MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice | Open University

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An image to illustrate the MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice

This MSc has the development of holistic thinking skills and appreciation of multiple perspectives at its core. Systems thinking skills are relevant in many areas, such as business, development, engineering, environment, health, IT, and organisational change. You’ll gain insights into how other people think about situations and learn to apply concepts, tools and techniques developed by systems thinkers. You’ll choose option modules from business management, development management, engineering, environmental management and innovation management. The final project extends your ways of thinking and acting in practice to improve a complex situation of interest to you.

The first two-thirds of this MSc are the same as our

Postgraduate Diploma in Systems Thinking in Practice (E28)

. The first third is the same as our

Postgraduate Certificate in Systems Thinking in Practice (C72)

To gain this qualification, you need 180 credits. You'll study two compulsory 30-credit systems thinking modules, choose 90 credits from a range of option modules, and complete your degree with a 30-credit project module.

Modules	Credits	Next start
You'll study both of the following:
Making strategy with systems thinking in practice (TB871) Build your capability for making strategy within your own chosen area of (professional) practice using ideas and tools from five traditions of systems thinking. Next start date: 01 May 2026 See full description	30	01 May 2026
Managing change with systems thinking in practice (TB872) This module is about effecting systemic and systematic change in uncertain and complex situations, change that can transform situations for the better. Next start date: 01 Nov 2026 See full description	30	01 Nov 2026
Subject to regulations, if you’ve passed the discontinued module TU811 or TU812, you may count one or both of these instead.
You'll choose 90 credits from:
Financial markets and the financing of organisations (B815) This module covers the core areas of corporate finance and investments, providing a basis for developing specialist financial expertise. Next start date: 07 Nov 2026 See full description	30	07 Nov 2026
Managing in a changing world (B870) This module challenges existing assumptions about managing and will develop your theoretical and practical knowledge of how to manage in a modern dynamic environment. Next start date: 02 May 2026 See full description	30	02 May 2026
Creating and sustaining value (B872) This module allows you to critically explore the ways organisations create, sustain and expand value in an increasingly complex and dynamic business environment. Next start date: 02 May 2026 See full description	30	02 May 2026
Sustainable creative management (BB842) This module explores creative, innovative and sustainable ways of developing and managing organisations and offers practical approaches for developing yourself, your team and your organisation. Next start date: 02 May 2026 See full description	15	02 May 2026
Entrepreneurship in context (BB851) This module will equip you with an entrepreneurial mindset and help you learn about entrepreneurship and different forms of entrepreneurial practice. Next start date: 07 Nov 2026 See full description	15	07 Nov 2026
Leadership and management of public services (BB852) In this module, you'll study the many dimensions of managing public services, which may be public, private for-profit or not-for profit. Next start date: 02 May 2026 See full description	15	02 May 2026
Contemporary issues in organisations (BB853) This module will help you become a knowledge leader by demonstrating that you're ahead of current organisational and business challenges. Next start date: 07 Nov 2026 See full description	15	07 Nov 2026
Management of uncertainty: leadership, decisions and action (BZVM801) Develop greater leadership skills and learn to make effective decisions in conditions of radical uncertainty. Next start date: 04 Jul 2026 See full description	15	04 Jul 2026
Management of change: organisation development and design (BZVM802) Discover tools and concepts of human-centred management and design, and develop skills to manage and lead in the 21st century. Next start date: 04 Jul 2026 See full description	15	04 Jul 2026
Principles of social and psychological inquiry (DD801) This module aims to equip you with critical research literacy skills that provide a crucial foundation for your continuing postgraduate studies within psychology and the social sciences. Next start date: 03 Oct 2026 See full description	60	03 Oct 2026
Understanding global development (DD870) This module introduces global approaches to contemporary development issues such as poverty, inequality and environmental sustainability, equipping you with the analytical tools to critically examine and respond to these challenges. Next start date: 03 Oct 2026 See full description	60	03 Oct 2026
