MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Develop your entrepreneurial capabilities to enable start-up or development of an existing business
- Learn from entrepreneurship tutors who have a wide range of real-life experience
- Build knowledge on how to discover, innovate and exploit opportunities for new business
- Learn to take risks through engaging your creative thinking with peers, tutors, and external entrepreneurs
- Put theory to practice as a team of entrepreneurial consultants with start-ups during an international study visit
- Work alongside entrepreneurs in a final Entrepreneurship and Innovation consultancy with local, small firms
- Graduate with confidence to make an entrepreneurial impact
- Our masters graduates secure positions at prestigious employers worldwide, earning competitive salaries. Explore our graduate outcomes.
What you need to know
Overview
(Henley Masters Careers Survey 2024)
(Henley Masters Careers Survey 2024)
Masters in Entrepreneurship
The MSc in Entrepreneurship is designed to give students applicable theoretical knowledge, real-world problem-solving abilities and face to face access to entrepreneurs to learn from the best.
Our Entrepreneurship programme has a strong conceptual and theoretical foundation in Henley’s leadership market-making and experiential/action learning. These are the foundations for bringing theory into practice.
This programme always attracts a diverse international cohort. It appeals to graduates from a range of subject backgrounds wishing to enhance their entrepreneurial mindset, usually from small firm backgrounds, and those who have a willingness to explore and take risks before they decide upon a career path.
The programme develops and enables students to make effective decisions and take action to successfully embark on a career as an entrepreneur or manager within entrepreneurial firms. Whether you wish to set up a business, consider a career change, or advance into a managerial role, this is the course for you.
"The exposure to leadership subjects and a broad spectrum of theoretical and practical knowledge has equipped me with confidence and a far-reaching skill set that I am currently leveraging within my role."
What is unique to Henley’s Masters in Entrepreneurship and Innovation?
MSc Entrepreneurship & Innovation - Taking Theory Beyond The Classroom
Are you stepping into a family business or looking to set up your own? Our MSc Entrepreneurship & Innovation students share their experiences of studying at Henley, and how they have already applied their learning to their careers.
This programme has two exclusive modules, which are only available to students studying MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation. These modules have a practical approach in which 'theory meets reality.' Students get the chance to have direct interaction with external entrepreneurs and will develop an understanding of risk taking outside of the classroom. Through the Applied Challenge at an international partner institution students will have the opportunity to practice working with entrepreneurs, followed by a longer and in-depth consultancy project with another set of entrepreneurs in the UK.
Graduate success
Highlights from our 2023 graduates*
(Henley Masters Careers Survey 2024)
(Henley Masters Careers Survey 2024)
(Henley Masters Careers Survey 2024)
(Masters Career Survey 2024)
Where are our graduates working?
- Capita
- The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
- OpenText
- Oxfordshire County Council
- Leeds City Council
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
- AtkinsRéalis
- Levi Strauss & Co.
*Statistics are based on respondents to our Masters Outcomes Survey in 2024, which was completed by our 2023 graduates, 12 months after graduation.
Respondents are from 8 Postgraduate programmes.
Careers, accreditation & progression
Prepare for your successful career
The experiences you will accumulate during your Entrepreneurship and Innovation Masters will set you up to take the plunge into your own start-up. Alternatively, you can use the inquiry and consultancy skills to complete the professional process of entering a larger organisation.
The styles of assessment correspond with communication styles used within a variety of organisations, helping you to easily transfer the skills you learn on the programme. For instance, the development of the soft skills needed by entrepreneurs to influence their supporters and customers will prepare you for a variety of opportunities in fields where new ideas, new opportunities and innovation are deemed to be important.
Receive dedicated support from our award-winning careers team
We have an award-winning careers team that will support you through your postgraduate studies and four years after graduation.
Here is how Henley Careers can help you:
Careers Consultant appointments
Our Careers Consultant are here to help and support you with any careers related concern that you might have. Whether it’s CV advice, practicing for an interview, providing feedback if applications aren't successful or support planning your career goals. We are here to help empower you to progress in your career.
Events
Henley Careers organise numerous events aimed to help you build your confidence, develop the skills employers are looking for. Additionally, network with employers and expand your industry knowledge.
Alumni support
You can continue to book one-to-one appointments with your Careers Consultant and use our online resources. For up to four years after graduating we’re here to help and support in your career.
Career Smart
Get a head start in securing a graduate job by taking part in our online course, Career Smart. You can expect to learn about the graduate recruitment cycle in the UK. As well as where to look and how to start applying to jobs, and the different roles available to you.
