master’s in entrepreneurship
Want to become the next Richard Branson? A master's in entrepreneurship could help. Source: Don Emmert/AFP

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as reported by Investopedia, approximately 20% of new businesses fail during the first two years of being open, 45% during the first five years, and 65% during the first 10 years. Only 25% of new businesses make it to 15 years or more. While these data is unlikely to sow confidence in aspiring entrepreneurs, the right education could help improve the chances of one’s business survival. With a pandemic on hand, some universities are offering a combination of hybrid or fully online master’s in entrepreneurship programmes.

A master’s in entrepreneurship can equip professionals with an arsenal of skills that are applicable across a wide range of fields. The degree isn’t necessarily for those with a business background. The UK is home to some of the world’s top universities that offer the programme. These universities are part of the top 100 universities featured in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021.

University of Edinburgh

Ranked 30 in the THE World University Rankings 2021, Edinburgh is undoubtedly a solid choice for prospective international students. Its Business School boasts of a triple accreditation from coveted international accreditations: AACSB, EQUIS, and the AMBA.

Its Masters in Entrepreneurship and Innovation is a year-long master’s in entrepreneurship programme and prepares students for a wide range of careers in business including business development and running a start-up.

Students will study six core courses in their first semester, and choose courses depending on their interests and career aspirations in their second semester. The programme culminates with a dissertation. Students will have the option to pursue a research dissertation or to engage in a business-focused dissertation such as a business plan or business project.

master's in entrepreneurship

A master’s in entrepreneurship can prepare you for a career as a business owner or business leader. Source: Oli Scarff/AFP

King’s College London

The university’s MSc Strategic Entrepreneurship and Innovation programme aim to provide students with the tools and techniques to understand and manage entrepreneurship and innovation and to lead innovative teams and organisations around the world.

Students will discover key issues of innovative entrepreneurship, from how companies identify and exploit both market and technological opportunities, to how they grow and secure finance.

Students will also gain an understanding of how both small and large entrepreneurial companies can be organised to take advantage of multiple sources of innovation to compete in dynamic environments.

Studying at King’s College entails learning from staff who are recognised leaders in their fields and have developed unique and stimulating modules for their entrepreneurship programme. The university boasts of strong links with incubators, experienced entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists, who will provide students with novel insights on the subject.

King’s is ranked 35th in the THE World University Rankings 2021.

University of Manchester

Manchester is ranked joint 51st in the THE World University Rankings 2021.

Their MSc Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship programme can be completed within one year on a full-time basis, or 24 months part-time.

Students will learn how to successfully manage both technology and organisational innovation, gain an understanding of how the innovation process works, how companies organise to take advantage of internal and external sources of innovation, how to carry out technology investment appraisal and forecast future innovation trends and focus on developing analytical and critical skills, research training, personal communication skills, and effective team-working, among others.

University of Warwick

Warwick is ranked 77th in the THE World University Rankings 2021.

The university’s MSc Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a practical course that is designed for entrepreneurs. It will teach students to apply best practice approaches to business proposals to maximise their chances of success.

The course covers areas such as generating new business ideas, developing and refining ideas, and designing the infrastructure, right through to launching the business. Students will also focus on how innovation can be exploited in technological and business contexts, to increase success for new product or services based businesses.

The dissertation will also prompt students to rigorously develop their business idea to ensure students will be in a strong position to launch their own business.