By Astrid Mahardika — MSc Entrepreneurship & Management student
The younger me would probably laugh, knowing how worried she was before starting this master's journey.
As someone who loves exploring life, I kept asking myself, "What if my course is too theoretical? What if I spend the whole year sitting in lectures, studying, and going home, without having the chance to explore anything beyond the classroom?"
I couldn't have been more wrong.
Instead, I found myself pitching real business ideas, developing business strategies for a real start-up, and collaborating with students from a wide range of backgrounds.
Looking back, I have never regretted choosing MSc Entrepreneurship and Management at the University of Bath.
What is an MSc in Entrepreneurship and Management?
Before starting the course, I assumed entrepreneurship was mainly about building your own business. While that's certainly part of it, the programme is much broader than I initially thought.
Choosing MSc Entrepreneurship and Management at the University of Bath has allowed me to experience a highly practical and creative course, with interactive classes and real-case projects.
One of my favourite experiences was Pitch Day. This was the culmination of a seven-week group project, where we worked together to develop a real business idea, covering every aspect from marketing and finance to product development. Throughout the project, we also received mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs. At the end of the seven weeks, every team presented their business idea to a panel of external judges. It felt much closer to a real investment pitch than a classroom presentation and gave me valuable experience working under pressure while collaborating with people from different backgrounds.
What I particularly like about the programme is that it isn't only focused on entrepreneurship. It also places great importance on building a sense of community. Throughout the year, we had cohort socials organised by the School of Management, giving us opportunities to connect with classmates outside the classroom. I found this balance between academic learning and student life one of the highlights of the programme.
Is MSc in Entrepreneurship and Management worth it?
From my experience, it’s a 100% yes.
Throughout the course, we worked on real-life business projects that challenged us to analyse uncertainty and justify our decisions with evidence.
One of my favourite units was Entrepreneurial Finance. We were asked to conduct an investment evaluation of a real company seeking investment, rather than working on a fictional case study. I found this incredibly valuable because it pushed me to think critically, conduct in-depth research, and understand how investors evaluate business opportunities.
Another aspect I really appreciated was the relatively small class size, which made discussions more engaging. We also had the opportunity to choose optional units, giving us the chance to meet students from other MSc programmes and expand our network, something I believe is particularly valuable for aspiring entrepreneurs.
For the final project, students can choose between a dissertation, a summer internship, or an entrepreneurial project. I really like having this flexibility because it allows students to choose the path that best matches their interests, whether that's academic research, gaining industry experience, or applying what they've learned through working with a real entrepreneurial project.
If you're looking for a course that combines academic learning with practical application, I'd say this programme offers an excellent balance.
What jobs can you get with MSc in Entrepreneurship and Management?
One thing I quickly realised is that this degree doesn't limit you to becoming a founder. Many graduates go on to work in roles related to:
- Startups and scale-ups
- Innovation and strategy
- Business development
- Consulting
- Venture capital and investment
- Product management
- Corporate innovation
Some students arrive with an existing business idea they want to develop, while others discover that entrepreneurial thinking can be applied within large organisations as well. Throughout the programme, our lecturers were incredibly supportive and encouraged us to explore different career paths, even if we were still unsure about what we wanted to do after graduation.
Personally, the programme has broadened my understanding of the many career opportunities available beyond simply starting a company.
Do you need a relevant background to study MSc in Entrepreneurship and Management?
Not necessarily. While having some business knowledge can be helpful, but it’s not mandatory.
One of the strengths of the programme is the diversity of student backgrounds. In my cohort, students came from business-related degrees as well as engineering, economics, music, medical, and other disciplines. Everyone brought different perspectives to discussions and group work, which made learning more interesting.
In fact, I'd say that having people from different academic backgrounds encouraged all of us to think more broadly and creatively.
MSc in Entrepreneurship and Management vs MSc in Management – what are the main differences?
From my perspective, the biggest difference is the mindset.
MSc Management provides a broad understanding of how organisations operate across different business functions.
MSc Entrepreneurship and Management covers many management topics too, including marketing, finance, until operations. However, it approaches them through an entrepreneurial lens. Instead of mainly analysing established companies, you're often encouraged to think about identifying opportunities, find the gaps, think logically, until learning from the failed ones.
That doesn't mean everyone plans to become an entrepreneur. Rather, the course develops an entrepreneurial mindset that can be valuable in startups, established companies and many other careers.
If you're excited by innovation, solving problems creatively, and exploring new ideas, Entrepreneurship and Management may be a particularly good fit.
Final thoughts
Looking back, one of the best things I've appreciated most about MSc Entrepreneurship and Management at Bath was how the course helps to develop the mindset. If you're considering the course and wondering whether it's the right choice, I'd encourage you to think less about whether you already have a business idea and more about whether you're curious, open to learning and interested in exploring broad things. In my experience, those qualities matter far more.
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