Master of Business Administration
MBA
Course overview
Our MBA has been developed to meet the needs of middle/senior managers in the running of their businesses, and to facilitate their progression to higher-level roles within their organisation. Managers need to be aware of issues, able to analyse their potential outcomes and consequences and decide how to react. They do not have to be an expert in all areas of business, but they need a general awareness of which specialist facilities and services exist and how they can assist in carrying out their role. Thus, MBA courses have a far more generalist and strategic approach than those Masters courses focused on specific subject areas.This philosophy is followed by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) in their Subject Benchmark Statements. Our course follows their recommendations in its focus on the advanced study of organisations and the dynamic, global context in which they operate..
Unique to our MBA is the depth of emphasis on a strong practical and professional orientation to the curriculum and learning styles, which has been developed over our 15-year history. Our MBA has a strong reputation for providing managers with the foundation necessary for handling complex issues in a turbulent business environment. Leaders need to be challenging and thoughtful, analytical and innovative, and these are important elements of our course.
Module guide
Core modules: Cambridge
Organisational Behaviour
The purpose of this module is to provide a number of conceptual frameworks to help you make sense of your professional practice and context. The focus is to seek insights into behaviour in organisations from a behavioural-science perspective
Financial Statement Analysis
This module identifies the major areas of judgement in financial statements and helps you both to recognise those judgements and develop a crucial ability to modify them to suit your own informational needs.
Marketing Management
Here, we will will seek to examine a series of case studies from a range of industries. One of the main focuses for the design of this module has been the further development of relevant employability and professional skills.
Human Resource Management Practice
This module will introduce you to the key concepts and policies underlying Human Resource Management (HRM) in organisations. Thus, the module looks at techniques, procedures and systems available to managers in order to enhance performance, to achieve excellence and to align corporate and commercial goals.
Research Methods for Managers
You will develop the knowledge, skills and abilities you will need to effectively carry out a piece of small-scale business or management research. A particular emphasis will be placed upon developing your skills towards your workplace based Masters dissertation or project.
Business Analysis Project
This module focuses on both strategic and operational aspects and integrates topics and themes from other modules. This integrative approach will enable you to develop a comprehensive understanding of the issues facing an organisation and the implications of those issues for its well-being.
Strategic Management
You will explore the rich field of strategic management and how strategic analysis and formulation contribute to an organisation's performance.
International Business Management
This module describes the driving forces behind international business and their impact on organisations, managers and individuals. It explores possible corporate strategic responses to international business conditions and exposes managers to issues and tensions in business operations and relationships across national cultures.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
You will review the classical models of entrepreneurship and examine the main characteristics of entrepreneurs within organisations of all sizes. Commercial, public sector and not-for-profit-distribution organisations can be included in this assessment.
Dissertation
This module will support you in the preparation and submission of a Masters-stage project or Dissertation.
Core modules: Chelmsford
Organisational Behaviour
This module provides a number of conceptual frameworks to help you make sense of your professional practice and context. The focus of the module is to seek insights into behaviour in organisations from a behavioural science perspective.
Global Business Fitness
You will examine the fitness of business to help humanity tackle urgent global issues, based on the four elements of decision making/problem solving, adoption of a global approach, creation of a new business paradigm and having a contemporary mission.
Marketing Management
This module examines marketing issues using a series of case studies from a range of industries. One of the main focuses for the design of this module has been the further development of relevant employability and professional skills.
Strategic Financial Analysis
This module provides a conceptual and analytical framework for looking at the financial performance of organisations operating internationally in capital, financial and operational markets.
Research Methods for Managers
You will develop the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to effectively carry out a piece of small-scale business or management research. A particular emphasis will be placed upon developing your skills towards your workplace-based Masters Dissertation or project.
Decision Making and Problem Solving
This module will give you the skills and knowledge necessary to develop frameworks and approaches to decision making, by critically examining theoretical models and relating them to business experience.
Strategic Management
This module explores the rich field of strategic management and how strategic analysis and formulation contribute to an organisation's performance.
Business Analysis Project
The module is integrative in nature and provides practically relevant ideas and frameworks that facilitate strategy design and implementation with a focus on their financial implications.
Dissertation
This module will support you in the preparation and submission of a Masters-stage project or Dissertation. It involves an assessment volume equivalent to 15000 words, worth 30 credits.
Optional modules: Cambridge
Elective module on a range of relevant business topics
Optional modules: Chelmsford
- Depending on the credit value of your dissertation, you may take up to two elective modules from a range of relevant business topics.
Assessment
Each credit-rated module is assessed by an assignment, often work or case-based. There are no formal examinations. This ensures that learning is context-specific and transferred to the organisation.Our MBA is designed for students who have gained a considerable degree of subject knowledge and proficiency from their undergraduate studies, experience of the workplace, or both. Our approach to study is essentially one of critique and evaluation, using the results of current and recent research and case studies to analyse, evaluate and appraise established methods, practices or techniques.
Teaching input is provided via a wide range of approaches, including lectures, seminars, video and case studies. Particular emphasis is placed on team teaching and the setting of work-based tasks at strategic level.
Learning strategies include syndicate work, group presentations, working with local business organisations and self-managed learning.
Assessments have a strong practical and professional orientation, enabling you to develop a range of practical management skills relevant to senior roles in their organisation. Work-based assignments are used where relevant and practical, to help you relate your learning to their work environment, increase your knowledge of that environment, help raise your profile and ensure your sponsor gains immediate, practical benefit.
An important component of our course is our Postgraduate Dissertation, supported by our Research Methods for Managers module, and often related to studies in one or more other modules. You are expected to display a considerable degree of proficiency in research methods, and be able to apply such methods to a real-world problem in a practical and business-like manner. You are required to demonstrate knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of your chosen methods, and discuss how you worked within, or overcame such weaknesses. Additionally, they are expected to criticise their own work, both from a methodological and practical standpoint.
Links with industry and professional recognition
Our MBA is accredited by the Association of Business Schools. Links between our MBA and international partner institutions are fostered through international websites, residentials and conferences.Associated careers
Our MBA will prepare middle managers for senior roles within their organisations.| Entry requirements: | Candidates are normally required to hold a first degree. Those candidates without a formal qualification will be expected to demonstrate previous supervisory experience, preferably at middle management level of at least three years. Candidates are normally required to evidence this by means of a CV. Those candidates for whom English is not a first language will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. |
How to apply
Faculty
Ashcroft International Business SchoolLocations
- Cambridge
- Chelmsford
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