
- develop your entrepreneurial and innovation skills and practice
- learn how to scope, synthesize and analyse new ideas, approaches and processes in contextual settings
- learn how to effectively demonstrate the merits of a proposal to key stakeholders
- learn to use appropriate analytical tools and techniques and apply the results to practice
- design and manage time-bound tasks, both independently and as part of a group
Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:
- module handbooks
- course materials
- groups
- course announcements and notifications
- written feedback
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:
- peers
- academics
- personal tutors
- our University Student Services Team
- student representatives
You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.
Your development
Upon completion of the programme, you will be able to show:
- a critical appreciation of the roots and evolution of entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability
- knowledge and critical awareness of the theory, processes and practices of entrepreneurship and innovation
- an advanced critical understanding of the contextual considerations of entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability in a global context
- the ability to apply and integrate learning from taught elements of the programme via your final capstone project
You will have developed your practical skills and be able to:
- scope, synthesize, and analyse new ideas, approaches and processes in contextual settings
- use analytical tools and techniques to gather knowledge and insights
- apply new knowledge and insights to practice
- identify and address ethical issues
Real business skills
You will benefit from opportunities to either:
- pursue new venture creation by bringing your business idea to life, or
create and develop innovative ideas for civic engagement through social enterprise
Skills and experience
You will:
- learn to use a wide set of analytical and creative problem-solving tools
- develop critical perspectives that support entrepreneurial, innovation and sustainability processes and practices
- learn to consider entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability in various contextual settings, such as organisational and geographical
- have the opportunity to engage with our Entrepreneurs and Innovators in residence programm
Research skills
This programme is research and practice led. This is reflected in the teaching and assessment strategies of each module.
The capstone element of the programme is either a dissertation or a new venture creation plan. You will define, scope, refine and undertake a programme of work with the support of an individual supervisor.
Your future
Upon graduating, you can progress onto a career in:
- start-ups (your own or those founded by others)
- entrepreneurial and innovation consultancy
- large corporates
- the third sector, non-government organisations and social enterprises
- policy design for local, national or international organisations
- further academic research (e.g. PhD)
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Quality and ranking
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Fees and funding
Tuition fees for 2023 entry (per year)
If your studies last longer than one year, your tuition fee may increase in line with inflation.
Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.
EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.
If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.
Scholarships
We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information.
What you're paying for
Tuition fees include the costs of:
- matriculation
- registration
- tuition (or supervision)
- library access
- examination
- re-examination
- graduation
Find out more about:
If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.
You can check this in the How to apply section.
If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.
For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.
Search for funding
Find funding available for your course
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2023 entry.
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language requirements
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.
Download our admissions policy (PDF: 201KB)
Other policies related to admissions
Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course
How to apply
Using the application portal
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You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.
If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.
Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.
Apply Online
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- campus tours
- on-campus open days
- virtual open days
- webinars
Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually
Overseas events
We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.
Get in touch
Questions about this course?
If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:
Professor James Cunningham
Degree Programme Director
Newcastle University Business School
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 1503
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