For more information please see our Careers page.
How we teach you
A holistic approach
Our Entrepreneurship and Innovation programme enables you to transition theory into practice through an experiential learning process.
You may arrive with limited experience but our programme provides plenty of entrepreneurial experiences for your future professional life.
How you will learn
Henley has a rich research heritage in how entrepreneurs ‘make markets’ to encourage customers to adopt novel innovations. You will develop an understanding of microeconomics and the behaviours of entrepreneurs. This will be tested in a variety of practice application methods, including case study analysis and exposure to local Henley entrepreneurs. The programme culminates in the International Applied Challenge and the capstone Entrepreneurship and Innovation consultancy project where you become an independent consultancy team for a small organisation.
Students will become familiar with and develop soft skills (e.g. empathy for entrepreneurs and their challenges) through group working. Such skills allow students to gather the information that is needed to make implementable, innovative proposals.
The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Masters is designed with a core of 140 credits to foster a strong cohort community and encourage peer support. Each of the informal pathways then has a choice of 40 credits, totalling 180 credits.
One module usually equates to 20 credits and 12-15 hours of work per week. Your week will include lectures and tutorials which take up to four hours per week, plus your own creative and analytical thinking and personal study.
How we assess you
Through a variety of in-class tests, team and individual presentations, team and individual reports, simulations and examinations, we will test your theoretical understanding and application of knowledge. You will enjoy the reality of the crowdfunding campaign simulation for your New Venture project, whilst a team report for your consultancy client will prepare you for professional reporting beyond the programme.
Entrepreneurship is based upon putting theory into practice and hence exams are limited to the key theoretical modules for entrepreneurship and finance, although there will also be some in-class tests to ensure your learning is up-to-date.
The core modules of 140 credits comprise only 13% of exams and in-class tests though this increases for the Financing pathway option (please refer to the module details on the University website).
Ongoing support
Whilst Masters students are self-motivated and determined individuals, studying at this level can present additional pressures which we take seriously. Lecturers are available to discuss module content and you can meet with your academic tutor. Support staff are available to help with anything that may arise during your time at Henley.
Master the Language of Business: Your Competitive Edge at Henley
Success in business isn’t just about practical skills but also how you communicate your ideas, influence others, and collaborate across cultures. That’s why, as a Henley Master’s student, you have the exclusive opportunity to join our Effective Communication: Language Skills for Business module, designed to boost your confidence and fluency in English for academic, professional, and networking success.
This free, non-credit-bearing course runs in parallel with your studies and is delivered by Henley Business School in partnership with the International Study and Language Institute (ISLI) at the University of Reading. It is part of a series of innovations at Henley designed to support your academic and professional development, ensuring you graduate with the skills to succeed in a global business environment.
The course is designed to help you:
- Express yourself clearly and persuasively in seminars, presentations, and discussions.
- Write with impact, from emails and reports to case studies and reflections.
- Master the language of business, learning industry-specific terminology and communication styles.
- Boost your employability with key professional communication skills, from networking to interview preparation.
Who Can Join?
- Students who meet the selection criteria based on their English level will be invited to take part.
- Any other student who wishes to enhance their communication skills can voluntarily join, ensuring everyone has access to this career-boosting opportunity!
Taught in an interactive, business-focused format, this module integrates real-world business scenarios, digital tools, and personalised feedback to help you thrive at Henley and beyond.
Course structure
Exclusively available to Henley Business School offer holders, the Pre-study course suite comprises of innovative short courses designed and developed by Henley faculty on the Futurelearn platform, one of the leading online learning platforms.
Future of Work: Coding with Python for Business & Finance (Exclusive to Henley offer holders)
A course delivered online by Henley faculty and you will receive online support from one of our teaching staff members and be able to interact with other prospective students in your course.
Study skills for success (Exclusive to Henley offer holders)
This course will provide building blocks of knowledge to help you prepare for your learning journey in the area of your choice as well as equip you with key employability and study skills for successfully navigating your studies and professional career.
Advances in Entrepreneurial Theory and Practice (MMM168)
20 [10 ECTS credits]This module introduces students to the scholarly literature on entrepreneurship and its recent advances. It shows how theoretical developments have practical applications and so assists students to appraise the increasingly entrepreneurial role of managers in modern business. The module covers the theory of markets and firms from economics, the approach by geographers to entrepreneurial locations, and sociologists to the theory of entrepreneurial networks.
