St. John's University

What you'll study

This programme combines core business disciplines with entrepreneurship-specific subjects and hands-on project work. You study how to develop viable business models, secure financing, manage operations and scale small organisations while addressing the legal, ethical and market challenges unique to entrepreneurial ventures.

• New Venture Creation and Business Planning – opportunity identification, value proposition design, business-plan development and pitching to stakeholders.
• Small Business Finance – financial statement analysis for small firms, cash-flow management, funding options, investor relations and basic valuation approaches relevant to start-ups and family businesses.
• Marketing for Entrepreneurs – lean marketing, digital and social media strategies, customer development and growth hacking techniques tailored to constrained budgets.
• Operations and Supply Chain for Small Firms – process design, inventory and vendor management, service operations and scaling operational capacity.
• Legal and Regulatory Issues – entity selection, contracts, employment law basics, intellectual property and compliance issues facing new and small enterprises.
• Family Business and Succession Planning – governance, intergenerational transition, conflict resolution and strategies for sustainability in family-run firms.
• Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Business – creating mission-driven ventures, measuring social impact and integrating sustainability into business models.
• Strategic Management for Growing Firms – competitive strategy, partnerships, scaling decisions and exit options.
• Capstone Project or Practicum – an applied project such as a live business plan, consultancy for a small enterprise or participation in an incubator/accelerator programme.

Teaching typically combines lectures, case studies, workshops, guest speakers from the entrepreneur community and experiential learning through projects or internships. Part-time and flexible study options are commonly available to accommodate working professionals.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution in any discipline. Admissions assess academic background alongside professional experience; candidates with significant relevant work experience or prior entrepreneurial activity may be considered even if their degree is in a non-business subject.

• Completed undergraduate degree (or equivalent) from a recognised institution.
• A record of relevant professional experience is advantageous for career-track or part-time applicants.
• Submission materials typically include a CV/resume, a personal statement outlining entrepreneurial interests and goals, and academic transcripts.
• Letters of recommendation may be requested for some applicants.
• International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency through an approved test or equivalent evidence where English is not the first language.

Admissions decisions are made holistically; life experience, leadership potential and the strength of the application materials are important components of the evaluation.

Career prospects

Graduates move into a variety of roles where small-business acumen and hands-on operational skills are valued. Typical career paths include:

• Founder or co‑founder of a start-up or small business.
• Business development manager or growth strategist in early-stage companies.
• Small business consultant or advisor, including roles in local economic development or small-business support organisations.
• Operations manager, product manager or general manager within SMEs.
• Family business successor or manager taking leadership roles in family-owned firms.
• Roles in incubators, accelerators, venture studios and entrepreneurship support organisations.
• Positions in social enterprises or non-profit organisations focused on mission-driven ventures.

Alumni often combine professional employment with ongoing entrepreneurial activity, freelancing or advisory work, and the programme is designed to equip students with transferable skills for both launching ventures and improving performance within existing small organisations.

Why study at St. John's University

St. John's University offers this programme within its business faculty, benefiting from a location in a major metropolitan and commercial hub that provides direct access to a diverse small-business ecosystem, investors and mentor networks. The university emphasises applied learning, with opportunities to work on live projects, access incubator resources and connect with local entrepreneurs through partnerships and events.

• Faculty with practitioner experience in entrepreneurship and small-business management who bring real-world perspectives into the classroom.
• Strong links to local business communities and alumni networks that can support mentoring, internships and venture collaboration.
• Practical facilities and experiential programmes such as incubators, entrepreneurship labs and pitch competitions that help students test and refine business ideas.
• Career and professional services focused on supporting graduates in launching ventures, securing finance and transitioning into leadership roles within SMEs.

The programme is suited to those seeking a practical, skills-focused master’s that combines academic rigour with direct exposure to the challenges and opportunities of starting and running small businesses.