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Fundamentals of Leadership (Distance Learning)

2025-26 (also available for 2024-25)

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Start date

18 May 2026

Duration

3 months part-time

Credits: 20 Masters level credits

Code: BMC0273

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About the course

Reasons to study

  1. Progress to a full Master’s – Successful completion could lead to acceptance onto our Management MSc without an undergraduate degree qualification.
  2. Teaching excellence – Learn from expert academics from our AACSB International accredited Business School, which was named the 2023 Times Higher Education Awards Business School of the Year.
  3. Convenience - The course is delivered 100% online, so you can balance your studies with your existing work and life commitments. 

On this short credit-bearing course, you’ll develop an understanding of what it takes to lead an organisation. You’ll cover topics such as people management, communication, leadership skills, diversity and performance management. You’ll also have the opportunity to reflect on your own leadership skills and style, and develop your own leadership solutions.

Management MSc (Distance Learning)

Successful completion of this Level 7, 20-credit course ‘Fundamentals of Leadership’ at the first full attempt will enable you to enrol onto the January intake of our Management MSc (Distance Learning), via our performance-based admissions (PBA) route.

The PBA route is suitable for you if you don’t meet the Management MSc entry requirements, which includes a 2:2 Bachelor’s degree qualification or equivalent in any discipline.

The 20 credits earned on this short course will be considered Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) providing credit exemption from the 180 credit Management MSc (Distance Learning) degree. The short course fee will also be deducted from the full cost of the Master’s.

Teaching on this course will be delivered by University of Huddersfield academic staff. Teaching and learning activities will be hosted on our partner platform – Coursera

Course detail

As a Distance Learning student, you must provide and have access to the following IT equipment and facilities to access your Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and to fully participate on your course.

  • Personal computer. Courses are designed for personal computers. Some content may not be fully accessible via mobile devices including but not limited to assessments and where there is a need install supplementary software on your personal computer.
  • Internet connection with sufficient bandwidth to allow video streaming (4Mps minimum).
  • Microphone and webcam.

Browser

Your course can be accessed using the latest versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, or Microsoft Edge. Full functionality cannot be guaranteed in older or less commonly used browsers. JavaScript must be enabled in your preferred browser.

Minimum Specifications

Your personal computer and webcam will require the following minimum specifications to access your course and study materials:

Hardware

  • Headphones, soundcard and speakers, microphone, and webcam. (If you are uncertain if your system meets the requirements, please check with the manufacturer or at the place of purchase).
  • Minimum Intel Core i5 (Minimum Dual Core 2 GHz) or AMD A10 or equivalent, 4GB of RAM (recommended 8 GB for better overall experience), with a screen resolution of at least 1280x800px.

Operating systems

  • Windows: Windows 10 or later. Mac: OS X 10.13 or later.
  • Linux: 64-bit Linux distribution of Ubuntu 16.04+LTS, Fedora 30+ Workstation, RHEL 8+ Workstation or CentOS 8+.
  • Android: OS 10, 11 or 12.
  • iOS: iOS13 or iOS14.

Internet connection

Our distance learning courses can be studied from any location, however we recommend a broadband/high speed connection of 10 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload speed. (If you are unsure if your internet connection speeds meet requirements, please speak with your internet service provider for clarification).

Other software requirements

  • Microsoft Teams, Adobe Creative Cloud and Office 365. Access to these applications will be provided to you as a University of Huddersfield student. Please note that some software, including Adobe Creative Cloud, will need to be downloaded and installed. You may be required to have full administrator rights to do this, which could be restricted if using an employer’s computer or shared device.

Mobile App

The University’s VLE, Brightspace, has a mobile Pulse app that can help students stay connected and on track with their course in Brightspace.The Pulse app only works with some core features of Brightspace. The Pulse app may not work on all Brightspace features. Third-party tools may not work as well. Mobile devices are not suitable for all courses, or some coursework. Users may need to complete some tasks on other non-mobile devices meeting the system requirements.

Costs

The costs of IT equipment and internet access are not included in the tuition fees and are your sole responsibility. For more information visit What’s included in your tuition fee? - University of Huddersfield

Entry requirements

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements, the following are accepted:

  • The Duolingo English test, with a score of 105 or above.
  • An updated experience statement to also include ‘work’: Where you have studied in an English-speaking country, worked for an English-speaking company, or have a UK degree - this proof is accepted within two years of passing as meeting the English Language requirements.
  • IELTS 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or an equivalent qualification.

Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you will find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies. Our Distance Learning Unit Team are at hand to make your online learning journey a positive, rewarding and successful one.

The Distance Learning Unit has specialist staff who are committed to ensuring that online teaching and learning material is accessible to all. We can recommend and provide training on assistive technologies and software which can support a range of learning styles and additional needs.

During each module, you will be able to rely on your module tutors to provide any academic support you need.

You will always have access to our online learning facilities and should you need any technical support whilst studying, you will find that many of our student support services and resources are available online or accessible during UK working hours.

Find out more about support services including finance, careers, Library, IT and disability and wellbeing.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

Changes to a course you have applied for

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Cancellation of a course you have applied for

Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable.A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas.Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students.If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution.Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

Termination of course

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course.Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University.If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date.We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

Fair Processing Notice

The University partners with ‘Coursera’ for the delivery of this Distance Learning course. The Data collected in the University’s application portal will be used by the Distance Learning Unit to support you through your application and enrolment. We will share your data with Coursera who may contact you to provide support and guidance throughout your application, enrolment and studies. This may mean that we share your data outside the EU. It will not be shared further without your consent. Information about how Coursera processes your data is available on their Privacy notice here.

The University will store and use the information you provide in accordance with the University’s privacy policy which you can find here.

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