The MSc in Engineering Leadership and Management (ELM) at Swansea University has been designed for aspirational professionals, and individuals looking to develop their skills and knowledge in both leadership and management, with a specific focus on the engineering sector.
The programme will equip you with the vital skills needed to succeed in engineering management roles, exploring leadership styles, processes and the ever-increasing focus on soft skills. You will have the opportunity to develop both the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills that are required for successful careers in the field, bridging the gap between academia and practical application throughout.
As your studies progress, you will build your knowledge in key leadership strategy, alongside learning how to manage projects efficiently and effectively. You will also learn how to navigate complex engineering topics and environments, covering areas such as smart manufacturing, the circular economy and sustainable technologies, enabling you to combine knowledge of technical areas and management practices, to lead effectively in complex areas of engineering.
The programme was developed in direct consultation with business and industry, ensuring you learn about the most current themes in this field. Working alongside our industry partner, Tata Steel, you will be able to directly deploy the knowledge gained in the classroom. This will help you to understand, in detail, current industry issues, and will enable you to provide potential solutions that are of high strategic importance to businesses, ensuring that you develop into a graduate that is ready to enter leadership roles with confidence.
Why Engineering Leadership and Management at Swansea?
As a student on this master’s programme, you will be able to gain the skills and knowledge required for management and leadership roles across the engineering sector.
Our partnerships with industry mean that you will be provided with real-world strategic challenges and scenarios to work on, giving valuable opportunities to put your learning into practice. Alongside this, you’ll benefit from solid recommendations and solutions coming directly from the industry, solidifying your learning, and developing your industry-relevant knowledge.
Working alongside our School of Management, and supported by an industry board made up of leaders from a variety of backgrounds and organisations, we make sure that you are learning the most cutting-edge and relevant themes, ensuring you are ready for the world of work.
As this programme has been developed jointly with the School of Management you will benefit from being taught by both Management and Engineering academics, and will be able to take advantage of the facilities within both faculties, which include:
Dedicated teaching space and study areas at the £22 million School of Management
Extensive IT facilities equipped with the latest hardware and specialist software
State-of-the-art labs with advanced instruments and equipment
Specialised facilities at the Faculty of Science and Engineering which include a variety of specialised labs and equipment such as wind tunnels, wave tanks and advanced imaging facilities, facilitating research in areas relevant to this programme including smart manufacturing and renewable energy.
Your Engineering Leadership and Management Experience
This programme effectively combines the two specialisms of engineering and management to develop you into a highly skilled and knowledgeable leader.
From the very beginning, you will deepen your understanding of core principles in engineering and management. This will result in you becoming an effective leader that is able to manage complex projects, and can lead teams to develop solutions that are of high importance, in a sector that is continually improving and evolving.
You will study as part of a small cohort, giving you valuable time with our knowledgeable academics from the Engineering and Management departments, and with industry experts. The programme attracts students from all over the world, enabling a diverse and vibrant learning environment.
The programme was developed following direct feedback from the market that graduates were joining organisations with good academic qualifications but without knowledge of how organisations work. Our integrated approach, bringing together management and engineering, ensures you are well-placed to plug the existing knowledge gap, and will be ready to enter prominent roles in the sector.
You will be given numerous opportunities to develop the softer skills that enable effective management, with teamwork, 1-2-1s and 360 team reviews built into the course structure, to encourage honest feedback that can form the basis for development and growth.
The ability to challenge scenarios in an effective way is often a competency that is in-demand with industry. The assignments set as part of this programme involve our industry partners, and enable you to provide solutions to real-world issues that their organisations face, further building your skills as an individual that is able to challenge the norm, and lead teams towards implementing effective solutions.
You will also study a dissertation, presenting the outcomes of your project to senior management within the host organisation. This allows you to gain exposure to employers, while expanding your comfort zone and preparing you for the future industry challenges that you will face.
Engineering Leadership and Management Employment Opportunities
As a result of completing this programme, you will receive thorough preparation for leadership roles in engineering, while developing a deep understanding across various areas of engineering practice, also considering their impact on society and the environment.
Our aim is to ensure that we collaborate with key employers by integrating industry professionals into our programme design and delivery processes. This ensures that you can work to understand the challenges that organisations face, and how, as a graduate, you can deploy your skills and experience to tackle these issues, becoming a sought-after engineering management professional.
As a result, our industry partners have provided us with direct feedback that students of this programme are ahead of the curve, and graduates are often promoted into positions ahead of their peers, ensuring you have strong career prospects.
