Management for Social Change

Management for social change is a degree that asks how the principles of management and organisational leadership can be applied in service of social, environmental, and civic goals rather than purely commercial ones. It recognises that civil society organisations, social enterprises, public institutions, and the growing range of hybrid organisations that sit between the state, the market, and the voluntary sector all require management capability, and that managing organisations in these contexts demands a different set of values, frameworks, and analytical tools than conventional business management. The degree is for students who want to build management knowledge and skill with the explicit purpose of contributing to a more just and sustainable world.

At University College London, this three-year full-time programme is situated in a university with exceptional research strength across the social sciences and a strong tradition of engaging with policy and civic life. You will study management theory and practice alongside critical perspectives on social change, public policy, governance, the political economy of civil society, social entrepreneurship, and the evaluation of social impact. The interdisciplinary approach means you will draw on sociology, economics, political science, and management science simultaneously, developing the broad analytical toolkit that working in complex social systems requires.

Writing, critical thinking, and the ability to synthesise evidence from diverse sources are skills developed throughout the programme. The ability to think simultaneously about what works and what matters, about effectiveness and about values, is central to what management for social change tries to cultivate.

Graduates work in the charitable and voluntary sector, social enterprise, public administration, international development organisations, social policy, community organisations, and the growing field of impact investing and social finance. UCL's networks and reputation open doors in a range of prestigious organisations in these fields. Postgraduate study in public policy, development studies, social policy, or management is a natural continuation for those who want to deepen their expertise or move into research or senior leadership roles.