MSc Systems Thinking and Leadership Practitioner

Start date
April 2024
Duration
30 - 36 months part-time
Course Type
Taught
Fees

Annual fee for 2024 entry
MSc £6,300 (UK)
MSc £11,655 (International)

Also available as a Level 7 Apprenticeship and PGDip.

 

Audio described version available*

This programme develops the skills, capabilities, and theoretical knowledge needed to support middle to senior leaders and project managers to become effective Systems Practitioners capable of leading systemic change. It is available as a standalone MSc, a Level 7 Apprenticeship and PGDip.

Systems approaches and the leadership needed to implement them have become crucial to the success of organisations working with complex internal and external challenges. This course teaches systems theory and methodology alongside supporting your development and leadership practice. It is designed to support you to gain knowledge and competency in the theory and practice of systems thinking whilst also developing you as a leader.

The programme combines the extensive knowledge and experience of the Birmingham Leadership Institute with the expertise of a network of professional systems thinking practitioners and leaders, to create a unique Systems Leadership qualification.

Why study this programme?

  • As part of the Birmingham Leadership Institute you will gain insights from research, leadership and systems practitioners, and public debate to inform your learning experience. The combination of theory and learning through work-based practice will allow you to make real time progress on systemic challenges and/or to work across organisational and professional boundaries, benefitting your organisation’s learning as well as developing you professionally. 
  • You will be part of a small cohort, giving you the opportunity to develop closer networks with experts, staff, and fellow participants. Your employees will engage with alumni working across all sectors and the Birmingham Leadership Institute's inclusive network of Honorary Fellows who have extensive leadership experience in their sectors.
  • The delivery is part-time to suit both the learner and employer needs through a blend of online and in-person delivery. 
  • This degree is ideal for middle to senior leaders and project managers to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours necessary to understand, design, and deliver systemic interventions. 

Study as an Apprenticeship

In addition to the MSc Systems Thinking and Leadership Practitioner degree, we offer the Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Standard apprenticeship. This represents a new and exciting opportunity for learners to gain a PGDip funded by an employer’s apprenticeship levy. This route requires the support of employers and brings together university study and the invaluable on-the-job training typical of an apprenticeship.

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship we will offer the opportunity for learners to achieve a full Masters level qualification via completion of a 60 credit dissertation. Discounts and scholarships may be applied in certain circumstances for the top-up fee, please contact us to discuss.

*Watch an audio described version.

Modules

In the initial year, the modules will furnish you with a comprehensive understanding of whole theoretical basis of the programme, initiating the development of your proficiency in systems thinking. Foundational principles, theories, and models will be unveiled, setting the stage for advanced learning. As the course progresses, you'll delve deeper into system methodologies, exploring their application in diagnosis, design, and intervention. Finally, you'll integrate various strategies to effectively interact with, assess, and influence systems, enhancing your interpersonal skills and reflective abilities.

In the second year you will be introduced to systems methodologies that are particularly suited to application in organisational and institutional settings. As you continue to grow as a systems leader and practitioner, you will further develop your abilities in systemic evaluation. This will involve a critical examination of how systems thinking, strategies, and techniques can be applied to assess, structure, implement, and appraise your projects or professional practice. Finally, you will be able to put the ideas and methods you have learnt into practice through the dissertation.


Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Fees

Annual fee for 2024 entry

  • MSc £6,300 (UK)
  • MSc £11,655 (International)

How To Apply

Find out more about how to apply for one of our courses.

Our Standard Requirements

A first- or second-class honours degree or equivalent. Alternatively, a lesser qualification together with appropriate work experience may be acceptable.

Level 2 Maths and English will need to be evidenced prior to end-point assessment (EPA) for the apprenticeship route.

 

International Requirements


As a Russell Group University our programmes are developed with research-informed teaching at their heart, bringing together world-class research and cutting-edge facilities to produce exceptional learning outcomes.

This part time programme will be delivered through a mix of face to face and distance learning. On site teaching will be based in The Exchange, our newly refurbished building in the centre of Birmingham and close to New Street Station. You will be supported by experts and peers to develop as a system thinking practitioner and leader, embedding your learning and practice in your own live work based issues as you complete the qualification.

The Birmingham Leadership Institute 

The Birmingham Leadership Institute was officially launched in 2021 as a University of Birmingham flagship initiative to understand, research, practice and develop leadership at all levels, enabling progress on complex issues including our most pressing organisational, social, political, environmental, commercial, and economic challenges. 

Its staff combine both academic expertise and many years of practical experience working with large organisations and complex problems. The Institute draws on a global network of experts and practitioners in systems thinking and leadership. In addition to its own staff, the Birmingham Leadership Institute works with the University of Birmingham’s specialist research centres, international research community and communities of practice to ensure that the most up to date thinking and the most skilled leadership development practice is made available.

 

This programme is designed for leaders, middle and project managers, and those preparing for leadership roles. It is ideal for public, private, and third sector organisations seeking to deliver systemic change in a wide variety of areas, for example achieving net zero and adapting to the challenges of climate change, increasing health and wellbeing in populations, thriving commercially in rapidly changing markets, or leadership of interconnected challenges in cities, counties, and regions. The Birmingham leadership insitute has also made Leadership Exchanged: The Podcast where expert Professor Christopher Pietroni discusses with guests what kind of leadership is needed if you want to make real, lasting change.

You will gain insights from research, leadership and systems practitioners, and public debate to inform your learning experience, and the combination of theory and work-based practice will allow you to better conceptualise systemic challenges and apply systems methods across organisational and professional boundaries. Professor Carolyn Wilkins OBE shared her experience as a public sector leader in the Leadership Exchanged podcast