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Course overview
Master systems thinking and lead systemic change, enhancing your professional skills and advancing your organisation. Learn from top experts, apply theory in real-time, and benefit from personalised, flexible teaching within a small cohort.
Take your career to the next level with our Systems Thinking and Leadership Practitioner degree. Develop strategic insights, drive impactful change, and become a leader equipped to tackle tomorrow’s challenges. Your journey to transformative leadership starts here.
Course Structure
This course will run in a part-time mode for 30 to 36 months depending on which awarded degree you enrolled for.
You’ll study four core modules exploring systems methodologies, integrating perspectives with reflective practices, developing essential professional skills, and building a solid foundation in systems theory and leadership to enhance your diagnostic, intervention, and leadership capabilities.
Assessment include reports, presentations and coursework exams.
Course highlights
What makes this course different?
- Real-World Application: Focus on personal development with real-world case studies, small cohorts, and innovative methodologies.
- Blended Learning: Flexible combination of online and in-person sessions to suit working professionals.
- Expert Guidance: Leverage the expertise from the Birmingham Leadership Institute and a network of professional systems thinkers.
- Flexible study options: Gain invaluable on-the-job training with our Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner apprenticeship, funded by your employer, and graduate with a PGDip with the option to progress to a full MSc.
What is the Systems Thinking discipline?
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Systems Thinking refers to concepts, frameworks, approaches, methodologies, and interventions that help us to understand the relationships between the different parts in complex situations.
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It draws inspiration from various disciplines under natural sciences, social and psychological sciences, and critical and complexity studies.
What will you gain through this programme?
By the end of this degree apprenticeship, you will be equipped with the tools, methods, and leaderships skills needed to address complex, systemic challenges. You will develop the ability to:
- Appreciate and integrate multiple perspectives
- Understand the networks of relationships within and across systems
- Apply systems thinking to view challenges as part of larger, organised wholes with unique qualities
- Explore boundaries to better understand the inclusion, exclusion and marginalisation of stakeholders and the issues that concern them
- Address conflict, develop mutual understanding, and agree solutions that people are willing to implement
- Enhance your own and others sense-making processes to support systems ways of working
Course delivery
Teaching will utilise a range of learning methods, including lectures, seminars, and workshops.
- Lectures: Academics give organised talks to large groups of students who take notes, less interactive.
- Seminars: Small group sessions designed to complement lectures and are generally more informal in nature. They give you the chance to discuss issues with fellow students and allow for more interaction than a traditional lecture.
- Workshops: Workshops are for smaller groups, but instead of discussion, students might learn about a tool or a technique that they will be required to know about for their course. They are usually more hands-on learning that allow discussion regarding the given topic.
- Reflection groups: Opportunities for peer support, coaching and mentoring, as well as reflecting on practice to support development.
Study approach is composed 11-to-12-week modules which results in a total of:
- 6 hours online self-study
- 3 days face to face at The Exchange
- 6 hours online study
- Reflection sets and one-to-one coaching session
- Assessment – 2 x assignments, one reflection on practice, one systems practice based
Module information
The programme is composed of six 20-credit modules that will award you a Postgraduate Diploma. Upon completion of an additional 60-credit dissertation project, you will achieve the full Masters qualification.
The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Any optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.
Year 1
The following must be taken:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Exploring and integrating perspectives in system design, theory and practice | 20 | Semester 2 |
| Perspectives, boundaries and relationships, internal and external | 20 | Semester 2 |
| Systems Theory & Systems Leadership in context | 20 | Semester 2 |
Year 2
The following must be taken:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Organisation, strategy and dialogue | 20 | Semester 1 |
| Systemic Evaluation and deepening leadership practice | 20 | Semester 2 |
| Systems and leadership practitioner | 20 | Semester 2 |
| Dissertation | 60 | Full Term |
Entry requirements
To gain a place at Birmingham you will need to meet our general entry requirements, as well as those specific to your course. Your application will be reviewed by the course’s Admissions Tutor, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer.
- A 'good’ first degree
or equivalent work experience.
- A ‘good’ first degree or equivalent work experience.
- Proficiency in English and Math (Certificates)
- At least three to five years of professional experience (negotiable depending on role)
English language requirements
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.
For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:
- TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
- Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
- Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
- LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill
English Presessional Programmes
Improve your knowledge of spoken and written English in preparation for studying at Birmingham with our pre-sessional English courses. If you have a conditional offer, you can take one of these courses as an alternative to retaking IELTS or other similar qualifications.
Fees and scholarships
- £6,520
Part-time
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 and a top up fee. Discounts and scholarships may be applied in certain circumstances for this fee, please contact us to discuss.
Postgraduate Masters Loan
To help with the cost of studies, this loan is available to all UK students. You can use this loan towards fees, maintenance or other costs at your own discretion. It’s available for all full-time, part-time and distance learning Masters programmes, as long as you don’t already have a Masters qualification (or equivalent).If you’re a student from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can apply for Masters loans from your country’s government.
Scholarships
To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.
Birmingham Masters Scholarships
We want to welcome the brightest talent to our postgraduate community. That’s why our Birmingham Masters Scholarships award £3,000 to more than 300 students each year.
Application process
To apply for a postgraduate programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online.
Select whether you are a UK student or an international student for relevant application deadlines.
- 28th February 2025
How to apply to our taught courses
Find out how to apply to our postgraduate taught programmes. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a question about our admissions process, including how to apply, your offer and how to track your application, please visit our admissions portal.
Career opportunities
Take your career to the next level with our Systems Thinking and Leadership Practitioner MSc/PGDip. Ideal for middle to senior leaders and project managers, this programme blends systems theory with practical leadership skills to drive systemic change. Gain insights from the Birmingham Leadership Institute and a network of experts and graduate with a unique qualification, ready to contribute to organisations' success.
Careers Network
Get ready for tomorrow, with advice, guidance and opportunities at every step of your studies. From developing new skills to preparing for a PhD, our Careers Network can help you gain an advantage in the job market or advance in your field.
Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one-to-one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters. We also offer subject-specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.