Management Consulting MSc

Course overview

Group of three students sit at a table looking across the room

This Masters degree gives you extensive knowledge of the management consultancy industry and an appreciation of the latest business and organisational challenges. You’ll gain an understanding of consulting frameworks, techniques and methodologies and develop a range of transferable skills.

Through a balanced programme of academic and practical study, the course provides you with knowledge of the key theories, debates and practices used in management consultancy/advisory business.

Using a combination of case studies, workshops and group tasks, you’ll develop invaluable skills for a future career as a consultant or as an internal management practitioner in any organisation.

We have connections with top companies worldwide, allowing you to interact with business leaders during guest lectures, workshops and bespoke masterclasses.

You’ll also undertake a dissertation or a consultancy project, using consulting skills to investigate organisational issues and make recommendations. A detailed report will be produced along with a video presentation as part of the final academic submission.

Course Highlights

You’ll be taught by management consulting academics involved in projects examining major societal issues, informing policymakers and government bodies in the UK and overseas.
Gain hands-on, industry-relevant experience through the ‘Management Consulting Project’, where you’ll have the opportunity to work with an industry client on an organisational business challenge.
Develop change management, analysis and decision-making skills and learn how to apply these in project-based work in both generic and specialist areas of business.
Benefit from access to our advanced specialist research centre, the Centre for Employment Relations, Innovation and Change (CERIC), where professors and lecturers are involved in cutting-edge research on contemporary national and international issues around changing business dynamics, the future of work, digitalisation, employment and labour markets.
Build industry-relevant employability skills through our dedicated professional development support.
Develop an appreciation of the professional, governance and ethical standards in the consulting industry through interaction with Chartered Management Institute (CMI) resources.
On all Masters courses at Leeds University Business School you’ll have an opportunity to apply for a place on a week-long international study tour which will include company visits, guest lectures and networking events, as well as an opportunity to visit local places of interest. Previous study tours have included visits to Berlin, Frankfurt, Milan and Zurich.

Find out more about studying your Masters at Leeds University Business School.

Accreditation

Leeds University Business School has triple accreditation from the three leading bodies AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS

Our MSc Management Consulting is dual accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Graduates of the course achieve both a degree from the University and a Level 7 Diploma in Professional Consulting from the CMI.

Course details

Throughout the course, core modules will ensure you develop a fundamental understanding of management consulting. You’ll critically examine key theories, concepts and facts that underpin current consultancy practice, as well as the latest issues and management trends worldwide.

Alongside this, you’ll be introduced to the management consulting process, including the consulting life cycle, the linkages to strategic management and the research skills needed to successfully carry out consulting projects.

Choosing from a range of optional modules, you’ll develop your understanding of key areas of management, such as strategic change and leadership, decision-making, entrepreneurship, people development, diversity management and business analytics.

There are also options focused on the future of work in terms of sustainability and climate change, and the automation of work and digitalisation in organisations. These contemporary modules will complement the development of core consultancy skills.

The course culminates in a consulting project, during which you’ll undertake applied fieldwork with opportunities to work with an external organisation or University research centres. This provides a live opportunity to learn about the practicalities of consultancy work. You’ll develop a range of domain-relevant skills, such as client relationship management, project management, problem solving and research skills.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Management Consulting MSc in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Module Name	Credits
Strategic Management	15
Management Consulting: Facts, Theories and Issues	30
Management Consulting: The Consulting Life Cycle	30
Research Methods and Practice for Consultants	15
Management Consulting Project	45

Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Module Name	Credits
Effective Decision Making	15
Sustainable Futures: Climate Change, the Environment and Business	15
Business Analytics and Decision Science	15
Training and Development	30
Digitalization, Automation and the Future of Work	30
People Analytics: Strategy and Practice	30
Diversity Management	30
Strategic Change and Leadership	15
Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Creation	15
Migration and Labour Mobility Management	30

Learning and teaching

You’ll be taught using a range of methods including lectures, tutorials, seminars and workshops. The rest of your time will be spent in independent learning, which allows you to develop your skills in research and analysis.

Our Virtual Learning Environment will help to support your studies: it’s a central place where you can find all the information and resources for the school, your programme and modules.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Assessment methods emphasise not just knowledge, but essential skills development too. This may include formal exams, group projects, reports, computer simulation exercises, essays and written assignments, group and individual verbal and poster presentations and reflective logs.

This diversity enables you to develop a broad range of skills as preparation for professional life.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in any subject.

International qualifications

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Human Resource Management (6 weeks) and Language for Business: Human Resource Management (10 weeks).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Application deadlines

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

International applicants: Thursday 26 June 2025

UK applicants: Friday 15 August 2025

Documents and information you’ll need

a copy of your degree certificate and transcript, or a partial transcript if you’re still studying
contact details for two academic references
a personal statement
an up-to-date CV
your approved English Language test* (if applicable)
a letter of sponsorship, if you need one.

* Applicants who have not yet completed an approved English language test may apply for a Masters course prior to taking a test.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

This course is taught by

Leeds University Business School

Contact us

Postgraduate Admissions Office

Email: [email protected]
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £16,500 (Total)

International: £33,000 (Total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

We’re offering up to 50 Business School Excellence Scholarships to UK and International students starting one of our Masters courses in 2025. These scholarships offer a 50% fee reduction and will be awarded to particularly deserving applicants who demonstrate excellent academic, professional and personal achievements.

You do not have to submit a separate application for our Excellence Scholarships - you will be automatically considered when your course application is reviewed.

International Excellence Scholarships (International applicants)

Masters Excellence Scholarships (UK applicants)

Career opportunities

From day one, we encourage you to think beyond your time at Leeds and reflect on a meaningful career. This course gives you the relevant skills and experience to pursue a career in management consulting in the UK and worldwide, whether working for a management consultancy firm or as an internal practitioner in any business organisation.

This qualification will also be highly valuable for those interested in pursuing managerial or corporate roles in the public, private and third sectors, where there is a need for managers to possess advisory skills and have regular interactions with experts and consultants.

You can use this Masters course to complement your first degree. For example, if your first degree was in marketing, you can build your consulting skills on top of that and be positioned for success in the marketing and brand consulting domain.

Careers support

As part of this course, our dedicated Professional Development Tutor will provide tailored academic and career support to help you achieve your career ambitions.

You can access advice and guidance on your career choices, help in identifying and applying for jobs, and support to boost your employability. You’ll also receive coaching on developing the professional skills needed to start a successful career, and how to evidence these to prospective employers.  

You’ll also benefit from the University’s Careers Service, where you can access a range of support to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions, even after you graduate.

Related courses

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Organizational Psychology and Business MSc

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Year of entry 2025

Postgraduate Virtual Open Day