Enterprise and Innovation MSc

Study level: Postgraduate
4 professionally dressed young students sitting in a study booth

Develop skills, attitudes and behaviours related to entrepreneurship and innovation that will enable you to identify and pursue opportunities that can potentially lead to creative solutions as a start-up owner or enterprising employee of an established business.

Year of entry

2023-24

Location

Coventry University London (City of London)

Study mode

Full-time
Part-time

Duration

1 year full-time
2 years part-time
18 months Extended Professional Practice

Course code

LONT075
LONT076 (with Extended Professional Practice)

Start date

September 2023
January 2024

How to apply
Book an Open Day
Download a prospectus
Contact us

Course overview

Our MSc in Enterprise and Innovation is designed for entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs who are interested in developing the entrepreneurial and innovation competences needed to develop creative solutions, that can lead to working on entrepreneurial projects, starting a new business or working in an established business or family business. 

  • Combine research-informed and practice-based approaches to the study of the development and running of new ventures and entreprenurial projects
  • Explore creative ways to develop sustainable solutions to complex problems facing societies as outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Engage in active learning and authentic assessments embedded in employability which have previously included opportunities to collaborate with entrepreneurs and academics on exciting projects, create and test prototypes, develop digital solutions in the form of blogs, vlogs, and your Coventry domains website, or produce a creative business plan. 
  • Apply to study our Enterprise and Innovation MSc with Extended Professional Practice (fees apply) route, an 18-month option aimed at individuals who are looking to attain a deeper understanding of business in a very practical way. See the module section for further infomation.
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Global ready

An international outlook, with global opportunities
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Teaching excellence

Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field
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Employability

Career ready graduates, with the skills to succeed

Why you should study this course

  • London location

Where better to study enterprise and innovation than in London, one of the most important, fast-paced and exciting business centres in the world with the highest start up rates and highest rate of high growth companies in the UK.

  • Industry insight

Experience industry focused, career relevant teaching and learning practices that maximises your exposure to enterprise competencies through entrepreneurial leadership challenges, company visits, opportunities to attend and participate in startup events in London, opportunities for work experience and guest lectures from academia and industry. (Subject to availability)2.

  • Authentic learning and real-world experience

The course offers plenty of opportunities to learn authentically through real-life problem solving, collaboration and networking. This may include short-term and simulated projects2 that challenges you to engage in live projects with entrepreneurs and opportunities to engage in pitching competitions.

  • Support for aspiring entrepreneurs

You’ll have opportunities to network with employers and entrepreneurs to build your CV2. Our Enterprise Hub provides coaching and mentoring support to help you with the development of successful business ideas. It functions as a complimentary offering to the theoretical and practical knowledge you learn during your studies.

  • Prepare for your future

This course offers internship opportunities in different aspects of enterprise and innovation2. You also have the opportunity to apply for our MSc Enterprise and Innovation with Extended Professional Practice course. This is an 18-month option aimed at individuals who are looking to attain a deeper understanding of business in a very practical way. You are expected to spend 22 weeks at one (or more) work setting(s) and will have the opportunity to apply theory to practice. Find out more about our Extended Professional Practice study option.

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course is accredited1 and recognised by the following bodies

Chartered Management Institute  Logo

Chartered Management Institute 

This course has been accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) . for the 2023-24 intake. Students who successfully pass the integrated CMI Module offered in this course on their way to achieving the full Coventry University qualification will be eligible for a CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management & Leadership award and assigned the Foundation Chartered Manager (fCMgr) status.

Immerse yourself in Coventry University London’s global community and emerge as a talented, career-ready graduate with an international outlook.

Coventry University London has given me a lot of perspective in the business world. We learnt how to start a business, how to scale it up, the challenges we could face and how to overcome them. We covered a range of additional themes, from: finance, marketing, research and the importance of networking.

Merin Varghese, MSc Enterprise and Innovation with Extended Professional Practice student, quoted in 2021
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What you'll study

This Masters degree course aims to provide an insight into a different type of enterprise. It offers you the opportunity to learn creative theory and practical skills that you might need to succeed as an employee in an established business and as a start-up founder.