The programme is also well-respected within the industry:
"The course offers a great transition to management and leadership for engineering students with the objective of kick-starting their careers through a greater awareness of how their behaviour impacts on performance, plus how to apply their engineering know-how to real world problems and projects. The skills covered on the course are the direct result of the needs of industry as set out by the members of the Industry Advisory Board (IAB)."
Dean Cartwright, Chairman of the Industry Advisory Board, Tata Steel
Swansea University Students and Tata Steel
Bethany's Story
Bethany's Story
MSc ELM Graduate R&D Programme Manager at City Science Member of the MSc ELM Industry Advisory Board
What was it about ELM at Swansea that stood out to you? The Engineering Leadership and Management course offers a unique blend of management principles and engineering expertise, perfectly suited to my evolving career goals. It allows me to combine my natural leadership abilities with my growing interest in strategic energy solutions, particularly through the exploration of renewable energy.
How has ELM helped you get to where you are today? ELM has been instrumental in shaping my journey and propelling me to where I am today. Its influence is evident in my professional achievements, including a 100% success rate in job applications and offers, as well as in my personal growth, such as maintaining a work-life balance and staying organised. ELM has provided me with the necessary skills and frameworks to excel as a leader, project manager, and team player. By embracing ELM principles, I have been able to navigate complex challenges, deliver successful outcomes, and cultivate a fulfilling and balanced professional life.
ELM Students at Seda UK
Exploring leadership styles, processes, and the importance of soft skills.
Modules
Informed by the modern needs of industry, this course consists of key modules that cover broad management themes, alongside more detailed engineering-specific subjects.
The course consists of 180 credits of compulsory modules. These include five 10-credit modules on subjects including strategy, smart manufacturing and project management, two 20-credit modules on the foundations of management and the circular economy, a 30-credit module on leadership and strategy, and a 60-credit leadership and management project, which will be delivered in an Engineering context.
Applicants will need a 2:2 (or equivalent) in an undergraduate degree, with any degree subject being considered.
We welcome applications by prospective students from around the world and look for evidence of previous study that is equivalent to the entry requirements stated above. The Postgraduate Admissions Office are happy to advise you on whether your qualifications are suitable for entry to the course you would like to study. You can contact our postgraduate admissions team for further information.
If English is not your first language you will need an acceptable pass in an approved English Language qualification. We consider a wide range of qualifications, including the Swansea University English Test, the British Council IELTS test (with a score of at least 6.5 and 5.5 in each component). View our full list of acceptable English Language tests to find out more.
We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course. Our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students.
Practical skills sessions, seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group work and presentations.
Lecture recordings also allow for more flexibility to revisit material, to revise for assessments and to enhance learning outside of the classroom. Some modules have extra resources in our virtual learning environment (Canvas), such as videos, slides and quizzes enabling further flexible study.
There are opportunities for Welsh speakers to study some elements of this
postgraduate course through the medium of Welsh but there is not yet enough
provision to reach 40 credits in each year. The Programme Director can outline
to you what is available in Welsh.
Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support
you throughout your time at Swansea University. We can offer you:
Access to the Arwain mobile app for the latest information about Welsh-medium courses and modules available to download free on the App Store and Google Play.
An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
Personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.
The option to create and submit your coursework or sit exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be assessed in Welsh.
A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.
One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.
This programme is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), on behalf of the Engineering Council, as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.
Tuition fees for years of study after your first year are subject to an increase of 3%.
You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.
You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.
To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.
Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.
You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.
If you're a UK or EU student starting a master’s degree at Swansea University, you may be eligible to apply for Government funding to help towards the cost of your studies.
To find out more, please visit our postgraduate loans page.
To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's
scholarships and bursaries
page.
Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually.
For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.
Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.
You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):
Travel to and from campus
Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your
personal tutor, the Centre for Academic
Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas
such as:
Academic writing
Maths and statistics
Critical thinking
Time management
Digital skills
Presentation skills
Note taking
Revision, memory and exam techniques
English language skills (if English is not your first language).
In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability,
mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have
Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and
requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.
We recommend that you submit your application to our courses as early as you can in advance of our application
deadlines. Courses will close earlier than the application deadlines listed if all available places are filled. You can
find further information on our Application Deadlines webpage.
For more information about the course, please contact Dr Vasilios Samaras and Ian Hobson who will be more than happy to discuss the course, and can arrange a personal Zoom call with you.
