Philanthropy, Grantmaking and Social Investment MSc | PGDip

Key information

Duration: 12 - 24 months

Attendance mode: Part-time

Location:

Start of programme: October 2025

Application deadline: Applications are open for 2025/26

Entry year: Showing course information for 2025

View 2024 course information

On this unique course you’ll study effective and transparent social funding.

Overview

Philanthropy, Grantmaking and Social Investment MSc | PGDip Who is it for?

You may already be working in a social funding environment, or wishing to learn more about the world of philanthropy and social investment. The course is suitable for both aims, as a boost to your existing career or to facilitate a change in career direction.

Most of the examples studied on the course are from the UK, but international examples give a broader perspective, meaning your learning is transferable to any culture or jurisdiction.

Course objectives

As a student on this course, you will develop a clear understanding of the principles and management of philanthropy, grantmaking and social investment and the importance of all aspects of risk assessment, probity of applications, ethical frameworks and relationships with external communities and agencies.

You’ll examine grant-giving and other investment categories such as loans, endowments, contracts, social bonds and impact investing.

The course provides a solid background in the history and theory of philanthropy and grantmaking (with examples both from the UK and abroad). Beyond the theory, you’ll study the application of social investment practice as a business process.

Teaching staff

Dr Peter Grant is one of the UK’s leading practitioners in public and charitable funding. After working in the arts, he was Director of an inner-city youth charity for eight years. On the commencement of the National Lottery he moved to Sport England where he devised the first Lottery programme to favour areas of deprivation and was one of the architects of Awards for All. As Director of Operations at the New Opportunities Fund between 1999 and 2005, he developed and delivered over £4.5 billion of funding programmes.

Peter then devised the world’s first full masters-level programme in grantmaking and philanthropy at the Business School (formerly Cass). He has published widely on philanthropy, CSR, and history (notably the period of the First World War). His definitive book ‘The Business of Giving: The theory and practice of philanthropy, grantmaking and social investment’ was published in 2011.

Among Peter's books are ‘Philanthropy and Voluntary Action in the First World War’ and ‘National Myth and the First World War in Popular Music’.

Dr Peter Grant FRHistS

Senior Lecturer in Management

Accreditation details

The Charities Master's courses were accredited by the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC) in January 2019 as the only programme in Europe to be included in the first group reviewed. NACC Accreditation fosters third sector academic programmes worldwide.

Course content

The MSc course is taught on a part-time basis over a period of two years (29 months for those who chose to start with the PgCert in April due to the structure of the timetable).

Students initially enrol on the Postgraduate Diploma with the specialist area of their choice, and confirm their intention to complete the MSc at the end of the first year.

The focus for those starting with the PgCert is on the Specialist modules which is balanced with the sector context provided by the core modules on the PgDip.

Deepen your understanding of the background to the grantmaking and philanthropy sector, from history to key facts
Study the different models and practices of the sector
Enhance your understanding of the strategic and tactical decisions that philanthropic activity demands
Get to grips with the theoretical tools critical for social investment, including evaluation, impact measurement, risk and operations management
Learn about a range of approaches to key issues presented by major practitioners
Discover how to design and operate a programme for social investment that maximises societal impact.

Course structure

Programme content is subject to change. We regularly review our module offering and amend to keep up to date and relevant.

Assessment methods

The Postgraduate Certificate is offered on a part time basis and is taught over a period of six months. The Certificate consists of four compulsor modules: Learning and Understanding the Voluntary Sector, Principles and Practices of Philanthropy, Grantmaking and Social Investment, Management of Philanthropy, Grantmaking and Social Investment, and Shadowing/Fieldwork exercise.

The Postgraduate Diploma is offered on a part time basis and is taught over a period of 12 months. The Diploma consists of five compulsory modules, plus three compoulsory specialist modules. The five compulsory modules are shared by all five Centre for Charity Effectiveness postgraduate courses.

Upon successful completion of the diploma, you will be given the option to continue to the MSc. This requires completion of the Research Methods for Managers module.

This can be followed by a further six months of personal, supervised research and the presentation of a dissertation.

Alternatively, you can opt to take a taught Masters which allows you to choose a set of specialist modules from one of the other Charities programmes.