Entrepreneurial Leadership (MMM128)
20 [10 ECTS credits]This module introduces students to the characteristics and skills that underpin Entrepreneurial Leadership. Using scholarly literature and case studies this module discusses how this form of leadership is applied in difference contexts, from family businesses to corporates and start up-firms. The module has a strong practical application and uses real life case studies.
Innovation Management (MMM162)
20 [10 ECTS credits]This module aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the distinctive features of management of innovation in a range of organisations. Students will experience the analysis of an existing innovation process and the conceptual design of a future innovation direction.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Consultancy Project (MMM161)
40 [20 ECTS credits]This module is where ‘theory meets reality’. It provides you with the experience of risk-taking as you step out of the class and engage with external entrepreneurial businesses to help them enhance their growth.
Financing for Entrepreneurship (MMM094)
20 [10 ECTS credits]This module introduces students to the various forms of financing for entrepreneurship as a process of entrepreneurship (e.g. debt, equity financing, non-for-profit and alternative financing). It introduces an entrepreneurial ecosystem approach , and develops skills of cost-benefit analysis of a project and a financial appraisal of new ventures.
New Venture Start-Up (MMM123)
20 [10 ECTS credits]This module provides students with a simulation of starting up a real business venture within a virtual incubator setting. New venture start-up involves more than generating a creative idea…it involves spotting a problem and generating a creative solution and then actually starting-up or taking action.
Applied Challenge (MMM169)
20 [10 ECTS credits]This module enables students to gain a practical international experience and advance their multicultural understandings, and cross-cultural competencies by working with an international partner university.
Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management (MMM042)
20 [10 ECTS credits]This module aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the distinctive features of management in the SME environment, its complexity, the additional challenges and risks related to the small dimension, but also its advantages.
Global Marketing Management (MMM006)
20 [10 ECTS credits]This module will introduce students to marketing in a global context, and will enable students to understand the complexity and variety of factors playing a role in designing and implementing global marketing programmes.
International Human Resource Management (MMM081)
20 [10 ECTS credits]This is an advanced module focusing on the challenges and approaches in managing human resources in the multinational context, based on an understanding of basic concepts and practices in human resource management and cross-national contexts. Students will explore key issues and concepts and critically evaluate alternative approaches to the practices of human resource management in multinational organisations.
Management in Creative and Cultural Industries (MMM035)
20 [10 ECTS]This module examines organisations that are engaged in creative or cultural activities and the industries they create from an interdisciplinary management perspective. Students will define and understand the parameters of the creative or cultural industries; alongside identify the management challenges faced by organisations in these sectors; and examine strategies for addressing them.
Marketing for a Better, Sustainable World (MMM170)
20 [10 ECTS credits]This module is designed to provide knowledge of the link between marketing and sustainability and how to evaluate and implement marketing strategies that promote sustainable products, services and behaviours.
Private Equity and Venture Capital (ICM513)
20 [10 ECTS credits]This module is intended for students who may be interested at some stage in their careers in raising private equity or venture capital finance for an entrepreneurial venture or management buyout, or who see themselves working in a professional investment capacity.
Sustainability and Business Ethics for Responsible Management (MMM171)
20 [10 ECTS credits]This module introduces students to the related theory and practical applications on sustainability, business ethics and responsible management and develops students on how these theories are enabling business leaders, professionals and their organisations to integrate well ethical, humanistic, social and green impact in business and management and purposefully serve the common good, without sacrificing economic responsibility and performance.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Consultancy Project (MMM161)
40 [20 ECTS credits]This module is where ‘theory meets reality’. It provides you with the experience of risk-taking as you step out of the class and engage with external entrepreneurial businesses to help them enhance their growth.
Modules or course content marked as optional are indicative and may be subject to change. Please note, constraints in timetable scheduling may mean you are unable to take some optional modules at the same time as others.
Fees & funding
UK/Home
| Year of Entry | Cost |
|---|---|
| 2025 | £14,500 |
International (incl. EU)
| Year of Entry | Cost |
|---|---|
| 2025 | £26,000 |
Scholarships
We're pleased to announce that, following the recent closure of our previous scholarship scheme, we’ve now been allocated additional funding to support more students on their postgraduate journey to Henley. This new funding allows us to provide further financial support to high-potential applicants. If you’re considering postgraduate study, now is a great time to apply!
