Leadership Pathways in the UK

Leadership and management courses give students the opportunity to develop their management skills, teaching you how to manage a team of people with effective leadership. You will evolve the skills required to be a strong, confident leader, meaning that you will be able to apply your knowledge and skills in a variety of situations, through a range of leadership styles.

Leadership courses will develop your foundation of knowledge, covering the basic and more complex concepts of the subject area. You will develop your leadership skills, learning how to effectively manage team members through case studies and practical applications.

Your course will be delivered in a mixture of modes. These will include lectures, seminars, as well as practical sessions. You may be required to take part in a work placement as part of your course.

Depending on where you choose to study, you may be able to specialise towards the end of your course. This specialisation can influence what area you choose to work in after you have finished your course. Common specialisations include:

• Personal Development
• Business Research Methods
• Organisations and Management
• Managing People
• Decision Making
• Digital Business

If your course requires you to write a dissertation or submit a final research project, this will give you the opportunity to further research a favoured area of leadership.

The accreditation of your course will depend on where you choose to study. It will also be influenced by the level of study you are applying for. If you are studying an undergraduate degree, you can expect to be awarded a Bachelor of Science (BSc), or a Bachelor of Business (BBus). You will also be able to study leadership as a certificate or diploma, at a variety of levels.

There will be many opportunities to gain extra academic and professional accreditations throughout your career.

Generally, an undergraduate degree in leadership will take three to four years. Foundation degrees, diplomas and certificates can take up to two years when studied full-time.

Once you have successfully completed your degree or course, you can choose to either seek employment in your chosen area, or further your studies. Continuation of your studies could be in the form of a postgraduate degree, such as a masters or PhD, or a graduate diploma or certificate.

Graduates of leadership courses and degrees will find that there are many career opportunities available to you. You might choose to progress in your current career, moving into senior management, or potentially change your career path. You can work in a wide variety of fields, including organisation management, human resources, leadership training and development, and project management.