Your main study themes are:

  • Creativity

A successful leader doesn’t just leverage their own creativity, but recognises the need to hire, nurture and use creative people. They are also skilled at finding new and radical ways to solve, circumvent and minimise business challenges.

  • Impact

Innovation should have a positive impact on business and society. Keeping ‘impact’ front-of-mind means you might also leverage it for reputation management and for growth.

  • Financial literacy

A great idea will always remain an idea unless it gets investment, and it can’t be sustained without strong financial control. Innovation and finance are often seen as adversaries, but in fact must work together for their mutual benefit.

All your modules aim to take a creative, globalised, and highly practical approach to learning. This should develop your creativity and your critical thinking while giving you the chance to deepen your underpinning entrepreneurial academic theory.

We aim to help you develop your ability to balance the needs of the many stakeholders involved in enterprise innovation (whose goals and attitudes can often conflict). You will be taught to pitch your ideas for the best chance of success. This course can be carried out over one academic year (full-time), or over two academic years (part-time).

Modules

  • You will be encouraged to think critically about what constitutes an entrepreneur, how different contexts such as sustainability, gender-related and cultural issues shape the entrepreneurial mind-set and drive entrepreneurial activities. This module examines the risk associated with entrepreneurial ventures – including failure as a fundamental part of the entrepreneurial experience and journey.

    Compulsory

  • This module examines theoretical and practical elements of entrepreneurship, with a focus on establishing and running a new business. You will be encouraged to develop a critical understanding of how to start and grow a new business; and learn how to develop and translate entrepreneurial ideas into achievable, practical opportunities. This is the first step for you to work and pitch your business plan to assess its value proposition and potential viability.

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to provide you with an exciting opportunity to gain a broad understanding of leadership theory and business management concepts, and put this into practice within a supportive, creative and challenging multicultural entrepreneurial team environment. You will gain such experience by working with others to solve leadership challenges aimed at delivering transformational and inclusive leadership.

    Compulsory

  • You will be encouraged to examine the principles of strategic marketing management in the context of creativity and enterprise. Students will also explore ways to develop a creative marketing plan for start ups.

    Compulsory

  • A start-up’s ability to not just survive but scale the business determines if the business will fail, maintain a modest profit or would grow sustainably. In this module, you will learn ways in which an operational focus on skills, systems, cash generation and core competences, facilitate competitive advantage, growth and ultimately, business success.

    Compulsory

  • Innovation and technology play a crucial role in societal, organisational and individual success and growth. This module is designed to create a shared and critical understanding of knowledge, skills and resources that are required to successfully lead and manage innovation. You will develop and implement creative approaches to problem solving, as you take part in an experiential learning environment that simulates a new product development process called prototyping.

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to encourage you to understand the scope and nature of finance with respect to the running of a business. Drawing on a wide range of business scenarios, the module will enable you to gain an appreciation of how to apply relevant accounting techniques to critically evaluate and interpret financial information for enhanced decision making.

    Compulsory

  • This module is designed to build on your developing knowledge and skill of postgraduate research from previous modules. It aims to extend the knowledge and skills required for you to complete your final semester project and prepare you to undertake the research requirements of the associated project. You will learn how to plan, organise, present and write-up a research proposal for a research project with confidence. You are expected to continuously shape and develop your research proposal over the course of the module and as a result benefit from formative feedback opportunities from self-evaluation, peer feedback and feedback from the module team. As a result of completing the module, you will be able to critically assess your readiness to undertake an independent postgraduate research project and plan for your continuous personal development.

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to provide you with a framework of knowledge and understanding of how to manage change using creativity and innovation. You will critically assess strategies for change and change management, and explore the leadership skills required to lead successfully. You will be get an opportunity to develop an innovative framework to deliver a change management strategy in a changing organisational context. The module requires you to reflect critically on your personal learning and development needs and how you work with others, from an ethical and professional standpoint to encourage your continuing professional development. The question key to this module is: What skills and behaviours do I need to develop to creatively implement a programme of innovative change in a range of contemporary organisations?

