Leadership & Strategy

The MA in Leadership and Strategy is a two-year, part-time programme that explores the theory and practice of effective leadership and strategy formulation. Both public and private sector organisations need leaders with expertise in the HR, strategic and financial components of organisational life. This programme sees students undertake a dissertation in the leadership and strategy field, a dissertation that may well take an aspect of their professional life as its starting point.



Is This Programme For You?

This programme has wide appeal, but it is particularly relevant to those whose professional life involves making and executing decisions. In addition to their study of core economic, financial and HR subjects, students will undertake supervised research on a leadership or strategy issue.

Year One

The first year of the programme is divided into two semesters, and each semester is devoted to the study of three subjects:



Semester One

- Economics

- Managing Human Resources

- Finance



Semester Two

- Organisation and Strategy

- Research Methods

- Managing Service Delivery/ Managing in Europe



Year Two

Semester One

Leadership in Context

Strategic Management and Analysis

Leadership & Strategy Implementation



Semester Two

In the second semester of year two, students write a dissertation on a specific leadership and strategy topic. Students must successfully complete the taught courses before moving to the dissertation phase.

Applicants must have a primary degree or equivalent qualification.

Application Deadline: September 2025.



How To Apply

Complete the online Postgraduate application form on the home page. On submitting that, you will receive correspondence from the IPA on next steps/documentation.

Two academic years.



Delivery Method

In the first year of the programme, students attend seminars/webinars on three weekends in each semester. In the second year, they attend three seminars/webinars in the first semester and then, in the second, prepare, under expert supervision, a minor dissertation. They are supported in their studies by a range of resources, including bespoke course material and module textbooks.

Commences: September 2025.

Progression Pathways

Students may enter the first year of the MA (Postgraduate Diploma) in September or January. Those who enter in September can, on successful completion of the academic year, proceed to the second year. Those who enter in January can finish within the calendar year and proceed to the second year the following September. Graduates may wish to consider the IPA’s Doctorate in Governance programme.