This course is designed for people with employment experience, who may not have a first degree, to gain access to Masters degree courses in Management at Aberdeen Business School. It is delivered online and allows those who work full-time or part-time to study at times which suit their own schedules.

The Graduate Certificate Management Studies provides a foundation in management subjects for students with business or managerial experience who wish to achieve an undergraduate qualification in management or progress to a postgraduate management course. It provides students with the knowledge of core management topics and also experience of academic study in preparation for postgraduate study.

This is a management development programme suitable for:

• Non-graduates with management experience who wish to progress to postgraduate study in management
• Managers who wish to update their professional business and management skills

The course is also a route for graduates of a non-business/management discipline who wish a pre-Masters course in business/management.

The award of a Graduate Certificate in Management Studies is equivalent to SVQ level 4/SCQF level 9 management training. The four modules are studied one at a time, over one academic year, and are assessed by a course work assignment at the end of each module.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD): Individual modules of the course may be studied on a CPD basis with credits awarded for successfully completed modules.

You will study the following modules:

• Business and People Skills: This module will help you develop transferable business skills that can be utilised in further academic study and the workplace.

• Information Technology: You will develop knowledge and understanding of IT & Information Systems and the skills to apply software solutions to business and management issues.
• Management Environment: This is an introduction to business and management, and examines the key issues associated with the internal and external environment within which organisations operate.
• Managing Finance: You will develop knowledge and understanding of the basic skills in the interpretation, application and communication of financial information.

Study on this course is online through Campus Moodle, the university's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).  With a flexible and supportive learning environment and a community atmosphere, Campus Moodle enables students to undertake the programme from anywhere and provides a generic infrastructure for online learning. Facilities provided include:

• discussion forums for tutorials, online meetings and conferences
• messaging service
• publishing space enabling production of a personal profile, organisation of relevant links, and links to work
• calendar of course events

The Learning Environment
Online teaching materials consist of two main components:

• Main course topics are delivered as educational content to be read by students. This is supported by additional suggested reading material.
• Most importantly, the focus of the subject matter will be enhanced as students undertake 'activities' relating to the subject. It is expected that students will spend a significant portion of their study time on these practical activities, so gaining familiarity, confidence and real, practical experience.

As an online learner, you will be part of a 'virtual cohort', and communication and interaction among the cohort is also a significant aspect of the learning process. In a collaborative learning environment however, you are required to become an independent open learner and take responsibility for when, where and how learning occurs.

There are no formal entry requirements, but managerial or supervisory experience is required.

All international students for whom English is not their first language must provide evidence of linguistic ability, by gaining either IELTS 6.5 or its equivalent in TOEFL prior to receiving an unconditional offer of a place on the course. Full information on this can be found on English Language Requirements.

Placements are not available on this course. Most of our graduate certificate students are already in employment.

The Graduate Certificate Management Studies is not externally accredited, however, successful completion of this course provides access to a range of our Masters level courses, many of which carry professional body recognition and accreditation.

All course fees are reviewed annually and subject to change.

Students will be grouped into cohorts - the next begins on 25th September 2012. Applications for admission to the course are now open, for commencement on this date. These should be received by 27th August 2012.

All applications can be made through Apply Online www.rgu.ac.uk/applyonline/

Course Enquiries and Contact
For further course information contact Alan Hunt

Email: a.hunt@rgu.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1224 263113