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Overview
Join one of the UK’s most entrepreneurial cities to grow your business knowledge and career prospects.
Prepare to boost the success of the businesses you work for or establish a high-growth new business on this MSc Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship Master's.
Master the techniques you need to distinguish yourself as a creative and proficient business professional — whether you're part of an existing organisation or setting up a new business — and graduate ready to use your innovation and entrepreneurial understanding to drive increased profits, spur accelerated business growth, and create more job opportunities within an organisation.
Throughout this course, you'll:
- discover key innovation management and entrepreneurship frameworks, which are used to guide the development of constructive business policies and strategies
- understand the internal and external factors that impact innovation within an organisation, including economic, social, environmental, and technological challenges
- conduct detailed studies into markets and customers, including the impact of market changes on a company, to improve product targeting
- explore the financing of business operations, particularly around conducting financial assessments for new products and startups
You'll develop your knowledge of topics including opportunity recognition, product development, commercialisation, operational growth, and more, so that you graduate ready to apply your new business skills to startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and large businesses across the private and public sectors.
You'll build your professional network as you study too, by working with students from a range of backgrounds on projects and assessments and learning from industry experts throughout the course.
This course is suitable for students from any academic background with an interest in business and innovation. You do not need to have studied innovation management in the past to apply.
You can study this course full-time or part-time if you start your studies in September, or full-time if you start in January.
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Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and international students.
Course highlights
- Hear from industry professionals and guest speakers from companies including HP
- Access industry networking opportunities
- Network with students from a range of backgrounds
- Hear from regular entrepreneurial guest speakers including course graduates
- Benefit from the Entrepreneurs in Residence program
- Access student startup and career support throughout your studies, and for up to 5 years after you graduate
Accreditation
Accredited by:
The University of Portsmouth has earned business accreditation from the AACSB in recognition of the outstanding quality of its business and management education. Less than six percent of the world's schools offering business degree programs hold AACSB business accreditation.
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsEntry requirements
Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and international students.
January 2025 start
- A second-class honours degree in a relevant subject, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications.
Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.
Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, view the equivalent entry requirements we accept for your country.
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.0.
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
- you have a UK degree
- you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
- you are a national of a majority English speaking country
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
September 2025 / January 2026 start
- A second-class honours degree in a relevant subject, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications.
Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.
Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, view the equivalent entry requirements we accept for your country.
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.0.
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
- you have a UK degree
- you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
- you are a national of a majority English speaking country
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees (January 2025 start)
- Full-time: £12,000
- Part-time: £6,000 per year
(including Transition Scholarship)
- Full time: £12,000
- Part time: £6,000 per year
- Full time: £17,900
- Part time: £8,950 per year
Tuition fees (September 2025 / January 2026 start)
- Full-time: £12,600
- Part-time: £6,300 per year
(including Transition Scholarship)
- Full time: £12,00
- Part time: £6,300 per year
- Full time: £17,900
- Part time: £8,950 per year
University of Portsmouth graduates may receive a 20% alumni tuition fee discount.
Fees are subject to annual increase. Read our tuition fees terms and conditions.
You'll be able to pay your fees in instalments. Find out how to pay your tuition fees.
Funding your studies
Explore how to fund your studies, including available scholarships and bursaries.
If you're a UK student, you may be eligible for a Government Postgraduate Master's Loan, which you can use to help with course fees and living costs.
Loans, scholarships and bursaries
Browse funding such as the Government Postgraduate Loan, our scholarships for new and returning students, and subject specific loans.
Funding for international students
Learn more about sponsorships, scholarships and loans for students applying from outside of the UK.
Fees and funding for Master's courses
Explore Master's funding options, including loans, scholarships, bursaries and more.
Additional costs
These course-related costs aren't included in the tuition fees, so you'll need to budget for them when you plan your spending. Additional costs could include:
- Accommodation: Accommodation options and costs can be found on our accommodation pages.
- Recommended reading: You can borrow key texts from the library and if you choose to purchase these texts they may cost up to £60 each.
- General costs: such photocopying, memory sticks, printing charges, binding and specialist printing. We suggest budgeting £75 per year.