    Compulsory

  • Internship project2 - 50 credits

    The internship module offers you a unique opportunity for practical, meaningful and hands-on work experience2. It is designed to foster the development of entrepreneurial competences such as the ability to work in teams, the ability to demonstrate initiative and original thought, in addition to self-discipline in starting and completing tasks to a given deadline. In the module, you will be supported by an academic supervisor (a member of the academic team) who will guide you through the process.

    Business Plan - 50 credits

    A business plan provides a road map for an innovative and entrepreneurial person to realise a business objective; and in the context of this module, the business plan is the framework in which you are encouraged to creatively apply the tools and techniques learnt on the MSc Enterprise and Innovation course on a new business idea or an existing business you intend to scale. On the module, you will be supported by an academic supervisor (a member of the academic team) who will guide you through the process.

    Dissertation - 50 credits

    The dissertation module provides you with the opportunity to consolidate your learning by conducting a comprehensive study of a chosen research topic. The module is structured around taught Research Methods classes aimed to build your knowledge of the research process in order to work independently on your research project. In this module, an academic supervisor (a member of the academic team) will support and guide you through the process. The topic selected will need to be appropriate to the course of study, logistically feasible, adequately resourced and will adequately address ethics, safety and any required permissions.

    Optional

  • This pathway includes the option to study for the MSc with Extended Professional Practice (EPP), with an extended period of internship2. This is an 18-month option and is aimed at individuals who are looking to attain a deeper understanding of business in a very practical way. You are expected to spend twenty-two weeks at one (or more) host employer or campus-based setting(s) and will have the opportunity to apply theory to practice. Find out more about our Extended Professional Practice study option.

    Postgraduate Professional Practice 1 - 0 credits

    This is a compulsory module on MSc courses with Extended Professional Practice. This non-credit bearing module, together with Extended Professional Practice 2 will provide students on Extended Professional Practice MSc courses with a substantive professional experience. This will take the form of either an internship with a host organisation*2, or a campus-based professional experience. This experience will support the development of your personal and professional skills, such as communication, team-working, self-management, project management and critical reflection to enhance their future employability. You will be expected to augment your previous learning and experiences to develop your knowledge and skills of professional practice in your chosen subject area. This module will also provide you with the necessary experience and focus on completing the project report for Extended Professional Practice Project.

    Please note: It is recommended that work experience during Extended Professional Practice 1 module should be at least 11 weeks in length and full time. Approval of work settings by the Talent Team beforehand is mandatory, to be evaluated on its own individual merit, and achievement of the professional practice’s learning and development objectives. All students, regardless of internship length, must adhere to attendance monitoring requirements throughout the course.

    Postgraduate Professional Practice 2 - 0 credits

    This is a compulsory module on MSc courses with Extended Professional Practice. This non-credit bearing module is a continuation of Extended Professional Practice 1, providing students on an Extended Professional Practice MSc courses with a substantive professional experience. This will take the form of either a continuation of the internship with a host organisation2, or the campus-based professional experience. This module aims to provide you with further professional experiences, building on knowledge and skills, previously gained, consolidating and refining your personal and professional skills, theory and practice and further enhance your future employability. You will be expected to augment your previous learning and experiences in order to develop additional knowledge and skills of professional practice in your chosen subject area. As with the Extended Professional Practice 1, this module will also provide you with the necessary experience and focus on completing the project report for Extended Professional Practice Project.

    Please note: It is recommended that work experience during Extended Professional Practice 2 module should be at least 11 weeks in length and full time. Approval of work settings by the Talent Team beforehand is mandatory, to be evaluated on its own individual merit, and achievement of the professional practice’s learning and development objectives. All students, regardless of internship length, must adhere to attendance monitoring requirements throughout the course.

    Postgraduate Professional Practice Project - 50 credits

    This is a compulsory module on MSc courses with Extended Professional Practice. This module aims to integrate theory and practice either through undertaking an Extended Professional Practice or campus-based project in an area relevant to the subject being studied. This will have involved you working on an organisational issue either within a host organisation or on campus addressing a project brief, as part of the Extended Professional Practice modules 1 and 2.

