UCL School of Management

The UCL School of Management is the business school of University College London, offering a range of undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD, and executive programmes in management, entrepreneurship, business analytics, business information systems, and finance. It began in 2007 as the Department of Management Science and Innovation, with Steven C. Currall as its founding chair, established during a partnership between UCL and London Business School. 

The department initially provided a master's in Technology Entrepreneurship and an undergraduate degree in Information Management for Business. Over time, it expanded to include a master’s in Management and a bachelor’s in Management Science.

In 2015, the department was renamed the UCL School of Management, with Bert De Reyck as founding Director. In 2021, Professor Davide Ravasi took over as Director for a five-year term. The school is located on the 38th and 50th floors of One Canada Square in Canary Wharf, London, placing it alongside Europe’s largest financial technology accelerator, Level39, and close to East London Tech City, a major startup cluster. Undergraduate programmes are based on UCL’s main Bloomsbury campus.

The school has a strong research focus, with 25 research faculty and 50 teaching faculty specialising in organisational behaviour, innovation, entrepreneurship, strategy, operations management, marketing, and analytics. In the 2014 UK Research Excellence Framework, 55% of its research was judged world-leading, placing it second in the UK for top-tier research output after London Business School. UCL as a whole ranks highly in research strength across STEM and social sciences.

The UCL School of Management is the business school of University College London (UCL). Its origins trace back to 2007 with the establishment of the Department of Management Science and Innovation, alongside UCL Advances, the university’s centre for business interaction and entrepreneurship. 

Steven C. Currall was appointed the founding chair of the department. The department was founded during a period of partnership between UCL and London Business School (LBS), both constituent colleges of the federal University of London. Initially, the department offered a master’s degree in Technology Entrepreneurship and an undergraduate degree in Information Management for Business.

Between 2007 and 2015, the department experienced significant growth. It expanded its programme offerings to include a master’s in Management and a bachelor’s degree in Management Science. This period marked the department’s development into a broader management education and research centre within UCL.

In August 2015, the Department of Management Science and Innovation was renamed the UCL School of Management, with Bert De Reyck appointed as its founding Director. This change reflected the school’s expanded mission and stature within the university. Later, in July 2021, Professor Davide Ravasi was appointed as the Director of the UCL School of Management, beginning a five-year term with immediate effect.

The school is situated in London’s Canary Wharf financial district, occupying the 38th and 50th floors of the One Canada Square building. This location places the school alongside Level39, Europe’s largest financial technology accelerator, and provides close ties to East London Tech City, the third-largest technology startup cluster globally. Additionally, the school maintains a presence on the main UCL campus in Bloomsbury, where its undergraduate programmes are based.

UCL’s history of management research is closely linked to its contributions in related fields such as statistics, psychology, planning, and operations research. Early figures include Karl Pearson, who founded the world’s first statistics department at UCL in 1911, and Francis Galton, founder of the Galton Laboratory and regarded as a pioneer in psychometrics and differential psychology. 

Other notable contributors include Ronald Fisher and John Maynard Smith, who advanced statistics and evolutionary game theory. Contributions to experimental psychology came from academics such as James Sully and Charles Spearman. The Bartlett School of Architecture and Planning, established in 1841, has also played a role in the development of planning research. Furthermore, Archibald Hill, a Nobel Laureate and UCL Medical School faculty member, is regarded as one of the founders of operations research.

The school’s research faculty currently includes 25 members, with an additional 50 teaching faculty, focusing on areas including Organisational Behaviour, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Strategy, Operations Management, Marketing, and Analytics. In the UK government’s 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), 55 per cent of the school’s research output was rated as “world-leading,” ranking it second in the UK after London Business School for 4* research output. UCL overall ranked highly for research strength in both STEM and social sciences in the same assessment.

The UCL School of Management offers a variety of courses across undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and executive levels, designed to provide students with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in management and related fields. At the undergraduate level, the school offers a Bachelor’s degree in Management Science, which focuses on combining quantitative methods, analytics, and management principles. This programme is based on the main UCL campus in Bloomsbury and equips students with tools to analyse business challenges and support decision-making processes.

For postgraduate students, the school provides several master’s programmes. The MSc in Management is a popular option, attracting a large number of applicants each year. This programme covers core management topics including organisational behaviour, strategy, marketing, operations, and finance, with an emphasis on developing critical thinking and leadership skills. 

Another key offering is the MSc in Technology Entrepreneurship, which is designed for those interested in innovation, startups, and the commercialisation of technology. This course provides practical experience alongside theoretical knowledge, encouraging students to develop ventures and business models.

In addition to these, the school offers an MSc in Business Analytics and an MSc in Business Information Systems. Both programmes combine technical skills with business knowledge. The Business Analytics MSc focuses on data analysis, statistical modelling, and decision-making techniques, preparing students for roles involving data-driven business solutions. The Business Information Systems MSc covers areas such as information management, digital transformation, and IT strategy, helping students understand the role of technology in modern organisations.

The UCL School of Management also runs a PhD programme, supporting advanced research in fields including innovation, entrepreneurship, strategy, and organisational behaviour. The doctoral programme aims to develop scholars capable of contributing original research to academic knowledge and practical management.

For professionals, the school offers executive education and short courses tailored to meet the needs of individuals and organisations seeking to enhance skills in leadership, innovation, and digital transformation. These programmes provide flexible learning opportunities to address contemporary business challenges.

In the 2014 UK Research Excellence Framework (REF), the school’s research output was assessed as 55 per cent world-leading (4*), placing it second in the UK behind London Business School for top-tier research quality in management and related fields.

The UCL School of Management places importance on the employability and job integration of its graduates. While specific job integration rate figures for the school are not publicly detailed, the competitive nature of its programmes and the school’s links with industry suggest positive outcomes for students entering the workforce.

Graduates from the School’s master’s programmes, particularly in Management and Technology Entrepreneurship, benefit from access to UCL’s broader career services and employer networks. These include connections to London’s financial district, technology clusters such as East London Tech City, and links facilitated through UCL Advances, which supports entrepreneurship and business development.

The school’s emphasis on practical skills, including analytics, innovation, and management, alongside academic knowledge, aims to prepare students for a range of roles across sectors including consulting, finance, technology, and startups. The association with programmes like Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses also provides additional support and exposure for students and entrepreneurs.

UCL Union and its associated societies, such as the Business Society and Entrepreneur Society, further support students in building networks and gaining experience relevant to future employment.

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