- Final project transport or accommodation: where necessary, which related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
Read more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Modules
Full-time
You'll explore quantitative and qualitative techniques, using coursework to craft a robust proposal and honing your analytical approach. This leads into an in-depth project investigating a topic you're interested in — which is a chance for you to exhibit advanced understanding through independent inquiry.
By assessing your statistical skills, this module provides a comprehensive toolkit to evaluate, design and conduct effective management research. By the end, you'll have the knowledge and confidence to drive organisational success through data-driven insights.
You'll uncover theoretical frameworks, seminal writings and modern perspectives that examine how visionaries spot possibilities, mobilise resources, and create new ventures to fuel advancements across society.
You'll explore the motivations, behaviors and external dynamics that enable the entrepreneurial process to flourish across industries and borders.
This module equips you with essential understanding as a future entrepreneur, preparing you to start impactful new businesses or propel innovation within established organisations.
You'll explore and apply product development frameworks that cover every stage of the process, from identifying opportunities and customer testing to post-launch optimisation.
Supported by the Faculty, you’ll create new offerings, gather user feedback and adjust concepts based on market realities. You'll pitch a holistic plan for sustaining competitive advantage through an MVP that addresses consumer needs and business objectives.
You’ll finish this module ready to drive high-performing innovation initiatives.
Students will be working in teams to identify an opportunity, test the opportunity in the market and develop a business model. The module is designed to provide students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learned in previous modules to a real-time project. It presents a capstone experience that allows students to develop their entrepreneurial practice through action and critical reflection.
Industrial, academic and governmental organisations are all heavily investing in innovation to enhance their capabilities and performance. People with relevant education and experience in innovation management related fields have a great career potential as there are many relevant roles in industry such as: Product Innovation Manager; Innovation Manager, Innovation Specialist and Research & Innovation Director and also there are many entrepreneurial opportunities where same skills can be used for. In this unit you will have a chance to explore the field of innovation management and examine the issues faced by organisations engaged in developing new innovative outputs. To set the scene of this module, it should be noted the management of innovation is not a functional activity, solely the preserve of a single department. In fact, innovation management is an interdisciplinary field where its activities are beyond the boundaries of a single company. It is imperative to view innovation outcomes as a result of intra- and inter-organisational practices. Moreover, it is not just firms who are actively engage in innovation practices but academia and government are highly involved and impacts the innovative outcomes as well. This is the view taken by this unit where a broader and interrelated picture of innovation management will be shown at micro and macro level.
Part-time
Core modules
You'll uncover theoretical frameworks, seminal writings and modern perspectives that examine how visionaries spot possibilities, mobilise resources, and create new ventures to fuel advancements across society.
You'll explore the motivations, behaviors and external dynamics that enable the entrepreneurial process to flourish across industries and borders.
This module equips you with essential understanding as a future entrepreneur, preparing you to start impactful new businesses or propel innovation within established organisations.
Industrial, academic and governmental organisations are all heavily investing in innovation to enhance their capabilities and performance. People with relevant education and experience in innovation management related fields have a great career potential as there are many relevant roles in industry such as: Product Innovation Manager; Innovation Manager, Innovation Specialist and Research & Innovation Director and also there are many entrepreneurial opportunities where same skills can be used for. In this unit you will have a chance to explore the field of innovation management and examine the issues faced by organisations engaged in developing new innovative outputs. To set the scene of this module, it should be noted the management of innovation is not a functional activity, solely the preserve of a single department. In fact, innovation management is an interdisciplinary field where its activities are beyond the boundaries of a single company. It is imperative to view innovation outcomes as a result of intra- and inter-organisational practices. Moreover, it is not just firms who are actively engage in innovation practices but academia and government are highly involved and impacts the innovative outcomes as well. This is the view taken by this unit where a broader and interrelated picture of innovation management will be shown at micro and macro level.
Core modules
You'll explore quantitative and qualitative techniques, using coursework to craft a robust proposal and honing your analytical approach. This leads into an in-depth project investigating a topic you're interested in — which is a chance for you to exhibit advanced understanding through independent inquiry.
By assessing your statistical skills, this module provides a comprehensive toolkit to evaluate, design and conduct effective management research. By the end, you'll have the knowledge and confidence to drive organisational success through data-driven insights.
