Systems Thinking in Practice

This certificate changes how you think about situations, introducing you to appreciating multiple perspectives and working collaboratively on problem situations. It teaches you to think holistically and understand stakeholders’ roles while considering the interconnectedness of the situational components. You’ll discover how to relate the ideas of systems thinkers to your practice and learn to recognise that each person brings a perspective.

To gain this qualification, you need 60 credits.



There are two routes through this qualification:



Route 1 is for all new students and those who started their studies after May 2024.



Route 2 is for students who started their studies in May 2024 or earlier. If you’re following this route, you must complete your studies by 31 December 2025.



For module details please see "Course Web Page".

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.



However, some option modules do have entry requirements. We’ll ask you to prove you meet them when you register for any of these modules:



Financial markets and the financing of organisations (B815)

Managing in a changing world (B870)

Creating and sustaining value (B872)

Principles of social and psychological inquiry (DD801)



Although this qualification has no entry requirements, we recommend you have:



A UK honours degree (or equivalent).



Minimum IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores of:



Reading: 5.5

Writing: 5.5

Speaking: 5.5

Listening: 5.5

Overall: 6.0.

60 credits

1 year part-time study



How long it takes

Most students study the Postgraduate Certificate in Systems Thinking in Practice part-time, completing 60 credits over one year. Typically, this means 13 study hours each week.



You must complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Systems Thinking in Practice within eight years.*



*If you’re on Route 2, you must complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Systems Thinking in Practice within eight years or by 31 December 2025, whichever is sooner.

See Course Web Page link for next start date.

Career relevance

The knowledge and skills developed through this postgraduate certificate course will provide benefits in a wide variety of economic sectors to you as well as to your employers or other organisations. Applications exist in any organisation where complex processes exist and where a change is required, including, for example, health services, environmental and development management, manufacturing and IT. Managers at all levels will find the ability to approach complex problems from a systems perspective to be a useful addition to their management and leadership skills portfolio. If you are self-employed you may also find the knowledge developed enables you to take a more objective and innovative view of the systems you have already created and how to change these for the future.