Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainability MSc

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.

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

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 2023-24.

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.

Course content changes

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.

Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainability MSc modules

Compulsory modules

• NBS8062 Research Methods (20 credits)
• NBS8134 Business Enterprise Policy (10 credits)
• NBS8214 Technology Change and 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

Delivery and teaching methods

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.

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Dissertation
• Essay
• Oral presentation
• Report
• Reflective log

Additional assessment information

You will have the opportunity to undertake a consultancy report. You can also work on a new venture creation plan.

Support

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

Student support

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.

Our staff

• Professor James Cunningham (Degree Programme Director)
• Dr Andreas Giazitzoglu
• Dr Arturo Vega
• Dr Paul Richter
• Dr Fiona Whitehurst
• Dr Eftychia Palamida
• Professor Jonathan Sapsed
• Dr Rebecca Casey
• Dr Chiara Marzocchi
• Dr Hanna Bahemia

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.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Facilities

Newcastle University Business School is one of the largest Schools in the University. We have over 3,500 students representing over 80 nationalities. This valuable network extends beyond our current students to include:

• regional, national and international leaders
• over 34,000 alumni in our network, spanning over 150 countries
• leading professionals and practitioners from industry

The Business School is the gateway to Newcastle Helix - an innovation hub and community that brings together industry leaders, businesses and top researchers.

Our facilities include:

• flexible conference room with panoramic views across the city
• Wi-Fi enabled connectivity throughout the building, including three computer clusters housing over 120 PCs
• four large lecture theatres and over 25 seminar and teaching spaces, providing comfortable teaching and group study space
• dedicated Student Hub and Quiet Space, providing a balanced mix of study space for group work or quiet, individual study
• contemporary café
• employability hub to support your career aspirations
• Bloomberg Room to give you a real feel for the trading room floor
• Experimental and Behavioural Economics Lab, a state-of-the-art research facility for conducting studies in experimental economics and economic psychology

The Frederick Douglass Centre at Newcastle Helix also offers further study and learning spaces. This includes a 750 seat auditorium – the largest in the University.

Find out more about Newcastle University Business School

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

If your studies last longer than one year, your tuition fee may increase in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

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:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

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.

Funding deadlines

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

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How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

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  

Open days and events

You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year including:

• 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.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events