You'll explore and apply product development frameworks that cover every stage of the process, from identifying opportunities and customer testing to post-launch optimisation.
Supported by the Faculty, you’ll create new offerings, gather user feedback and adjust concepts based on market realities. You'll pitch a holistic plan for sustaining competitive advantage through an MVP that addresses consumer needs and business objectives.
You’ll finish this module ready to drive high-performing innovation initiatives.
Students will be working in teams to identify an opportunity, test the opportunity in the market and develop a business model. The module is designed to provide students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learned in previous modules to a real-time project. It presents a capstone experience that allows students to develop their entrepreneurial practice through action and critical reflection.
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Read more about our business and management researchBusiness and management studies at the University of Portsmouth is ranked 2nd of the modern universities by research power
How you'll spend your time
We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your Master's degree, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.
We'll give you as much indication here as we can of how much time you'll need to be on campus and how many hours you can expect to spend in self-directed study, but please note that these indications are always subject to change. You should receive your full timetable several weeks before you start with us.
It is our expectation that all international students will join us here on campus in Portsmouth.
Course structure
This Master's degree will take:
- 1 year full-time
- 2 years part-time
You can study this course full-time or part-time if you start your studies in September, or full-time if you start in January.
If you study full time you can expect to:
- Attend scheduled sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays
- Study for 4 hours daily per 30-credit module, and 2 hours daily for your research methods module
- Study 2 modules in each half of the year, alongside your research methods module across the whole year
- Attend some online Zoom sessions
Teaching
Master's study is deeper and more specialised than an undergraduate degree. This means you'll focus on something that really matters to you and your career as you work closely with academics committed to the subject.
You'll spend more time in independent study and research than you did for your undergraduate degree, but the majority of your teaching time will be in-person and face-to-face.
Assessment
You'll be assessed through a range of assessments that focus on the types of work you'll complete in the workplace, including experimental assessment methods such as:
- oral presentations
- written assignments
- group pitches and debates
- a dissertation
This Master's course does not feature any examinations.
For each unit you'll be assessed in a way that's relevant to test your knowledge. This will involve you thinking and working in an original way to overcome problems. At the end of the course you'll produce a dissertation related to your workplace, your future career, or a business venture.
Teaching staff
These are some of the expert staff who'll teach you on this course:
Professor Chris Simms
I am the Knowledge Services Lead for the Strategy Enterprise and Innovation (SEI) subject group in the Faculty of Business and Law. I am also a Reader in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship and fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Dr Vijay Vyas
My research is published in Annals of Operations Research, International Review of Entrepreneurship, Technology Innovation Management Review and Journal of Entrepreneurship. I have been a reviewer for Small Business Economics, TQM Journal, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research and have been a consultant to Promethean, UK, Lupin Laboratories, India and Diamines & Chemicals, India.
Term dates
September start
The Master's academic year runs from September to the following September. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter. Over the summer you'll be writing your project / dissertation.
January start
Courses that start in January have the same amount of teaching as September-start courses, but they normally run over a longer time period.
January-start courses normally run between 14–18 months, beginning in January and ending in the spring / summer of the following year. There are breaks at Christmas, Easter and in the summer. In the last few months you’ll be writing your project / dissertation.
Career development
Careers this Master’s prepares you for
Our MSc Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship Master's supports your personal, professional, and academic development, and provides opportunities for you to develop the skills you need to innovate in a managerial role — whether you're working in an existing company or starting a new business.
With support from academics and relevant coursework, you'll develop the critical and creative thinking skills you need to implement appropriate research techniques for your business, become and effective decision-maker, and successfully market your company’s offering to the right audience.
When you graduate you'll be well-positioned to secure management positions in a range of industries from technology to the arts.
You'll also become a part of our Alumni Association and get to network with accomplished professionals from across the world. As a member of this global community, you'll be able to forge connections that can create new opportunities for your career and your organisation.
