Entrepreneurial experience built in
Real projects, real business clients, real impact.
Working on real consulting projects gave me tangible examples to discuss in interviews. Rather than simply saying that I had studied entrepreneurship, innovation or strategy, I could talk about specific situations where I had applied those concepts to real businesses and developed recommendations based on research and evidence.
Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management MSc studentIf you’re looking for a hands-on entrepreneurial programme where you’ll graduate with not only the knowledge employers are looking for, but also the experience, Surrey Business School’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management MSc gives you the opportunity to work on several applied projects throughout your studies – many of which work with real organisations.
Surrey Business School also ensure that we match you up to businesses from our extensive network to save you searching independently. You can of course discuss the opportunity to recruit new business partnerships but we want you to know that this isn’t expected. Here are the projects available to you:
Live business venture project
In the compulsory module New Business Venturing, you’ll work in groups with designated companies on a real or prototype business opportunity with reports for the business proposing how the opportunity could become investment-ready.
The approach
- Conduct market research, including the use of generative AI
- Test and validate the business idea
- Apply lean start-up methods
- Engage with company stakeholders
- Develop a business model and scaling strategy.
Hear from our students:
“One of the most valuable experiences was working with IntelliVet Ltd, a MedTech venture. We conducted market and ecosystem analysis, explored customer and stakeholder needs, considered the competitive landscape and developed recommendations around the venture's go-to-market strategy and potential scaling pathways. My role involved contributing to the research and analysis, product-market fit, problem-solution fit, developing strategic recommendations and helping translate our findings into practical actions for the business.”
External consultancy project
In the compulsory module Dynamics of Business Consultancy, small student teams act as consultants for an external organisation. You’ll receive a live client brief, analyse a genuine workplace or organisational problem and develop practical, evidence-based recommendations.
The approach
The work can include client meetings, stakeholder analysis, negotiation, problem diagnosis, solution design and professional presentations. The exact challenge depends on the participating organisation!
Sustainability and social innovation project
You’ll undertake project-based work exploring a complex sustainability or social-innovation challenge – like developing a sustainable business strategy; funding social innovation; unpacking environmental or societal challenges; or how to make operations and supply chains more sustainable to name a few.
The approach
The projects are supported by masterclasses, practitioner engagement, possible study trips and company visits. Examples of previous projects include:
- Exploration of how a university could improve its water management systems using Circular Economy (CE) principles — closing resource loops, promoting reuse and recycling, and adopting regenerative processes.
- A project using the Innovation Uncertainties Analysis and applying it to an innovative technology. The project identified and critically evaluated the uncertainties shaping the technology's development and adoption within all technological, commercial, organisational, and societal framework dimensions, developing insights into which uncertainties pose the greatest risk and how they interact.
One of the best things about Surrey is how practical and career‑focused it is. The University puts a lot of emphasis on real‑world application, collaborations, and helping you think about your future from the start.
Kayal, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management MSc studentIndependent Applied Study
The largest project is the Independent Applied Study where you’ll choose one of two routes:
Business plan: developing an original business idea into a researched and clearly defined business plan.
Consultancy project: Working from a brief agreed with a company stakeholder and academic supervisor, investigating a real business problem or opportunity and producing a research-based solution.
Recent independent applied study project examples include:
- Development of a business plan to set up a fintech firm which embedded a micro-credit rating system based on AI technology. As part of the project, the student conducted an in-depth analysis and hypothesis validation, and were able to create the go-to-market strategy and create an investor pitchdeck.
- Another student conducted a consultancy project with a university spinoff firm. Together, they developed a comprehensive strategy for implementing AI to the customer service. Utilising the student's previous experience as a computer scientist, as part of the project they were able to identify both the technical and business-related need to introduce an AI agent to the company. The plan was later adopted and is in the process of being implemented!
The impact of these projects
"Our mission is simple: to bridge the gap between learning and practice. By embedding experiential learning, live consultancy with local companies, and venture creation throughout the programme, we enable students to graduate with more than a degree – they leave with a portfolio of real achievements, professional networks, and the confidence to create value wherever their careers take them." - Dr Daniel Cho, Programme Lead
Find out more about the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management MSc programme.