Current scholarships
Entry requirements
| Entry requirement | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | A good second-class honours degree or the equivalent from an internationally recognised university. We invite applications from students who can demonstrate entrepreneurial initiative. |
| Degree discipline | Any discipline |
Evidence of entrepreneurial and professional experience will be considered on your overall suitability for the programme.
English Language Requirements
Studying in a second language can be challenging. If your English language ability is below the minimum requirement, we may ask for evidence of proficiency. Alternatively, we may ask you to attend an English language course before you begin your studies with us.
| Requirement | Criteria |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5 with no component below 5.5 in any sub-skills |
Acceptance of LanguageCert Online and DuoLingo English qualifications
We appreciate the difficulties that some students are having with the availability of English Language tests, as the impact of the global pandemic continues. As a result of this we are pleased to announce that we can now accept the non-SELT version of LanguageCert (which includes the online version) and DuoLingo as suitable English language qualifications. These can be accepted for direct entry onto Undergraduate (except Speech and Language Therapy), Postgraduate Taught (except Speech and Language Therapy) and Postgraduate Research programmes.
For information on individual programme requirements and other English language qualifications, please visit our English requirement equivalent page.
If you require specific advice on your qualification please contact admissions directly by email or telephone on +44 (0) 118 378 5289.
Pre-sessional English language programme
Find out about our comprehensive range of Pre-Sessional English courses.
UK visa requirements
If you are not a national of the European Union (EU), you may need to obtain a UK visa. This visa will allow to live and study in the UK. See the UK Border Agency website. Contact the University's International Office with any questions: intoff@reading.ac.uk.
Graduate route
The UK's Graduate Route post-study work visa allows you to apply to stay in the UK for up to two years after you graduate, with the opportunity to undertake skilled work. Visit the University website for the latest information.
How to apply
Apply for 2025 entry now
Apply online now through the University of Reading’s online application service.
The online application service allows you to complete your application information, attach electronic copies of your academic transcripts, certificates and other supporting information. It also provides a facility for an email request to be sent to your referees. This enables the referees to send your supporting references directly to us.
When to apply
We operate a rolling admissions system and it is recommended that you apply early to secure your place. There is no specific deadline and applications will be considered until the programme is full. However, to allow us time to process your application we recommend that you apply by the following dates:
| UK/Home applicants | International applicants |
|---|---|
| 1 August | 1 July |
After you apply
You will receive a confirmation email when we receive your application form. Your application is then reviewed by a member of staff. If successful, you will receive a formal offer letter outlining any necessary entry criteria you will need to meet. You'll then be asked to confirm your acceptance of this offer.
If you require a Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) for your visa, details will be sent by email once all conditions of the offer have been met.
Throughout the admissions process we will keep you updated with key information via email. We also provide opportunities to interact with faculty and staff online.
Find us on Facebook and keep up-to-date with news and events at Henley or ask us a question. In addition, you can speak to a current student, our students are always happy to share their Henley experience.
Chat to our students
Our students and alumni are always keen to share their Henley experience. Whether you are a prospective applicant or already applied to a Masters programme at Henley Business School. You can ask questions to a current student by clicking the “Chat to our students” button below.
When contacting one of our students, please introduce yourself and the Masters programme you have applied for.
Speak to a current student
Contact us
If you have any questions, please contact us by email at postgraduate@henley.ac.uk or by phone on +44 (0)118 378 7593.
The way in which the Masters is designed allows you to learn all of the necessary theories and apply them immediately in real-life case studies and business situations.
Talking with outside professionals from various industries when working on different projects taught me how to conduct myself in front of them. This really helped me learn how to talk to my clients now professionally.
During my studies, I was not only able to learn practical skills and theories that would help increase my employability, but I also shifted my way of thinking and improved my argument making through the various consultancy projects offered.
What I’ve learned from the study visit to Poland is that everything I’ve learned at Henley works in the real world.
Learning the formal frameworks and approaches allowed for deeper learning and understanding of the material, as well as connecting with fellow course mates and lecturers. There was a common sense of community and professionalism which was refreshing to experience.
The exposure to leadership subjects and a broad spectrum of theoretical and practical knowledge has equipped me with confidence and a far-reaching skill set that I am currently leveraging within my role.
The opportunity to have a casual chat with experienced entrepreneurs and researchers is invaluable — as are the friends I’ve made. Lots of insight to be had in a safe and comfortable place!
One of my goals is to take my family business to the next stage by diversifying the business, entering new markets and taking risks. That’s one of the key things that I’ve learnt during my Masters.
