* Read an introduction to the MSc from Course Director

Funding

Available for entry in October 2009 - the Department offers  some scholarships for UK and other EU students. Applicants should indicate on their applications if they wish to be considered for this funding.

Graduate Profiles - read how some of our alumni benefited from our MSc in Operational Research.

As from September 2003 the MSc has also been offered by Distance Learning.

The course is designed to take students with a wide variety of first degrees. The class is typically about 30 strong, a size allowing good organisation of groupwork, as well as attention to the needs of each individual student.

Some of the MSc OR 2006-07 students on graduation day in July 2008.

The programme consists of a mixture of core and optional lecture courses, interspersed with practical exercises and work experience. For MSc candidates, this is followed by an extended external project.

Course Objective

MSc in OR aims to realise the potential of graduates, so that they immediately can play an effective role in providing model-based support to managers to help them make better decisions at an operational/technical level. Students will develop a rigorous academic understanding of advanced analytical methods that are used to provide structured and analytical approaches to decision-making. Intellectual and personal skills will also be developed in the effective practice of using OR models to support decision-makers.

Lecture Topics

Download a PDF document which describes all the classes in detail.

The taught part of the course consists of:

Five core classes.

1. Foundations of Operational Research and Business Analysis
2. Quantitative Business Analysis
3. Managing Business Operations
4. Spreadsheet Modelling & Demand Forecasting
5. Operational Research Methods

A choice of 3 classes from the following:

1. Business Simulation Methods
2. Decision Analysis
3. Risk Analysis and Management
4. Advanced Operational Research Modelling using specialist software tools

Plus one further core class:

1. Becoming an effective OR modeller

The other taught modules on the programme introduce a variety of operational research models and approaches to the student. However, the practical reality of applying OR models in the real world is often far removed from the classroom. Working with managers to model real problems presents a variety of challenges. For example, data required by a model may be hard to come by, it may be far from obvious which OR models can best be applied and managers will need to be convinced of the business merits of any suggested solutions arising from the application of OR models. While traditional teaching can alert students to such issues, understanding needs to be reinforced by experience.

This class runs through both semesters of the degree, in parallel with the other modules. It introduces students, mostly through experiential learning, to as much as possible of the practical reality of becoming an effective OR modeller and the key skills required to function effectively in this area.

The Becoming an effective OR modeller class consists of:

• A series of semi- or unstructured modelling problems, typically introduced by a manager from an outside organisation. The problems will typically relate to an OR model/method recently covered in one of the other modules. Students spend time tackling unstructured problems, usually in groups, and present and compare their findings. These sessions include "workshops" in which students analyse real problems presented by managers as guests of the Department (in addition, practitioners give more general talks to the class on OR modelling within their own organisations). Following these case studies reflective sessions will be held which focuses on the development of reflective practitioner skills.
• Experience is augmented, and integrated with, the rest of the course by a series of informal workshops on directly related topics that will provide guidance on key skills development. This will include development of both technical modelling skills and skills required to carry out a successful modelling process.

DSTL Prize: There is an award of £100, provided by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, for the best full-time MSc mark in Becoming an effective OR modeller or Becoming an effective Business Analyst.

The 2008/09 winner of the DSTL prize Alex Leggate (middle) being awarded his prize by the Head of Department, Prof Lesley Walls (left) and Director of the MSc course, Dr Susan Howick (right).

"Apprenticeship" Period

As part of the course, students spend a short period working within an established Operational Research (or related) group, so gaining a preliminary experience of how analysis is carried out in an organisational setting. This "apprenticeship period" lasts for three weeks, starting in mid-January. Many major groups collaborate in accepting students, singly or in pairs. The students work as members of the host group, while also being briefed to act as observers of how the group functions. While three weeks is a short time, the class gains collective experience of life in a wide range of organisations, reflected in discussion and comparison when the class reassembles. This has proved to be a particularly valuable aspect of the Apprenticeship scheme, which is unique to the Strathclyde course.

MSc Projects

The MSc project is usually carried out for an outside organisation. Students spend the three months from July to September working on a project of importance to the clients. The aim is to gain direct experience in applying the concepts and theories studied on the course. Projects may be carried out individually, or in small teams of two or three students. Project clients include many major concerns, in fields ranging from aerospace to whisky distilling!

A wide variety of organisations have hosted recent projects and/or apprenticeship placements.

Course Entry and Duration

The full-time MSc course lasts twelve months, starting at the end of September. Applicants should normally expect to have at least a second class honours degree. Most students have first degrees in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering.

Subject to demand, the MSc can also be obtained part-time, over two or three years. The same topics are studied, normally one day per week. Most students are already in employment and sponsored by their employers, and carry out their project work within their own organisations.

Study for the Postgraduate Diploma degree lasts nine months, following the same taught classes, as for the MSc (though to a less demanding standard). As well as allowing students to complete a recognised course in a shorter time, the Diploma provides the opportunity for a wider range of applicants to enter the Operational Research world. Students demonstrating sufficient ability may be allowed to transfer in-course to study for the MSc.

Applicants for the diploma course should normally expect at least a pass degree or equivalent in an appropriate subject, but other forms of qualification or experience will also be considered.

English Language

Where an applicant's mother tongue is English, or the first degree was done at an institution with English as its language of communication, there is no special requirement. For others the University normally requires a minimum TOEFL score of 600, 6.5 in IELTS, or 250 in a computer based TOEFL test. Pre-sessional courses in English are available.

Further Information

If you wish further information about the MSc and postgraduate Diploma courses in Operational Research then please contact:

Dr Jason Whalley, Department of Management Science, University of Strathclyde, Graham Hills Building, 40 George St, Glasgow, G1 1QE, Scotland. Email: jason.whalley@strath.ac.uk Tel: +44(0)141 548 4546 Fax: +44(0)141 552 6686

Sources of Funding

Available for entry in October 2009 - the Department offers some scholarships for UK and other EU students. Applicants should indicate on their applications if they wish to be considered for this funding.

The Student Awards Agency for Scotland allocates awards to the postgraduate course. In each case, students are nominated for an award by the department, rather than applications being made by individual students. When applying for a place on the course, the wish to be considered for an award should be indicated on the application form: no other action need be taken at that stage.

SASS Bursaries: These are assigned to the Diploma version of the course. However, regulations permit transfer in-course from Diploma to MSc registration (subject to satisfactory performance) and many students registered initially he Diploma in fact graduate with an MSc. The minimum qualification for a Bursary is an Ordinary degree.

Candidates must have been "ordinarily resident" in the UK for at least 3 years and "ordinarily resident" in Scotland on 30 June preceding the start of the course. Residents of other EU countries may be eligible for fees-only awards.

The bursary covers course fees and a 9 month maintenance grant. The fees are the same as for the MSc: however no extra funding is provided for Diploma students who stay on the further 3 months to complete an MSc.

The department operates a reserve list for nomination and applicants are informed when offers are made whether they are on the quota or reserve list for either award. The position can, of course, also be discussed at interview.

"Ordinarily resident" is generally taken to imply a family home or similar. It specifically excludes residence for the sole purpose of education.

Postgraduate Tuition Fees

A common scale of fees applies to all full-time postgraduate students, whether registered for an MSc/PGD or a research degree.

The MSc Operational Reseach distance learning website gives the distance learning fees.

The University of Strathclyde website lists the fees for all the degrees.

Applicants who are unsure of their status should seek clarification from the University Registry as early as possible in the application process. (The main criterion used in most cases is "normal place of residence" rather than nationality.)

Information on scholarships that are available to overseas students can be found on the Scholarships and Funding webpage.