If you want to advance your career with a business management degree but need flexibility, the University of Southampton’s online MiM Master in Management could be a great choice. You can study while working or managing other commitments.
We spoke with Rocchina Covucci, Programme Leader, and Taposh Roy, Postgraduate Programme Director at Southampton Business School, to learn more. They shared what makes the MiM a strong option for career changers, aspiring leaders, and professionals from non-business backgrounds.
This Q&A covers everything you need to know. You’ll learn about flexible online learning and specialisation pathways. Find out if the Southampton Online MiM is right for you.
Thank you for joining us Rocchina and Taposh. Who is the Southampton Online MiM Master in Management for?
Rocchina: Our online MiM Master in Management is a conversion course, meaning it’s designed for individuals who don't have a background in business or management but want to develop expertise in these fields.
It’s perfect for people from non-business backgrounds, whether that’s arts, engineering, healthcare, or another area, who are looking to transition into management roles.
This master’s in management covers core business management topics like accounting, operations, marketing, and strategy, applying them to real-world situations. It’s also ideal for career changers, early-career professionals, and anyone looking to build leadership skills.
Since the course is delivered 100% online and part-time, it offers the flexibility to balance study with personal and professional commitments.
We also offer specialisation pathways in areas like Business Sustainability and Logistics, so you can align your learning with your career goals.
How does the MiM Master in Management prepare students for leadership and decision-making roles?
Rocchina: This online management course is designed to develop leadership, decision-making, and critical thinking skills across different industries. We blend academic theory with real-world application, through case studies, simulations, group projects, and industry-linked assignments.
From your very first module, you’ll build essential skills like financial literacy, strategic thinking, and marketing analysis. These are vital for managing teams and businesses effectively.
We also emphasise ethical leadership and sustainability, encouraging students to think about the broader impact of their decisions. By the end of the course, you’ll be confident tackling complex business challenges and making informed leadership decisions.
What are the core differences between the general MiM Master in Management and the two other pathways?
Rocchina: The core MiM Master in Management pathway gives you a broad foundation across all key areas of business management. These include strategy, operations, marketing, leadership, and more. It’s ideal if you want a generalist route into leadership roles across a variety of industries.
If you’re looking to specialise, we offer two focused pathways:
In the Business Sustainability pathway, you explore leading businesses in an environmentally and socially responsible way, a huge focus globally right now. You’ll study modules in Sustainable Business Operations and Sustainability Accounting and Reporting, learning how businesses can integrate sustainability into their core strategies.
This pathway is ideal if you’re interested in roles related to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), sustainability consulting, or purpose-driven businesses. It’s also important to note that sustainability expertise is becoming a key requirement even for traditional fields like accounting.
Meanwhile, the Logistics pathway focuses on supply chain management, global sourcing, distribution, and logistics strategy. It’s perfect if you’re aiming for careers in procurement, operations, or international trade.
Both specialisations are designed to meet real-world industry needs and allow you to tailor your learning to your career goals.
I'm an experienced marketing and business manager looking to move into logistics and distribution. Is this course suitable for me?
Rocchina: Definitely! Our Logistics Pathway allows you to specialise by taking the modules in International Logistics and Integrated Logistics. These modules cover global supply chains, quality management, freight transportation, and operational efficiency.
Your marketing experience would still be valuable, and you’d be adding a whole new set of logistics skills to your profile. This will make you very attractive to employers in the supply chain and distribution sectors.
Will specialising in the Logistics pathway help me secure roles in procurement and distribution?
Rocchina: Absolutely. Choosing the Logistics pathway shows employers that you’ve gained specialist knowledge in supply chain management, distribution, and logistics strategy.
Modules like Integrated Logistics and International Logistics prepare you to tackle real-world challenges in moving goods across global markets.