Graduates of this course have gone on to roles as:
- Innovation and Organisational Consultant — contec GmbH, Bochum, Germany
- Vice-President and Patent Attorney — Yanagino Intellectual Property Firm, Osaka, Japan
- Senior Product Designer — Vehicle Payments, EV Charging & Fuel, Corpay, London
- Co-Founder — MrktMinds, Digital and Data Consultancy, London
- Performance and Culture Manager — Samaco Automotive, Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
- Marketing Director — Cult & Boutique (Wine Management) Limited, London
Zezhou's story
"I took a work placement working as a departmental manager..."
Find out more about Zezhou's time at uni, and where he plans to take his ambition next.
The one thing I love in Portsmouth because obviously we are a seaside city, doing your dissertation and a little bit of studying and revision by the seaside will be the best thing to do. Another thing is, in the University obviously you will have a really good environment, both in academia and basically your lecturers are just like friends. I took my work placement a few years ago working as a departmental and house keeping manager. After my Masters degree, I will be looking into doing a PhD doing some research at the University of Portsmouth.
Career planning
During your course you'll have expert career support from our Careers and Employability Centre, your tutors and our Business and Law Career-Ready Programme. This support will continue for 5 years after you graduate.
Student startup advice
If you've got a passion for entrepreneurship and a great idea for a new business, we can help you get up and running.
Entrepreneurs in Residence
Meet our entrepreneurs and find out what support and business start-up advice they offer our students, alumni and staff to launch or grow their businesses.
Our Careers and Employability Centre offers:
- Support starting your own business
- Networking events
- Applied projects with companies such as IBM, Boeing and Hampshire County Council
- Workshops to enhance your employability skills
- Regular emails from the Career Ready Programme sharing job opportunities, application tips and events
- Recruitment events including the Student and Graduate Opportunities Fair
- 1-to-1 appointments
- CV and cover letter advice
- Interview preparation and practice
Supporting you
Master's study is more focused on independent learning than undergraduate study, but you'll get lots of support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:
Types of support
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.
As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.
In addition to the support you get from your personal tutor, you'll also have access to our student engagement officers. They can give you confidential, impartial advice on anything to do with your studies and personal wellbeing, and refer you to specialist support services if you need extra help or support.
The Maths Cafe offers free advice and help with maths skills in a friendly, informal environment. You can come to our daily drop-in sessions, develop your maths skills at a workshop, or use our online resources.
You'll have help from a team of study support tutors. Based within the Faculty of Business and Law, these tutors are familiar with the specific requirements your assignments and work closely with faculty academics. This means they can give you focused support with the specific study skills you need to be successful on your course. They're available face-to-face, by phone, email, and by video call.
They can help with:
- academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations, projects and literature reviews)
- reflective writing skills
- critical thinking skills
- delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
- understanding and using assignment feedback
- managing your time and workload
- revision and exam techniques
If you're a mature student, specialist support to help you return to learning is available.
During term time, Faculty Academic Skills Tutors (AST) are available for bookable 1-to-1 sessions, small group sessions and online sessions. These sessions are tailored to your needs.
Support is available for skills including:
- University study
- Getting into the right study mindset
- Note-taking and note-making skills
- Referencing
- Presentation skills
- Time management, planning, and goal setting
- Critical thinking
- Avoiding plagiarism
If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.
Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.
You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.
If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.
They'll help you to
- discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
- liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
- access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
- liaise with external services
If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.
Joining us as an international student
You'll feel at home in our international community and our diverse city. You'll be joining over 5,000 international students from more than 150 countries who are studying with us.
Learn more about international student life and how we can help you with visas, applications, arrival and settling in.
How to apply
Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.
There's no deadline for applications to this course. We accept applications right up until the start date in September, as long as there are places available. If you wait until September to apply, you may find that the course is full.
If you're applying as an international student, remember that you'll need to leave plenty of time to get your visa organised.
You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. International students and current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth also have some different application options, which are detailed below.
Extra information for international students
If you're an international student, you can apply directly to us using the same application form as UK students.
You could also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.
If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Ready to apply?
Start this course in January 2025
Start this course in September 2025
Start this course in January 2026
I'm a current Portsmouth student, or a recent Portsmouth graduate
If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2024, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:
- a shorter application form to complete
- access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
- a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses
After you apply
Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.
You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.
Learn more about how we assess your application.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.