    The module fits with the individual course aims and learning outcomes in that it helps you to integrate your learning across subject specific taught modules within a real business setting. Moreover, the knowledge and understanding gained will help you to further develop your subject knowledge and understanding when writing the final report. To be successful in your studies but also in your later career, the module aims to equip you with a range of cognitive, practical and transferable skills, including self-reliance skills, interpersonal, leadership and communication skills, in particular the ability to explain complex information in a clear way, numeracy, digital literacy, a lively and enquiring mind with a logical approach to work, creative problem-solving skills and business acumen. This is in line with current expectations by employers surveyed by professional bodies and with recent research on skills requirements in the future workplace. You will further develop your skills as you undertake a reflection of your experiences during the internship or campus based professional experience as part of the final assignment. Apart from increasing your knowledge and understanding, this module also aims to develop you into an ethical, responsible individual that collaborates successfully with and leads others from diverse cultures and backgrounds to achieve shared goals, demonstrating global citizenship and social responsibility.

    Optional

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

Teaching will be split between academic studies and practical exercises, which aims to prepare you to develop business ideas, start businesses and work for existing businesses. Teaching methods may include seminars, textbooks and journal papers, workshops, debates, case studies, simulations, entrepreneurial leadership challenges, business plans and collaborations with entrepreneurs and students from other universities.

  • You could experience business networking opportunities, which may be helpful for entrepreneurial projects, new businesses, family businesses, work experience and consultancy projects (subject to availability and application).
  • You’ll be expected to show a high level of motivation for independent learning. That could mean making the most of the opportunities afforded by London’s business districts (such as start-up events in London, which is a brilliant opportunity to meet and network with other entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs, exhibitions and conferences) and arranging your own work experiences in your spare time2.
  • Take part in extra-curricular activities such as our Student Enterprise Business society, student mentoring programmes and volunteering opportunities to develop your personal and professional skills. You could also take part in our High Flyers programme (subject to availability), to help you develop the personal and professional skills necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing world, through a suite of extra curricula, non-course specific workshops.

This course can be offered on a part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Please contact registry.london@coventry.ac.uk for more information about studying this course part-time.

Teaching contact hours

You will typically receive around 8 hours of contact teaching per week. The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials. In addition, you will be expected to undertake a significant amount of self-directed studying and revising in your own time each week, which may include, guided study and online activities.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the umay deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2023/24 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with government and public health guidance. Whether on campus or online, staff and student safety remain our key priorities.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending on the module. Assessment methods may include pitching, coursework, blogs, vlogs, self-reflective papers on given entrepreneurial challenges, prototyping, academic posters, practical or project work, group work, presentations, etc. Some of your assessments may be based on your individual work, or the work of a group in which you contribute.

You will be asked to demonstrate your ability to undertake real business exercises such as developing a customer focused creative prototype, pitching and writing business plans; these are essential skills for innovators and entrepreneurs. You’ll be assessed in seminars and group discussions, being asked to take feedback from tutors or your fellow students on short tasks, and review questions or case studies. All the final major projects require critical thinking, collaborative relationships, oral and written communication, and problem solving.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes.

International experience opportunities

One of the most exciting things about this course is that not only does it aim to take a globalised approach to all of your learning, but you may be part of an international cohort of students from all over the world. This means you could have the chance to benefit from a broad range of perspectives and experiences, and you might build a superb international network of contacts. There may be opportunities to engage and collaborate with overseas universities through international field trips2 and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects, and you could also arrange to do either a consultancy project or an internship2 (as part of your final semester project) overseas.

I love working with highly motivated students who inspire us with their enthusiasm and brilliant business ideas. Our course team is always excited to curate an excellent learning experience for students, that include brilliant opportunities to network with entrepreneurs at events like Start-up 2022.

Adaora Nwankwo-Onyiuke, MSc Enterprise and Innovation Course Director, quoted in 2022
Adaora Nwankwo-Onyiuke profile photo

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.