Information security (M811) Explore the professional and technical skills to understand, document, manage and implement strategic and operational aspects of information security. Next start date: 01 Nov 2026 See full description	30	01 Nov 2026
Digital forensics (M812) Cover the history of forensics, criminal and criminal digital law, digital investigation techniques for desktop and mobile devices and forensic readiness. Next start date: 01 May 2026 See full description	30	01 May 2026
Software development (M813) Gain the fundamental knowledge, understanding, and analysis and synthesis skills needed to develop software artefacts for a real-world organisational context. Next start date: 01 May 2026 See full description	30	01 May 2026
Software engineering (M814) Explore advanced concepts and techniques used through the software lifecycle to effectively produce and manage large, complex, and long-lived software systems. Next start date: 01 Nov 2026 See full description	30	01 Nov 2026
Project management (M815) This APM-accredited module is for aspiring and practising project managers who wish to develop their knowledge and skills in managing technological projects. Next start date: 01 May 2026 See full description	30	01 May 2026
Data management (M816) Discover data management principles, practices and technologies to develop policies, procedures and systems that control and protect organisational data assets. Next start date: 01 Nov 2026 See full description	30	01 Nov 2026
Network security (T828) This module includes Cisco CCNA Security and Cyber Security Operations, which explore information systems security management and secure Internetworked systems. Next start date: 01 Nov 2026 See full description	30	01 Nov 2026
Manufacture materials design (T805) This module introduces materials processing from a design engineer's perspective, exploring the interactions between manufacturing, materials and design. Next start date: 01 May 2026 See full description	30	01 May 2026
Strategic capabilities for technological innovation (T849) Draw on theoretical perspectives from strategic and innovation management to produce a multi-layered, practical approach to technological innovation management. Next start date: 01 May 2026 See full description	30	01 May 2026
Making environmental decisions (T891) This module teaches a systems framework to integrate environment with other considerations when making decisions in complex environmental management situations. Next start date: 01 Nov 2026 See full description	30	01 Nov 2026
Sustainable organisations: theory and practice (T892) This module provides the background knowledge and practical skill set to lead the way in transforming or creating sustainable organisations of the future. Next start date: 01 May 2026 See full description	30	01 May 2026
Technology and innovation management (TB801) Examine innovation from a management perspective, and develop an understanding of how to contribute to the process and management of technological innovation. Next start date: 01 May 2026 See full description	30	01 May 2026
Advance your independent learning (YXM830) This innovative module allows you to take a topic of your choosing and focus on it in depth while developing your postgraduate study skills. Next start date: 03 Oct 2026 See full description	30	03 Oct 2026
Subject to regulations, if you’ve passed the discontinued module B716, B820, B821, B822, B823, B825, B856, B857, B858, BB835, BB844, BB845, BB846, BB847, BB848, D890, H807, H808, K827, S808, T826, T827, T829, T835, T837, T839, T840, T846, T848, T850, T851, T852, T853, T860, T861, T862, T863, T867, T877, T878, T879, T882, T883, T889, T890, T894, TD866, TM893, TU870, TU871, TU872, TU875 or U810, you may count one or more of these instead.
You'll complete the following:
MSc project: researching in context (T803) T803 is the capstone module of multiple masters qualifications, during which you’ll complete a small research project. Next start date: 01 Nov 2026 See full description	30	01 Nov 2026
Subject to regulations, if you’ve passed the discontinued module T847, or you complete T802 before April 2028, you may count one of these instead.

By studying the MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice, you’ll:

You’ll study through supported online learning with structured materials and expert tutor guidance.

You’ll be awarded a Master of Science in Systems Thinking in Practice upon successful completion. You’ll be entitled to use the letters MSc Sys Prac (Open) after your name.

Your masters degree may be awarded with a distinction or a merit. The qualification regulations explain the criteria you’ll need to meet to earn one of these classifications.

You’ll also have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.

If you plan to work or study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether this qualification meets local requirements. Find out more about the international recognition of Open University qualifications.

