Study Management Science and graduate with a university degree

There are many clichés in management for example, ’We must invest in the latest technology’.  Management Science challenges clichés;  asks questions, collects evidence, provides a rational analysis and effective solutions in business.

Management Science is simply the use of a powerful recipe:

• collect information (typically a mixture of words and numbers)
• develop an understanding of important inter-relationships (the ‘model’)
• test the model
• use the model to explore alternative futures and identify the best
  

Crucial decisions need both the creativity and the objective analysis provided by Management Science.

Management Science uses many tools. Some of these are quantitative, for example, statistics, mathematical modelling and cost-benefit analysis but qualitative tools, such as systems analysis, are also important. The Management Scientist needs to be able to communicate. Discovering the best solution is not good enough; your idea must be sold in a sharp report and an engaging presentation.

Management Science is used in a wide range of organisations both service and manufacturing in the commercial and public sectors.

Examples of projects include:

• Analysing customer demand and changes in population to determine the location of retail stores
• Improving patient flows in NHS to provide a more efficient and patient friendly service
  

Year 1

Highers BBBB.
A-levels BBC.
IB Diploma with a total of 32 points.
HNC or HND with Bs in Graded Units.

Access courses and other UK/EU and international qualifications are also welcomed.

Year 2

A-levels or Advanced Highers ABB to include Business Studies/Management.
Scottish HND in related subjects with Bs in graded units.

Year 3

Applicants with an HND in Business will be considered on an individual basis with a good academic profile.

General entrance requirements apply.

International students can study our Undergraduate Certificate if they do not possess the necessary entrance requirements to be admitted directly to the first year of an undergraduate degree course.

Other information

If examinations are taken over two sittings, or there are repeats or upgrades, the entrance requirements may be higher.

Required subjects

English Standard Grade (2), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent. Applicants with English Standard Grade (3) will also be considered, although alternative entry conditions may be made in this case.
Mathematics Standard Grade (3), GCSE (C) or equivalent.

information on possible sources of funding

Full-time (three modules per semester).
Part-time (one or two modules per semester).
February entry also available.

You will take Business and Management plus two other subjects in Year 1.

Semesters 1 - 3

A sequence of three general management modules is studied in common with Business Studies, Human Resource Management and Marketing.

These modules establish the foundation required in all management-related subjects, including an understanding of factory operations, the motivation of staff and basic statistical analysis.

Semesters 4 - 8

A sequence of compulsory core modules provides theory and applications of management planning and decision making. These are supported by optional elective modules:

• Modelling using software packages for solving operational problems
• Principles and practices in project, quality and innovation management
• Information technology issues in modern business

Semester 4

You will study Operations Management and choose two elective modules from a range of management modules.

Semester 5

You will study the core module, Modelling for Management, and optional elective modules such as:

• Business Improvement
• Innovation Management
  

Semester 6

All students take Project Management. You can study optional elective modules which may include Business Information Technology; and The Business Challenge game.

Semester 7

You will undertake a case studies module in Management Science and can also study optional elective modules as listed for Semester 5.

Semester 8

You will work on an Honours project and dissertation.

Year 1

• The Firm (MGT9A1)
• The Business Environment (MGT9A2)
  

Year 2

• Business in the 21st Century (MGT9A3)
• Operations Management (MAN9N4)
  

Year 3

• Modelling for Management (MAN9N5)    
• Business Improvement (MAN9QI)
• Innovation Management (MAN9IM)
• Project Management (MAN9M6)
• The Business Challenge (MAN9BG)
• Business Information Technology (BUS9TS)
  

Year 4

• Case Studies in Management Science (MAN9M7)
• Business Improvement (MAN9QI)
• Innovation Management (MAN9IM)
• Management Science Dissertation (MAN9M8)
  

Lectures, seminars, tutorials, computer-based workshops and case studies are supplemented by occasional industrial visits. A feature of the final Honours Semester 8 is a project based on a ‘business’ firm or service, in which you take a Management Science approach  to investigate a particular problem and write a dissertation about it for assessment.

This course comprises modules taken from Business Studies and Management Science.

(For a Combined Honours degree the higher entrance requirements of the subjects usually apply.)

Business Studies; Management; Human Resource Management; Marketing; Retail Marketing.

You may spend Semester 6 studying abroad under the ERASMUS European exchange programme, or exchanges administered by the University’s Study Abroad Office to destinations in the USA, Canada, Australia and elsewhere.

Teaching provision in Business and Management has been assessed by the Scottish Funding Council and rated as ‘highly satisfactory’.

Management Science graduates have an excellent track record for finding employment. Organisations value highly the combination of business knowledge, problem-solving ability and technical business software skills that you’ll gain from this course.

Recent graduates have found work as business analysts with major High street Banks and major retail stores; and an IT consultant working with the NHS.