An honours undergraduate degree (minimum 2:2) or equivalent in a relevant academic discipline. Applicants with a degree in another discipline may be admitted after consideration on a case-by-case basis.

Applications from candidates with relevant experience or professional qualifications are encouraged to apply and will be considered on an individual basis. Careful monitoring of applications to ensure that applicants are suited to the course takes place. Where necessary, applicants are interviewed, especially those that do not appear to meet standard admissions criteria. Where deemed appropriate, a written exercise may be administered to establish suitability.

English as a Foreign Language: This course requires IELTS of 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5. Pre-sessional English is available if required.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

Europe

Americas

Middle East

South Asia

South East Asia

East Asia

Africa

Russia and Central Asia

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

If you do not have the typical entry requirements, you may want to consider studying this course with the International Pathways Programme. Upon successful completion our International Pre-Master's - Business will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress onto this postgraduate degree.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

An honours undergraduate degree (minimum 2:2) or equivalent in a relevant academic discipline. Applicants with a degree in another discipline may be admitted after consideration on a case-by-case basis.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course. 

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

2023/24 tuition fees.

Student Full-time Part-time
UK £15,400 | £21,250 (extended prof. practice)   Not available
International £20,050 | £21,250 (extended prof. practice)   Not available

The following are additional costs not included in the fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad)

For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

  • We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

    If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Our Enterprise and Innovation MSc students have access to a wide range of facilities4 to help you develop and enhance your knowledge and skills in enterprising and entrepreneurial practices.

Take a virtual tour of our campus to explore all of the facilities available to you.

large room with tables and chairs

Enterprise Hub

Our Enterprise Hub supports student entrepreneurs by providing extensive industry knowledge and guidance to help develop ideas into viable ventures. It is a dedicated space for enterprising students and professionals to solve problems, network professionally and collaborate on projects.

recruitment session two ladies and one man

The Talent Team

Need employability support? Our dedicated Talent Team is on hand to help. It can assist you in applying for work placements, graduate level jobs and offer skills development workshops. It also organises networking events to introduce you to potential employers and industry contacts.

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion, you will be able to:

  • apply an entrepreneurial mind-set to many business contexts, whether it is a start-up, an existing family business or a multinational company
  • be curious, creative and think critically, helping you solve problems and develop new ideas
  • develop new approaches to entrepreneurial challenges
  • manage risk and balance the needs of diverse stakeholders
  • work collaboratively in order to achieve success
  • develop persuasive business plans and pitches.

This course offers both a theoretical and experiential approach that is designed to equip students with the necessary skills to discuss and practice their business ideas in real-life scenarios. The course aims to provide you with a set of employability behaviours, attitudes and competencies (such as risk management, networking, curiosity, self-efficacy, resilience, creativity, leadership, financial awareness); which are in high demand among employers.

Typical career routes for graduates on this course could include:

  • working on entrpreneurial projects in start-ups and established businesses
  • joining a consulting firm that works with SMEs;
  • joining incubator and accelerator networks;
  • starting your own business to develop a new technology, products or services
  • applying transferable skills to scale up family businesses
  • roles in NGOs, civil service and education, for example writing policy
  • progress to a PhD in entrepreneurship and/or innovation and developing a career in academia.

Where our graduates work

Previous graduates have gone on to start their own businesses, work in their family businesses and work in existing enterprises in the UK and their home countries.

As part of the journey of professional development, students are encouraged to continue their academic journey through access to a range of higher degrees, including PhD and other taught doctorates.

As part of my Extended Professional Practice, I got to start a new company by putting together a research and business proposal with a health-tech company called BIOQARE. They’ve offered me a job once I’ve graduated and I can’t wait to start!

Merin Varghese, MSc Enterprise and Innovation with Extended Professional Practice student, quoted in 2021
Merin Varghese with fellow student in pod

How to apply

  • Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University. 

    1Accreditations

    The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

    2UK and international opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

    3Tuition fees

    The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home), if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

    For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

    4Facilities

    Due to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

    Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. The 2023/24 Contract is currently being updated so please revisit this page before submitting your application. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

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