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

We regularly review our curriculum to keep it up to date. This means the structure, availability, and content of the course or modules may change. We’ll update this page as soon as possible if there are any changes. If you have already registered for this qualification, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes where practicable. For more details, see our

Academic Regulations

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You’ll study the MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice part-time, completing 60 credits per year over a three-year period. Typically, this translates to 16–20 hours of study per week.

The recommended hours include time to work through that week’s online study planner, complete recommended reading, and attend tutorials.

You must complete the MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice within eight years.

At the OU, flexibility and support go hand in hand. You’ll be in control of when and where you study, with clear deadlines to guide your progress. Whether you’re balancing work, family or other commitments, our approach helps you fit learning into your life. Students consistently praise the support we provide, and from the very start, you’ll be part of a vibrant OU learning community.

As you progress through your qualification, you’ll have access to a dedicated online study space, expert tutor guidance, optional live tutorials, and a wide range of resources to help you succeed. The sections below outline what you can expect.

Your module website will be a central hub for your learning, giving you easy access to:

Discover how the OU’s module websites, course materials, and support tools help you study online with confidence.

Each module has a dedicated tutor who will guide you through your studies. They’ll provide feedback, help you find resources, mark your assignments and support your learning journey.

For extra support, you can attend optional live tutorials with your tutor. These are usually conducted online, and most are recorded so you can review them later.

See how OU tutors and tutorials help you build confidence, connect with others, and get the support you need to succeed in your studies.

Our assessments reinforce what you’ve learned and show your understanding. Assessment types vary by module and may include:

The Open University provides advice and guidance to help students who have disabilities, long-term health conditions, specific learning difficulties or mental health difficulties.

For more information, visit our Disability support page.

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Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to a wide range of support services and be part of a vibrant learning community. Our subject-specific Student Support Teams can help with general queries and any updates to your OU account. You’ll also benefit from:

Discover the support network and learning tools you'll have access to throughout your studies.

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

However, some option modules do have entry requirements. We’ll ask you to prove you meet them when you register for any of these modules:

Although this qualification has no entry requirements, we recommend you have:

Our free course, Succeeding in postgraduate study, helps you develop the skills and confidence to manage the requirements and demands of postgraduate study.

If you’ve studied at university level before, you may be able to transfer the academic credit you've been awarded towards an OU qualification. This could save you time and money by reducing the modules you need to study.

You should apply to transfer credit before registering, at least four weeks before the registration closing date. We will need to know what you studied, where, and when, and you will need to provide evidence of your previous study.

For more details and to download an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.

The fees and the funding information shown below relate to the 2025/26 academic year.

Modules starting in the 2026/27 academic year are open for pre-booking, which means you can reserve your place ahead of the fees being confirmed.

We’ll publish updated 2026/27 fees and funding information on the 25th of March.

You’ll pay for your qualification one module at a time, rather than the full cost upfront. Since module fees can vary, the total cost of the qualification will depend on the modules you choose. The fee for each module is listed in its description.

£9,535–£14,505*

Your module materials, tuition, assessment and exams are all included in our module fees.

There are some additional costs that aren’t included.

Further information is available in the module descriptions.

*The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our

Fee Rules

Learn more about postgraduate loans and our other funding options below.

Repay in monthly instalments while you study.

Pay for each module with a debit or credit card in one quick, simple payment.

More than 1 in 10 OU students are sponsored by their employer.

We’ll show you how you can pay by bank transfer or combine payment methods.

You may be eligible for:

Those with both professional interests and responsibilities in managing complex situations will find this masters qualification valuable in their work. It will also provide the opportunity for those wanting to progress to demonstrate their potential to develop new skills. The flexibility of the module choice allows you to tailor the content to your needs and can be applicable across a wide range of sectors, including health, education, environment, international development, community engagement, manufacturing, IT and science. The study of systems thinking in practice provides knowledge and understanding that is equally applicable in the public and private sectors. If you are self-employed, the knowledge developed by studying this combination of modules offers the opportunity to take a more objective and innovative view of the systems you have already created and how to change them for the future.

Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you’ll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice – including online forums, website, interview simulation, vacancy service, as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.

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