Industry needs are evolving, and our courses reflect that. For example, companies regularly need experts in areas like freight transportation and international supply chain management. This is especially true now, with increased global trade and new logistics challenges post-Brexit. So having logistics expertise absolutely increases your career options.
Taposh: A few years ago, we introduced specialist pathways like Logistics into our on-campus programmes because of strong industry demand. Pathways allow students to focus their studies in growing areas like sustainability and logistics, which are increasingly important globally.
Adding a pathway shows employers that you have specialised knowledge as well as a broad management foundation. It’s definitely seen as a positive!
Does the course offer direct links to organisations for work placements during the programme?
Rocchina: No, we don’t offer formal work placements as part of this online MiM Master in Management. However, Southampton Business School has strong links with industry, and we have a dedicated team that supports students with career advice, CV building, and finding internships or job opportunities if you're interested.
Also, each module is designed with real-world case studies and sometimes guest speakers from industry. So even though there’s no formal placement, the course is very much aligned with real business practice.
How flexible is the online format, and how do students balance studying with work and other commitments?
Rocchina: Flexibility is absolutely one of the biggest strengths of this course. It’s designed specifically for busy professionals and is delivered 100% online, part-time over two years. Most learning is asynchronous, meaning you can access lectures, readings, videos and other content at any time, wherever you are in the world.
You’re not tied to a fixed schedule. That’s ideal if you’re balancing work, parenting, or other responsibilities.
How do students engage with academics and peers in an online setting?
Taposh: Although the course is online, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to interact with your tutors and fellow students. Each module includes weekly live webinars where you can join real-time discussions, participate in breakout rooms, and work on group activities like case studies.
We also have a discussion board in Blackboard (our online learning platform), where students can post questions and ideas. Often, students answer each other's questions too, creating a strong sense of community.
Engaging with your peers is hugely important, not just for academic success, but also to develop key professional skills like teamwork, communication, and active listening. These are skills employers highly value. So even though you're studying remotely, you won’t be studying alone!
What are the typical career outcomes or roles after completing the MiM Master in Management?
Taposh: Although this online course is new, we have similar on-campus courses, like our MSc International Management, that show us what graduates go on to do.
Typical roles include:
- Operations Manager
- Management Consultant
- Banker
- Supply Chain Analyst
- Business Development Manager
Our graduates work for companies like KPMG, Bank of China, and Unilever. Many students also use the course to pivot into new industries or move into higher leadership roles within their current company.
Because the course teaches broad, transferable business skills, it’s flexible enough to open many different doors.
What does the assessment process look like? Are there any exams?
Taposh: There are no exams, intentionally! We designed the online MiM Master in Management without exams because continuous assessment fits better with working professionals.
Instead, you’ll complete a variety of assignments, such as:
- Individual reports
- Essays
- Reflective writing
- Presentations
- Group projects
And, of course, a final dissertation (approximately 10,000 words), where you can research a real-world business problem, often related to your own work.
Assessments are designed to build critical skills like analytical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and leadership. These are the same skills employers are looking for.
Rocchina: We intentionally designed a variety of assessments to develop different skills. For example, reflective reports help you link theory to your own work experiences. Presentations build your confidence and communication abilities, essential for leadership roles. Everything is practical and geared toward real-world application.
What skills are employers looking for today, and how does this course help build them?
Taposh: Employers today are looking for both technical knowledge and soft skills, and we’ve designed the course to develop both.
Key skills include:
- Analytical thinking
- Problem solving
- Leadership
- Communication and teamwork
- Critical and creative thinking
- Empathy and active listening
We also increasingly focus on artificial intelligence (AI) literacy, as AI becomes more important across all industries. Some modules will start embedding AI tools and discussions to keep you up to date.
Our aim is that when you graduate, you won’t just know about management, you’ll be equipped to lead, problem-solve, and innovate in a fast-changing world.
Thank you so much to Rocchina and Taposh for sharing your expertise!
Find out more about the University of Southampton’s online MiM Master in Management courses:
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