Organisations everywhere are racing to modernise their systems and processes with the latest digital technologies. With new services launching at a rapid pace, businesses are growing accustomed to a continuous cycle of digital transformations.
However, introducing new technologies such as AI, blockchain, and APIs, or new software applications can go awry if not carried out effectively, leading to a failure to reap the desired benefits or even an organisation-wide meltdown. Qualified professionals who can oversee the introduction of new technologies and make sure they run smoothly and in line with the overall business strategy of the organisation are becoming much sought after.
To help train a new generation of digital specialists, Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS), at The University of Manchester, is launching a one-year master’s in Digital Transformation.
“We’re teaching students to become the digital leaders of tomorrow,” says Andrea Lagna, programme director. “With this programme, we’re providing the foundational knowledge for our students, so they are well-equipped to navigate and flourish in the digital age.”
Lagna says it is fitting that the course is taking place in Manchester, a city with a history of being at the forefront of technological innovation. It was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, and the university was home to the world’s first stored-program computer.
Launching in September 2025, the MSc in Digital Transformation trains students in the business and strategy side of implementing new technologies. Open to anyone with a 2.1 or higher in any undergraduate degree, the MSc is designed for those who want to sharpen their business technology skills for the modern age.
The programme offers a specialised pathway in financial technology (fintech), which will help meet the demand for digital transformation professionals in the financial services industry.
Students who follow the fintech pathway will have an opportunity to study in-depth the role of technology and data in financial services, and how these can affect business models as well as the structure of markets in the industry.
“We always draw from real-life case studies and research done at the university to make lectures more interactive, and bring to class the latest cutting-edge research in fintech,” says Prof Markos Zachariadis, director of the Centre for Financial Technology Studies (CFTS).
The CFTS, which specialises in topics such as crypto, open banking, payments, AI in finance, and financial inclusion, conducts research that impacts policy, regulation, and business decisions in financial services institutions around the world.“It’s a great privilege to have the opportunity to share this content with the students and learn together from it,” says Zachariadis.
Another feature that distinguishes the MSc from similar programmes is the year-long Integrative Business Consultancy project, which replaces the traditional academic dissertation. Spanning three semesters and running alongside other course units, this project allows students to apply and refine their learning in a structured, hands-on environment.
Through this immersive learning approach, students develop essential skills in problem-solving, project management, stakeholder engagement, and consulting methodologies, preparing them to tackle real-world digital transformation challenges. Key competencies such as pitching solutions, negotiation, overcoming resistance to change, and digital strategy leadership are honed, equipping students for consulting and leadership roles in the industry.
Lagna and his teaching colleagues on the MSc have consulted extensively with executives at large businesses to identify the digital skills and specialisations that organisations are looking for in coming years, conducting in-depth interviews and a workshop with industry experts from companies including Bank of America, Microsoft, PZ Cussons and Accenture.
The MSc will equip students for roles such as technology strategists, digital consultants and transformation managers. “It’s not just knowing about the technologies, it’s also knowing how to implement them and derive business value from them,” says Lagna.
“They’ll learn project management and negotiation skills, how to organise change in a digital era and, crucially, an element of futurology – they’ll need to tell company boards which technologies will be vital in five to 10 years’ time, whether that’s quantum computing or the latest advancements in AI,” he says.
The programme includes four core areas for study – digital strategy; core and emerging technologies; organising and managing change in the digital age; and digitalisation of operations. Students will also learn about data strategy and visualisations.
Panos Constantinides, a professor of digital innovation at AMBS, will lead the digital strategy course. Here, students will analyse case studies from companies such as Netflix, TikTok, Google and OpenAI. They will examine how these digital-first businesses use data analytics, AI and other emerging technologies to become leaders in their fields and draw lessons that can be applied to bricks and mortar companies that are looking to integrate new technologies.
Graduates from the MSc will gain skills that could help them secure positions in financial institutions and banks, management consultancies and outsourcing companies that run digital infrastructure on behalf of businesses. They will be qualified to work in IT consultancies and organisations such as the NHS as well as in data analytics firms. The Alliance Manchester Business School has its own dedicated careers service and Lagna says course organisers are collaborating with careers staff to ensure that graduates are well prepared to succeed in their tech-related roles.
With technology evolving at breakneck speed, the MSc in Digital Transformation will help produce a new generation of leaders ready for the challenges of a rapidly shifting digital landscape.
