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MSc Technology Policy & Management

Key facts

  • Start date: September
  • Study mode and duration: Full-time, one year

Study with us

  • new, interdisciplinary programme that draws on Strathclyde’s expertise in Business, Engineering, Science and Government & Public Policy.
  • uniquely aligned with Glasgow City Innovation District (GCID) to maximise your opportunity to engage with business
  • one of few taught programmes in the UK and globally that focuses on policy formulation, analysis, communication and management of innovation and technology
  • gain practical business knowledge
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Why this course?

Strathclyde’s MSc in Technology Policy & Management will provide you with the context and skills to operate at the nexus of the public and private sectors. With innovation as the central thread running through your studies, you'll gain a repertoire of frameworks and tools that will enable you to formulate, contribute to and analyse the complex dynamics of technology policy and industrial strategy.

Through learning with our world-leading faculty and our networks of practitioners, Technology Policy & Management will equip you with a thorough theoretical grounding as well as a practice-based understanding of technology policy formulation, analysis and management. 

Technology Policy & Management is a truly interdisciplinary programme that draws on the academic expertise of all four faculties at the University of Strathclyde:

  • Strathclyde Business School
  • Faculty of Engineering
  • Faculty of Science
  • Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

This enables you to develop a multidisciplinary perspective that will prepare you well for a wide range of boundary-spanning careers in a variety of contexts relevant to technology policy and management. 

The University of Strathclyde is embedded in, and an integral part of, the Glasgow City Innovation District. The District is home to global innovative companies and organisations that have located in Glasgow to nurture and accelerate growth, improve productivity, and access world-class research and technology from the University.

Technology Policy & Management has been uniquely designed to closely align with Glasgow City Innovation District, offering you access to, and engagement with, the wide range of organisations in this rapidly growing business community. This engagement will be realised in your studies via live case studies, projects and guest lectures from our partners, offering you a truly experiential year.

THE Awards 2019: UK University of the Year Winner

What you’ll study

This interdisciplinary, blended learning programme will combine intensive, modular blocks of teaching with weekly lectures and tutorials, and online learning. The blend of learning formats is designed to cater to different learning styles and to provide you with greater flexibility and control over your learning journey.

The course includes a cross-cutting interdisciplinary module called Becoming an Effective Technology Analyst, which will run across both semesters. You'll work individually or in small groups on live case studies/consultancy projects provided by organisations based in Glasgow City Innovation District. This will enable you to develop and apply the practical skills required of a technology analyst/practitioner across a range of themes linked to the course.

In addition, you'll develop transferable cognitive and meta-skills required to be effective technology and innovation practitioners that will improve your employability prospects. These include, but are not limited to, critical thinking, creativity, being able to see multiple perspectives, individual and collective or collaborative leadership, resilience and so on. 

You will be able to complete two 10 credit electives to achieve the necessary number of credits to complete the course:

  • Communicating Policy (10 Credits)
  • Strategy, Analysis & Evaluation (10 Credits)

Learning objectives

At the end of the programme you will have gained:

  • a systematic understanding and knowledge of technology and innovation policy and broader management concepts
  • a critical awareness of contemporary and pervasive issues in the academic literature and professional practice in the areas of technology policy, innovation and strategic management
  • the ability to evaluate and apply a range of research techniques, frameworks and tools to create and interpret knowledge in Technology Policy & Management
  • the ability to critically evaluate and analyse academic and professional research publications, case studies and press releases relevant to Technology Policy & Management
  • the ability to undertake original research in a subject area of your choice relevant to Technology Policy & Management
  • transferable employability skills, including teamwork, leadership, communication, negotiation, conflict resolution and presentation skills
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Course content

Please note that the below is an indicative list of classes. These are subject to change.

Big Data Fundamentals (10 credits)

This module will enable students to gain an understanding of the new challenges posed by the advent for big data, as they refer to its modelling, storage, and access. They will also gain an understanding of the key algorithms and techniques, which are embodied in data analytics solutions.

Systems thinking and Modelling (10 credits)

The objective of this module is to introduce participants to the theories and principles behind the discipline of Systems Thinking. Participants will study the methods, tools and techniques for modelling, analysing, improving and designing systems in a variety of organisations, including industrial, commercial and public sector.

Systems Engineering Concepts (10 credits)

This module will enable participants to understand the principles and techniques of Systems Engineering.  Participants will learn how to apply systems engineering techniques in engineering contexts, taking into account a range of regulatory requirements as well as commercial and industrial constraints.

Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues for the Information Society (10 credits)

This module will enable students to develop a critical awareness of the legal, social, ethical and professional issues commensurate with the practice of Information Systems Engineering and modern data management.

Management of Innovation (10 credits)

The central focus of this course is innovation implementation rather than innovation formulation. Drawing on research insights from the fields of strategy, management control, innovation, technology and innovation and organisational behaviour, it aims to provide students with the concepts, frameworks, and tools to gain an “execution advantage” while innovating.

Business Analysis (10 credits)

This module will provide students with the tools and techniques for the effective analysis and design of business information systems to enable them to understand and critically assess their respective advantages, disadvantages and applicability.

Project Management

This class will develop your skills in the use of engineering practices in project management. The focus is on the effective and efficient use of resources. Areas covered include:

  • introduction to project management techniques and project control
  • basic aspects of project teams
  • project networks
  • procedural and graphical presentation techniques
  • introduction to contract law
  • project budgetary control

Environmental Impact Assessment

This class, run by the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, provides an introduction to the methods used to predict environmental impacts and evaluates how these may be used to integrate environmental factors into decisions. The class draws principally on the UK planning context of environmental impact assessment of individual projects (project EIA), but also takes account of EIA experience in other countries and international organisations. Students are also introduced to key principles of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).

