
Opleiding: MSc Management Science and Operational Research
Learning purpose
The aim of this course is to provide you with a good grounding in management science and operational research techniques as well as operations management, including the most up-to-date practices, methodologies and tools, to help participants make better organisational and operational decisions. The course is intended for students with an undergraduate degree in any discipline with significant quantitative content, who wish to enhance their qualifications and-or move into management science and operational research.
Programme
For Masters level, all five modules are compulsory. Those taking the PG Certificate will take two compulsory modules and those choosing the PG Diploma will take four modules.
All students take
- Operations Management
- Operational Research Methods
This is the step-off point for the PG Cert in Management Science and Operational Research. PGDip and MSc students take
- Decision Modelling and Simulation
Andone from the following options
- Advanced Operational Research
- Managing Projects
- Risk Management Techniques
MSc students complete
- Management Science Dissertation
- Advanced Operational Research (30 Credits) - Optional
- This module aims to expand the student s knowledge on different quantitative techniques that are commonly used to tackle operational research problems. Techniques of greater complexity which are applied in more complex settings are considered. The focus is on highlighting the practical aspects by considering the applications of these techniques in different domains and application contexts including marketing, finance, operations and logistics functions.
- Decision Modelling and Simulation (30 Credits) - Compulsory
- This module aims to provide students with thorough grounding in the fundamental concepts, techniques and tools of decision modelling and simulation. The module introduces students to two simulation methods widely used in business to support decision-making, discrete-event simulation and continuous simulation also known as system dynamics. The objective is to familiarise students with the general process of conducting simulation studies from defining the goals of the simulation project to analysing the simulation results, their implications and making recommendations for system improvement. The aim is to develop simulation professionals that can apply discrete-event simulation and system dynamics techniques to real business problems and critically evaluate the results.
- Dissertation in Management Science and Operational Research (60 Credits) - Compulsory
- The Management Science dissertation provides an opportunity for students to work on Management Science and Operational Research problems that have real-world significance by applying what has been learnt in the different taught part of the programme. This will allow the student to demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of the skills they have acquired in the taught part of the programme, to develop skills of enquiry and innovation and enhance the critical and communication skills of the student. In particular the module aims to extend the knowledge and skills developed during the programme with extra training on research skills suited to an advanced-level, original piece of scholarship or professional research; to facilitate students understanding of the design and conduct of applied research; to support students individual synthesis and application of their knowledge to a selected management topic, reflected in formulation and design of a substantive research investigation.
- Managing Projects (30 Credits) - Optional
- This module helps students from a variety of backgrounds and with different career ambitions to understand how project management techniques can be used across a range of sectors to enhance strategic corporate objectives. In particular, the module aims to offer a comprehensive account of project management, programme management and project portfolios, based on a combination of scholarly work and code professional practice; to develop students understanding of strategic project management and systems design processes; to outline and develop skills in professional techniques used in project closure and evaluation; to introduce and evaluate Critical Success Factors for projects.
- Operational Research Methods and Statistical Analysis (30 Credits) - Compulsory
- This module is concerned with identifying appropriate management science and operational research decision models to tackle identified quantitative problems in a business or other organisational context, and in using such models and interpreting the results. In addition attention is focused on resolving conflict through getting a greater clarification and understanding of the problems themselves.
- Operations Management (30 Credits) - Compulsory
- This module aims to broaden and expand students knowledge and understanding of the concepts, tools and methodologies of Operations Management. This will allow students to investigate and develop critical and analytical insights into current Operations Management practice; explore the priorities and techniques of Operations Management and to employ these to the design, operation and control of business processes; to form a reasoned understanding of how Operations Management links with cognate disciplines and hence its impact on business.
- Risk Management Fundamentals (30 Credits) - Optional
- To provide participants with an overview of the theory and application of risk management as it is applied at a strategic level from a multi-disciplinary, science-led perspective. To evaluate the frameworks that can be used to relate the functions of risk management and the actors that perform them in order to enable participants to better understand the process of decision making and the factors which influence it. To critically assess existing processes in order to build upon and extend rational approaches currently favoured in risk assessment and risk management. This module recognises that there are conflicts over how decisions are and should be made and attempts to provide an overview so that students will ultimately be in a position to make their own choices based upon a wide appreciation of the issues. Where students are taking this module as part of programmes other than risk management, specific issues relating to their specific discipline will be addressed through programme specific components. For risk management students the module complements PRS4606 Advances in Risk Management which focuses upon economic, psychological, social, communicative and cultural factors which affect choice and the implications this has for decision making.
Entry Requirements
Normally a second class honours degree or above, or an equivalent overseas qualification, or a professional qualification deemed of equivalent standard. Exceptionally, we consider applicants without a first degree based on their professional experience.
English language requirements
You must have competence in English language and we normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. The most common English Language requirements for international students are IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL (paper based) 575 or TOEFL (internet based) 90 with specified minimum scores for each component.
Professional perspective and employment market
The course will develop your knowledge, skills and capabilities to an advanced level in management science and operational research preparing you for managerial positions in a variety of public and private sector organisations. As a result of the enhancement of your independent problem-solving and decision-making abilities during the course, as a graduate you are also better equipped for entrepreneurial activity.