Assessment methods

Course work

Term dates

October 2025 intake

Schedule	Dates
Induction	02 October 2025
Learning and Understanding the Voluntary Sector	03 - 04 October 2025 (on campus teaching); 10 October 2025 (online teaching)
People Management in the Voluntary Sector	01 - 02 November 2025 (release of online material); 07 - 08 November 2025 (on campus teaching); 14 November 2025 (online teaching)
Marketing and Fundraising	06 - 07 December 2025 (release of online material); 12 - 13 December 2025 (on campus teaching); 09 January 2026 (online teaching)
Charity Accounting and Finance	06 - 07 February 2026; 06 March 2026
Strategy, Diversity and Governance	07 March 2026; 27-28 March 2026
Principles and Management of Philanthropy, Grantmaking and Social Investment	22 - 23 May 2026; 19 - 20 June 2026; 17 - 18 July 2026
Fieldwork exercise	To be completed by early August 2026

For students progressing from the Postgraduate Diploma Intake in 2024:

Schedule	Dates
Research Methods for Manager	17 - 18 January 2026 (release of online material); 23-24 January 2026 (on campus teaching); 06 March 2026 (online teaching)
Dissertation or Taught Masters Option	Completion by mid-September 2026

Careers

Students are selected on their professional experience, and generally continue working in their full –time role whilst undertaking this course.

"The MSc in Grantmaking Philanthropy and Social Investment at the Business School (formerly Cass) has been transformitive for me both personally and professionally." - Fozia Irfan

"Completing the MSc in Grantmaking, Philanthropy and Social Investment enabled me to make a step change in my career. I had been a Director at my charity for a number of years and so had a solid foundation from which to develop but the course gave me the extra edge and helped me to secure my first CEO position in 2015. The course content is really engaging and the range of speakers is excellent, I would not hesitate to recommend the programme to others." - Caroline Taylor, CEO Essex Community Foundation

"It was a fascinating experience to have core modules shared across the different disciplines highlighting all aspects of civil society, non-profit organisation management, and the role of funding within the sector. The in-depth grantmaking, philanthropy and social investment modules provided theory and range of practices in my own field of expertise, and helped me to reflect on the way we work in our own organisation and how to - become more strategic and impactful in what we do." - Bruno Spriet, Grant Manager

Fees & funding

UK/Home/International fee

2025 entry

£7,620

PG Dip

+ £4,410

An additional fee to convert to the Master’s degree*

Tuition fees are subject to annual change.

The fee for the Postgraduate Diploma is £7,620 for the 2025/26 academic year of entry. A deposit of £400 is payable on acceptance of a place. For self-paying students, the balance is payable in two instalments, the first during the registration process September and the second at the end of January.

*The fee for those converting the Diploma to MSc is a further £4,410 for 2025/26 and is payable in one instalment at the beginning of the second year. The conversion fee for the following year of entry will be subject to an annual inflationary increase.

Tuition fee increases

Where applicable, tuition fees for Bayes' programmes will be subject to inflationary increases in each year of study. Our policy for these increases is set out in our terms and conditions of study.

Scholarships & bursaries

Scholarships, sponsorships, loans and other funding could support your education at Bayes Business School.

Scholarships

Philanthropy, Grantmaking and Social Investment students may be eligible for the Nick Maughan Foundation Scholarship.

Nick Maughan Foundation scholarship

Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) is delighted that The Nick Maughan Foundation wishes to provide financial support to students on MSc Investment Management and MSc Philanthropy, Grantmaking and Social Investment.

Value: One scholarship on each course, each worth £10,000

There are no geographical requirements for this scholarship Applicants need to demonstrate financial need, and academic excellence.

Applicants need to have accepted an offer of a place on the course and will be consider on the basis of the online application form.

The deadline: 24 July 2025, with confirmation of funding by early August.

Aziz Foundation scholarships

We are delighted that this opportunity is being made available for British Muslim students with an offer of a place on any of the five courses in the Charities Masters (again).

Direct applications to the Aziz Foundation for full fee funding for the two-year part-time Master’s.

Please see the Aziz Foundation applications page for further details.

Applications for students starting in October 2025 will open in January 2025.

View our scholarships and funding

Other funding opportunities

A postgraduate loan is available from the Government to help cover the cost of postgraduate Masters study.

View other funding options

Entry requirements

All students will be highly motivated graduate-level people who bring a wide range of professional competencies, skills and experience from a wide range of backgrounds.

In general we ask for a good first degree, normally an upper second-class honours degree from a British University or equivalent qualification from a leading overseas institution and three or more years relevant experience at a senior level.

In exceptional cases we will accept those without a degree, provided they have significant and relevant work experience.

English language requirements

If you have been studying in the UK for the last three years it is unlikely that you will have to take an English language test.

If you have studied in the UK at degree level for less than three years (e.g. 3+1, 2+1, 2+2, etc.) you will be required to provide the results of an approved English language test and possibly resit the test to meet our academic entry requirements.

Full list of approved English language tests/qualifications and minimum requirements.