Dissertation

The MSc dissertation is assessed by means of an academic or practice-based project.

Comparative Political Institutions

This class will cover the background to connect studies of institutions by focusing on the assumptions, theories and applications within the field of political science with a particular emphasis on theories derived from sociological and rational choice backgrounds. Students will be expected to approach this research in the role of an engaged researcher and critical reviewer with an aim to building on state-of-the-art party politics research.

The study of institutions is central to the modern study of political science. Indeed, a large proportion of research in the top journals in the field rely on institutional perspectives. Theories of politics focused on political institutions emphasize their comparative differences, but major role in structuring political outcomes. 

Theories and Practices of Regulation and Governance

The aim of this class is to introduce students to the concepts, theories, institutions, and processes of regulatory governance. The course is designed to provide students with analytical tools to understand the interactions between actors and institutions forming contemporary governance systems.

Levelling Up: A Guide to the New Regional and Industrial Policies

Cities and regions are instruments of economic growth. This module examines the processes of economic and regional development which occur in city-regions. The module presents a strategic management perspective on managing the diverse assets of cities, including the human resource component, the industrial organization of the city, and factors of production necessary for growth.

Networked Institutions, Infrastructure and Technology

Networks are a critical part of modern day life. Networks inform the way we govern and the way we structure our critical techniques such as roads, water and power. Operating strategically within a network is a critical component of practice for many professional occupations whether public, private, or non-profit.

Learning & teaching

Teaching approaches will include a mixture of face-to-face interactive lectures, tutorials, seminars and workshops using a range of modern delivery methods including the university’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Individual and group-led learning approaches are incorporated throughout the programme and students will be exposed to experiential and reflective approaches to cater to different learning styles. Case-studies and mini consulting projects are a mainstay of the programme to help students acquire and apply practical skills (know-how) alongside the theoretical/conceptual understanding (know-why) of the topics studied.

Class materials are provided in soft copy and available via myPlace for students to gain access to in their own time.

The MSc dissertation is assessed by means of an academic or practice-based project, which is prepared and submitted at the end of the third semester.

Assessment

A variety of assessment methods will be used across the programme to equip students for their future work environments. These will include written examinations, individual and group reports, oral presentations and moderated peer assessments. Both formative and summative approaches will be used in order to help students monitor their own learning and academic performance. 

Meet our experts
Scott Cunningham, Technology & Policy management programme leader
Students who take this course can analyse the complex relationships between technology and society. This makes them greatly demanded in both social as well as technical roles, and well able to fulfil responsibilities in both the public as well as private sector.
Scott Cunningham
Programme Leader

Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city

Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.

Life in Glasgow
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Entry requirements

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Academic requirements

Upper second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in an Engineering or Science discipline including the physical or natural sciences and informatics.

Previous working experience will also be considered but will not compensate for academic performance.

Entry requirements may be widened to include other professional backgrounds and qualifications from social sciences or humanities given relevant mathematical or design-relevant course work.

English language requirements

Please check our English requirements before making your application.

Pre-Masters preparation course

The Pre-Masters Programme is a preparation course held at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre, for international students (non-UK/Ireland) who do not meet the academic entry requirements for a Masters degree at University of Strathclyde.

Upon successful completion, you'll be able to progress to this degree course at the University of Strathclyde.

Please note: Previous Maths & English qualifications and your undergraduate degree must meet GTCS minimum entry requirements as well as the pre-Masters course and an interview will be conducted before an offer can be made.

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Fees & funding

Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.

All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.

Annual revision of fees

Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that tuition fees are revised annually and may increase in subsequent years of study. Annual increases will generally reflect UK inflation rates and increases to programme delivery costs.

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Scotland

£10,800

England, Wales & Northern Ireland

£10,800

Republic of IrelandIf you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status. For more information and advice on tuition fee status, you can visit the UKCISA - International student advice and guidance - Scotland: fee status webpage. Find out more about the University of Strathclyde's fee assessments process.
International

£21,700

How can I fund my course?

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Scottish postgraduate students

Scottish postgraduate students may be able to apply for support from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). The support is in the form of a tuition fee loan and for eligible students, a living cost loan. Find out more about the support and how to apply.

Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.

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Students coming from England

Students ordinarily resident in England may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance England. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.

Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.

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Students coming from Wales

Students ordinarily resident in Wales may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance Wales. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.

Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.

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Students coming from Northern Ireland

Postgraduate students who are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland may be able to apply for support from Student Finance Northern Ireland. The support is a tuition fee loan of up to £5,500. Find out more about the support and how to apply.

Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.

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International students

We've a large range of scholarships available to help you fund your studies. Check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.

Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Scholarships

  • EU Engagement Scholarships are available to EU applicants who would have previously been eligible for Home (Scottish/EU) fee status
View all our scholarships

International students

We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.

Visit our international students' section

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Contact us

Prospective student enquiries

Contact a member of our team on LiveChat between 10am and 4pm (GMT)

Telephone: +44 (0) 141 444 8600

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Apply

We are not accepting any further applications for Technology Policy & Management for 2024/25 entry at this time. Please check this page again for further information or contact studywithus-hass@strath.ac.uk.

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