MSc Organisational Change and Development: The University of Manchester

Course description

Economic crises, structural adjustments, competition, technical innovation, public, private and NGO sector reforms and other drivers all require organisations in developing and transitional economies to change and develop on an ongoing basis. As a result, there is a growing need for staff who both understand and can contribute to organisational change and development initiatives and activities. This MSc programme aims to meet that need.

The programme's aim is to turn participants into more effective 'agents of organisational change and development', by providing them with new analytical capacities, skills and knowledge. By the end of the programme, participants will be able to:

• understand the basis and processes of organisational change and development;
• contribute to the effective diagnosis, planning, management and implementation of organisational change and development;
• engage in chosen specialist processes of organisational change and development;
• synthesise new and existing knowledge by undertaking academic or specialist organisational change and development research.

Module details

Core programme course units include:

• Organisational Behaviour
• Organisation Development
• Organisational Change Strategies
• Characteristics and Skills in Development Practice

Optional course units typically include:

• Information Technologies and Human Resources
• International Management
• Human Resource Practice 1
• Human Resource Practice 2
• Public Sector Reform and Management
• Development Practice: International Contexts & Worlds of Action
• Introducing Information Systems in Organisations
• Training & Development
• Planning & Managing Development
• Human Resource Development Strategy
• Managing Quality in Development

Career opportunities

The programme is aimed at individuals involved in processes of organisational change and development in developing and transitional economies. Participants are drawn from a variety of backgrounds including managers, administrators, consultants and professional practitioners. They are also drawn from a variety of organisations undergoing change: public and private sectors and non-governmental organisations. Participants are likely to hold a professional interest in Human Resource issues.

IDPM has a large and diverse postgraduate population, including a large number of students from outside the UK (85% of their students are drawn from outside the UK, particularly from Africa, Asia and Western Europe, but also reaching out to Latin America, the Middle East, North America and the Pacific). Many of their alumni have gone on to prestigious careers in the public service or in the NGO/charitable and private sectors, as policy officers, managers, consultants or development practitioners - while others have pursued further academic study leading to a PhD and academic careers. Since its foundation, IDPM has trained over 7000 individuals from 170 different countries.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview:

Applicants should have a good first degree (minimum 2:1 or equivalent), and one year's work experience in a relevant area. Applicants without a degree may still be considered if they have a least 10 years' relevant work experience.

Postgraduate Diploma: Applicants who do not fulfil typical entry requirements may be offered the opportunity to register for a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip). Postgraduate Diploma students take a package of core and optional course units identical to the Masters programme. If performance in these course units meets the standard required at the Masters level (a pass mark of 50%), these students upgrade to Masters registration at the end of the second semester and proceed to the dissertation. They then become eligible for award of a Masters degree. Those who do not achieve a pass at Masters level, but at the Diploma level (a pass mark of 40%), will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma.

English language:

Applicants whose first language is not English should also meet the following language requirements:

• an IELTS Test score of 6.5 or more overall, with a minimum writing score of 6
• or a TOEFL Test (Paper-based) score of 575 or more with a minimum score in Test of Written English of 4.5
• or a TOEFL Test (Computer-based) score of 232 or more with a minimum essay rating of 4.5
• or a TOEFL Test (Internet based) score of 88 or more with a minimum writing score of 22.
• an NCUK PMP EAP Grade B

Applicants whose language of academic instruction for at least 1 year has been English may be exempted from this requirement, at the discretion of the Institute.