Curriculum overview
We are ranked #3 in the world for social science and management, and the Global Master's in Management programme is founded in LSE’s tradition for academic excellence. A curriculum of carefully designed compulsory core courses will explore a variety of perspectives on markets and organisations drawn from various disciplines including economics, economic sociology, and business psychology.
With this foundation, you will develop your critical and analytical skills to deal with all types of challenges facing managers today in the complex international business environment, from people management and cross-cultural working to strategic business innovation and responsible leadership.
International options
You will gain a unique exposure to the socio-economic environment of real business throughout the programme, learning alongside a diverse cohort of classmates from around the world. You will gain perspectives on today's international business challenges in core courses and have the opportunity to consolidate your global business experience with our prestigious international options, the CEMS double degree and the MBA exchange term.
Introductory course
Introduction to studying for the Global Master's in Management (GMiM)
Students are required to undertake an introductory course starting early September, before the beginning of the first academic term. This provides essential skills in accounting, statistics, quantitative analysis and writing which will be required throughout the programme.
First year: foundation
This first year will provide an in-depth training in the core foundations of general management, covering the same topics as a traditional MBA programme, but taking a more critical and rigorous approach to those topics. Following Year 1, the summer vacation offers time to undertake an internship. Although not compulsory, it is strongly encouraged to help apply learning and gain practical experience.
First year compulsory core courses:
(* denotes a half unit)
Foundations of Management I* and Foundations of Management II*
Gives a basic grounding in the key management disciplines which will be taught chronologically. Students will therefore be provided with an overview of the development of management disciplines and will develop an understanding of the disciplinary anchors in sociology, psychology and economics.
Managerial Economics*
Provides an introduction to the central issues in managerial economics. This course will analyse the foundations for applying economic thinking to management.
One of the following courses:
a) Introduction to Quantitative Analysis*
An intensive introduction to quantitative data analysis in the social sciences. The course is intended for students with no previous experience of quantitative methods or statistics. It covers the foundations of descriptive statistics and statistical estimation and inference. At the end of the course students should be able to carry out and interpret a range of univariate and bivariate data analysis techniques from univariate descriptives to multiple linear regression. The seminars and computer exercises give 'hands-on' training in the application of statistical techniques to real social science research problems using the R computer package (no prior knowledge of R is necessary).
or
b) Intermediate Quantitative Analysis*
The course is intended for students with some (even if limited) previous experience of quantitative methods or statistics. Using examples from psychological research, it covers first a review of the foundations of descriptive statistics and statistical inference, in the context of the analysis of two-way contingency tables and comparisons of means between two groups. The main topic of the course is linear regression modelling and related methods, including scatterplots, correlation, simple and multiple linear regression, and analysis of variance and covariance. An introduction to binary logistic regression modelling is also included. The computer classes give hands-on training in the application of these statistical techniques.
or
c) Applied Regression Analysis*
The course is designed for students with a good working knowledge of elementary descriptive statistics; sampling distributions; one and two sample tests for means and proportions; correlation and the linear regression model with one or more predictor variables. The course is concerned with deepening the understanding of the generalized linear model and its application to social science data. The main topics covered are linear regression modelling and binary, multinomial and ordinal logistic regression.
Marketing Management*
Provides a rigorous examination of the key analytical frameworks, technical tools, and concepts that are essential in building an effective marketing strategy.
Students exempted from taking Marketing Management will be free to take one elective course*, subject to the approval of the Programme Director.
Organisational Behaviour*
Seeks to understand individual attitudes and behaviour in an organisational context. Students will review psychological theories as they apply to organisations, demonstrating the contribution of a psychological perspective to understanding human behaviour at work, and critically evaluating the empirical evidence.
Students exempted from taking Organisation Behaviour will be free to take one elective course*, subject to the approval of the Programme Director.
GMiM Capstone Course - Management in Action - (non-assessed)
The first part of a course that runs throughout both years of the Global Master's in Management programme, and builds connections between management theory and practice to equip students with the skills necessary to succeed in their managerial careers.
Second year: concentration
Second year compulsory core courses:
(* denotes a half unit)
Foundations of Management III: Business Ethics, Corporate Governance, and Leadership*
Provides a critical understanding of the key ideas in business ethics, corporate governance and leadership. The courses introduces historical and theoretical approaches to prepare students for future leadership roles in global organisations.
GMiM Capstone Course - Management in Action (including Business Project)*
Builds connections between management theory and practice to equip students with the skills necessary to succeed in their managerial careers. Students apply the theoretical knowledge and business management skills gained in the first year by working on a business project with an external client. Teams of students work with a sponsor company over the course of a term to develop a solution to a real business problem.
Management Dissertation*
For students studying on the LSE track in year 2 only. Provides students with the opportunity to conduct independent research in a topic of their choice. Research questions are agreed with assigned dissertation supervisors in year 2.
Extended Essay*
For students studying on the CEMS Master's in International Management double degree and the MBA exchange only.
An individual extended essay based on a research question which students are required to agree with the teacher responsible during Winter Term in Year 2.
Building on the core foundation from Year 1, Year 2 will provide the opportunity to develop concentrated knowledge and experience in your own field of interest, according to your career goals. You will have the option to concentrate your learning in global management with either:
- CEMS Master's in International Management double degree
- MBA Exchange term in a leading MBA classroom
- A specialist elective title attached to your degree certificate
Companies who have sponsored business project in the past include: AstraZeneca; Barclays; Benchmark Sport; Coca Cola; Daymon; Ecofact; Deloitte; Google; Heidrick and Struggles; HSBC; Markit; Mars; Merlin Entertainment; Morgan Stanley; MYBA; Nokia; Oliver Wyman; PwC; Studio Canal; Tesco, and Thomson Reuters.
Students can also undertake the international CEMS or MBA exchange options in year 2. For CEMS students, additional core courses will be included in year 2.
If you choose to remain at LSE in your second year, you will have access to a wide range of specialised elective courses from departments across our leading social science institution, ranging from finance to psychological and behavioural science. (See the full list of specialised electives).
You may choose to concentrate your electives in a certain topic area, which would be recognised in the degree title you are awarded with. You can find the most up-to-date list of elective titles courses in the Programme Regulations section of the current School Calendar.
Optional elective courses
You can tailor the programme to your own interests and specialise your knowledge with optional elective courses.
Any of the elective courses listed may be taken, subject to pre-requisites and course availability, by any GMiM student. However, students who wish to have a concentration recognised on their degree certificate should choose from within the appropriate sub-list the number of courses that will satisfy the unit requirement for that concentration. The following concentrations are available: Accounting and Finance; Accounting; Finance; Human Resource Management; Information Systems and Digital Business; Marketing and Consumer Behaviour; Strategy and International Business.
Please note: If you choose to undertake the CEMS or MBA exchange options in year 2, the number of LSE electives will be reduced to accommodate a term abroad, plus additional courses for CEMS.
For the most up-to-date list of optional courses please visit the relevant School Calendar page.
You must note, however, that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, a change of circumstances since publication may cause the School to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will always notify the affected parties as early as practicably possible and propose any viable and relevant alternative options. Note that the School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside of its control, which includes but is not limited to a lack of demand for a course or programme of study, industrial action, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises.
You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee you a place. Please note that changes to programmes and courses can sometimes occur after you have accepted your offer of a place. These changes are normally made in light of developments in the discipline or path-breaking research, or on the basis of student feedback. Changes can take the form of altered course content, teaching formats or assessment modes. Any such changes are intended to enhance the student learning experience. You should visit the School’s Calendar, or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the updated graduate course and programme information page.