MA Management for Personal Assistants, MA

Overview & facilities

This is an advanced level degree for personal assistants who are educated to degree level and would like to develop their careers through a recognised Master's qualification.

Middlesex University is the only institution in the UK offering a postgraduate degree for Personal Assistants and we have designed this course to increase your awareness and understanding of management concepts and techniques at an advanced level.  

The innovative course has been designed exclusively for those already working as Personal or Executive Assistants.  Working with the Association of Personal Assistants (APA), which has accredited the programme, Middlesex University Business School has created a flexible programme that will help PA/ExecAs at every level of their professional development, and which will fit within their busy schedules. 

The course involves a combination of distance learning with work-based learning.  The distance learning components involve a blend of electronic learning and private study, whilst the work based learning components will involve you in learning from your professional work.  In this way you will economise on the amount of time that you devote to your learning, focus on learning that is directly applicable to your work, and be able also to give something back to your employer or principal.

The programme of study will develop your decision-making abilities for management settings and enable you to lead innovation in different areas of your organisations’ operations and outputs. You will learn how to manage change and deploy resources in efficient and effective ways as well as how to build organisational capability, monitor progress and successfully achieve results.  

The MA is designed for advanced PAs who already possess a degree level qualification in a relevant subject.  There is a high level of personal project work on the programme, and individuals will develop a strong strategic understanding of their firm and the industry in which it operates. On completion of the programme you will be able to undertake substantial projects within your organisation, and make a definitive contribution to the effectiveness of your principal or line manager.

Applicants should have several years experience as a PA, and a degree (first or second class honours) or equivalent.

If you wish to make an enquiry about this course please contact:

Olivia Cooper
External Programmes Co-ordinator, Middlesex University Business School
PA@mdx.ac.uk
Tel: 020 8411 4668

Content & modules

This programme has been designed to run in a flexible format. Teaching is sequential and material builds as you progress through the programme. Students will join the programme at Module 1, WBL4835 before proceeding to the remaining 30-credit taught modules, which may at times be offered in either order. At module 4, students select one of two options. Only upon completion of four 30-credit modules can students progress onto the dissertation.
 
Year 1
Module 1 WBS4835 Work Based Research Methods (30 credits)
 
Module 2 MGT4135 Management Concepts (30 credits)
 
Module 3 MGT4137 Managing Projects (30 credits)

Year 2
 
Module 4 Option module*
 
Module 5 MGT4777 Project for Personal Assistants (60 credits) - Dissertation
 
Dissertation 

*Option module

Students choose one from the following:

WBS4831 Work Based Learning Project (30 credits)

MGT4149 International Business Management (30 credits)

Entry & applying

This course is unique in the UK, not only in focussing on the role of the PA but also in terms of its combination of distance learning with learning that arises within your professional work.  Individuals wishing to make an enquiry are advised to contact:

Olivia Cooper
External Programmes Co-ordinator, Middlesex University Business School
PA@mdx.ac.uk
Tel: 020 8411 4668

Entry requirements

You will need to have sufficient work based experience and the opportunity to undertake work based projects as well as meeting the following criteria:

The MA is designed for advanced PAs who already possess a degree level qualification in a relevant subject.  There is a high level of personal project work on the programme, and individuals will develop a strong strategic understanding of their firm and the industry in which it operates. On completion of the programme you will be able to undertake substantial projects within your organisation, and make a definitive contribution to the effectiveness of your principal or line manager.

Applicants should have several years experience as a PA, and a degree (first or second class honours) or equivalent.

Applying

Applications can be made by completing an on-line Application form form and forwarding to Olivia Cooper (PA@mdx.ac.uk).

English Language Requirements

You must have competence in English language and we normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. The most common English Language requirements for international students are IELTS 6.5 (with minimum 6.0 in all four components) or TOEFL paper based 575 (no less than 4.5 in test of written English) or TOEFL internet based 90 (with no less than 19 in each component) Middlesex also offers an Intensive Academic English course (Pre-Sessional) that ranges from 5-17 weeks, depending on your level of English. Successful completion of this course would meet English language entry requirements. For more information on applying for the pre-sessional please email english@mdx.ac.uk. For details of other equivalent English language requirements that Middlesex accepts see international entry requirements.

Fees & funding